Cowboy Heaven Read Online Free Page A

the truck was to laugh. I liked that he could find the humor in that small accident, rather than cussing a blue streak as so many men would have done—not to mention the fact that his laughter sent a rush of tingles racing up and down my spine.
    No doubt I would regret my impulsiveness eventually—tomorrow perhaps, or maybe even for the rest of my life.
    But not today.
    Troy didn’t have to know what I was thinking about, and if I didn’t tell him, he never would. It would remain my dirty little secret. Besides, I wouldn’t have to keep that secret for long. Dusty’s leg wouldn’t take more than a couple of months to heal, and in the meantime I could certainly enjoy my eye-candy cowboy.
    â€œGuess I should be more careful. I don’t need two cowboys with broken legs.” Bringing the truck to a stop, I reached over to help him up. “Then again, you should’ve been wearing a seat belt, young man.” My firm, scolding tone was one sure way not to entice him into my bed. I might’ve been talking to one of my kids.
    He shook his head. “I’ve had worse falls off a horse. That was nothing.”
    â€œPut your seat belt on anyway,” I advised. “It gets pretty bumpy from here on. I try to avoid the potholes, but there are so many, I can’t miss them all. I was twelve years old the last time this road was actually paved, rather than patched. You’d think with all the property taxes we pay they could do better than that, but I’ve gone way past the point of expecting miracles.” A freshly paved road truly would be a miracle. Right up there with hell freezing over and handsome cowboys letting me suck them off.
    Troy fastened his safety belt without protest and eyed me expectantly. His expression was so innocent, I nearly laughed again. By this time, if he’d had any idea what I’d been thinking, he would have been in a state of sheer panic.
    I hesitated before continuing down the road. “You’re sure about this? Ever work on a ranch before?”
    â€œI grew up on a ranch,” he replied with a nod. “I know it’s not as glamorous as the rodeo, but I think I can handle it.”
    â€œI hope so.”
    For more reasons than one.

Chapter 3
    Traveling along such a rough road made conversation difficult, which left my mind free to consider what to do with my new stray.
    My first thought was that offering Troy a job might have been a mistake. As an employee, he would live in the bunkhouse with the other hands and be out working all day. If I kept him in the house, I’d see a lot more of him.
    I reminded myself that he still needed a few days for his feet to heal. During that time, I could indulge myself by nursing him back to health before I had to break down and actually make him work for his keep. Realistically, I couldn’t expect his blisters to heal up overnight, nor would it take a week before he could walk without pain.
    On the other hand, he might think there was something funny about staying in the house with Dad and me after he’d accepted the job. Dad might think there was something odd about it too.
    These and other points to ponder kept my mouth shut and my mind occupied during most of the drive. Fortunately, Troy had figured out I was the quiet type and wouldn’t assume I was ignoring him. I couldn’t decide how to relate to him. I wasn’t old enough to be his mother, nor was I his contemporary. Being employer and employee wasn’t much better. Thinking of us as friends was the best alternative I could come up with. I would be friendly with him—perhaps more so than with the other hands because I…
    Because I what ? Liked him more? Thought he was cuter? There had to be some explanation as well as a reason for allowing a total stranger into my home. I could say he was a distant cousin of a friend of mine, but that would be too easy to disprove if anyone decided to check into it.
    I