Your Wild Heart by Dena Garson Read Free Book Online

what has you so anxious?”
    “I’m not anxious,” Wyatt denied. “I brought a friend with me. She’s touring the stable with Mackie.”
    George whipped around. “She?”
    Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Yes. She.”
    George hobbled over to his desk and grabbed his hat. “Well, come on. No need making a young lady wait while you and I gab.” He opened the door and made shooing motions for Wyatt to precede him.
    With a sigh, Wyatt did as his old mentor ordered.
    “Now, tell me who this lady friend of yours is and how you two met.”
    “George, you’re making a much bigger deal about this than is necessary. I just met Isabelle this week. She’s here from Georgia doing research. I needed to come see you and offered to show her the buffalo. That’s all there is to it.”
    “Uh-huh. I’ll be the judge of that.”
    They found Isabelle and Mackie next to the stall at the end of the barn.
    “What did you find?” Wyatt asked Isabelle when he saw her watching something in the stall with an expression of pure delight.
    “It’s a foal. Only a few hours old. Isn’t he beautiful?” Her smile couldn’t get any bigger if she tried.
    The impact of that smile rocked him. He looked down at the infant and its mother. The foal was frail and wobbled like most newborns, but that didn’t seem to matter to her. “Yes, he is,” Wyatt said not about to disagree. “Isabelle, this is George. George, Isabelle.”
    She climbed off the rail and shook hands with George.
    “I see Mackie is taking good care of you,” George said.
    “Yes, he is. You have a beautiful ranch, and I appreciate being able to see it.” Her smile echoed in her voice.
    They exchanged pleasantries as they all looked in on the mother and foal.
    “So, what are you two going to do with the rest of your day?” George asked.
    “I thought I’d take her to Ruby’s Diner,” Wyatt answered.
    George nodded. “Excellent choice.” He pointed his cane at them. “You better get going, or you’ll miss out on the cobbler of the day.”
    Wyatt chuckled. “That’s true. It was good to see you, George. You, too, Mackie. And thanks for letting us ride.”
    “Anytime.” “You bet.” George and Mackie spoke at the same time.
    “It was nice meeting you both,” Isabelle said with a wave.
    “You, too, young lady,” George said. “And if we don’t see you again, have a safe trip home.”
    “Thank you,” she called out.
    They climbed into the truck and buckled up. As he pulled out of the gravel lot, she turned a smile on him that would have rivaled the sun.
    “Thank you so much for bringing me out here. George and Mackie were very nice, and the ranch is wonderful.” She reached across the span of the cab and touched his arm. “I had a good time.”
    “I’m glad. And you’re welcome.” He grinned. “But you’ve still got a treat coming. Ruby makes the best pot roast in the state. And her cobbler has won ribbons at the state fair.”
    “Oh?”
    “I think we have enough time to get there before it sells out.”
    “Is that often a problem?”
    “Every day.”
    “Really?”
    He nodded. “Really.”
    They chatted about the history of George’s ranch as they drove to Ruby’s.
    When they arrived, they found the parking lot full, as expected. He parked in the empty lot next door and helped her jump the small ravine separating the two lots. They had to wait a short while but, finally, two seats at the bar opened up.
    As they reviewed the menu, Isabelle asked, “So, what’s good?”
    “Pretty much everything.”
    “That’s what I was afraid of,” she muttered.
    He set his menu down. “I usually order based on how hungry I am.”
    “I’m pretty hungry.” She looked at several of the tables around them. “Everything looks good. What are you getting?”
    “I can’t pass up her pot roast.”
    “That does sound good.” She leaned closer. “If I get the barbecue brisket, would you mind if I stole a bite of yours? I promise I don’t have cooties.”