How to Marry a Cowboy by Cathy McDavid

Author:Cathy McDavid [McDavid, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-01-15T16:45:50+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

EVERY BONE IN Kenna’s body ached, and not just from the fall off Sideways Sam two days ago. She’d spent a full day teaching trick riding to her advanced students. They were good, the majority of them accomplished competitors, and considerably more demanding than her beginner students last weekend. Thanks to word of mouth, registration had picked up during the past week, and the class had reached maximum capacity.

With the higher level of skill and talent, Kenna had been required to demonstrate far more complex tricks. The hot shower and over-the-counter pain relievers she’d started her day with hadn’t lasted long. By midday, she was hiding her limp, downing more pain relievers and slathering oodles of ointment on her elbow and side during a lunch break in her trailer’s living quarters.

The only real escape from pain she enjoyed was during those frequent moments when she recalled kissing Channing. Yes, it was wrong. No, they shouldn’t have done it—they were only setting themselves up for misery. Yes, she’d treasure the memory always. And, yes, if things were different, she’d... What?

Travel less? Stay in Payson? Take up horse training like Channing had suggested? Teach more than the occasional Saturdays class?

Stop! What was she thinking? Leaving Madison and her other teammates in the lurch in order to pursue a romance wasn’t an option. Hoof Feats might—okay, would—eventually recover, but at a cost. Lost income for starters. Not to mention the hit to their reputation. Their sponsors had contracted with them expecting Kenna to be one of the two headliners.

Lost in thought, she exited the practice ring, Rocket Man ambling along beside her. She’d picked him rather than Zenith to use with the advanced students. Zenith’s poor arthritic joints would have prevented him from keeping up with the intense physical demands.

As if knowing he’d locked in his position as her new performance partner—Kenna had delivered the check to Rochelle two days ago—Rocket Man had been nothing short of perfect today, exceeding all her expectations and proving she’d chosen wisely.

True, her heart ached a little at not being able to use her beloved Zenith anymore, but the old horse would travel with her until that became impossible. Eventually, someday, she’d find a nice place with open pastures where he could live out the remainder of his days in comfort. Here at Rim Country? Channing took excellent care of the old folks. He would take excellent care of Zenith, too.

Kenna pushed the thought away. She and her best equine buddy still had many months left to travel the country. Unless she stayed in Payson...which she wasn’t doing. No point entertaining fanciful notions.

“Kenna! I just wanted to say thanks so much.”

Rousing herself, she peered over Rocket Man’s neck and spotted one of her students. “Hi, Piper. You’re very welcome.”

The high school senior caught up with her. “You have a minute to talk to me and my parents?”

“Sure.” All Kenna wanted was to put Rocket Man away, limp home and hit the shower again. But business came first.

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