One Brave Cowboy by Kathleen Eagle

Author:Kathleen Eagle
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-08-26T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

There was no sneaking in and out at Logan and Mary Wolf Track’s home. The couple was outside playing ground games with their claybank mustang with flashy black mane and tail. Logan had the horse batting a big rubber ball around the paddock with his muzzle, much to the delight of his wife, who had devoted her professional life to training dogs. The honeymooners were “in the zone,” and Mark fairly glowed as he watched. Any minute he’s going to cheer, Celia told herself. She could almost hear his voice.

“Time out for substitutions,” Mary called out. “Mama needs rest.”

“Come on, Shoshoni, show us what you got.” Logan patted the super-size beach ball and beckoned Cougar. “The name of the game is Horse’s Pass.”

“I just started the book,” Cougar shouted. “Haven’t gotten to that chapter yet? Are you in the pictures? ’Cause if this gets out, you won’t make the Indian Cowboy Hall of Fame.” But one look at the excitement in Mark’s face had Cougar vaulting over the fence. He reached back over for Mark. “You and me, partner. What we’ve got is game.”

“What would you like to drink?” Mary asked Celia as they hiked themselves up on the open tailgate of Logan’s pickup. Mary reached into a small cooler. “The choices are juice and water. And I have crackers and fruit. Try some strawberries.” She offered up a pint box. “Please help me with these. It’s like eating flavored packing peanuts, but don’t tell Logan. He thinks he’s getting me fresh fruit. He’s forgotten what local fruit tastes like.” She nodded toward the paddock, calling attention to the boys, the horse and their big red ball. “It looks like Cougar has a new tail.”

“Simpatico,” Celia mused as she bit into a nearly flavorless red and white strawberry. “I’ve never seen Mark take to anybody like this, especially after the accident.”

“Logan said it started with a near-accident.”

“No, I meant…”

Celia watched her son push the ball toward the horse, who whacked it right back and knocked the boy over like a bowling pin. She took a step toward the fence, but Mark came up grinning, and the words it started hit her between the eyes. The accident did not refer to the same seminal event for everybody.

“Well, yes,” she amended, “Mark ran out in front of Cougar’s pickup. He was chasing a cat. Cougar’s pickup sits up so high, he didn’t see him, but somehow he stopped the truck in time. It was pretty miraculous, actually.”

“It was Cougar. That sixth sense of his has saved a few lives, including his own.” Mary tossed half a strawberry into the grass and reached into the cooler without taking her eyes away from the game. “That is one brave cowboy.”

“He said he spent some time in a VA hospital.” Celia reached into the cooler for a cold bottle of cranberry juice. “I know he’s struggling with his own demons. He doesn’t need Mark’s.”

“Oh, but he’ll gladly take them on. He’s been decorated, too. One medal he has that I don’t want is a Purple Heart.

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