Crazy For the Cowboy Read Online Free Page B

kept glancing at the newcomers as she talked. When she was finished, he focused his attention on her. “I’m sure this upsets you.”
    â€œYep.”
    â€œLet’s think about this logically, Georgie.” Clyde’s recent cataract surgery meant he didn’t have to wear glasses. His gaze was sharp and clear. “Your Ghost may be a little slower, but he’s smarter, too.”
    â€œI hope so.” She appreciated Clyde’s understanding more than she could say. Of all the people in town, he and Anastasia were the only two with some idea of what the horses meant to her. “And he’s not
my
Ghost. I don’t have any claim to him.”
    â€œNobody does, which is the point. But he’s your project, so that’s all I meant. I’m inclined to think Ike is right and this problem will take care of itself.”
    â€œThey’ve rented three of Ed’s horses. Vince did that a little while ago. They’re supposed to pick them up at six forty-five.”
    Raucous laughter erupted from the trio perched on the barstools.
    Clyde lifted his bushy white eyebrows. “Hear that?”
    â€œI know, but—”
    â€œIt’s the sound of happy cowboys tanked up on beer. They won’t be in any shape to round up a slow-moving armadillo at six forty-five in the morning, let alone a spirited animal like the Ghost. You can relax, Georgie. Your wild stallion is safe.”
    â€œOkay, Clyde. I bow to your experience in these matters.”
    â€œAnd we mustn’t forget that as long as they’re here, they’re spending money in Bickford. We get precious few visitors these days.”
    She sighed. “I know. I briefly thought about asking Ed not to provide them with horses, but Ed, like everybody around here, needs the money.”
    â€œWe all do—that’s for sure. Steve told me he’d rented three rooms this weekend, and I nearly fell over. I didn’t recognize the names, but now that I see them, I recognize the faces. Whenever those three came into town, the bar tabs at Sadie’s doubled. They were a draw.”
    â€œGuess so.”
    He gazed at the men sitting at the bar. “I’d sure love to have those days back.”
    â€œWithout an operation like the Double J, I don’t know how we can generate the same kind of excitement.”
    â€œI’m well aware of that. Inez, bless her heart, keeps suggesting that we have a bake sale, or enlist all the women in town to make quilts and sell those. I don’t know how to tell her that those wouldn’t generate the kind of revenue required. We need something more dramatic than that if we expect to turn things around.”
    â€œI know, and I’ve been racking my brain to come up with proposals for Monday night’s meeting.”
    He turned to her, his expression eager. “And?”
    â€œNada.”
    His shoulders slumped. “Yeah, me, either. There has to be an answer, but I’ll be damned if I can come up with one.”
    â€œI don’t know how Steve and Myra manage to keep the hotel afloat,” Georgie said. “With the general store I can count on the people in town to buy basic supplies. It’s not a lot of income, but it has to be better than sitting with empty hotel rooms night after night.”
    â€œThey wouldn’t make it except for the saloon, and the guys and I do our part with the poker game every night. We usually order plenty of drinks and snacks. What, with our retirement income, we’re the richest folks in town.” He glanced toward the bar again. “These cowboys showing up will give Steve a temporary boost. Sure, it’s not enough to save the day, but it keeps him solvent for a little longer.”
    â€œYou’re right, and I don’t want to bite the hand that feeds us, so to speak, but couldn’t they just stay here and drink and forget about chasing the Ghost?”
    Clyde smiled at her. “I