Trial by Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

riders at that. This was a good operation.
    “What is? I don’t get it.” They were back on the road, following a huge white fence with a rocking S brand on it.
    “You not being on the road all the time. Landon gave me to believe you all rode.”
    “I’ve done every event, and I imagine Miss Chloe will be on a horse before she can walk, but if I was handling things, it would be on the stock end.”
    “Good to know.” Lachlan counted fence posts as they passed.
    He knew the Sheffield family owned thousands of acres, dozens and dozens of places in different counties and a couple of states to support the rodeo company. Their operation was sizable, but nothing like a cattle station back in Oz.
    Of course, they had bloody grass.
    Holden pulled into the huge paved road Lachlan recognized from his trip up here. “Are you going to warn your folks?”
    “Nope. Addie and Landon trusted me with her. I decide.”
    “Good on you, mate.” He hated to admit it, but he was really beginning to admire Holden.
    Holden parked and got out of the truck, waited for him to get out, and then they headed up and into the kitchen door. “Momma? Daddy? I brought McCoughey to meet Chloe.”
    “Your daddy’s on his way.” A fierce-looking middle-aged woman in jeans and a button-down shirt stood in the kitchen doorway, arms over her chest. “What are you thinking, Son?”
    “That this is Miss Addie’s brother, and he wants to meet his niece before he heads home.” Holden didn’t yell, didn’t fuss. He simply stared her down.
    Lachlan didn’t bother to argue with the leaving thing, which he had no intention of doing until they settled some issues. Holden was willing to work with him, and he’d take it.
    Hell, it was better than he’d hoped for.
    “I’m… I’m going to town. You need anything?” Mrs. Sheffield wouldn’t even meet his eyes.
    “No, ma’am. Where’s Chloe?”
    “Swing.”
    “Good deal.” Holden led the way through the house to a huge sunroom, a baby swing sitting under a ceiling fan. He bent and stopped the rocking of the swing, then pulled out its inhabitant. “Miss Chloe Sheffield, meet Uncle Lachlan.”
    God, she was beautiful—tiny and blonde, but with gray eyes, not blue. She reached for Holden, cooing and gurgling, as if her favorite person in all the world had walked in.
    He guessed at her age, Holden was her favorite. She had yet to meet Lachlan, after all.
    Holden nuzzled her tiny cheek. “Hey, pretty girl. Who’s my best lady, huh?”
    She flailed and grabbed his nose, then squealed as she went for his lips next, and he blew a raspberry against her palm.
    Lachlan watched, a goofy smile no doubt stretching his face. God almighty, she was a doll.
    She wore a pink jumpsuit with giraffes on it. Why on earth did people choose wild animals for baby clothes? It made no sense. None at all. Here, have a tiny child who can slip into the savannah and hide itself among huge creatures….
    “Here.” Holden bounced her a few times before holding her out for Lachlan. “Say hey, baby girl.”
    She blinked at him, the look distrusting and confused.
    Lachlan smiled at her, easing into her space the way he would with a puppy or a calf. “Hullo, sweetheart. Look at you.”
    Her eyes flew open, and she crowed, her baby lips parted.
    “You sound like family to her.”
    “Yeah? Do I sound like your mum, Littlie? I bet I do.” He took her from Holden when Chloe reached for him. She barely weighed anything, less than his prize blue heeler.
    Crikey she wasn’t still a bit. She kicked and wiggled, little arms and legs moving constantly.
    “You want a picture with y’all together?”
    “I do. My mum would be over the moon.” Lachlan pulled her up against his chest, blowing against her cheek.
    Holden took a few shots with his phone. “I’ll send them to you.”
    “Thanks.” He bounced Chloe, and she blew bubbles. “Can we sit a minute?”
    “Sure. She’ll need to eat in about half an hour.” Holden nodded