Family of Her Dreams by Keli Gwyn

Author:Keli Gwyn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The pounding of Tess’s heart rivaled the pounding of the bull’s hooves as it raced toward the station. What would happen if Spencer couldn’t stop the huge animal in time? She’d heard of men who’d been killed by raging bulls.

She grabbed Luke by the hand and rushed the children to safety behind a nearby freight wagon.

Spencer recoiled his rope, formed a larger loop than Tess had ever seen him throw and spun it as he raced after the bull.

Lord, help him stop that brute.

When Spencer was within a few feet of the charging creature, he sent his lasso sailing.

Tess held her breath.

The loop caught not one, but both horns.

Spencer whipped the end of his lariat around his saddle horn, grabbed the rope and, with a series of clever maneuvers, steered the rampaging bull away from town and back toward the ranch. At the speed they were traveling, it would be some time before their pace slowed.

Peter loped over to Tess and the children. “Are you all right?”

She drew in a shaky breath. “We’re fine, but thank you for checking on us.”

“Spence sure knows his way around a rope, doesn’t he? I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Luke chimed in. “Papa’s the best roper ever. He’s teaching me.”

“So I hear. Heard tell he’s been teaching you, too, Tess.”

“She’s no good,” Luke scoffed. “She can’t get her loop around anything.”

Peter quirked an eyebrow. “Hasn’t your papa taught you it’s not nice to talk about a lady that way?”

“She’s not a lady. She’s just Te—” Luke slammed his mouth shut and stormed off, kicking a stone.

“Polly said the boy’s got it in for you. What do you aim to do about it?”

“Bide my time. And pray.”

Peter removed his sweat-stained derby and passed a sleeve over his damp forehead. “I’d best do some praying myself. Don’t think Spence is going to take too kindly to having his bull bust out of the car like that after I told him we had things under control. He’s counting on the big fellow to launch his cattle-ranching empire. Can’t see what the draw is myself. I’d take railroading over ranching any day.” One of his men hollered for him, and he returned to his work.

“Come on, Luke,” Tess called. “I have an errand to run before we head back to the ranch.”

Minutes later she entered the general store. The friendly owner greeted her. “Afternoon, Miss Grimsby. What can I do for you?”

Tess shifted Lila from one hip to the other. “I’d like some sturdy fabric in colors suitable for an active young boy.”

“Master Luke’s getting some new togs, is he?”

She glanced at Luke, who was engrossed in the toy display, and lowered her voice. “He doesn’t know what I have in mind, and I’d prefer to keep it that way. If he were to find out, he’d pester me endlessly.”

Mr. Hawkes chuckled. “I didn’t have a whole lot of patience when I was his age, either. Let’s see how soon we can get you out of here then, shall we?” The proprietor cut and wrapped her selections quickly.

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