Finding Home by Lois Greiman Read Free Book Online Page A

“I’ve been busy.”
    â€œYeah.” He glanced around. “I see you’re cleaning the place up.”
    She didn’t comment but hooked a hand onto an upper slat, easing onto the fender of the trailer and starting a wave of wild commotion inside. A bay jostled the mousy grullo, almost knocking him to his knees.
    â€œSo you’re really selling out?” Dickenson asked.
    She stepped back down, stomach churning, ignoring his question. “They don’t have enough room in there.”
    He shrugged. “Helps ’em stay on their feet if they can huddle up against their buddies.”
    Anger burbled silently inside her. “And they weren’t worth making two trips.”
    His gaze never left hers. His eyes were as bright as river agates, firing up a dozen emotions she had happily left behind. “Times are hard, Case.”
    â€œI know times—” she began, then stopped herself. “Well, thanks for stopping by,” she said and pivoted away, but his voice stopped her.
    â€œWanna keep the grullo?”
    â€œWhat?”
    He was grinning when she turned back. “I’ll give ’im to you for free.”
    She fisted her hands, loosened them, fisted them again. “Why would I want another horse?”
    â€œI dunno. Why’d you want that one?” he asked, motioning toward Angel, who watched, head up, ears pricked forward.
    â€œI just bought her to—” she began, then remembered Ty’s presence. “I can’t take another horse. I’m moving back to Saint Paul as soon as I get things taken care of here.”
    â€œYeah. Sure. Well . . .” Dickenson said and headed toward his truck. “I’d better get going. Toby might want me to take them straight through to Neudorf.”
    â€œTonight?”
    â€œTime’s money.”
    She gritted her teeth and glanced at Tyler. His lips were pursed, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes. Something that spoke of anger and hope and fear all packed into one tightly bound bundle.
    â€œI’ll take the grullo,” she said.
    Dickenson turned toward her as if surprised. “What’d you say?”
    â€œI . . .” she began and paused. “You heard me.”
    â€œYou sure? He’s in pretty rough shape,” he said, but despite his words his grin seemed to be aching to crack through again.
    Now, she thought, would be the perfect opportunity to hone her cursing skills. But Ty was still watching her with those angry, hopeful eyes. “Get the grullo out,” she ordered.
    â€œYeah, well, I’d like to.” Dickenson rubbed his neck, shook his head once. “But it’s not that easy. You’d have to take the pinto, too.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThey’re pals. The grullo’s orphaned. And the little pinto’s not weaned. So she should stay with her mama. Come to think of it, the mares are pretty rundown, too. It’s going to be a long trip for them.”
    She murmured something. Maybe swearing wasn’t completely off the table.
    Dickenson tilted his right ear toward her. “What’s that? I didn’t hear you. Did you just say you’ll take ’em all?”
    â€œNo,” she said and forced a smile. “I was cursing you under my breath.”
    â€œWere you?” The left corner of his mouth twitched just a little. “What’d you say?”
    â€œI said—” she began, then glanced at the boy and tried to talk sense into that ridiculously childish side of her that seemed to be popping up recently. It was like trying to lasso the wind. “Put them in the cattle yard.”
    His brows shot up. “All of ’em?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWell . . .” He shrugged. “Toby’ll be madder than a cornered badger, but if you’re sure . . .”
    She never said she was sure. Never said anything else, in fact. But suddenly Tyler was returning