The Reluctant Wrangler Read Online Free PDF Page B

belligerence could escalate, and he doubted Nikki was prepared for it. He didn’t want to alarm her by stepping in, but he wanted to be ready the second it appeared she couldn’t handle it.
    “You’ve been feeding the horses, right?” she asked.
    “Yeah, every day,” the boy grumbled.
    “And you think you’re ready to ride?”
    Even standing still, there was a swagger to him. “Sure. Why not?”
    “Then go get a saddle.”
    For a second Benito stared at her, then he strode to the barn.
    She turned back to the others, who showed more interest in watching Benito’s exit than hearing instructions about grooming. Mac wasn’t sure what to think. The mare might stand still to have a saddle thrown on, but beyond that, there was no telling what would happen if Benito tried to mount.
    When Benito emerged, it was obvious the nearly grown boy was struggling a bit under the weight ofthe saddle. When he reached Nikki, he dropped it at her feet.
    She stood away from the other boys and leaned closer to Benito, but Mac didn’t hear what she said. Benito’s head snapped up and he stared at her again. Mac held his breath. But instead of anything unfortunate happening, Benito turned for the barn again.
    Nikki continued with her instructions until Benito reappeared, a saddle blanket and a bit with reins in his hands. “That’s great,” she told him. “Go ahead and saddle her.”
    “But—” For a brief moment his bravado disappeared, then he planted his feet apart in the dirt, stuck his chin out in defiance and confronted her. “You know I don’t know how.”
    “Which is why we’re here.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, and her smile was sincere. “You all may think riding a horse is nothing more than getting on and riding away, but there are still many things to learn.”
    Mac gripped the fence in front of him, ready to intervene.
    “How’s she doing?”
    He hesitated to turn to look at Jules, who had walked up to stand beside him, and barely glanced at her before focusing on the activity in the corral. “We’ll know in a few seconds.”
    “Benito can be a handful,” Jules said, obviously having sized up the situation.
    Mac didn’t hear what Nikki said to the boy, but his stance immediately relaxed. So did Mac. “She’s doing okay,” he said as he watched Benito shrug and back away.
    Jules propped her arms on a fence rail. “It appears she is. I had a feeling she would.”
    “You had more faith than I did,” he grudgingly admitted. But as she’d said, Benito could be a handful, and time would tell if Nikki could continue to hold her own with him.
    Jules turned at the sound of her name being called. “Over here, Bridey.”
    Mac watched as Tanner’s aunt joined them. “Ah, the lovely Irishwoman,” he greeted her.
    Bridey Harcourt harrumphed. “And from a Scotsman, no less.” But her bright blue eyes twinkled merrily as they always did when they teased each other. “Is that the new housemother I’ve been hearing about?” she asked as she moved to stand beside Jules.
    “That’s her,” Jules answered. “What do you think?”
    Bridey frowned. “I don’t know much about horses, so I’ve no opinion on that. But boys?” Her face brightened when she smiled again. “That’s something I have experience with, and she seems to be getting on with this lot.”
    They watched while Nikki wrapped up the lesson, sent the boys on their way, then turned to walk toward the fence. “They’re eager to start riding,” she announced before she reached them.
    “Oh, my,” Bridey whispered.
    “What’s wrong?” Jules asked.
    “Why, nothing. Just that I—” Bridey shook her head. “I’m sure they’re very eager. Boys have so little patience.”
    “And don’t have a lot more as men,” Jules added, laughing.
    But Bridey’s sunny smile looked forced to Mac. Was there something about Nikki’s Native American heritage that bothered her? That couldn’t be. Not when her nephew and great-nephew were part