Mail Order Bride - Westward Secrets: A Clean Cowboy Romance Novel (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 13) by Linda Bridey Read Free Book Online Page A

table.”
    Jackass looked at Rick and then the ferret.
    “You know, this is a choice even a child could make.  I’m going to count to three and then, if you don’t have the money back on the table by the time I hit three, Curtis is going to become very busy retrieving that money.  One…”
    Curtis bobbed his head up and down and his nose twitched.
    “Two…”
    Curtis yawned, revealing an impressive set of fangs.
    Suddenly Jackass couldn’t put the money up on the table fast enough. 
    “Smart choice.  Now get out,” Rick said.
    The man skirted carefully out around Rick and ran.  Rick casually walked after Jackass to make sure he left.  As he reached the bar, Curtis jumped onto it and scampered down to Jake who smiled at him.  The ferret blinked at Jake and sat up on his hind feet.
    Jake laughed.  “You want paid, huh?  Ok.”  The bartender reached underneath the bar, pulled out piece of jerky, and tore off a little piece.  “Be nice,” Jake said and held out the jerky to Curtis.
    Curtis took the jerky and quickly devoured it. Then he looked at Jake again and hopped back and forth a couple of times before rolling over on the bar.  Jake put the jerky away and brought out a small red ball.  Curtis became very excited and bounced around all the more.  Jake rolled the ball down the bar and Curtis joyfully chased after it. 
    The ferret caught up with the ball and jumped on it.  He did a somersault with the ball and then began pushing it back up the bar.  He wove back and forth, keeping the ball from going over the edge onto the floor.  He arrived back at Jake who took the ball back and gave Curtis another piece of jerky.
    His job complete, Curtis jumped onto an empty bar stool and then dropped onto the floor where he raced across the barroom until he reached Rick’s coat.  Reckless watched Curtis climb back into the inside pocket of the duster and smiled.  He made a kissing noise to the ferret and Curtis popped back out and hopped over onto the table.  He burrowed under Reckless’ hair and stayed on Reckless’ shoulders underneath the brave’s thick, black hair.
    “There’s my very brave brave,” Joe said from behind Reckless.
    Curtis poked his head out from the back of Reckless’ hair and Joe literally jumped a foot in the air.  He let out a stream of curses and put a hand to his chest as his heart beat in triple time. 
    “Why is that thing here?” Joe shouted.  “Damn I hate him!  Never did I think I’d ever have a rat in my bar!”
    Reckless was breathless with laughter and couldn’t respond. 
    “Get that thing out of here!” Joe said as he made a wide berth around Reckless. 
    Joe might not like Curtis but Curtis liked Joe.  He slid from Reckless’ hair and bounced across the table towards Joe who backed up even more.  “Call it off.  Rick!  Where are you?  Get over here and control that rat!”
    Rick laughed as he came over and let out a melodic little whistle.  Curtis looked at Rick and then scrambled back into his coat.  “Joe, how many times do I have to tell you not to yell at Curtis?  It only makes him more excited.  And he’s not a rat.  He’s a ferret.”  Rick sat down and propped his feet up again.
    “I don’t care what it is.  I’ve told you time and again I don’t want him in the bar,” Joe said.
    Reckless had recovered and said, “But Joe, he just helped get rid of a guy who was stealing.  You should be thankful to Curtis.”
    Rick said, “I only call him out when necessary or I’m feeling a little irritated.  Otherwise you’d never even know he was here.”
    Curtis chortled inside Rick’s pocket and Joe cringed.  “I even hate the little ratty noises it makes.”
    “It’s called ‘dooking’.”
    “Yeah, well I’m gonna duke it out with him if he comes after me,” Joe said as his heart rate began to settle down.  “Damn, now I don’t even know why I came here.  I need a drink.”
    Reckless and Rick laughed as they watched