Grace and the Cowboy by Mary Anne Wilson

Author:Mary Anne Wilson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-10-05T19:16:31+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

MAX KNEW HOW true her words were. The past was done. It never changed. There was no way to edit anything. And he could see how much it bothered Grace to not understand why Marty had done what he’d done. He couldn’t give her answers to her questions, just guesses.

“If you’d like, I can change the combination on the safe or find someone to do it.”

“No, thanks. It is what it is.”

“Maybe an early night will help.”

“Maybe so,” she said on a heavy sigh.

He almost told her he’d make tea, but he knew she wanted him to leave. She was too polite to tell him to go away. He’d promised Marty to help Grace, not smother her. He eased to his feet and put his hat back on. “I’ll be heading out.”

Grace stayed sitting as she crooked her neck to look up at him. “Max? Can I ask you something? If it’s too personal, I understand completely, but I was wondering if Uncle Martin mentioned me at all in the letter he left for you.”

He didn’t know what answer she wanted: that he’d mentioned her, or that he didn’t mention her at all. Then he thought of one mention that he should have told her on the way back from the ranch. “Yes, he did. He wanted me to make sure you got Rebel, if you really wanted him. A cowboy always takes better care of his horse than himself, and he always took great care of Rebel.”

That seemed to distract her. “Cowboy? Uncle Martin?”

He liked the idea that her emotions were so easy to read. Happiness when she found out about Rebel. Surprise, happiness, a bit of sadness having to leave him there, and now, disbelief that her uncle would be considered a cowboy.

“You didn’t think Marty was a cowboy out here?”

“I thought he did all of this. I never thought he’d have time to do cowboy things.”

He chuckled at that. “What do you consider cowboy things?”

“You know, taking care of cows and horses and plowing.”

“He didn’t own any cows, but he plowed and cleared land, and he rode Rebel every chance he got. He loved riding.”

“I’ve always loved the idea of a horse, and when you’re young anything seems possible. It didn’t matter that I lived in a hotel suite.” Thankfully, she was almost smiling now, even if her voice was tinged with sarcasm when she said, “I would have settled for a stuffed horse.”

“You finally have a horse.”

She stood slowly and looked up at him. “Because of you,” she said and unexpectedly reached out and hugged him.

He froze for a second, and when he finally realized he wanted to hug her back, she was moving away. “What was that for?”

She actually blushed. “I’m just happy and you made it happen. I can’t wait for tomorrow to go to your ranch to ride him.”

What he needed right then was to leave, to go out into the cold air and think straight. To be a friend to Grace was his goal, but he wasn’t stepping over the line.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.