Cowboy Kisses Read Online Free

out there six days a week ? You have to be kidding! ”
    Mr. Sullivan frowned at him. “ That’s enough, Adam. These are difficult times for all of us. ”
    “ Your father’s right, ” Mrs. Sullivan agreed. “ We'll all have to pitch in and lend a hand. In fact , I’ve made up a cooking schedule. We'll each take turns cooking dinner during the week …”
    Adam groaned. “ Cooking? Give me a break! ”
    “ For how long? ” Kenzie asked, annoyed at the thought of permanent kitchen duty along with the other responsibilities they had been given.
    “ At least until some attitudes change around here, ” Mr. Sullivan snapped. “ I don’t think your mother's asking much of you two, unless doing household chores causes some terminal illness in teenagers that I'm not aware of. ”
    Kenzie stared wide-eyed at her father. She couldn't remember the last time he'd raised his voice. She didn’t feel hungry anymo re, espe cially when the conversation turned to her dad's problems in dealing with dissatisfie d Sullivan Electronics clients.
    After dinner and dishes, Kenzie went back to the tedious task of sorting through the stack of newspapers.
    “ Finally! ” she exclaimed when she saw the article headlined THERAPY ON HORSEBACK . Quickly she retied the bundle and took the paper to her room. Sitting on the floor, she spread the newspaper out in front of her and began to read the article:
     
    The Lucky R Ranch, owned and operated by Hank Rudloff, provides a unique and beneficial therapy for students from the Valley Handicapped Association. At the Luc ky R, traditional physical ther apy has been replaced by a horse and specially trained riding instructors.
    While these riding sessions exercise unused muscles and improve balance and strength, equally important is the psychological growth gained by the riders.
    “ On e of the main purposes of thera peutic riding, ” Rudloff states, “ is to give the disabled confidence in themselves and their capabilities. ”
    Steve Calvert, one of Rudloff’s top instructors, adds, “ Our students do as much as possible for themselves. Every accomplishment, no matter how small, helps de velop confidence and build self- esteem. ”
     
    Kenzie glanced at the photos placed throughout the article. Under one picture, the caption read: “ Neil Taylor, 9, gets help with his riding skills from his Lucky R instructor, Steve Calvert. ” Despite the graininess of the black and-white image, Steve looked relaxed and handsome. He was even smiling.
    Imagine that! Kenzie thought. There is a pleasant side to Deputy Ramrod!
    Another photograph showed a teenage girl leading three saddled, riderless horses from the ba rn . “ The program uses calm animals that will be patient with riders who might not have complete balance or dexterity control, ” the caption said. “ Some horses are rejected be cause they are too lively for handicapped riders.”
    The other p hotos were close-ups of the stu dents, all smiling and clearly pleased with themselves. “ ‘ Each student wears a helmet and uses a modified English saddle,’” Kenzie read aloud, “ ‘rather than a Western saddle, whose pommel and horn can get in the way off exercises.’ ”
    The rest of the article told about the Valley Handicapped Association’s fund-raising efforts to keep the riding program going.
    With a final look at Steve’s picture, Kenzie carefully tore out the article and put it into the drawer of her nightstand. She’d reread it sev eral times over the weekend so that everything would be fresh in her mind when she went to work Monday morning.
    Adam’s loud knock sounded on Kenzie’s door and he walked uninvited into her room. He tossed a sheet of paper at her. “ Our cooking schedule, courtesy of Dad. ”
    Kenzie looked at the calendar printed on her father’s computer. “ I can’t cook on Monday! ” she complained. “ That’s my first day at work. I’ll be too tired. ”
    “ Tough. ” Adam wasn’t the least bit