Painted Montana Sky: A Montana Sky Series Novella by Debra Holland

Author:Debra Holland [Holland, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Western
ISBN: 1481816942
Goodreads: 22065388
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2012-12-22T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

The sun dropped lower and the shadows lengthened. From the corner of her eye, Lily caught a glimpse of movement on the road to the house. She took a closer look.

Tyler approached on Domino. Next to him, a teenage boy rode a black horse and led a buckskin by the reins. The sight of another boy driving a small buggy hitched to a tiny brown horse made her gasp. “Whatever is that?”

Oliver stood. “Pa and Jack and Tim!” He abandoned her to race over to the group.

Lily set her charcoal stick in the easel’s rack. Stiff from sitting with Oliver on her lap, she rose and limped to follow the boy.

Tyler held up his hand to stay her and nudged Domino in her direction. He had the biggest smile she’d ever seen on his face, and her heart couldn’t help but warm in response.

He reined in before her and dismounted. “I have a surprise for you, Lily.” He tipped up his hat, exposing more of his face.

“For me?” Her heart beat a bit faster

“I’ve borrowed Mrs. Thompson’s little buggy and her Falabella stallion, Chico, for you.”

“For me?” Puzzled, Lily could only repeat herself.

Tyler took her hand, tucked it into the crook of his arm, and led her to the buggy. “So you can drive around the ranch to get to those flowers you want to paint.”

Speechless, Lily stared at the adorable small horse, then back at Tyler.

His grin crinkled the skin around his eyes. Tapping her on the nose, he tilted his head in the direction of the buggy. “Come meet Chico.”

One boy stayed on his horse. The other, driving the buggy, set the brake, and climbed out, holding the reins.

A quick glance showed her the two were identical twins. Normally, the artist in her would have wanted to study them, figure out the differences in their faces, but now the little horse captured her attention.

Chico tossed his head, as if preening.

“I’ve never seen the like.”

The boy motioned her to come closer. “You can pet him, ma’am. He’s a Falabella. My mama brought him and the mares all the way from Argentina.”

Unable to resist, Lily stepped forward and ran her hand over the stallion’s head and rubbed behind his ears.

The horse stretched his neck.

“You’re so beautiful,” she murmured to him. “I’m very pleased to meet you.” She looked up at the boy holding Chico’s head.

His green eyes sparkled with pride. “Everyone’s always taken with him. He sure likes the attention. Mama calls him a showman.”

“That he is. You’ll have to forgive me for not introducing myself. I’m Miss Maxwell.”

“Jack Cassidy Thompson.” He pointed to the boy on the horse. “That’s my brother, Tim.”

She nodded to the other twin.

“Now, Miss Maxwell, you just climb into the buggy,” Jack said. “We’ll see how you’ll do.”

Butterflies flew around her stomach.

Tyler stepped forward to hand her into the conveyance. Once she settled in, Jack passed her the reins. “You done any driving, Miss Maxwell?”

“I had a pony cart when I was younger.”

“Then you know just what to do.

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.