Trail of Kisses Read Online Free PDF

Blast!” Lynne eased out of her
saddle and jumped to the ground as Cade reached her
side.
    “ She throw a shoe?” he asked,
pulling Arrow to a stop by her side and dismounting.
    Lynne bent to check Clover’s feet, then turned
to search out the shoe. It was lying several feet to the side in
the gravel.
    “ She did, poor thing.”
    She stood and smoothed a hand along Clover’s
neck, concern somehow making her even prettier.
    “ She didn’t lame herself, did
she?” Cade crouched to study Clover’s feet for himself.
    Lynne led the horse to walk a few yards
forward to see if Clover was injured.
    “ She seems all right,” she
said.
    Cade stood and fetched the thrown
horseshoe.
    “ She probably caught that front
shoe with her back foot,” Lynne said, stooping to check the damage
one more time. She sighed as she straightened. “We’ll have to find
someone to fix it once we’ve stopped for lunch.”
    “ We will,” Cade agreed. A smile
spread across his face at everything the minor accident implied.
“Well, looks like you’ll finally be riding in the wagon after
all.”
    Lynne dragged her attention away from her
horse to him. She planted a hand on her hip. “What gives you that
idea?”
    Cade shrugged, striding to take Clover’s reins
from her. “Can’t ride a horse with three shoes. Can’t walk with
your friends when they’re otherwise engaged. That leaves the
wagon.” His smile grew. “Unless you want to walk with me.” More
than a week on the trail and he was finally going to get her in the
wagon where she belonged.
    “ Nonsense. I’ll just have to ride
your horse.”
    Cade blinked. “My horse?”
    “ Yes. Four shoes, one saddle. Your
horse.”
    He started to argue, but thought better of it.
All the spitfire in the world couldn’t make Lynne an inch bigger or
a pound heavier than the fine lady she was. Her slim waist and soft
hips were no match for a gelding. He exchanged a glance with Arrow.
The horse blew out a breath, nostrils flaring. If Lynne wanted to
give Arrow a try, she was more than welcome.
    “ All right.” He feigned defeat.
“Whatever you say. Here.” He handed the lead to her.
    Lynne adjusted her hat, smiled sweetly at him,
and took the lead, marching to Arrow’s side. The horse was several
inches taller than Clover. The saddle was high and the stirrups
were set for his height, not hers. She studied the saddle, gripping
it tightly with one hand and lifting her skirt so that she could
raise her foot to the stirrup. She sure did have fine
ankles.
    Before he could finish his frank appreciation
and work his way up to admire her calves, Lynne took a deep breath
and heaved herself up. With one swift motion, she lifted her leg
over Arrow’s back and settled herself in the saddle. Her skirts
shifted up to her knees and higher as they bunched under her, but
instead of appreciating the sight, Cade’s smile dropped.
    Lynne adjusted her skirts around her legs and
cleared her throat. “Thank you for the use of such a fine horse,
Mr. Lawson.”
    She smiled, and with one swift tap to Arrow’s
flanks, she was off.
    Cade’s jaw dropped and his heart sank to his
stomach as Lynne and Arrow tore off up the line of the wagon train.
They were at a full gallop before he could swallow.
    “ Ho-ly….” He let his curse drop
and swiped the hat off of his head. He’d had some bad ideas in his
day, but this likely topped them all.
    Far ahead, Lynne leaned low over Arrow’s neck.
Cade had seen the likes of her posture before on scouts and Pony
Express riders. She shot way out in front of the wagon train, and
only when Pete Evans shouted something after her did she slow Arrow
to a walk and turn around. As she approached the front of the
train, she shouted a reply to Pete which had better be an apology,
then walked on.
    Cade grabbed Clover’s lead and walked to meet
her. He was shocked at the way Lynne could ride, but he should have
been furious. Talk about finding ways to get herself hurt. But