Page 22 of Catch Me, Cowboy
She kept her eyes on the lights of the truck. “Believe it or not, they are not unique.”
“You have more patience than I do.”
“In some ways.”
The horse let out a shrill whinny and was answered by almost every animal on the place.
Ty shook his head. “You probably know what I’m going to say next.”
“You think I should be careful with this horse.” She turned her head to meet his gaze.
“Something along those lines.”
“I plan to work him in the late afternoon. After you guys are home.”
“Do you want me to help you with him?”
She met his gaze and, for the first time since arriving on the ranch, her expression held no hint of defensiveness. “I want you within shouting distance.”
Ty gave a slow nod, feeling as if being in shouting distance wasn’t enough of a precaution.
“You don’t have to agree,” Shelby said in a low voice. “Gramps is still a decent hand with horses.”
“I’ll be around.” He didn’t want her taking on that horse alone. He didn’t want her taking it on at all.
“I appreciate it—to the point that I’m not going to tell you not to question my clients about their abilities.”
“Come on, Shelb… you needed to know her abilities.”
“I have a form they fill out and I’m capable of asking my own pertinent questions.” She glanced down at her watch then back up at him. “I’ve got to go. I’m going to be late as is. Those guys were supposed to deliver the horse an hour ago.”
“Your business in town?”
“A date, actually.”
His gut tightened. It wasn’t his business what Shelby did with her time, or who she saw. He’d given up the right to have any say in those matters four years ago, but hearing that she was going out bothered him.
“Someone I know?”
“I don’t think so. High school teacher. New this year.”
“So you haven’t been seeing each other long?”
Shelby didn’t clam up as he expected. “He hasn’t been in town for long, if that’s what you’re asking.” She studied the horse for a moment, watching as he pawed at the edge of the corral, then turned to Ty.
“Like I said, I’m running a little late. Thanks for helping out.”
She turned and walked toward the house and Ty stayed where he was, leaning on the fence and watching her perfect rear end as she strode away. It killed him to think of her going out tonight, even though she’d no doubt gone out many, many times while he’d been gone. But now that he was back, now that he had to stay on the sidelines and watch a situation he’d essentially created play out… it sucked.
Chapter Six
Shelby liked DanHamilton. She really did, but he didn’t send her hormones into overdrive, as Ty did. He didn’t make her want to find a dark corner and have him all to herself. He made her want to go bowling, which was exactly what they were doing.
Cassie was up, adjusting her stance as she studied the pins with laser-like focus. She took two steps, brought her arm back and sent the ball into the gutter. Cassie was one hell of carpenter, but she was really bad at bowling. And the beauty was that she didn’t care. Her bowling partner, Jess Evanston, with whom she worked, smacked his forehead in mock exasperation as the ball rolled harmlessly past the pins.
“Do you mind if I give you some pointers?” Dan asked.
“Point away,” Cassie said, laughing as she hoisted her ball up out of the return. “Not that it’ll do any good.”
