Julianne lit up like a firecracker. She turned her bright face on Megan. "CouldI?"
"Oh, honey. You don't even know how toride."
Juliannefrowned.
When the first girl, who was about Brady's age, came flying out of the gate, low on her horse's back, Megan knew she'd been right to discourageJulianne.
At that speed, one slip from the saddle, and a little girl could have a traumatic braininjury.
They weren't even wearinghelmets!
Megan fought the urge to cover her eyes as girl after girl raced out, looped their horses around three barrels, and then raced back through thegate.
It was like watching a scary movie. She couldn't lookaway.
The third annualTriple H spring rodeo was in full swing. Dan had no idea what he wasdoing.
Nate had put him in charge of manning the chute for the steers they'd use in the calf mugging and later for the big bulls. It was hot, and he'd been slobbered and snotted on by two steersalready.
The gate clanged open, and he swatted the steer's rump, not that it needed any extra encouragement. It ran into the arena, and he closed the gate, then ushered in the nextanimal.
He needed to brush his teeth. He’d eaten a bushel of dust already and the night was young. The sun was barely setting. They hadn't kicked on the tall arena lightsyet.
He was itching between his shoulder blades again. Had pulled his Stetson down low over his eyes. His ears werehot.
This many folks fromtown...
He felt the weight of several dozen stares. Knew they were all talking about him. Waiting for him to screw upagain.
Maybe he would. But nottonight.
Hewouldn't.
Even if he had to stay on the ranch twenty-fourseven.
Fifteen minutes ago, he'd overheard one of the bull riders chatting it up with Nate. And heard,"Why'd Hale hire him back on?"He’d known they were talking abouthim.
Nate's"No idea."had stung more than Dan wanted toadmit.
He'd been right about Nate. He would never forgive him. The foreman tolerated Dan but didn't speak to him if he didn't haveto.
He'd screwed up theirfriendship.
He needed to think about somethingelse.
Megan.
He'd seen the doctor show up with her charges almost an hour ago. They'd climbed onto the top of thebleachers.
For some reason, he couldn't seem to stop glancing her way. Unlike many of the folks in the crowd, she didn't seem to have visited the food truck that'd set up on the edge of the parking grounds. No sign of corn dogs or pretzels for her. Was she a health nut? Because of herprofession?
His curiosity about the good doctor couldn't be a good thing. He needed to keep his head down and remember the vow he'd made to himself. Pay back the Hales and get out. Even if it took him ten years. Or thirty. He was determined to doit.
But he also couldn't help noticing the way the doctor kept covering her eyes. Like right now, as the kid in the arena roped his calf and jumped off his horse. A glance in the stands revealed the doctor with both hands cupping the sides of her eyes,hiding.
Seriously?
She wasadorable.
