The Cedar Tree (Love Is Not Enough) by Danni McGriffith Read Free Book Online Page B

offering."
    She hesitated, but then took the sack and pulled out the bridle trimmed with Mexican silver. Her mouth dropped open. She turned to him. "I can't take this."
    He flashed his grin at her again. "C'mon. It'll make me feel better about your dog." He held her gaze. "Please."
    She stared at the bridle in her hands. "I really can't."
    "Why not?"
    The church door behind him opened. She jerked up her head and thrust the bridle at him. He turned as Lance sauntered up to them.
    She took Lance's arm. "This is Gil Howard. You know…I told you…?"
    An unaccustomed flush of self-consciousness burned his ears. She'd been talking about him to her boyfriend?
    "He was showing me the bridle for the horse he bought from Dad," she said, her tone over-bright, but definite.
    Lance glanced at the bridle. "That looks a lot like the one you've been lookin' at," he said in a laid-back drawl. He grinned, holding out his hand. "Lance Thomas."
    He reluctantly turned his gaze from Katie and shook Lance's hand. "How y'doin'."
    "I'm glad it was you that hit Benny instead of me," Lance said. "I don't know how many times he's run out in front of me."
    He paused, his ears burning again. "Glad to help," he said shortly.
    Lance looked from him to Katie, and then back to him. "You stayin' long?" he asked, his easy-going gaze sharpening.
    "Through the summer." He wasn't used to having to look so far up to talk to anyone and it irritated him. "You helpin' move the cattle to the mountain tomorrow?"
    "No. We've got a house to roof tomorrow. Besides—" he grinned at Katie—"I'm not much of a cowboy, am I?"
    She smiled. Her gentle smile illuminated her eyes, transforming her dainty prettiness to beauty, innocent and completely void of grasping need.
    The smile wasn't his, but he could hardly breathe.
    "You're not so bad," she said to Lance.
    "Then how come you always scream with laughter and tell me I look like a scarecrow on horseback?" Lance asked, grinning.
    Katie's smile widened and she pressed his arm against her. "That doesn't mean you're not a good cowboy."
    Lance turned to grin at him. "Yes, it does." He slid his arm around her shoulders. "Hate to run, but we've got a hot date."
    She flushed and glanced quickly at him from beneath her lashes then she walked away with her gangly boyfriend, leaving him holding the bridle like a complete fool.
    Lance opened the door of an old, white Buick and Katie slid in. He folded himself to kiss her lightly, smiling at something she said then shut the door. A moment later, the Buick pulled out of the parking lot.
    He jerked open the door of his truck and flung the pretty bridle across the cab. It hit the other door with a clank of metal then slid to the floor in a tangle of black leather and Mexican silver.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
     
    In the pre-dawn darkness the next morning, Shorty blew up his belly like a toad and jerked back on his halter rope.
    "Knock it off, Jughead."
    Gil gave the horse's underbelly a sharp, open-handed slap and Shorty hopped forward a step, releasing his breath.
    He jerked the cinch strap tight, breathing deeply of the chilly morning air, sharp with the smell of cedar and sage, and the heavy, damp smell of irrigated alfalfa.
    Anticipation had replaced his bad mood of the day before. Today, he'd have a whole day in the saddle doing what he loved, and with any luck at all, Katie would be helping move her family's cattle to summer pasture on the mountain. If she was, he'd have the whole day to make some time with her, too.
    The sky lightened behind the cedar covered knob. A sleepy crow and clucking sounded from the chicken run where his grandfather scattered grain from a battered coffee can. "You girls best step it up a little, or the stewpot's gonna be your next stop."
    He grinned at his grandfather's words as he adjusted the bridle over Shorty's ears. Then spurs clinking and the leather of his chaps slapping softly against his jeans, he moved to Lucky.
    He swung his