The Cowboy and the Angel by T. J. Kline Read Free Book Online

bulls,” he yelled as one of the boys passed. The driver waved a hand, letting Derek know he’d been heard. “Let’s get these horses out,” he ordered, reaching for another, newer crew member.
    He glanced toward Angela in time to see her slip out of her seat and stare at the activity, her eyes wide with awe. He was reassured to see her overwhelmed by the busyness around her. Maybe realizing just how hard they worked, how important their livelihood was to their family, would send her home empty-handed and apologetic.
    “Sydney,” he called, hurrying over to his sister-in-law. “Where’s Scott?” He looked back over his shoulder as Silvie, their housekeeper, came out and enveloped a hesitant Angela in a warm embrace. He frowned as he turned back to her. “We have trouble.”
    “Scott’s in the barn. Who’s she?”
    “A reporter.” He couldn’t help the distaste coloring his voice. “She’s doing a story on the abuse of rodeo stock.”
    “Then why is she here?” she asked, adjusting her daughter, Kassie, on her hip while she played with her necklace.
    “Mike invited her to travel with us for a while. Won’t that be fun?” He shook his head, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
    She sighed, looking skeptical. “Scott’s not going to like this.”
    Derek held his hands up in defense. “I had nothing to do with it. I tried to stop Mike.” Kassie saw that he had his hands up and leaned toward him. He scooped her out of her mother’s arms and kissed the curls on top of her head.
    Sydney looked from Derek to the woman Silvie led toward the house. “This was Mike’s idea?” A slow, confident smile spread over her face, her eyes lighting up. “Looks like he’s at it again.”
    Derek glanced up as his brother came out of the barn and draped his arm around his wife, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “At what again?”
    He and Scott hadn’t always gotten along well. It had been worse when Sydney arrived at the ranch as Mike’s new horse trainer. But over the past year they’d been able to put the past behind them and begin mending their strained relationship. Scott set a high standard. Derek had big shoes to fill in the company business, and at times Derek felt like it was nearly impossible. No matter how hard he tried, he struggled to be the man his brother was. Derek felt the need to continually prove himself.
    “Mike’s matchmaking again.” She directed Scott’s attention toward Angela. “He invited a reporter to stay.” Sydney untangled Kassie’s fist from Derek’s t-shirt just before the little girl leaned forward, reaching for her father’s hat.
    Scott’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why would a reporter come here?” Derek explained the situation to them. “Why didn’t anyone call us? I know you were busy, but Jen could’ve called.”
    “Jen went right along with Mike.”
    Derek was glad his brother shared his resentment at Angela’s presence. Technically, Scott had the final say on all business matters with the company, being the majority shareholder after buying out Mike’s shares and distributing them equally between the three of them, but they had all unanimously agreed to allow Mike to continue running it as he saw fit. They loved him too much to ever ask him to step down. None of them could forget that Mike had taken them in and raised them after their parents were killed. None of them would turn their back on that kind of loyalty.
    “Scott, you know Mike.” Derek handed Kassie off to her father as she leaned toward him. “He does what he wants. I guess he’s decided that, right now, he wants a reporter snooping around during our busiest time of the year. I don’t understand it, I don’t like it, but there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.” Derek threw a look over his shoulder where the woman had disappeared into the main house. “Doesn’t look like you can either.”
    “Wanna bet?” Scott started toward the house, determination etched on his brow.
    Sydney