To Court a Cowgirl Read Online Free PDF Page A

ranch.”
    â€œGood.” She smiled tightly at him and when he gave no response, she pushed by him and headed for the door.
    Jason let out a breath and ran a hand over the side of his head. The lady behind the counter sent him an odd look and he turned to face the bulletin board. There in front of him was the notice Allie had tacked up.
    Wanted: handyman to tear down building, remove debris.
    Without a second thought Jason pulled the advertisement off the board, crumpled it up and jammed it into his pocket.

CHAPTER THREE
    A LLIE COULDN ’ T PUSH the feed-store face-off with Jason Hudson out of her brain, even though she gave it a mighty try. She was not normally confrontational. She left that for Dani and Jolie. She was more of the peacemaker, a retreat-into-the-background kind of person. But today she’d been part of a spectacle in the ranch store. Like it or not, Jason triggered her temper. And she had to face that sad fact that she did harbor resentment against the guy. Why? Because his family was wealthy? Because he’d gotten what she wanted? Because he’d tried to buy the ranch by nonchalantly walking up to her door with more cash at his disposal than she’d ever seen?
    The phone rang as she finished washing her few dishes and she practically pounced on it when she saw Mel’s number on the display. Her second sister and her husband lived on a remote New Mexico ranch and rarely called unless they were in town, where they got decent phone reception.
    â€œHey,” she said without waiting for a hello. “Back in civilization?”
    â€œHi, Allie.”
    She sat up straighter at the sound of her brother-in-law KC’s voice. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œMel. She’s okay, but she had a bad run-in with a mama cow. Put her over the fence and she broke an ankle, bruised her ribs when she fell on the other side.”
    â€œOh, my gosh.” Allie pressed a hand to her chest.
    â€œDamned Charolais,” KC muttered. “I told my boss we needed to let a few of these meaner cows go. Maybe he’ll listen to me now.”
    â€œWhen can I talk to Mel?”
    â€œI’ll have her call you later. She’s a little loopy on the pain meds right now and worried about not doing her part during calving.”
    â€œBut she’s okay?” Allie asked, needing to hear it one more time.
    â€œShe’s fine.” But she could hear the stress in KC’s voice. “But that’s the last time she’s checking the cows alone.”
    â€œI’ll add my voice to yours,” Allie said. Even though she was going to do exactly the same thing tonight and every other night for the next several weeks until all of the Lightning Creek calves hit the ground. Their cows were Angus, and all pretty mellow, but a cow with a calf was unpredictable.
    â€œWhat about you?” he asked, keying into her thoughts. “Do you have any help?”
    â€œI’ll call the vet if there’s any problems.” Even though it was expensive. Living alone, she couldn’t risk being hurt. “Promise,” she said when nothing but silence met her statement.
    â€œAll right then,” KC said gruffly.
    She hung up the phone after a few more minutes of conversation and then rubbed her forehead. Mel was good with cattle, but things like this happened on ranches and considering her luck on the Lightning Creek...no, she wasn’t going to consider that.
    Mel called a few hours later, explained to Allie how the accident had been a fluke. She’d expected the cow to charge her, had actually planned to go over the fence, but had caught her boot on the way over and fell end-over-teakettle, landing on a pile of irrigation pipe.
    â€œI need to get less cumbersome boots,” Mel explained.
    â€œRight.” But Allie smiled, glad that her sister sounded as if she were in good spirits.
    â€œAnd KC said you promised to call the vet if any calves need to be