Texas Proud (Vincente 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

an attempt to dislodge the
man on her back. Yet Noble's muscled legs hugged
the horse's heaving sides, and he refused to be unseated.
    He was power and grace, indomitable. Rachel's heart pounded with excitement while the vaqueros yelled out their approval. She held her breath
when the horse reared, kicked, twisted and
turned, but still was unable to throw Noble. Time
had no meaning as she watched him master the
horse. His firm brown hands held the reins steady,
his long legs issuing their own commands. Rachel
felt glad that he used his spurs sparingly, knowing
just how much pressure to apply without breaking
the beautiful animal's skin.

    At last the mare halted, her sides lathered and
heaving, her graceful head bowed as if in surrender to the man who had conquered her. But she
remained spirited even in defeat.
    While the vaqueros shouted out their praise,
Noble seemed as calm as if he'd been on a pleasure
outing. His composure impressed Rachel more
than anything else.
    Seeing her, he rode over to the fence on the now
docile mare. Noble stood up in the stirrups and
swept her a bow, saying, "Senorita Green Eyes,
you are growing up to be a beauty. With those eyes
you will surely break every man's heart in Madragon County, including my own."
    His smile made her heart skip a beat in fact it
skipped several beats-and she struggled to regain her composure. When his electrifying gaze
settled on her, Rachel tightened her grip on the
fence post to keep her balance.
    "Noble, you were magnificent," she said timidly, wondering why she should suddenly feel so shy
with a man she'd known all her life.

    He reached out and gently touched her cheek.
"Careful, Green Eyes; you should never look at a
man like that."
    She was confused as she shoved his hand away.
"I don't know what you mean."
    "Do you not? There is fire in your eyes that
would stagger the strongest man."
    Her face flushed and she tried to hide her embarrassment by saying flippantly, "That's not so,
Noble Vincente." She groped for words. "I was
merely admiring your horsemanship. I have never
seen such a mare what breed is she?"
    He laughed and dismounted, tossing the reins
to a vaquero. "I won't tease you anymore, Green
Eyes. My throat is dry. Walk with me to the well
and I will tell you all about the black mare."
    She accompanied him reluctantly, wishing that
her heart would stop fluttering. A new sensation
tightened the muscles in the pit of her stomach
and left her feeling breathless, a sensation that she
didn't like at all.
    "You said you would tell me about the horse,"
she reminded him. She pressed her palm against
her heart because it was beating so fiercely she
feared he could hear it.
    He chuckled and ruffled her hair. "All right, inquisitive one. The mare was bred by Carthusian
monks at a mountainous monastery in southwestern Spain."

    "Noble, I have never seen a horse with such a
shiny black coat. She has such strong leg muscles
and must be over fifteen hands high. You may
have broken her to the saddle, but you didn't
break her spirit."
    "I would not want to break her spirit," Noble
said with a meaningful smile. "Neither a horse nor
a woman should ever have her spirit broken."
    Rachel tossed her head and gave him an impetuous glance. "How like you to compare a woman
to a horse. That mare should have thrown you."
    He gave her a look that sent her foolish heart
reeling. "Perhaps. And yet I broke her to my will.
From now on, the mare will be a gentle mount."
    "I saw very little gentleness in her."
    He smiled, flashing strong, white teeth. "She
merely had to learn who is her master. Is this not
so with all females? Is it not so of you?"
    Before Rachel could retort, Noble raised his
hands in surrender. "A man should never tease a
woman who has hair the color of flame, and the
temper to match. Am I forgiven?"
    His tone was deep and compelling, and she felt
it echo through her head. She nervously intertwined her fingers,