Anita's Triple Temptation [Men of Montana 4] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Read Online Free Page A

patted his grandson on the back. “How’s it going, son? Are they doing a good job?”
    The grin broadened on Dave’s face as his grandfather deferred to him as being the boss that morning. “Doing good, gramps. They’ve broken two of them and working on their third,” he said, excitement edging his voice. “Do you think I can try soon?”
    The older man leaned against the rails, watching the action in the corral. Inside, three men stood within the area holding ropes attached to the larger animal at the center of their attention. Another man was approaching the gray-speckled beast with a saddle cautiously. The colt tried to rear up as the man stepped closer, but the ropes held him down.
    Every time he reared, he was held down, though the intervals between the feisty animal’s misbehavior were becoming fewer as the hours wore on. Finally, since it had been about twenty minutes since the last incident, the men relaxed their hold on the ropes, giving the young horse a bit of freedom to fight his bindings. Showing his training, the animal pranced around on his hooves, though he didn’t rear up, causing the boy on the fence to give a slight cheer.
    As if sensing the boy’s desire to be friendly, the colt looked over at Dave, his soft brown eyes blinking at him. Lifting his soft upper lip, the horse snickered in greeting. Dave smiled back before looking at his grandfather. His eyes sparkled brightly as he looked at the man, silently pleading. Blue eyes smiled back at him before the older man nodded. “Go ahead, son. Go greet your horse.”
    Dave threw his arms around his grandfather’s neck, squeezing him hard in gratitude for the gift. Releasing him, he climbed calmly down the rails, not wanting to spook the young horse. Carefully, slowly, Dave made his way over to the animal, the men regaining a tight hold on the ropes holding him down.
    When he got to within a couple of feet of the horse, Dave, again moving slowly, moved his hand toward his face and then stopped. Patiently he waited, letting the animal come the rest of the way to him. Reaching out his neck, the colt tentatively sniffed the proffered limb.
    Dave could hardly contain his excitement as the soft muzzle along with a few scattered harder whiskers touched his hand lightly. Standing perfectly still, he let the horse smell him, to get to know his scent. After a few minutes the horse moved his muzzle forward and shoved it into the palm of Dave’s hand, moving it across the boy’s skin as if trying to get affection from him.
    Soon, Dave moved his hand upward, running his hand up the horse’s nose, scratching his fingers between the animal’s eyes. The colt’s ears stood up, more attentive though still trying to retain contact with him. After a few more minutes of this, Dave slowly raised his other hand out reaching for the horse’s neck. Once his hand touched the soft fur of the sloping neckline, he began to stroke it downward, still not moving quickly to avoid spooking him.
    Continuing the same motions over and over, letting his new horse get used to him, Dave reveled in the joy at the trust the animal gave him. His heart was beating rapidly in his chest as he finally had his own horse. He was finally old enough to accept the promise his grandfather had given him many years ago when he kept asking for his own horse. His little face actually hurt from smiling so much but he didn’t care. His greatest wish had come true.
    It was during that thought that one of the hands behind him had sneezed, frightening the horse and Dave, the former rearing up on his hind legs before anyone could settle him down at the unexpected noise. Frozen, Dave watched the colt rise up and then begin to descend but his body would not register the danger. The shouting was heard within his mind, but he still wouldn’t move.
    A hand grabbed him from behind, trying to pull him back but the hooves of the young horse came down as he moved, catching him on the right side of his face.