The Cowboy Way Read Online Free PDF Page B

him.”
    Jake gave a slight nod, obviously pleased with her decision. “Well, buckaroo, I’d best get you and your mom back to the Trail Boss Cabin so you both can get some rest.”
    He put Killer back into his stall. “If I have time tomorrow, we can get a riding lesson in and maybe even a roping lesson. You can get a jump on the rest of the kids.”
    â€œCool. I brought my official Jake Dixon rope with me.”
    Jake shrugged. “Huh?”
    â€œI bought it from your official Web site for Kevin’s ninth birthday,” Beth explained.
    â€œOh. I forgot about that. My fan club runs the Web site,” he mumbled, then said to Kevin, “I’m sure it’s a good rope if you bought it from my official Web site.” He grinned.
    â€œWell, it’s time we went to bed, cowboy,” Beth said. “It’s been a long day.”
    Jake did a double-take, raised an eyebrow andpushed back his hat with a thumb. His eyes twinkled in amusement.
    â€œKevin,” she clarified, grinning in spite of herself. It was hard not to like Jake. “It’s time for bed, Kevin. ”

Chapter Three
    B eth woke to the scent of pine. A breeze lightly tossed the lace curtains. Sunlight flickered on her face, and she smiled. What a nice way to wake up. But why wake up yet? She turned over, scrunched the pillow to the perfect shape under her head and closed her eyes again.
    â€œThat’s awesome, Jake.”
    Jake. That name again. She had dreamed of the tall, lean cowboy with the lazy grin and the sexy blue eyes all night. Now she woke up to his name drifting on the breeze.
    She even remembered saying the same phrase— “That’s awesome, Jake” —in her dream when he…when they…
    â€œTotally cool, Jake.”
    She had never said that in her dream.
    â€œKevin?” She shot up in bed. “Kevin?”
    â€œOut here, Mom!”
    â€œWhere?” She tore out of the bedroom, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She ran into his bedroom, but he wasn’t there. She checked the bathroom. “Kevin?” Barely breathing, she raced to the door and tore it open.
    â€œHi, Mom!”
    Her son was astride a big black horse—Killer Bee. He was belted into some kind of special saddle with a high back and sides. Jake Dixon was standing next to him with reins in his hand. They both were petting the horse and smiling like they hadn’t a care in the world.
    When she caught something extra in Jake’s grin, she realized that she was barefoot on the front porch of the Trail Boss Cabin in her red satin nightgown with spaghetti straps, a buy-one-get-one-free special from WalMart.
    She crossed her arms in front of her, sure that Jake could see how cold she actually was.
    â€œKevin,” she began in her scolding-mom tone.
    â€œAw…don’t be mad at me. I got up early and saw Jake at the corral. We had breakfast in the bunkhouse with all the cowboys. It was so cool, Mom. Joe Watley was there. And Gilbert. And Ty Watson, T.J., and Trace and…”
    She held her hand up to stop him from naming every cowboy in the bunkhouse. “You should have asked me, Kevin. Also, I don’t think you should be taking up so much of Mr. Dixon’s time.”
    She studied Jake. He was clean-shaven. She looked for signs of a hangover, but his eyes were bright and clear. He tipped his hat back with a thumb, a gestureshe had seen more than once. It was as if he were saying “Look me over. I don’t care.”
    So she looked.
    â€œKev’s not bothering me. I enjoy his company.”
    â€œThat may be true, but Kevin shouldn’t have left the cabin without letting me know.”
    â€œHe said he didn’t want to wake you, and that you were snoring up a storm.” Jake chuckled.
    â€œI certainly do not snore!” Beth protested.
    â€œMom, you were sucking the walls in.”
    She couldn’t help but laugh. Running a