Saddled and Spurred: A Blacktop Cowboys Novel by Lorelei James Read Free Book Online Page A

shed and shut the door, thinking I’d come up with a way to explain to you how I killed your goats on my second day as a ranch hand.”
    Something unreadable flitted through his eyes.
    Oh, God. Did Bran think she was totally bonkers? “I swear—”
    “Lemme ask you something. Did the goats see you before you took their picture?”
    Harper frowned. “I don’t think so. I was watching them from the side of the barn.”
    “So you could’ve startled them?”
    “Well, I did jump out and yell, ‘Say goat cheese!’ So I suppose that might’ve startled them.”
    Bran started to laugh. He laughed so hard he had to bend over to catch his breath. Just when she thought he’d stop, he’d look up at her, tears swimming in his silvery eyes, and then look over at the goats and start laughing all over again.
    Although he was busting a serious gut, she didn’t find any humor in this situation at all.
    Finally, he said, “Goddamn. I’m sorry, Harper. It’s just . . .”
    “What? I’m not crazy. Those goats were dead to the world.”
    “I believe you.” He grinned like he had a huge secret. “But it’ll be easiest to show you.” He faced the pen and yelled, “Boo!” while leaping against the chicken wire covering the cage.
    Just like before, both the goats fell off the metal shed and lay on the ground, completely still.
    Harper moved beside Bran, hooking her gloved fingers through the holes in the chicken wire. “What are they, possessed?”
    “No. This kind of goat is called a Kentucky stiff leg. The odd thing is, they faint whenever they’re startled. And it starts a chain reaction among the other goats around them. They just faint dead away—pardon the pun.”
    “How long do they stay like that?”
    “Anywhere from one minute to five minutes. These two seem to stay out of it longer than others I’ve seen.”
    “What are their names?”
    “Pox and Hex. Pox is the smaller one. She’s pregnant.”
    That made Harper feel worse. Didn’t it hurt the kid when the mama goat plummeted to her fake death? “Wait. Pox and Hex? Strange names.”
    “Charlie gave them to me as a surprise.”
    “Does he hate you or something?”
    Bran snorted. “Or something. You must’ve moved pretty fast if you got ’em in the shed before they came to.”
    Harper hung her head and stared at her feet. “I’m such an idiot about this stuff. I’m sorry.”
    “Hey.” Soft leather brushed her chin and Bran lifted her face up to meet his eyes. “Not your fault. I should’ve warned you. Since I’ve been around ranch work my whole life, this stuff comes natural to me and I don’t even think about it.”
    “Bran. There is nothing natural about fainting goats.”
    He smiled, but his gaze seemed stuck on her mouth. “I may forget to teach you some things. But I’d never do it intentionally to make you feel stupid, Harper. I ain’t that kind of man.”
    A warm feeling flowed through her. “Thanks. And I promise if I make another mistake, I won’t try to hide the evidence.”
    “Workin’ with you ain’t gonna ever be boring, that’s for damn sure.” His smile faded and he stepped back. “Come on. Chores are waitin’.”

    Hours later Harper stumbled in the door and headed directly for the shower. She’d managed to act blasé around Bran, as if being covered in birth gunk and cow poop hadn’t bothered her in the least.
    But it had. Oh, man, had it ever.
    She flipped on the shower to warm it up while she stripped. Once the hot water hit her cold skin, she didn’t even mind the stinging sensation. She lathered up with her favorite peach soap and let the steaming water flow over her. Sometimes a hot shower was better than an orgasm.
    Probably not better than the orgasms Bran could give you.
    She shuddered, wondering what it’d feel like having Bran’s strong, rough-skinned hands all over her.
    Heavenly. Bran could probably do sexual things she’d only read about.
    Not that it would be difficult, since Harper had limited