Rough Cowboy Read online

  In the days that followed her initial doubts loomed large. The entire encounter had been odd, but she wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to be with Bonny again. They shared a rare and wonderful bond, and she was hopeful she’d find a way to make the mare her own.

  As she drove toward the house, she spied Brad waving her forward, then turning off the water. Pulling to a stop near his truck, she climbed from her car, and crouched down as his adorable dog raced up to meet her.

  “Hello again,” she said happily. Crouching down to pet him, she read the tag on his collar. “Catch! What a cute name. Do you have a ball for me to throw?”

  Immediately sprinting off to the porch, the excited pooch picked up a rubber bone and raced it back to her.

  “Ah, the word throw,” she said with a grin. “Okay, got it.”

  She stood up and tossed the toy; he dashed after it, and with a mighty leap, he snatched it from the air.

  “Impressive,” she exclaimed, walking up to Brad with Catch dancing next to her, the bone between his teeth, begging to continue the game.

  “I swear he could grab a bird in flight,” Brad remarked as Catch dropped the bone at Brad’s feet.

  “I’m not sure I want to imagine that.”

  Brad paused, frowned, then nodded. “You’re right about that.”

  “So...” she began hesitantly, trying to push through her nerves as Brad threw the bone and Catch chased after it. “I assume you wanted me to come back today because you’re not working.”

  “Yep. I was real busy when you came by. You still want the job?”

  “Sure, but I hope you’ll let me show you what I can do trimming wise,” she replied, instantly wishing she’d said something more professional.

  “What did you think about Gypsy’s feet?”

  “They could use some cleaning up, and the edges should be beveled.”

  “You hit the nail on the head,” he declared. “I have a few barefoot clients Andy would work on. It would be good if you could take them over. Did I say something funny?”

  Megan had grinned, then started to laugh out loud.

  “Barefoot clients!” she exclaimed, still giggling. “I just pictured giving owners a pedicure with their feet up on the stand.”

  She could see the solemn cowboy fighting a smile.

  “That’s quite a picture,” he said, the smile winning and exposing even white teeth and sexy dimples.

  “Uh-huh, and I have a feeling it’s going to stick. I’ll probably be laughing every time I meet a new client now.”

  “I’ll take you through the barn. You can have a look around while I bring Gypsy in from her paddock.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Unable to keep from wondering why it was so hard for Brad to lighten up, Megan followed him the short distance into the barn. There were twelve stalls, six on either side, with an inviting wide aisle.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said, quickening his stride and moving ahead of her. “The tack and feed rooms are down this end.”

  “Okay.”

  Strolling past the stalls, she discovered they had large corrals attached, and the wall between each had been removed. The twelve had become six double-sized. Four were obviously in use, but two were void of shavings. Hearing Brad return with Bonny, she turned around and watched him lead the mare into the cross ties. Walking quickly up to join him, she reached him just as he hooked the snaps on the mare’s halter.

  “Uh, Brad, do you want me to trim her there?”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “Actually, it is. I don’t like to work on horses in cross ties.”

  “You worry that the walls are too close if the horse is antsy?”

  “No, it’s not that. Do you mind if I just show you rather than try to explain?”

  “Sure, but before you do anything you need to sign a release. Here,” he said pulling a folded-up piece of paper and pen from his pocket. “If someone comes on the property they need to sign one of these. There’s a small desk in the tack room. They’re in the top drawer. I don’t care who they are or why they’re here, if they don’t sign, they leave. Clear?”

  “Yes, sure, I completely understand,” she replied, taking the document and scribbling her signature. “There you go.”

  “Thanks. Where do you want this mare?”

  “In the round pen, but I didn’t bring any tools.”

  “I’ll grab mine from the truck on the way.”

  “Great. Come on, sweet girl,” Megan said softly, lifting the lead rope from its hook. “Let’s take a walk.”

  * * *

  The dark bay mare could be jittery, especially with strangers. That’s why Brad had chosen her for Megan’s test three days before. He’d expected Gypsy to be difficult, and for Megan to throw up her hands and leave. He’d only squeezed her into his busy schedule to please Doug Haskell, but the young woman had demonstrated exceptional skill.

  Though he couldn’t imagine having a female assistant, asking her to work in his small training business had come to him like a bolt from the blue, but he’d still surprised himself when he’d abruptly turned and shouted, you’re hired.

  That night, with a glass of scotch in his hand, he’d wondered what the hell he’d done, but as the days had trickled past he’d decided she’d be an asset, maybe even bring new clients into Hammer and Nails Ranch. He looked forward to seeing her again, and when she’d turned into his driveway it felt right having her there.

  Then she’d bent down to throw Catch’s plastic bone.

  The top of her shirt had gaped open.

  Her beautiful breasts cupped in a white lace bra stared back at him.

  A rush of erotic energy had surged through his cock.

  The moment had been utterly unexpected.

  Ambling down the barn aisle behind her, watching her wonderfully fleshy backside in her tight jeans, the impact was the same. As she led the mare toward the round pen, he stopped at his truck, opened up the back and took a deep breath. Trying to ignore the demands of his member and lifting out the foot stand, nippers, and a rasp, he carried them across the drive and through the gate. Megan was moving the mare, stepping forward and backward, and walking her in circles. He set the tools in a shady spot against the rail.

  “There’s something I need to take care of,” he muttered. “I’ll be right back.”

  Megan waved her response, but didn’t take her eyes off the horse.

  “Hey, Catch,” he shouted to his dog, watching Megan intently, “you stay here.”

  Catch barely glanced his way.

  “I guess you like her too,” Brad muttered as he hurried into his house.

  His mind reeling, he strode down the hall and into his bathroom, unzipped his jeans, withdrew his rampant cock, and began to stroke.

  Dark fantasies took hold.

  Megan naked, tied over a saddle, her backside burning red from his hard spanking hand.

  Blindfolded on her knees, her mouth sucking, his fingers tightly gripping her hair as he guided her movements.

  Standing spread-eagled, tied to a four-poster bed, his black flogger swishing through the air.

  On her hands and knees as he spread her cheeks...

  His cock exploded, spilling his essence over his hand. Squeezing his eyes shut as his groans echoed around him, he let out a shuddering breath and slumped against the wall. Waiting until his heart had stopped hammering, he cleaned himself up and headed back through the house, trying to come to terms with Megan’s profound effect.

  She had a hot body, she was funny and bright, but so what?

  Trotting down the porch and heading to the round pen, he noticed Catch sitting on the top of the mounting block. Megan had closed the gate, and the block allowed him to see over the top. The cute sight evoked a grin, but as Brad approached his pulse ticked up. Wearing no halter, Gypsy stood perfectly still with her head lowered, and Megan was nowhere in sight. Immediately believing she must be lying hurt on the ground, he broke into a run, b
ut reaching the gate he stopped short. Megan was bent over rasping Gypsy’s foot.

  * * *

  “There you go, girl,” Megan murmured, placing the mare’s foot back on the ground. “That looks better.”

  Straightening up, she was about to move to the opposite leg when she spied Brad marching toward her.

  “Hi, Brad. I’m so glad you’re back,” she said with a happy smile. “Bonny’s a dream. I’ve finished the right front and—what’s wrong? You look upset.”

  “Her name’s Gypsy, and what do you think you’re doin’?”

  “Trimming her feet. She was ready, and about her name—”

  “Dammit, girl, she’s loose!” Brad barked. “Whatta you playin’ at?”

  “She doesn’t need to be tied up,” Megan calmly replied, though her eyes blazed back at him, “but if you keep carrying on like this she’ll pick up your energy and that will change.”

  Though his frown deepened, he didn’t respond.

  “She’s absolutely fine,” Megan continued. “I’m not an idiot. I wouldn’t be working on her if I didn’t believe she’d be okay. You wanted to see what I do, and now you’re seeing it, but would you mind watching from the bleachers while I finish? Or do you want me to stop?”

  She thought he was about to say something, but apparently changing his mind he abruptly turned, walked swiftly across to the viewing area and sat down. Taking a breath, Megan looked back at Bonny. The mare’s head was up, and a wrinkle sat above her eye.

  “Hey, sweet girl,” Megan said softly, pushing Brad’s disapproval to the back of her mind and stroking Bonny’s neck. “Men are just ridiculous sometimes.”

  Bonny licked her lips and lowered her head, signaling she was ready for Megan to continue. Lifting the horse’s left foot, Megan placed it between her knees and began to rasp. Quickly finishing the work, she stood up and looked across at Brad. He was sitting down, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees and his fingers locked together in front of him. He didn’t say anything, and interpreting his silence as a green light to keep working, she ambled toward the back of the mare.

  Sliding her hand across the horse’s rump, Megan picked up Bonny’s foot, waited a moment, put it down, then stepped to the other leg and repeated the process. Feeling resistance, she continued the pattern until Bonny dropped her head and let out a gentle snort. Megan grinned, but not just because Bonny was trusting her.

  Had Brad been irritated because he’d never seen anyone work on an untethered horse? Had she shocked him?

  Doing her best to ignore the questions, she finished both back feet, then walked slowly around Bonny, lightly touching her and speaking softly.

  “Here you go, precious girl,” she purred, pulling a chunk of carrot from her pocket.

  As the horse greedily gobbled up the treat, Megan picked up the tools and carried them to the bleachers.

  “I don’t know what that mare was like when she came here, but Brad, whatever you’ve done, it worked,” she declared, hoping the compliment would soften the frown on his face. “She’s a sweetheart.”

  “I haven’t done a damn thing,” he replied solemnly. “She’s only been here a week. I’ve just been lettin’ her settle in.”

  “Then her owners don’t have a clue. She’s a dream, but Brad, there’s something you should know.”

  “I’m listenin’.”

  “I knew Gypsy in Los Angeles, but her name was Bonny. I absolutely adored her. She was too much horse for Cindy, her owner, and she let me work with Bonny whenever I could manage the time.”

  “Damn. Talk about a small world.”

  “I couldn’t believe it when I saw her. I absolutely adored her. I still do. When my mare passed away, I tried to call Cindy to make an offer. I thought for sure she’d sell her.”

  “But she refused?”

  “She’d moved and left no forwarding information. I was devastated. She knew Bonny and I had connected, and that woman didn’t even let me say goodbye,” Megan exclaimed, feeling the painful memory. “I’d just lost Miss Piggy—that was my mare—and losing Bonny too...”

  “Hey, I’m real sorry. That must’ve been tough.”

  “It was a very bleak time, but now I’ve found her again, and I want her just as much now as I did then. Maybe even more. Do you think there’s any chance her new owner will let her go?”

  “I dunno. She’s not the easiest woman in the world, but you’re welcome to try.”

  “Thank you, and I absolutely will. You said Bonny was difficult when she came here. She’s an extremely sensitive mare,” Megan said earnestly. “Whoever the owner is, she’s not right for her.”

  “Megan, I feel bad about you losin’ your mare, then Gypsy, or rather, Bonny, and I’m impressed with what you’ve just shown me, but you can’t do that with my clients.”

  “Do what?”

  “You can’t show up, wave whatever magic it is that you have, and start workin’ on their horse without puttin’ it in cross ties or tyin’ it up. The owners won’t understand, or worse, you could get hurt. Megan, for all I know, what I just saw was an exception and not the rule.”

  “Is that what you think? Brad, Bonny and I might already know each other, but read my reference! You’ll see I trim horses all the time like that. Most horses don’t need—”

  “Hey! You’ll do what I tell you!” he said sharply. “A horse comes in here with a problem, yeah, do your thing, but when you go to a client’s barn the horse is tied up.”

  “Really? Thank you!”

  “Huh? For what?”

  “Saying I can do the barefoot clients Andy left behind?”

  “I said if you go—”

  “You said when!” Megan retorted hastily. “When I go to a client’s barn the horse is tied up.”

  “Let’s start over. If—if—I agree to let you take over Andy’s clients, you’ll do things my way. You’ll arrive on time, tie the horse up or put it in the cross ties, then do the work. Clear?”

  “So I can?”

  “Dammit! Are. We. Clear?”

  “Sorry, yes, yes, whatever you want.”

  Narrowing his eyes, he leaned forward.

  Megan felt a strange ripple down her spine.

  “Listen to me, little lady, and listen real good,” he said, lowering his voice. “I don’t know what kinda boss you’ve had, or what kinda guys you’ve dated, but you can take this to the bank. I’m not like any man you’ve ever met. I’m givin’ you fair warnin’. Mess with me, don’t do what I say, and I’ll sting that tail of yours real good. Now I’m goin’ up to the house, and you’re takin’ Bonny back to her paddock—the first one on the right as you walk out the barn. I’ll meet you in the tack room in ten minutes, and you can tell me if you still want the job.”

  Spellbound, her face flaming, Megan watched him stand up and walk away. As he disappeared out the gate, she sank down on the bench seat, his words echoing through her head.

  I’m not like any man you’ve ever met. I’m givin’ you fair warnin’. Mess with me, don’t do what I say, and I’ll sting that tail of yours real good.

  Chapter Two

  Brad had left because he needed a few minutes to come to grips with what he’d just witnessed. Too early in the day for a drink, he walked into the kitchen and brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Waiting for the water to boil to pour into the French press, he replayed the scene in his head.

  The mare had been a nervous Nellie since she’d come off the trailer, yet she’d stood calm and completely still as Megan picked up her feet, nipped off the small amount of growth, and filed the edges. Megan’s skill as a trimmer didn’t surprise him. If she’d worked for a top farrier in the show jumping world she had to be good, but even if she had known Bonny in Southern California, spending a short time with the horse and achieving such a profound change in attitude truly shocked him, and he was a man who didn’t shock easily.

  Sending the boiling water into the press, he pushed down the plunger, and poured himself a full mug of the r
ich, aromatic brew. Carrying it to the window, he stared out at the horses happily grazing in their paddocks. He had four on his property. His gelding, Leo, who was a large leopard Appaloosa, and three belonging to clients. Bonny, a Morgan whose owner claimed the mare was generally difficult; Pepper, a highly strung, spooky thoroughbred just off the racetrack; and Poet, a young western pleasure horse who just needed general schooling. Though he had the acreage to house more, he didn’t have the time.

  “I should never have agreed to take Bonny,” he muttered, thinking about all the chores waiting to be done. “If Megan still wants the job she’ll be a blessin’, assumin’ she does what I tell her. Dammit! Who am I kiddin’? She’s way too distractin’. Dammit!” he repeated, then taking a swig of his coffee, he shifted his eyes from the paddocks to the barn. “Maybe I should just tell her this isn’t gonna work out and hire a ranch hand. I should’ve done that ages ago anyway.”

  But just as he finished mumbling to himself, Megan walked out of the barn, passed his truck, and climbed into her Jeep.

  “What the hell? Is she takin’ off? Shit.”

  Leaving his mug on the counter, he dashed out the kitchen door with Catch bouncing beside him, then not wanting to appear anxious, Brad forced himself to slow his step as he approached the Jeep.

  “Oh, hi, Brad,” Megan said, stepping out from the behind the wheel, her green eyes capturing his.

  “Goin’ somewhere?” he asked, trying not to sound worried.

  “No. I just wanted to get my references.”

  “References?”

  “Yeah, so you could read them,” she declared, handing him a manila envelope. “I didn’t want you to think I do things arbitrarily. There are a few from my clients, and one from Troy McDonald, the farrier I worked for. I was with him for almost five years. You can call him if you want. You can call anyone. They’ve included their phone numbers.”

  She’d spoken in a rush, the words tumbling out of her in a long, unbroken sentence. It was obvious she didn’t want to leave, and he suddenly found himself wondering if it was because of him, the job, or Bonny.