Riding the River by Jeanne Harrell Read Free Book Online Page A

for coming out
to visit us. We promise to make your stay fun and comfortable. If
you have any problems, please come to me personally and let me know
how we can accommodate you.” He looked around the room and
continued.
    “I wanted to introduce the staff to you
tonight. Most of us are here. Laurie and Kate, stand up. They take
care of our bookkeeping details.” Small applause.
    “Then there’s Dale, our cook, and Cooper, our
trail boss, for the cattle and horse drives.” More applause.
    “You already met Dan, our driver,” Sarah
looked for him, “but he’s off on another errand right now and not
with us. But here are our cowboys. Guys, please step up as I
announce your names.”
    Sarah looked around expectantly to see real
live cowboys.
    “Kyle…” A nice looking young man with a huge
white cowboy hat stepped forward to smile at everyone.
    “Aaron…” He joined Kyle and also wore a huge
white cowboy hat.
    “Dave and Nick…” Nice young men with smiles
and light beards.
    “Frank and Tyler…” Mustaches and big
grins.
    “Richie and Kenny…” Great Western shirts and
chaps.
    “And last, but not least, Matt…” Pause…
    She hadn’t seen him behind the other cowboys,
but when he stepped forward, she recognized him immediately. He was
the dark-haired cowboy who tamed the wild situation at her hotel
last night. He worked here? Here? What were the odds? She
stepped back and dropped her face. For some unidentifiable reason,
she didn’t want him to recognize her.
    People milled around and then dinner was
announced. The guests mingled with the staff and everyone ate in
the huge dining room laughing and talking. Night was coming and it
got dark fast in this part of the country. After the homey meal,
Mr. Walker announced that some of the cowboys would be playing on
the outside yard, and anyone who felt like dancing should come
outside. Sarah was shy and not sure what she felt like doing. She
followed other guests outside to enjoy the night air, but didn’t
plan on dancing.
    “Sarah, want to dance?” Dan had sneaked up
behind her.
    “Where did you come from?” She laughed at
him.
    “Just wanted to make sure you were okay…”
    “I’m good… so far.”
    “Come on. Let me show you the two-step.”
    “…Um …No, thanks.”
    “Oh, come on… one dance won’t kill you…” he
coaxed.
    “…Well…”
    He wouldn’t take stalling for an answer and
dragged her out to the dance area. The music was lively and
everyone seemed so friendly. Dan had her dancing in no time, and
she started to forget everything but the dance steps. He swung her
around the dance floor and she was so graceful. The cowboy with the
black wavy hair noticed her… Isn’t that the woman from the
restaurant last night? What’s she doing here? Here? What were the
odds?
    Dan noticed that Matt noticed. Hmmm… What
should be made of that?
    When the music ended, Dan dropped Sarah off
by Matt. The band started playing a slow song about finding love
when you least expect it.
    “Whew, Sarah. I’m bushed. Let a younger man
take over for me.”
    Slightly winded and laughing, Sarah turned to
Matt. He blinked and dark eyes met pretty blue ones. Her face was
flushed and she looked happy.
    “…Oh…”
    “…Ah…”
    “Okay,” said Dan. “That’s settled. See ya
later…” And he was gone, leaving Matt and Sarah staring at one
another. Without speaking, he held out one hand to her. She took it
and hesitantly walked closer to him, putting her other hand on his
shoulder. Matt nervously smiled and put a tentative hand on her
waist. They were a respectable distance from one another, but it
didn’t seem satisfying – to either of them.
    They glided slowly to the country music,
moving this way and that, trying to avoid bumping into other
dancers.
    “Didn’t I see you at the Best Western last
night?” He spoke to the top of her head, since she didn’t look
up.
    “Yes, that was me… I…I… saw you too.” She was
obviously