How to Break a Cowboy by Daire St. Denis Read Free Book Online Page A

ask as Dallas and the
vet take off in the truck.
    “The heifers that are late to calf.”
    “Oh.”
    Connor takes my arm. “You don’t mind if Dallas joins us, do
you?”
    “No,” I say, anticipation prickling low in my belly. “But do
you think Wade will mind?”
    Looking me dead in the eye, Connor says, “I sure as hell
hope so.”

 
    Chapter Five
     
    A fter
washing up and changing my damp clothes, I meet Connor back at the stables.
He’s got three horses saddled and is loading up food and drinks into some
saddle bags.
    “Hey hot stuff. Come meet Dixie.”
    I laugh. Of course he would put me on Dixie. She’s a
beautiful gentle-looking brown and white horse. She’s got a lighter colored
mane and her eyes are liquid gold with long lashes. I fall in love with her
immediately.
    As I’m leading her out into the yard, Dallas shows up,
wearing a different shirt and smelling suspiciously fresh with a hint of some
spicy cologne. I can’t hide my grin. No one wears cologne on a trail ride
unless they’re hoping for a little something more than time spent on a horse’s
back.
    I shake my head. I’m no different. I’m wearing my best set
of undies, black lace. I guess Dallas isn’t the only one hoping for a little
something-something from this trail ride.
    “You remember how to mount?” Connor asks. “Or do you need my
help?”
    I laugh, thinking about the double entendre of his words. “I
think I’ve got it,” I say with a huge smile as I hold onto the reins and the
saddle horn and step my left foot up into the stirrup. Thank God for yoga,
because I somehow manage to swing my right leg up and over the horse with more
grace than expected.
    “Good girl,” Connor says appreciatively. “It’s like you were
born to ride.”
    “I doubt that,” I say with a laugh. Even though I’ve taken
immediately to Dixie, I’m still nervous. Riding always takes me a little bit to
get used to. I stroke Dixie’s soft neck and whisper words of appreciation in
her ear while we wait for Dallas to join us.
    Within minutes the three of us are mounted and on our way.
As we pass through the ranch lands, Connor points out different points of
interest, the pasture of horses, the separate pastures for the bulls. They’re a
bunch of new foals scampering around on spindly legs. By the time we’re on the
trail toward Lookout Point, I’m feeling much more comfortable.
    It’s a beautiful spring day in the Northern Rockies and the
fields are covered in a dusting of fresh green grass. The buds on the trees
have just popped, painting the foothills with a lime green paintbrush. Though
the air is cool and fresh, the sun is shining and I lift my face to its warmth.
Soon the trail becomes wooded as we reach the foothills on the eastern slopes
of the Rockies. The air cools down and I’m struck by the fresh scent of earth,
pine and new leaves. After about an hour, we stop in a clearing and dismount.
    “Take Tess and the food up to the lookout, I’ll take care of
the horses,” Connor says.
    Slinging the food sack over his shoulder, Dallas holds out
his hand. “Come on.”
    After no more than a moment’s hesitation, I take his hand.
Apart from his touch when he tied my hair back, it’s the first contact we’ve
had. His hand is lean and warm with the familiar calluses, similar to those on
both Wade and Connor. Familiar and yet different and terribly exciting.
    The path up to the lookout is steep and narrow and
eventually Dallas releases my hand so that we can hike single file. Once we
reach the top, I’m panting and I collapse on a tree stump, trying to catch my
breath.
    “Must be the altitude,” I joke.
    “Must be. Because…” Dallas’s eyes roam over me before he
continues, “…you look like you’re in pretty damn fine shape.”
    I clear my throat and manage a squeaky, “Thanks.” Dallas may
be young in years, but his manner and attitude make him seem much older.
    “Thank you ,” he says.
    “For what?”
    “For