The Western Dare (Harlequin Heartwarming) Read Online Free PDF

hitch and unhitch the teams, Camp expected his research subjects to trickle in one by one. They surprised him, arriving en masse, accompanied by a television crew from Columbia and a woman reporter from the campus newspaper—which didn’t please him.
    “Whose bright idea was this?” he muttered, sidling up to his sister.
    “Yvette’s. What’s the matter, Nolan, afraid they’ll steal your thunder?”
    Camp shrugged. “No, but neither do I want them turning this into some kind of farce. Why do you all look like you stepped off the pages of Mule Creek Mercantile’s catalog?” The women, all except Sherry’s roommate, sported brand-new boots, blue jeans and Stetsons. Yvette was Hollywood all the way, in white jeans and a purple suede halter top trimmed with fringe, feathers and beads. She wore matching purple moccasins. Camp would have bet the farm she’d come dressed like this.
    “Ugh! What stinks?” Yvette ran up to them holding her nose. Her pristine moccasins landed in a fresh pile of manure. She slipped, slid, then went down squarely on her rump. “Ick! Yuck,” she squealed as Camp hid a smile and stretched out a hand to help her up.
    “You’re laughing, Nolan Campbell.” She smacked his hand away. “Don’t touch me.” Instead, she accepted help from a member of the press. The instant she was up, Yvette turned on Sherry. “I assumed they’d pull the wagons with something civilized, like tractors.” Sniffing the air, she wrinkled her dainty nose. “This is positively gross. I’m not spending ten weeks smelling horse poop.” She clapped a palm over the closest camera lens. “Those shots had better end up on the cutting-room floor, my friend. I know the station manager. Grab your stuff out of my car, Sherry. I’m outta here.”
    Sherry gaped at her roommate’s retreating figure. “Yvette, wait! You promised! I paid your half of the rent for the whole summer.”
    The blonde gingerly picked her way to the car, paying no attention. She peeled off her moccasins and threw them in a nearby trash barrel. Hopping the remaining distance on bare feet, she unlocked the car and tumbled inside.
    Sherry took one look at Camp’s smirk and ran after her friend. “Oh, for pity’s sake, Yvette. I’ll pay off your Visa,” Sherry wheedled. “Come on, this is exactly what Nolan expects. What happened to striking a blow for modern womanhood?”
    “You strike it.” Yvette knelt on the front seat, leaned over into the back and started pitching Sherry’s bedding and duffel bags out on the ground.
    “Fine! Leave. Be a traitor.” Sherry grumbled as she snatched her things. “And I want that money back!”
    Yvette slammed her door, cranked the engine and peeled out of the lot.
    Maizie Boone jabbed an elbow into Camp’s side. “Uh-huh! What’d I tell you?”
    He scowled. “Shall we proceed with the lesson? My sister’s capable of handling a wagon alone. The way I see it, I still have four drivers.”
    Maizie inclined her head toward his dwindling group. “Maybe you haven’t been listening to those kids. They’ve been bellyaching to leave since they got here. Seein’ how frazzled the mom looks, I’ll bet you a plate of wings at Sammy’s Bar that she splits next.”
    Camp had sampled the chicken wings at Sammy’s last night. Good as they were, he didn’t want to meet Maizie there to pay off that type of bet. But now that she’d mentioned it, he heard kids squabbling. He zeroed in on them. Neither resembled Emily. The boy was taller than his mother, and sturdier, his hair auburn, not red. The girl was shorter by a head and as thin as a reed. Rings circled each of her red-tipped fingers. Except for the mop of mahogany hair, she’d pass for a younger version of Yvette. Flounced like her, too. Brother!
    Emily’s jaw was locked in place. She didn’t look as if she’d give an inch. “I’ll take your bet,” Camp told Maizie impulsively. He knew, as Maizie didn’t, that Emily’s kids were the main