The Cowboy's Rules: 2 (Cowboys After Dark:) Read Online Free PDF

sitting on top of the knoll overlooking the lake, was where he’d kissed Cassie for the first time; the sun had been setting and they’d watched the lake transform into liquid gold. It was also where they’d first made love under the stars, and commemorated their first Christmas. The place was uniquely special to them both, and now their home was finally going to be completed.
    Wish I’d thought of havin’ her horses there when I was putting that cabin up . It’s gonna be a rough couple of weeks. Construction startin’ up there, and the barn and arena goin’ in at the same time.
    Settling behind his desk he began studying the attendees for the clinic. He not only liked to memorize the background of each of them, it was time to look at the number of guest horses that would be arriving so he could determine which horse would go where. He read through the first few, then grimaced.
    Damn, Molly Roberts. I hope she behaves herself.
    The year before Molly had attended three of his four clinics, and each time she’d made her feelings perfectly clear; she wanted him. He’d been able to handle her, but Cassie hadn’t been in his life then, and on two occasions the beautiful girl had managed to wangle a reason to be alone with him; he had no doubt Molly would be all over him from the moment she arrived.
    His cellphone chimed announcing a text, and staring at the screen he saw it was from Marty, but the message was not one he expected.
     
    Cassie and Jeb having words in the ring. Better come down.
     
    “Dammit, Cassie, now what?” he muttered. “Come on, Mick, let’s go see what’s brewin’.”
    Throwing on his hat he marched out the kitchen door, the dog running ahead as they hurried down to the ring. As he approached he saw Cassie standing by Shelby, her arms crossed in a defiant posture, and Jeb with his hands on his hips, holding a young horse, kicking the dirt at his feet.
    “What’s goin’ on?” Chad asked impatiently. “Never mind, you both be quiet, and Marty, you tell me what’s goin’ on.”
    “Simply put,” Marty declared, “the ring wasn’t big enough for both of ‘em. Cassie tried to make a jump out of those barrels there,” Marty continued, pointing to three barrels in the middle of the ring, two on their side and one upright, “and Jeb here needed them the way they were, set up to get this young horse here workin’ around ‘em.”
    “Cassie, did you roll the barrels from where they were?” Chad asked.
    “Yes, but-”
    “Stop,” he said sharply, holding up his hand. “You’ve got thirty minutes to work Shelby, then, Jeb, you put them back how you want them.”
    “But what about Dominic and Rembrandt, I need to ride them as well,” she complained.
    “It’s early in the day,” he frowned. “You guys alternate, thirty minutes each horse, but Cassie, the barrels need to go back where they were and stay there. You’ll have your ring real soon, and this afternoon you can order the jumps you want. This is a temporary traffic tie-up, that’s all. Let’s not make more of it than it is. Got it?”
    “Sure,” she sighed, glaring at Jeb.
    “No problem here, boss,” Jeb nodded, looking embarrassed. “I can do some work around the cows in the back fields while she’s doin’ her other two horses. I didn’t mean to cause any problems, but you know I’ve got to get this horse done and-”
    “You don’t have to explain,” Chad interrupted. “I know your schedule and it’s tight. Okay you two, put this behind you. I won’t have any hard feelin’s around this ranch.”
    Jeb broke into a grin and extended his hand, but as Cassie accepted it her smile was only halfhearted, and as she climbed back into her saddle and rode away, Chad stepped closer to the young cowboy.
    “She’s been real frustrated about not bein able to ride the last couple of months. Don’t take it personally. She gets over things quick,” Chad said quietly.
    “Hey, no problem boss,” Jeb replied.