Beau (Remington Ranch Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

that was the sum total of his social life. He sighed. He didn’t normally care. Hell, it suited him, it was his choice. He couldn’t let bumping into Beautiful Woman change the way he felt about himself and his world. Maybe he just needed more going on. He stared at the TV while he wondered about it. The commercials came on and he watched a wild black stallion gallop across the screen. That was it. There was one thing he enjoyed doing, and hadn’t done in way too long. Tomorrow he’d go down to the ranch and take his horse Troy out. He rarely made time to ride any more, but he always felt happier when he did.
    He smiled and lifted his glass up in a toast to thin air. “Thanks, Beautiful.” He’d never see her again, but the green-eyed beauty at Deb’s had still managed to give him something to smile about.

Chapter Three
     
    The next morning Beau took his time showering. He decided not to shave. It wasn’t like him, but he didn’t want to feel like him today. At least not the him he’d become. He wanted to go back to being the old Beau. The one who would tumble out of bed at the ranch with his brothers early on a Saturday morning so that they could all ride out checking fences. That Beau would never have even stopped to think about whether or not he should shave.
    He toweled himself down and walked into his closet. Riding jeans, where were they? He had to go all the way to the back and dig to the bottom of his jeans shelf. Wow. It really had been too long. He found his favorite shirt back there too, the red one. Why hadn’t he worn it in so long that it was folded up all the way back here? He shook his head. It’d get worn again today.
    When he was ready he locked the house up and ran down the front steps. He drove the truck whenever he went down to the ranch, but he had to stop and check the Merc was locked on his way out. Of course it was. He climbed in the truck and started it up. Today was a good day. The sun was shining, he was going to take Troy out. He’d go say hi to his folks. He hadn’t stopped in on them for a while, though he did call every other evening to make sure they were okay. He had a big surprise he wanted to spring on them soon, too. Not today though, that could wait a while yet.
    When he got to the ranch he spotted Mason out in the arena. He had a kid on one of the ponies. Beau smiled. It seemed he wasn’t the only one wanting to go back to an earlier version of himself. Mason hadn’t given kids riding lessons in years. He focused on the stud these days, and training the horses himself. He only gave occasional clinics, and they weren’t for kids.
    Beau parked by the barn and wandered down to lean on the fence and watch. His smile faded a little when he recognized the blonde curls. Ruby! He almost turned around and walked away before she spotted him. He’d named her the two-foot tyrant when she was here visiting with her aunt and uncle. Now she was back. To live apparently. Beau didn’t even want to imagine what the mother must be like. What kind of woman could have spawned that little monster?
    “Beau!” Mason called to him before he could make his escape. He led the pony and its rider over to the fence. “Good to see you. What are you doing out here?”
    He shrugged. “I thought I’d take Troy out.”
    Mason grinned.
    “Who’s Troy?” asked Ruby. “Can I come?”
    Beau shook his head rapidly and looked to Mason for help.
    Mason gave Ruby a stern look. “Do we talk when we’re having a riding lesson?”
    Ruby hung her head. “Only when you ask a question.”
    Mason grinned at Beau again. Apparently he had somehow managed to tame the mini demon. For his part, Beau would rather just avoid her.
    “He’s out behind the barn,” said Mason. “I was thinking I might take him out myself, since you can’t get out here that often.”
    Beau nodded. It wasn’t a criticism, he knew that. Mason just liked to look out for the horses, make sure they weren’t left out to graze