Samantha and the Cowboy by Lorraine Heath Read Free Book Online

commanded.
    Matt rolled his eyes. “Jake, you’re being unreasonable.”
    â€œMe? I’m not the one who hired him. Teach him or fire him. It’s your choice.”
    Sam’s heart slammed against her ribs. Half a day? He was only going to give her half a day to prove herself?
    With long strides, Jake walked away. Matt dropped his head back and closed his eyes. Sam could almost see the battle he waged within himself. She had an uncomfortable feeling that teaching her wasn’t winning out over firing her. When he’d offered to hire her, he obviously hadn’t realized he’d be responsible for her. But then she hadn’t realized that, either.
    â€œI’m a fast learner,” she said quickly.
    With a deep sigh, he opened his eyes and looked at her. “Let’s hope so.”
    He hunkered down in front of her. She watched as his fingers worked to untie her tightened knot. He’d removed his gloves to eat, and she could see now that he had long, tanned fingers.
    His hands looked much stronger than hers. His veins stuck up like tiny mountain ranges. When he turned his hands, the calluses became visible. She couldn’t imagine why she was so fascinated by the movement of his fingersand hands. She’d never spent much time noticing a boy’s hands or the firmness in his forearms.
    But sitting here with Matt, watching him work, she thought he had the most capable hands she’d ever seen. She wondered what it would feel like to have his hand wrapped around hers, their palms pressed together.
    â€œHow many different kinds of knots are there?” she asked, trying to rein in her wandering thoughts.
    â€œAbout a half dozen that we use,” he answered distractedly. He tugged the rope straight, the knot gone, before lifting his gaze to hers. “Spanish, rose, double half-hitch, square, hackamore, granny, half.” His wide shoulders rolled as he shrugged. “We’ll do one a day until you’ve learned them all. We’ll start with a square knot. Now watch.”
    She did. She really did like the way his hands moved, so capable, so sure. She never would have thought she’d find that one aspect of a man incredibly engrossing. He had to show her three times before she remembered to watch the rope and not his fingers.
    When he gave the rope to her, she took a deep breath and mimicked his actions. She held up the square knot.
    He smiled then, a smile that reached up to touch his blue eyes and made them sparkle like jewels dangling from a necklace. “Impressive. Let’s get back to the herd so Jed and Jeb can come eat. Bring the rope. You can practice a bit as long as the cattle stay calm.”
    She got to her feet. “Thanks, Matt.”
    He nodded before he sauntered away, leaving her to feel as though once again there was something she either didn’t know or had failed to do properly.
    And yet she couldn’t help but feel that he was more upset with himself than with her. He always seemed to start out impatient, but as he explained things he actually became…friendly.
    Then he’d back off as though he’d stepped across an invisible line he’d never planned to get near. She didn’t quite know what to make of him or his attitude.
    She understood that he didn’t want to ride drag. But she had the feeling that she was the true thorn in his side. And she couldn’t figure out why.

CHAPTER SIX
    The kid’s gratitude nagged at Matt’s conscience. Hiring the boy had been a stupid idea. Softening his heart toward him was even stupider. If Matt had any kindness in him, he’d send the kid home before they traveled much farther.
    The problem was that Sam had such innocent eyes…and Matt didn’t want to be the one who tore that innocence asunder, who taught the boy that life was difficult and growing up was hard. Giving Sam less than a day to prove himself would surely do that.
    Sam had looked at Matt as