Austin (New Horizon Ranch Book 8) Read Online Free Page B

ground to a halt; everyone watched him, including one pretty lady with grit on her face and her hands on her shapely hips.
    “Sorry,” he called and moved his horse into the herd and then expertly drove a handful out of the group and out to the waiting ropers, who sent their ropes flying. One caught the head, the other the back legs, as they stretched it out so it wouldn’t hurt the men and woman administering the brand and the medications.
    And so the rest of the morning went. He kept his mind where it belonged, though. When they finally broke for lunch, he kept his distance from Jolene. He made sure to give her time to get her food and find a spot to eat before he went after his.
    Maddie got into the line beside him.
    “I guess the doc said you were good to go on the horse riding?” he asked.
    “Yes, he did. I, of course, have to be careful but I’m always careful. I wouldn’t be on the horse if I thought it would be a danger. Cliff would tie me to the couch and not let me leave the house if he could. He might be a risk taker himself but he’s in hovering mode right now. But I’m so blessed to have him. How’s your sister doing? It’s got to be hard on her having lost her husband at such a young age. And with a child. I can’t imagine.”
    “Thanks for asking. She’s she’s a fighter. She’s taking care of Julie and getting her teaching degree while she’s also grieving.”
    “That’s inspiring while it’s awful at the same time. And you’re helping her out?”
    “Yeah, getting that degree will help her make a life for her and Julie. It’s been seven months and I worry about her. She holds too much in.”
    Maddie patted his back. “She’s lucky to have you. You’re a standup fella, Austin, and believe me, I don’t say that lightly.”
    He took the compliment and then took his plate and headed toward a group of cowboys who had gathered over near the trailers. He made sure Jolene was not in the group. She was over near the horses, talking with Ty, and he remembered that she’d said she was here to break horses. Ty was over the horse program on the ranch, so it made sense. But try as he might, Austin couldn’t picture the tiny firecracker breaking a bronc.
    Sure, she was good on her horse—he’d seen that firsthand already—but breaking colts? The idea didn’t sit well with him. And that, too, bothered him because it wasn’t any of his business.
    “You should ask her out.”
    Austin’s head jerked as he looked from Jolene to find Treb, the ranch foreman, standing beside him. “What?”
    Treb chuckled. “When I yelled at you earlier to get your attention, I thought it was her you were zeroed in on and daydreaming about. Now I’m sure of it.”
    “Are you kidding? Not interested.”
    “And my name is George Washington.” Treb gave a gruff laugh. “Tell that to someone else because you’ve had your eyes glued on Jolene from the start. And I don’t see anything wrong with it, so I don’t know why you’re denying.”
    Austin didn’t have to reply and they both knew it. “Let’s just say I have enough on my plate right now without borrowing trouble and that…” He paused to nod toward Jolene. “Is trouble.”
    “Whatever you say. I came to tell you that I want you on the branding iron. We’re one man short.”
    “What? What happened?”
    “Shane just got kicked in the knee and it just swelled up like a watermelon. I’m sending him to have it checked out.”
    “I’m sorry that happened but put someone else in.”
    Treb looked amused. “No can do. Sorry.”
    “Yeah, sure,” Austin muttered, and then, looking around, he caught several people watching him from beneath their hat brims. If Treb had caught him staring at Jolene like a dope, then others probably had too. Cowboys—sometimes they had to find entertainment wherever they found it and Austin had a suspicion that he was the entertainment for the afternoon. There was probably a quick bet going with a few bucks or