His Outback Cowgirl (Wildflower Ranch Book 4) Read Online Free

front of him to follow Rocket. Ethan looked beyond the dogs to where a pasture usually housed three horses. “To think I was worried Henry would drive the truck while I was in town. Somehow he’s made it past the barn and brought the horses in.”
    “It does beat doing crosswords.” Amusement threaded her words and she arched a fine brow at his unspoken question. “Unless you wear heavy tortoise shell reading glasses, I know Henry’s the one going stir-crazy and doing a crossword every day.”
    Ethan matched her grin and led the way around the side of the large red barn. “If you knew Henry was doing the crosswords why agree to let me come with you?”
    Bridie didn’t immediately answer. She stopped at the corral fence and gazed at the huge bay gelding who shuffled over to them.
    “To be honest, I don’t know. Henry is very different to my father but there’s something about his eyes that reminds me of my dad when he’d been in hospital too long.”
    Ethan nodded and rubbed Captain’s glossy neck. Henry had mentioned Bridie’s father had passed away last spring after a long illness.
    “I’m sorry to hear about your father.”
    She stroked Captain’s nose. “Thanks.”
    She didn’t need to look at him for Ethan to perceive the grim hold grief continued to hold on her. Sadness thickened her voice. She lowered her arm and turned to look at the mountains. The breeze whipped her long hair across her cheek hiding her expression but all Ethan needed to see was the rigid line of her shoulders angled toward the peaks.
    He’d been right. Something else besides taking photographs lured Bridie to the wilderness. After he’d lost his mother he’d headed into the Colorado Rocky Mountains to deal with his anguish. Bridie too must yearn to be amongst the mountains where the stars seemed an arm’s reach away and heaven even closer.
    “It wasn’t so long ago that I worried about my own father.” Her words were so soft the wind reduced them to a whisper. “We don’t have to leave Friday if you’re concerned about Henry.”
    “Friday will be fine. We both know Henry will drive the truck come hell or high water.” He hesitated. Bridie’s pride wouldn’t appreciate him being privy to the real reason behind her mountain trip but he could ease her pain where possible. It was solitude she needed, not company. “You mentioned being away for a week, maybe we could cut that down to two nights. That way I can be back to keep an eye on Henry and then you’ll be free to make a second trip alone sooner.”
    She didn’t glance at him as her restless fingers braided Captain’s mane. “Good idea. Two nights it is, and then I’ll head off on my own for a week.”
    The wind toyed with the wide brim of his Stetson. He scanned the sky. While still a clear blue above them, ominous clouds clustered around the peaks to their right. If Bridie was going to take a ride, she’d have to do so now.
    “Let’s introduce you to Molly and Socks and see which horse might suit? Henry mentioned the mustang, Molly, but she’s young and spirited; you might find Socks a better mount for riding where there are no trails.”
    Bridie nodded and without a look across to the gun-metal grey clouds, she strode toward a corral where three horses stood. Milo and Rocket bounded in front of her, Milo nipping at Rocket’s neck. Ethan remained still. Captain blew a warm breath on his cheek but he didn’t move.
    The rhinestones on Bridie’s cowgirl belt shimmered and danced. Ethan’s gaze focused on the neat curves filling out her tight denim below the leather but his thoughts remained on the sparkle of light.
    He was a plain and conservative belt guy. A steady and boring guy who’d scan the sky every ten minutes to make sure they avoided the approaching storm. Bridie was as beautiful and as unpredictable as the light that flashed from her belt. Impulsive and spontaneous, she’d leap before she looked. It was no surprise she wasn’t content taking