Her Summer Cowboy by Katherine Garbera - Her Summer Cowboy Read Free Book Online Page B

entirely sure.”
    “I highly doubt that. You told me you’d been rambling, but had decided to go home there has to be a reason.”
    They’d gotten to the end of the parking lot and there was a path but it led away from the buses. She wasn’t sure how much farther they should go.
    “Truth?”
    “Of course.”
    “I’m going home to ranch and make peace with my Pops. To cowboy and live off the land like dad and my brothers do. I’m going home now because my next younger brother—there’s five of us, Lane, is there. He got injured in the Middle East and for a few long hours I’d thought he’d died. I prayed a lot. And he came home, bruised, battered and a little worse for the wear but he’s home and I think it’s time I was too.”
    She looked over at him and her understanding of him grew a little bit more. He wouldn’t go home for himself but for his brother he would. The Hudson she was coming to know was a man who would do anything for a friend. “The Lord works in mysterious ways.”
    She was thinking of how they’d been brought together on this trip. That she was on a journey of endings and he was on a journey to a beginning. A return to the life he could have had if he’d been a different man. It was interesting.
    “He sure does. Like why’d he send a feisty little redheaded gal to me when I don’t need the distraction,” Hudson said.
    “I distract you? Or my water distracts you?”
    He threw his head back and laughed and she felt something strong and hot pierce through her body. She stood there for a minute and then starting laughing herself.
    “Come here,” he said.
    Since she was done playing games she stepped closer. He pulled her into his arms and lowered his head to kiss her. There was passion there. Arching between the two of them and setting fire to her senses. But there was also, she though, the first tenuous bond of friendship. And that warmed her all the way to her broken soul.
    *
    “Hudson, are you down here?” one of the roadies called.
    He pulled back from Emma, cursing inwardly as he walked over toward the man, Jason, who was looking for him. Emma followed a few steps behind him.
    “Right here. What’s up?”
    Jason looked at Emma and then back to Hudson. “It’s time to pull out. Alan was looking for you.”
    “No problem,” Hudson said. “I was just stretching my legs before we hit the road.”
    “Thanks for talking to me about the horse act,” Emma said with a smile that didn’t fool him. She might be comfortable asking him to be her summer lover but she clearly didn’t want everyone in their little traveling world to know about it.
    He watched her walk away. That woman was pricklier than a cactus. He was sure if he could get past all her barriers and have some uninterrupted time with her that he might be able to figure her out, but there was a part of him that wasn’t entirely sure.
    “What was that about?”
    “You know Alan and his obsession with the horse act; he wants Emma to ride and she’s a little nervous around horses.”
    “Yeah, everyone knows about that accident she had when she was ten,” Jason said.
    “I don’t. What happened?” Hudson asked. Well that explained why she’d tried to get out of it at first but being Emma she didn’t let her fear control her. His respect for her rose another notch.
    “She was thrown and broke her collarbone. It happened one of the summers she was touring with Alan and Keith,” Jason said.
    “How long have you been with them?” Hudson asked as they got back to the area where all the vehicles were.
    “Too long, man, too long. Listen, Alan asked us to make a rotation schedule so you won’t have to drive the horse trailer at night. I’ve got two guys ready to do it tonight,” Jason said.
    “Nah, I’m good. I’m too wired from the show to sleep. Maybe in a few nights.”
    “Fair enough. Just let me know when you need someone to spell you,” Jason said, walking away. “Don’t forget Alan wanted to see