Wild About the Wrangler Read Online Free PDF

said, they scare me. So I’ve avoided them. But if I start the process by drawing one, or several, that could be very calming.” Or terrifying. She wouldn’t know which until she tried it. “But I’m staying outside the fence.”
    â€œThey’re all in the barn now, anyway. It’s feeding time.”
    â€œThen I’m staying outside the stall.”
    â€œThat’s fine. I was picturing you concentrating on their heads, anyway. And their eyes. Look into their eyes long enough and I’ll bet you’ll feel better about climbing on board one of them.”
    â€œYou’ll stick around while I do this?”
    â€œWhy not? All I had on my schedule was ripping out some old carpet. That can wait.”
    â€œThen let’s go.” The stables were only a short way from her house, but she’d never spent any time there, just like she’d never gone out to the little barn behind her house after that awful night. Georgie used to keep her horse, Prince, there, but the property she and Vince had rented included a barn, so Prince had moved out, too.
    â€œHow are the renovations coming along?” she asked as they approached the stable. She wanted to know, but talking about it would serve the dual purpose of distracting her. She did
not
like barns.
    â€œSlow, but that’s because I’m a perfectionist. At this rate I’ll be finished in about ten years.”
    â€œYou should get Georgie to help you. She’s extremely handy with tools.”
    â€œShe’s offered, but I’m having fun doing it by myself. I’ve never owned a house before, so this is a brand-new experience for me.” He pushed open the main gate to Ed and Vivian’s property. It included the stable, a couple of corrals, and their house, which doubled as an office.
    Ed and Vivian sat on the front porch and they both called out a greeting.
    Mac waved at them. “Okay if I give Anastasia a tour of the stable?”
    â€œSure thing.” Ed smiled at her. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen you down here, young lady.”
    â€œNope!” She smiled back, although it felt more like a grimace. “First time.”
    â€œBut not her last!” Mac sounded quite happy about that.
    She wasn’t. She looked at him so she wouldn’t have to look at where they were going. “I’m glad you bought a house here. It shows that you have confidence in Bickford’s future.”
    â€œI do, and I’ve always liked the town.”
    They were mere steps from the barn’s double doors, which stood open and ready to swallow her up. She kept the conversation going. “Vince would love to buy Mom’s place because he knows how much Georgie wants it, but Mom won’t sell while the market’s going up.”
    â€œAnd if she sold it, where would you live?”
    She shrugged. “I’d figure something out. I wish Georgie could get that house. Her ancestors built it and she maintains it even though she’s not living there anymore. She should have it. I’ve tried talking to Mom but she’s stubborn.”
    â€œSo I hear. Hey, are you okay?” He peered at her. “You look pale.”
    â€œI’m scared of horses, but I’m also scared of barns.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I didn’t know that. I thought a barn would make it easier because the horses are all confined in their stalls. Do you want to forget going in?”
    She stood there breathing hard and feeling like an idiot. Learning to ride had been her idea, not Mac’s, but he had agreed to help her and his suggestion that she draw the horses was a good one.
    Her ultimate goal was to ride a horse out to the canyon where the Ghost kept his band, and draw him from life. If she couldn’t even enter this barn, then none of that would take place. People entered barns all the time. No big deal.
    She swallowed. “I want to go in. This is