Cowboy Dad by Cathy McDavid

Author:Cathy McDavid [McDavid, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-11-19T23:00:00+00:00

“THAT’S A BEAUTIFUL horse you’re riding.” The woman was referring to Dollar. Her attention, however, was riveted on Aaron. Mostly on his face. Once or twice her gaze wandered to the rest of him, particularly the lower half.

“Thanks.”

“Is he yours or does he belong to the ranch?”

“He’s mine.” For the moment, they were riding side by side. In the places where the trail narrowed, he would drop into line behind her. With any luck, another such spot would appear soon.

“Have you owned him long?”

Her enraptured expression was beginning to make him uncomfortable. “Ten years.”

“What color do you call that?”

“Bay.” Aaron purposefully kept his answers short so as not to encourage her attempts at flirtation, and his manner friendly so as not to offend or anger her. She was an attractive woman and obviously conscientious about her appearance. Also, a better rider than she let on. Lack of confidence maybe. More likely she wanted an excuse to stick close to the wranglers.

A week in the company of paying guests, and Aaron had already started lumping them into categories. When he mentioned this to his bunkmates, Randy just laughed and congratulated him on becoming a true member of the hospitality industry.

“Have you worked here long?” the woman asked.

“About a month.”

“Is that all?” She lifted her sunglasses off her face to give Aaron a peek at her eyes. They were a nice shade of blue. Not nearly as vivid as Natalie’s.

Aaron must have inadvertently pulled back on the reins, because Dollar came to an abrupt halt. He gave the horse a nudge. “Walk on, boy.”

Dollar shook his head as if confused.

He wasn’t the only one. There had been a time when Aaron compared every woman he encountered to Hailey. How soon after he arrived at Bear Creek Ranch had that changed? When he met Natalie? Hugged her at the awards ceremony? Kissed her later that same night?

“Hey. Did you nod off on me?” The woman’s jest bordered on accusing.

“Sorry.” He touched the brim of his hat. “If you’ll excuse me. One of the other riders has a saddle slipping.”

He trotted alongside the string of ranch horses and caught up with a guest he picked at random from the group. He instructed the guy on how to shift his weight and straighten a saddle that really wasn’t slipping. All so he could escape the attention of a woman whose blue eyes didn’t captivate him like Natalie’s did.

“Thanks, pal,” the guy said, happy to be out of a danger he was never in to begin with.

The day was especially gorgeous and warm for mid-March. It had also been a long day for Aaron. This trail ride was his third in a row. He’d gotten up early, too, after arriving home late from the rodeo.

No, not the rodeo. A country-western bar. Garth, Lonnie and a whole bunch of his old friends talked him into going with them to the Ponderosa Palace. Not since before he met Hailey had Aaron done anything like that. His lack of

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