Wishing on a Rodeo Moon (Women of Character) by Grace Brannigan Read Free Book Online Page A

the door and began to climb inside,
Tye said almost musingly, "You didn't fool me, you know."
    Warily,
he swung back to look at her. "About what?"
    "I
knew you were keeping an eye on me." Before he could think up a plausible
protest, she went on. "While it's kind of nice to know you were looking
out for me, it's not necessary." Gently but firmly, Tye continued,
"I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself. Forget any notions about
taking me under your wing. I know you’re used to looking out for your
family, but I don't need that." She added emphatically, "What I need
now is a friend."
    For the
second time that morning Jake felt heat creep up his neck. Taking the bull by
the horns, he said, "You keep using the word friend .
Do you really think it’s possible for us to be friends at this late
stage?"
    Tye
avoided his gaze, as if she, too, was revisiting past memories and what they
had meant to each other. "I've been thinking about this arrangement.
You've got a beautiful place and it's close to town. I'd be crazy to think I
could do better." She turned her head and finally met his eyes. "But
it creates problems if you feel like you have to watch over me."
    Jake
nodded, trying to soothe the deep ache inside him. He wanted Tye to get well,
but he began to wonder if he could keep his emotions in check. Why had these
feelings resurfaced after so long? He should be reassured that she wanted
nothing more than friendship. In a few days or weeks or months she’d be
gone, and he could pick up the threads of his life. He’d been getting
along fine, hadn’t he? He hadn’t needed her in all these years.
    "Sorry,
Tye, it's merely habit that made me follow you. I would have done the same for
any of my sisters. You’re right, we can be friends. Old history is old
history and we’ve both moved on."
    "Do
you still look out for your family?"
    "Of
course, but my sisters are settled now, with families of their own."
    "All
except you. You’re pretty special, Jake." Tye looked away from him,
but Jake thought he saw a flash of pain or perhaps regret. "I’ve
never taken care of anyone in my life, except for myself, and sometimes I
wasn’t very good at that." She threw her head up almost defiantly
and flashed him a smile. "Makes me seem pretty self-absorbed,
doesn’t it?"
    Jake had
a flashback to that night long ago when she’d walked away from him.
He’d seen the same pain in her eyes then, but it hadn’t stopped her
from pursuing the rodeo, and he had let her go.
    "How
is your little sister Amy these days?" Tye asked, when he didn’t
reply to her comment. "Last time I saw her she was about eight."
    "Amy
moved out a few weeks ago. She’s sharing an apartment with some friends
in the city."
    Tye
jerked her head up and her eyes widened as if a thought suddenly occurred to
her. "And here I am, intruding on your life, when you’ve finally got
your house to yourself."
    "You've
been through a bad time, Tye. You need some space to pull your life back
together."
    "Yeah,
I guess." Jake heard the uncertainty in her voice. As she dipped her head,
her hair fell forward. Jake stuffed his fists in his pockets, squashing the
urge to push back the locks hiding her eyes.
    He
couldn’t touch her. They were going to be friends. There was room for
nothing more, even though his traitorous heart wanted more. He wouldn’t
allow this to happen again. Jake forced himself to mentally step back and take
a deep breath before he did something stupid, like start wanting Tye again, and
acting on it.

§ Chapter Five §
    Later
that afternoon Tye sat on the edge of a lounge chair beside the swimming pool.
As she stared at the crystal clear depths she admitted to herself that she was
a coward. She didn't dare hop into the pool with Jake somewhere close by.
    If she
wanted to swim she would have to take off the leg. She didn’t want to do
that with anyone around, especially Jake. He was a man, a good-looking man, and
that seemed to matter in her mind. He had known her