Between Hope & the Highway Read Online Free Page A

her to stay on course. “You can eat later.”
    When she neighed her displeasure, I leaned over to pat her neck. “I’d be moody too if my name reeked of alcohol.” Easing back on the reins, I slowed her pace and took another loop around the arena before dismounting and leading her to a wash bay.
    “You’re a sweetie.” I ran the hose over her sleek coat. As Ginny nuzzled me, I giggled. “Mom said I wouldn’t have any friends here. Guess we proved her wrong.” I patted her flank and moved the stream of water over her hindquarters.
    After drying her off, I led her to a stall off the arena. My domain. Mr. Law had partnered me with an older fellow named Larry Andersen to work with the yearlings and other young horses needing ground and saddle training. I was also responsible for mucking thirty stalls in the indoor arena and main stable. My days started before dawn and ended long after supper, but I loved every minute with my equine friends.
    Closing the tack room, I headed toward the bunkhouse. My stomach growled as I wondered what Milt, the cowboy version of Betty Crocker, had whipped up for supper. Approaching the door, I threw back my shoulders and put on my poker face. Even though the other hands were nice, I still felt I had to prove myself since I was not only new, but female as well.
    Entering the living area, I saw Rusty and Mike playing war games on the X-box.
    “Hey, Liz,” Mike called.
    “Hey yourself,” I said to the lanky teenager. I crossed the room to wash up before making my way into the common room. The aroma of beef made my salivary glands squeal.
    “Howdy, Liz.”
    I looked up at the trainer. “Hey, Seth.” He’d given me helpful suggestions as I learned the ins and outs of my new position.
    “I saw you out on Friday Night Gin. Did she give you any trouble?”
    I shrugged. “She balked a few times, but for the most part followed my lead.”
    “You have a gift with horses.”
    I shook my head.
    “I’m dead serious. You might be better than Rawson Law, and that’s saying something, yes, it is.”
    I tucked that tidbit of information away to ponder later. In the week since I’d arrived, I had discovered that my boss had two sons I hadn’t met—one in his early teens and an older one in college. Rawson. I only remembered his unique name because it kept surfacing like an apple in a bobbing contest. Each time he was mentioned, it evoked different emotions in the speaker. I’d overheard Mr. Law rail about his irresponsible nature to Abe, the foreman. Larry, on the other hand, bragged like a grandparent when he told me about the guy as we worked. According to him, Rawson had recently graduated magna cum laude from Stanford and had been vice-president of his fraternity. Tony, one of the cow hands, made a snide remark about his masculinity when he mentioned how he’d heard Rawson was in Europe modeling for some trendy magazine. Of course, since Tony had also wolf-whistled at me, I didn’t give much credence to his crass insinuation.
    “I miss that son of a—”
    “Watch your mouth, Baker,” Bill barked. “There’s a lady present.”
    I turned to smile at the vet as Chance, one of the younger hands, blushed.
    “Sorry, Liz.”
    “You were just saying you missed that son of a biscuit, right?”
    The other men snickered as Chance elbowed the older hand. “That’s right. I wasn’t going to swear.”
    Bill snorted.
    I ladled out a bowl of stew. “So why do you miss Rawson Law?” My curiosity was piqued. The information I’d gleaned didn’t paint a picture of a man who’d be missed by these rugged cowboys.
    Chance gulped down a bite of stew. “Because he livened things up.”
    The table erupted in guffaws, and Mike said, “Remember the time he rewired Abe’s truck so the brake lights activated the horn?”
    Rusty hit his leg and hooted. “Abe was madder than a wolverine. Couldn’t figure out what was wrong for the life of him.”
    Chance snickered. “Mr. Law knew Roz did it,