Star Spangled Cowboy by Paige Warren Read Free Book Online Page A

Getting her G.E.D. might be a good start if it was something that interested her, and after that, maybe he could convince her to get a part-time job somewhere. Not because she needed to work for money, although earning honest money that was completely hers might be good for her, but because a job might give her a sense of purpose.
    One thing at a time. They had plenty of time to talk things over, except the G.E.D. bit. If the classes started next week, they’d probably have to register in the next few days. He sighed and ran a hand over his head. All of it could wait until tomorrow. Tonight was a time for her to get acclimated to her new home and the idea she was no longer a slave to Carlos.

Chapter Five
     
    Dacey had spent a wonderful week with Tyson, getting to know him better, and learning her way around the Braxton Ranch. His foreman and ranch hands were all friendly and seemed happy to explain the finer points of horse training and breeding to her. She’d never known much about Tyson or what he did now that he wasn’t off defending the country, but it seemed that Braxton Ranch was well-known for producing quality Quarter Horses, trained in either barrel racing or roping. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that he had such a big business. The ranch was far larger than she’d thought, and apparently more prosperous than she’d imagined. When she’d heard the price of some of the horses for sale, her jaw had nearly hit the ground.
    Her first G.E.D. class had gone well, even though some of the questions made Dacey feel stupid. She’d dropped out of school in the ninth grade, so she had a lot of catching up to do. The teacher had assured her that it wasn’t impossible, but it would require hard work. Dacey didn’t have a problem working hard and actually looked forward to learning the material and getting her G.E.D. It might not be a high school diploma, but she would have earned it just the same, and it would open more doors for her.
    Tyson had been great, assuring her that all of her bills were covered, but she didn’t feel right asking him to pay for everything. If she wanted to go to lunch after her classes, she had to borrow money from him, and it felt awkward. She’d been independent to a degree for the last seven years, even if she hadn’t done a stellar job of taking care of herself. The point was that she wasn’t used to answering to anyone or having to ask for money. Her money might not have been legal, or plentiful, but it had been hers. And now she had nothing. Except her rusty trailer.
    Dacey had thought about selling her trailer, but there was still this fear inside that she would somehow screw things up with Tyson, and she’d need a place to go. The trailer wasn’t much, but it had been home for a while, and better than living on the streets. She didn’t miss dumpster diving and sleeping with one eye open as she huddled in doorways of closed stores to avoid the elements, or sleeping in a box, wrapped in newspaper for warmth in the colder months.
    It was hard, but she was trying to trust that things were going to be better. Carlos had been picked up and was currently sitting in the county jail, pending a trial. Tyson had assured her that because of his crimes against a minor, namely her, that he had been held without bail and had been considered a flight risk. She had no doubt that he’d have disappeared into Mexico given the first opportunity, and she was glad that he was locked up and couldn’t hurt anyone else. The thought of him preying on other young girls as he’d done with her, made her feel sick to her stomach.
    Dacey rubbed her hands up and down her khaki shorts and smoothed out the imaginary wrinkles in her sleeveless button down shirt. She stared at Cuppa Joe and wondered if she’d made the right decision. She hadn’t discussed it with Tyson, and it wasn’t like she needed his permission to get a job, but she felt like she should include him in something this