Carrying the Rancher's Heir by Charlene Sands Read Free Book Online

walked around to the other side, but Callie had already opened the door herself. She got out and they looked at each other. Tagg spoke first before she said something he didn’t want to hear. “I’d better check on the workmen. See if they need anything. Are you sticking around here?”
    â€œFor a little while. I have some things I want to finish up.”
    â€œOkay, then. I’ll let you get to your work. See ya.” He tipped his hat.
    He’d only gotten a few feet away before Callie called him back. “Tagg?”
    He turned around, bracing himself for what she had in mind. He didn’t like to analyze things the way most women did. He’d kissed her. It was great. Period. He doubted it would ever happen again. “Yeah?”
    â€œI think we did a good job picking out the horses today.”
    â€œYeah. We did.”
    â€œI’d still like to ride Sunflower. I’ll ask Clay if I can do that tomorrow.”
    Tagg scrubbed his jaw. “Don’t think I can make it to morrow.”
    She frowned and shook her head. “I’m not asking you on a date, for heaven’s sake. I can ride the mare without you and make a determination on my own.”
    He held his expression blank to keep from blinking his surprise. Callie had put him in his place. “Okay, the sooner we accomplish that, the better.”
    â€œThat’s what it’s all about.” Tousled, well kissed and rosy cheeked, she faced him from a few feet away. He’d put that look on her pretty face. Sensations whirled. Unsettling possessive instincts took hold in his gut. He stood there for several minutes, well after she’d turned on her heels and walked away.
    Jed Barlow rode up on his horse and dismounted just a few feet away. “Hey, Tagg. I’m glad I found you here. Clay thought you might be available for the game tonight. Diamondbacks are playing. Then after the game, we’ll be happy to take your money at the poker table. We need to fill a seat. Brett Williamson’s daughter is getting married, so he’s out of commission for the week.”
    Baseball and poker were just what he needed to take his mind off Callie for the night. He wasn’t a regular, but whenthe boys needed a substitute, Tagg didn’t mind filling in. “Sure. Why not?”
    â€œAll right then. We’ll see you at seven.” Jed led his horse toward the stable, but turned after taking just a few steps. “Hey, was that Callie Sullivan I saw you jawing with just a minute ago?”
    â€œYeah, that was Callie.”
    â€œNever thought I’d see her around here.”
    Jed had gone to the same high school as the Worths. His father owned a small ranch ten miles north of their property. After years of struggling, unable to compete with the bigger ranches in the area, Kent Barlow quit the cattle business. The Worths had always liked the Barlows and Clay hired Jed straightaway. He knew ranching like the back of his hand. He’d been a trusted employee going on five years now. “That makes two of us,” Tagg answered.
    â€œShe sure is pretty.”
    Tagg nodded. He didn’t need a reminder.
    â€œI remember a time when I liked her, back in school. She was book smart and I was flunking out of English. I must’ve been sixteen or so. She offered to help with my homework one day and I showed up at Big Hawk Ranch.” Jed stopped talking to shake his head and grin. “I think I had a death wish or something. I didn’t get one foot on the porch when her daddy comes up behind me holding a big ole shotgun, telling me Callie wasn’t seeing any visitors that night. He told me if I knew what was good for me, I’d turn around and keep on going.”
    â€œHad you shaking in your boots, did he?”
    â€œHad me pissing in my boots was more like it. That man was mean.”
    â€œHe never scared me.”
    â€œYou ever try to date his daughter?”
    Tagg