Bad In Boots: Colt's Choice Read Online Free Page B

in a no- nonsense manner before they saddled their horses and rode out.
    When they reached the area of the fence that needed repairs, Colt got off his horse. As she followed suit, he said, “Fences are checked often, especially after a rain in case the fencepost loosens in the mud.”
    He handed her a pair of working gloves. “Here, put these on.”
    She complied and waited for Colt to give her further instructions. He moved over to the fence and pointed out the broken barbed wire. “See this, we constantly watch for broken wire or we could take a chance on having the cattle roam free.”
    He hunkered down and indicated for Elise to do the same. Colt pulled on another pair of gloves and used a tool he called a carpenter’s wrecking bar—a crowbar—to hook a barb on the shorter broken strand and pull it taut using the post for leverage.
    Nodding to his saddle he said, “Get the staple gun out of my saddle bag and staple this side down.”
    Elise retrieved the staple gun and stapled the wire against the fence post.
    Colt took the extra wire he’d brought and wound it around the broken wire several times until they were completely spliced. His quick, efficient movements showed his familiarity with even the most basic of chores. Once he’d stretched that wire in the same fashion, he had Elise staple it to the opposite post. When he finished, he stood on the wire saying, “It’s done right if the new wire can withstand your weight without slipping.” Once he stepped down, he turned to her and handed her the crowbar-like tool. “Now, it’s your turn to repair the other snapped wire.”
    She arched an eyebrow but didn’t say a word as she took the tool from him. Moving closer to the fence, she started to repair another section, employing the same methods she’d seen him use. After she and Colt had attached the first short wire and she moved on to tackle splicing a longer length to the broken wire, he stood behind her, watching her movements.
    “No, Elise, like this,” he said. He put his arms around her, manipulating her hands with the barbed wire.
    Heat radiated from his body as he pressed against her back. He smelled of outdoors and leather and faintly of soap. She had to remind herself to concentrate on the task at hand while Colt showed her how to work with the barbed wire. The whole experience felt a little awkward with knowledgeable hands working with unknowledgeable ones. As they manipulated the wire, a spiked barb snapped around and caught Elise’s wrist, causing her to bite back a cry of pain.
    Colt dropped the tool and quickly turned her to face him. He pulled his gloves off, and threw them to the ground before he reached for her hand. As he slid her glove off, blood welled from the torn gash on her wrist. “I’m sorry, Elise,” he said, his tone regretful as he pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket and dabbed at her wrist.
    She tried to pull her hand away. “It’s okay, Colt. It was an accident.”
    Colt held fast to her hand and looked into her eyes, his blue ones full of concern. “When was the last time you had a tetanus shot?”
    Tiny jolts of electricity moved up her arm at his touch. She returned his gaze. “Last year, so there’s no need to worry.”
    He searched her gaze and then ordered in a gruff tone, “Keep that on your wrist until it stops bleeding.” He picked up his gloves. “I’ll finish up.”
    “Uh-uh. I started it, I’ll finish it.” Elise quickly wrapped the handkerchief around her wrist and used her teeth to secure it in a knot.
    With swift movements, she pulled on her gloves and held her hand out for the tool, smiling up at him. Colt’s blue gaze held grudging respect as he put the wrecking bar in her hand.
    It was after 2:00 p.m. before Elise entered the kitchen at the ranch house. An older woman looked up from shucking corn, a questioning look in her chocolate brown eyes.
    “Hi, I’m Elise Hamilton.” She stuck out her hand.
    The woman wiped her hands off