Page 41 of Cowboy Stole My Heart
Chapter 11
MIAwatched Sam, admiring the way he had the stallion moving around him. It was impossible to believe that this was the same horse who’d been effectively blacklisted by everyone on the ranch. She glanced skyward, imagining Kimberley looking down and watching, smiling at her beautiful Tex finally finding his way back from the brink. He wasn’t perfect, but he was behaving better than she’d seen him since the accident.
“He’s doing a damn fine job.”
Mia turned, face breaking out into a smile when she saw her brother standing there. “Hey, Tanner,” she said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Good to see you home in one piece.”
“Just here for the night,” he said, kissing her back. Her brother was big and burly, but to her he was like a big teddy bear. Not so to anyone else who came across him, but he’d always been sweet and protective of her, and she was closer to him than her other siblings. They were the black sheep, the ones who did their own thing instead of what their father wanted.
“You staying here?” she asked.
“Yeah, just the night. I’m riding later today.”
Tanner often stayed over at the ranch house, sometimes at her place, when he was traveling close to home. But he had his own place a couple hours’ drive away.
“Imagine my surprise when I look out this morning and see the horse whisperer trying to teach my little sister how to kiss?”
His smile was devilish, his eyes glinting. Mia didn’t hesitate in punching him, slamming her knuckles into his arm. He tensed, of course he couldn’t resist flexing his muscles, but she refused to react to the fact she almost broke her hand when she connected with his rock-hard flesh.
“Shut up,” she hissed.
“Hey, I’m not the one making out with the horseman in plain view of the house.”
“Hey.”
Sam was suddenly calling out, and she was standing between two men who were each probably as prone to bad behavior as the other. She wished the ground would just swallow her.
“Sam, this is my brother, Tanner,” she said sweetly. “Tanner, Sam. AKA the famous horseman.”
“Nice to meet you,” Tanner said. “You’ve sure got the big guy eating out of your hands. Good work.”
Sam nodded and shook his hand. Mia wondered if he’d realized Tanner was her brother straight away. She doubted he was ready to finish working Tex, but he’d quickly made his way over anyway.
“Yeah, we’re making some good progress. He’s all kinds of messed up, but he’s starting to listen to me, and that’s a good starting point.”
“Looks like you were trying to teach my little sister some tricks this morning, too?” Tanner said, crossing his arms across his broad chest.
Mia looked between her brother and Sam, horrified. “Tanner!” she gasped. “Enough. Get the hell out of here!”
“Hey, you’re my little sister. If I’m not looking out for you, who is?”
“Seems to me like your sister’s pretty damn capable of looking after herself, at least where I’m concerned,” Sam replied, surprising Mia with his calm words. “If there’s one thing you’ll learn about me, Tanner, it’s that I respect animalsandwomen. I don’t believe in taking advantage, and I sure as hell don’t ask anyone, especially a woman, to do anything they don’t want to do. We clear?”
Tanner grunted, his smile telling Mia just how much he was enjoying this exchange. “Well, alrighty then. Y’all have a great day.”
Mia shoved her brother, making him laugh, but he turned back and kissed her cheek again.
“See you around, sis.”
“Be careful today, Tan. One day…”
“Whoa, enough with the doom and gloom,” he said, holding up his hands and walking backwards. “I’ll be just fine. Ain’t no bull gonna take me down!”
Mia watched him go, wishing he’d give up the dangerous sport that he seemed to live for, but she knew it was his decision. There was nothing she or anyone else in his life could do to make him change his mind about his career choice.
“Your brother seems like a decent guy,” Sam said when she turned back to him.
“My brother seems like ajerk,” she corrected. “Don’t feel you have to hold back where he’s concerned, and ifyou happen to meet my other brother, Cody? He’s just as bad, so don’t say I didn’t warn you. The only difference between them is that one wears suits and the other lives in jeans and plaid.”
