Wild Mustang Man by Carol Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

living room. Long shadows fell over the fields that stretched as far as the eye could see. His land. His son. His life. Why did that make her feel melancholy? As if he had everything and she had nothing? She had a great job and great friends back in San Francisco, and to top it off she’d had a wonderful day.
    “Thanks for the dinner,” she said over her shoulder. “I’ll go out for a brief slingshot lesson, then I’ve really got to go.”
    She pushed the back door open.
    “By the way,” he said. “I hope you got enough pictures, because I’m going to be busy tomorrow.” There was no mistaking the firm determination in his voice. He didn’t want to see her tomorrow. She didn’t dare ask about the next day.
    “Me, too,” she said, and stepped outside into the warm summer evening. “I’m going to be busy, too.” He wasn’t the only one who’d be busy. She had no idea what she’d be doing, but by heaven, she knew she’d be busy. Horses whinnied in the distance. Max shouted to her and beckoned eagerly when he saw her, which warmed her heart It was nice to know there was one Gentry who wanted her there.
    While Bridget watched, Max put a half dozen empty soda cans on a log. Then he took Bridget’s hand and marched her to a patch of lawn he’d marked off with string. He stood next to her, shot a pebble at the cans and missed by an inch. “Dad gum it” he grumbled.
    “That was close,” she said.
    “I been practicing all afternoon. I still haven’t hit a can. Now it’s your turn,” he said handing her his slingshot
    “But Max,” she protested, turning the slingshot over in her hand. “I can’t do this. I haven’t the slightest idea—” A leather strip, two pieces of rubber and a smooth wooden handle. She hadn’t a clue what to do with it
    “Here’s a pebble,” he said. “You put it there in the leather, pull back and let her rip.”
    Bridget did what he said. The pebble fell to the ground at her feet.
    Max shook his head and handed her another. The same thing happened. Bridget sighed, wishing she could make a graceful exit. But Max was looking up at her so hopefully, she had to try again. She didn’t glance at the house. She didn’t want to know if Josh was watching her. Somehow she knew he was. She felt his eyes on her. His curious gaze. He didn’t understand her. Sometimes she didn’t understand herself. She was a bundle of contradictions. A hard-driving businesswoman who was getting used to the silence of the country, to the wide open spaces.
    Of course she didn’t understand him, either. A man who was more accustomed to horses than humans. A man who changed his mind about being her Wild Mustang Man in the blink of an eyelash.
    Not that it mattered if he watched her like a hawk watching its prey. If he had nothing better to do than to stare out the window watching her fail at some childish sport, that was his problem. As for her, she was going to stand there until she succeeded. If it took all night. But having someone gaze at her from afar made it twice as hard. Her hands shook as she yanked on the rubber band once again. And once again saw the pebble fall to the ground.
    “You know what? I’m not getting the hang of this,” she confessed to Max. “Maybe I ought to try again some other—”
    “What’s the problem?” Suddenly Josh was stalking across the lawn toward them.
    “Nothing, I—”
    “You show her, Dad,” Max said.
    Josh stepped behind her and put his arms around her. His chest was rock solid. His heart beat loud and steady, right through his shirt. The muscles in his arms held her strong and steady. She held her breath. What was she supposed to do now? It was hard enough concentrating on hitting a target without him holding her like that and making her heart race. Fortunately she didn’t have to concentrate. All she had to do was follow orders.
    “Now, hold on tight. Like this.” He wrapped his hands around hers, molding her left hand around the handle, the