The Cowboy Way Read Online Free PDF Page A

nearby. He just loved going.”
    The memories that the barn smells triggered washed over her, all warm and comforting. Those were some of the best times of her life, just Kevin and her, and that’s the way she liked it.
    Kevin craned his neck as he wheeled down the cement walkway of the barn. He didn’t know where to look first. On both sides were stalls, and most of the horses hung their heads over the half-door. On each door was a wooden sign with the horse’s name in black print.
    â€œThat one there is a beauty,” he said. “Wow! So is that one! And that one!”
    Jake was patient with Kevin. As they came to each stall, Kevin had to pet the horse and call it by name.
    After a while, Beth caught Jake’s eye. “Can I speak with you, Mr. Dixon?”
    Nodding, he left Kevin petting a horse and walked over toward her.
    â€œAbout the horse—”
    Jake held a hand up. “I promise you, Kevin’s horse will be gentle. All the horses in this barn are hand-picked for Wheelchair Rodeo. I work with them myself. Don’t worry.”
    â€œEasy for you to say,” she said. “He’s not your son.”
    â€œNo, but I’ll take care of him as if he were.”
    She met his gaze. His blue eyes were as cool and as refreshing as a spring day, and he truly seemed to care about Kevin.
    So then why couldn’t she let herself trust him completely?
    Because she had trusted her son to a man with a drinking problem before, and Kevin was almost killed. And the man had died.
    Jake glanced down the long row of horses and shouted, “You might like Cheyenne, Kev, or the black horse in stall three. Check them out.” Then he turned back to Beth and lowered his voice. “Look, I don’t know all of what you heard at the airport, but don’t pay any attention to it.”
    â€œI heard that you were drunk and hurt a man.”
    â€œI wasn’t drunk. I had a few beers, yes. I had some words with someone, and then suddenly we were in the middle of a free-for-all.” Jake sighed and looked away. After several seconds, his gaze returned to her. “Look, Wheelchair Rodeo begins the day after tomorrow, so if you’re having second thoughts about trusting me with Kevin, you’d better tell me now.”
    She met his direct gaze. “I’m having second thoughts.”
    â€œFair enough.” He nodded. “Then take him out of the program.”
    â€œIt would break his heart,” she said. “You’re his hero. He idolizes you.”
    â€œLady, I’m no one’s hero. It’s all I can do these days to get up every morning.” He was speaking through gritted teeth. “And I might be a lot of things, but I’m not a drunk.”
    That was just what Brad had always said.
    Beth swallowed hard and glanced at Kevin to make sure he was out of hearing range. She knew she had angered Jake Dixon, but she had good reasons for not trusting him—or anyone, for that matter—with her son.
    Maybe she owed him an explanation. “His father was an alcoholic,” she said. “He picked Kevin up at a friend’s birthday party. Brad was drunk and he drove his car into the cement of a bridge. Brad died and Kevin lived. After four operations in two years, Kevin’s still in a wheelchair. The doctors don’t understand why.”
    â€œOh…shoot…” He took off his hat and raked his fingers through his hair, then plopped the hat back on his head. “I’m sorry,” he said, watching Kevin. “But now at least I understand why you hate drinking.” He paused. “He’ll never get out of the chair?”
    He touched her arm when she didn’t answer right away. It was an unexpected, comforting gesture. The look on his face was concerned and sympathetic. She wondered yet again if she was judging him too harshly.
    She took a deep breath and jumped in. “Kevin’s last operation was