The Cowboy and the Girl in the Hot Pink Chaps by Maggie Carpenter

Author:Maggie Carpenter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Maggie Carpenter
Published: 2015-04-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The day had turned hot and sunny. Dusty had pulled her hair up under her cowboy hat, and donned wide, dark sunglasses. With her light eyes and fair complexion she had to be careful. Sun headaches could plague her during the summer, and she burned easily.

It was nearing lunchtime, and with Patrick busy on the other side of the show grounds, she was working with one the young students, Amanda Peterson, who was competing in a western pleasure class. The girl’s mother was on hand, more than a hindrance than a help, along with several of Amanda’s friends.

“Perhaps you could watch over the brood for me, Mrs. Peterson,” Dusty suggested. “It’s hard to corral them and stay focused on Amanda at the same time.”

“Yes, of course,” the woman nodded, and rounding up the excited group, she moved them into the bleachers.

With the mother and children out of the way, Dusty walked into the warm-up ring. Amanda just needed a few helpful hints, and if she listened, Dusty was confident she’d be in the ribbons.

She made her way carefully through the riders and horses to reach her young student waiting on the opposite side of the ring, but as she approached her eyes caught sight of a tall, thin, disheveled man wearing a baseball cap, and she could see was looking directly at her. Lifting her glasses and peering across at him, her heart skipped a beat. It was the rude, scary man she and Matt had run across at the lake property that morning.

What the blazes is here doing here, and why is he staring at me?

“Dusty? What did you want to tell me?” the young girl asked breaking into her thoughts.

“Sorry, honey. Don’t perch on your toes. Remember what we said in our lesson? Keep your toes up and heels down, otherwise you look like a clown.”

Amanda burst into a fit of giggles, which was why Dusty had repeated the humorous rhyme. It made the girls laugh, and laughing relaxed them. Glancing over the horse to see if the man was still there, she caught her breath. He was crooking his finger at her, beckoning her to join him.

What the hell? Why does he want to talk to me? He doesn’t even know who I am. Shit. Should I go? There are people everywhere. He can’t hurt me. Maybe I’d better find out what the hell he wants.

“Just walk and trot around for a minute,” she said looking up to Amanda. “I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be fine,” the girl assured her. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Of course you do,” Dusty smiled.

Heart thumping, Dusty strode from the ring, determined to show no fear, but as she ducked under the fence she could feel herself trembling.

This is totally weird. Totally, totally weird. Maybe I should call Patrick. No, he’s busy. I should call Matt, but what good would that do? I’ll just see what he wants, but how does he even know me?

“You’re the girl who stole my horse,” he scowled as she approached.

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