The Bull Rider Meets His Match Read Online Free

The Bull Rider Meets His Match
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disposal.”
    â€œBig plans?”
    â€œI promised Jared I’d bring quiet horses to the Kids’ Club riding lessons that start this weekend.” Her only cousin, a single dad, worked long hours in a machine shop during the week and then volunteered for the local recreation program on his weekends. “After all the help he gave me after Dad died, I figured it was the least I could do.”
    â€œAre you helping with lessons?”
    â€œJust providing mounts. Jared has high school kids helping with lessons.” Lex frowned at Danielle. “Where is Kelly?” Who was the kind of person who never missed work, never missed a meeting.
    Danielle’s mouth flattened as she said, “Job interview.”
    Lex set her cup back on the saucer. “No.”
    â€œAfraid so. County courthouse. Primo benefits.”
    â€œWow.” They paid Kelly fairly well but weren’t in a position to offer anything better than bare-bones benefits. “What now?”
    â€œShe’ll know tomorrow if she gets the job and has promised to do everything she can to help us find someone.”
    â€œI don’t think we can find someone like her.” Kelly made every customer feel special, even the crotchety ones like Mrs. Lacombe, who came to browse and complain about prices at least once a week.
    â€œI know,” Danielle said wearily, “but we have to think about what’s best for Kelly.”
    * * *
    O F COURSE K ELLY got the job. Danielle called later in the afternoon to break the news to Lex, who was just heading out to feed.
    â€œI can help out at the store until we get someone.” Lex loved stocking the store and guiding the business decisions, but she wasn’t the warm and fuzzy people person that Kelly and Danielle were. She’d been in deep mourning for her father when she and Danielle started the business, and because of that, Danielle had taken charge of the day-to-day operations. She also pulled in a larger percentage of the proceeds. It worked well. Danielle had more income and Lex had the time she needed to focus on her farm.
    â€œI have an idea,” Danielle said slowly. “What do you think of interviewing Annie Owen?”
    â€œAnnie Owen?” Lex barely kept herself from saying, Are you nuts? Instead she said, “Why Annie?”
    â€œHer name is perfect. Annie?” Lex rolled her eyes and waited for the real reason. “We know her. She needs a full-time job. It would help her and it would help us.”
    And also bring Grady, Annie’s brother, firmly back into Danielle’s sphere.
    â€œBut,” Danielle said, “if you have a problem with hiring her, I won’t call.”
    Lex could almost hear her dad saying, Step back , as he often did when Lex felt the urge to fix matters that weren’t necessarily her concern. She liked Annie Owen, had nothing against her, except for her brother. And honestly, the only thing she had against him was that he’d been utterly selfish in regards to her friend.
    Let things play out. Stop trying to save everyone.
    Fine. She’d back off...but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t remain vigilant. She smiled at Danielle and gave a dismissive shrug. “If you’re good with it, I’m good with it.”
    â€œIf you’re concerned about me and Grady, don’t be. I went to see him.”
    â€œI figured you would.”
    â€œYes. And I felt...nothing.” Danielle gave a small shrug. “I’d bet the store that Grady felt the same.”
    â€œWell...that’s good news.” Very good news. No more worrying about her friend getting mixed up with a selfish bull rider.
    â€œIt is. And now there’s no reason not to hire Annie.”
    Lex gave a slow nod. “I agree.”
    â€œGreat. I’ll see if she wants to meet us at the store tomorrow.”
    * * *
    â€œA RE YOU SURE about this?” Annie asked, casting Grady a concerned look as she
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