Sunset Ranch by A. Destiny Read Free Book Online Page B

have any ponies for the kids. But he’s so strong, he can carry a man too. He’s just a good little guy—totally willing, never offers to bite.”
    His voice trailed off and he glanced at me, then looked down quickly. He ran his fingers back and forth rapidly along the fence. “We can do it.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou were right. About talking to Rick. I was just getting all bothered by Zach being the one suggesting it. It’s actually a really good idea.” He smiled at me. “Sorry I was being stupid.”
    I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a quick hug. “Thank you! When should we do it?”
    â€œMorning’s the best time—they’re usually in the office right after breakfast. We can do it tomorrow.”
    I squealed. “We’re going to make him the best horse on the whole ranch—and Rick will see how amazing you are, I know it.”
    â€œI hope so.” Then he paused and cleared his throat. “Hey, um, do you remember when we were driving in and saw the Garden of the Gods? Well, I was thinking of going for a hike out there tomorrow. We have the afternoon off. You want to maybe come with me?” The tips of his ears were bright red.
    â€œOh! Yeah! Yeah.” I controlled my voice with an effort. He’s asking me out! He’s asking me out!
    â€œCool.” He cleared his throat, regaining his composure. “I know this great trail—it’s not marked, so no one goes on it, but my brother showed me once.”
    â€œI love secrets.” My jaws ached from the strain of controlling my grin. “Sounds fun.” Or like heaven on earth. Whichever.
    â€œStephen!” Rick’s bark came from the hay shelter near the barn.
    Stephen jumped as if he’d been pricked with a pin. “I have to go.” He threw me a quick smile. “Meet you after breakfast tomorrow?”
    â€œSure. I’ll tell Zach.” I watched as he scurried toward his brother, who was standing in a sweat-stained T-shirt, his fists on his hips.
    I turned back to the pasture and rubbed my hand up and down Hans’s warm nose, already wrapped in daydreams of tomorrow.

ChapterFive
    The sky was heavy with gray-bellied clouds when I met Stephen and Zach on the porch of the main house after breakfast the next morning, still chewing my last bite of tortilla-and-egg sandwich.
    â€œYou guys ready?” Zach asked, looking from me to Stephen.
    Stephen shrugged. “I can’t guess what he’ll say.”
    â€œNo one’s saying you can, bro.” Zach’s voice already held an edge of irritation.
    â€œAll right, let’s go in,” I said, cutting them off. I swung open the screen door with more confidence than I felt.
    Rick and Jack were sitting on either side of a battered metal desk heaped with papers, stirrup leathers, bits, and hay samples. In the corners of the stuffy little office, feed buckets were stacked five high, and the walls were hung with old and out-of-service bridles. I half admired a silver mounted one as we crowded the doorway.
    Jack looked at us over his glasses. “What is it, folks?”
    We wedged ourselves into the cramped space. Rick pushed his chair back with a scrape. “You hands need to get to your work.”
    â€œWe have a request for you first,” Zach said. He sounded so calm and direct.
    â€œWe were wondering if you’d let us work with the buckskin horse,” I said. “I know you said he’s only here temporarily, but we were thinking that maybe if we trained him up some, he could be a good ranch horse—and he could stay.” I stopped, my breath arrested in my throat.
    â€œNo.” Rick didn’t even bother to look at us. He opened a file folder on his lap and took out a schedule and handed it to Jack. “Get to work.”
    That was it. Dismissed. Impotent anger choked me. He wasn’t even going to offer an explanation.
    â€œThat