More Than a Cowboy by Susan Hornick

Author:Susan Hornick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2008-11-22T05:00:00+00:00

It was dark when Haley pulled back into Jared’s drive and cut the engine. A single, low burning light came from her bedroom window—a beacon in a storm. Walt’s crumpled body and Adele’s stricken face brought back vivid memories of Mitch lying in the arena. She needed to make sure Walt was all right, to somehow explain without causing him any more hurt.

She got out and rushed for the porch, then caught sight of a huge shape looming along the fence beside the house. Anxiety swamped her. She reached for the doorknob, hoping it wasn’t locked.

“Haley, wait.”

Jared’s voice stopped her cold. He urged the horse into the light and paused beside the porch.

“I shouldn’t have run off,” she said retracing her steps.

“No. You shouldn’t have.” His gaze bored into her, stretching her nerves like barbed wire to a post. “Walt asked for you all afternoon. He’s afraid you’re going to take Sarah and go into hiding. Is he right?”

Heat crept up Haley’s neck. She was grateful that her back was to the light so he couldn’t see the truth in his words.

“Walt’s okay then?”

“Yes. Are you going to answer my question?”

“No.”

She could feel his agitation. “I think you just did. So is Walt why you came back?”

She nodded.

Jared crossed his arms on top of the saddle horn and leaned forward. “Are you prepared to answer his questions without putting any more stress on him?”

“Do I have a choice? You’re the one who forced me to come here, so don’t put all the blame on me. You wanted him to know. Now he knows.”

“I wanted Sarah to come with you. Look, Haley, we can play the blame game all night and never resolve it. Walt knows, so you know what comes next. And I’m warning you, it isn’t running.”

She moved to the horses side and absently stroked the powerful neck. “I don’t want to hurt Walt any more than you want to see him hurt. I don’t think I can finish this.”

“I will never be finished, Haley. Not now. You closed the door on that.”

She met his gaze and backed away. “You have a right to be angry with me, but my first consideration is still my daughter. And she doesn’t know.”

Jared heaved a sigh. “Then it’s time she did.” He shifted his weight.

“You messed things up.” Her voice sounded small, even to her own ears.

Jared’s eyes softened. “And your method of delivery is a little unorthodox.”

“I’m sorry.” Panic rushed to her throat. “I thought something had happened. I should…talk to Walt and Adele now.” The horse lowered his head. She rubbed the sensitive pressure points behind his ears wishing Jared would dismount and not tower over her like a lion waiting for a meal.

“When you do, do you think you could manage to be a little less diplomatic?”

Her eyes flew to his face. He smiled and she realized he was trying to lighten the tension. She relaxed a little, then scuffed her toe in the dirt. “I failed Tact and Diplomacy 101,” she countered.

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