Dancing Moon Ranch 8 Dancing With Danger Patricia Watters

Archiwum

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

trail that takes us down through a number of switchbacks. It's easy going, and Dewey's a good trail
horse. Are you okay with it?"
"I'm fine," Genie replied. "Maybe by the time I leave here I'll know what I'm doing."
"You'll know," Josh said. "I'll make sure of that." In fact he had some long-range plans for these
two sisters, plans that included a pony, one Abby could ride and groom. At the Dancing Moon was the
perfect fit. Fancy was a cross between a miniature horse and a Welsh pony, and she stood thirty-eight
inches at the withers. Grandma Maureen gave her to Maddy for Maddy's third birthday so she'd have
a kid-size horse. At the time, their dad was opposed to the idea, insisting Maddy learn to ride on a
standard horse, but before long, Fancy was a member of the family, and Maddy brushed her, and
groomed her and all but took her to bed with her.
Fancy was still there for kids to brush, but the Dancing Moon could do without her for a while.
He'd talked to Adam about it the night before, and Adam agreed to bring Fancy the morning of Abby's
birthday and pick up a bull their father bought from Matt. Adam would have Jesse with him too, and
Seth and Gabe and Deke's wives could bring some of their younger grandchildren. He'd also buy
Abby a cowboy hat and her first pair of boots. Maybe Abby's father was too busy to be there, but
Abby would have a party with kids and presents and balloons and a clown. He couldn't help smiling,
just imagining Abby's face&
"What's so funny?" Genie asked.
Josh looked at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"You were riding along and smiling. I'm curious to know why. Or maybe I shouldn't ask."
"It's okay," Josh said. He gave Abby's shoulder a little jiggle. "We're going to have a birthday
party for Miss Abbydabby, and there will be kids and balloons, and a clown, and Abby and Grandma
Ruth can bake the prettiest birthday cake in Harney County."
"Yeah!" Abby cried. Tipping her head back, she looked up at Josh, and the grin across her face
said it all.
But when Josh looked at Genie, he didn't see the response he'd expected. Instead, she looked
disturbed. "Did I do something wrong?" he asked.
"Not intentionally," Genie replied, "but you should run things past me first before making plans
for Abby. I have some concerns, which we need to talk about, in private."
"Suit yourself," Josh replied. "I'm just trying to fill in where someone else in her life isn't."
"That's what we need to talk about," Genie said.
Josh had no idea what this was all about. Filling in for Sebastian the Illusionist, or whoever the
man held himself out to be, wasn't something that should ruffle Genie's feathers, though he decided to
err on the side of caution and not say anything about the pony or Abby's hat and boots and let them be
part of a birthday surprise.
"Can Ferdan come to my party too?" Abby asked.
"Sure," Josh replied. "He'll be bringing the clown."
Abby clapped excitedly. "It's gonna be a weal party."
When Josh looked at Genie, she too was smiling. He didn't know if she was coming to terms with
him as a substitute father for the day, or if it was because Abby's joy was contagious, but man that
smile had his heart revving up some. It also had him wanting to pull Genie into his arms and have her
kiss him the way she had at the lodge, something that could become addictive, just as having the little
half-pint cowgirl in front of him in his life could become addictive.
Seeing the break in the rim of the butte, he said to Genie, "We're about to start downhill so heels
down, and brace your feet in your stirrups. About two-thirds of the way down we'll tie up and hike
the rest of the way. There's a foot path that winds its way down to the main canyon, and from there it's
only about a five-minute walk to the box canyon with the petroglyphs."
Genie glanced up at the early evening sky, and asked, "Will we be back before dark?"
"Sure," Josh replied. "We still have a couple hours of daylight left and we're less than an hour
from the ranch."
A few minutes later they started down the trail. Josh frequently looked back to see how Genie
was doing and saw that, not only was she keeping her balance in the saddle, she seemed at ease on the
horse as they made their way downhill. After tying the horses, they headed down the foot trail, with
Abby ahead, picking stalks of wild rye and other weeds along the way.
When Abby was out of earshot, Genie said to Josh, "I know you meant well in planning a party,
but you need to talk to me before making plans that include Abby. She's getting far too attached to you
and it will be hard on her when we leave. Just last night she said she wants to stay here with you and
Ferdinand forever."
"I don't see a problem," Josh said. "Annie's your half-sister so you'll be coming back."
"Abby's not talking about staying with Annie," Genie said. "You're starting to fill the void left by
our father because of unforeseen circumstances. When Mom was alive, Abby had a fulltime father.
Dad loves her and she loves him, but that life's no longer an option. Dad and I promised Mom we'd
do right by Abby by my settling in one place so Abby can attend a regular school instead of travelling
around the country on a bus."
"It's just a birthday party," Josh groused, but realized it was much more than that. He wanted to
fill the void left by Abby's father. He had no idea where he'd go from there, but at this particular
moment in time it was important to him that a little girl who'd just lost her mother, and had an
absentee father, have a smile on her face that one important day.
Genie looked at him, and said, with concern, "I didn't mean to get after you for doing something
nice for Abby, and you're right about it just being a party, but after that, please run things by me first."
"After the party it won't matter," Josh said, "because my off hours will be taken up with
conditioning for upcoming rodeos and going to buckouts at a ranch near Pine Grove."
Genie eyed him with curiosity. "What's a buckout?"
"It's where bucking-bull stock contractors rent their bulls to bull riders and bullfighters for
practice sessions," Josh replied. "The upcoming rodeo's an NPRA-sponsored event, so I want to
make a good showing in the freestyle bullfighting competition."
"Freestyle bullfighting competition?" Genie said, looking at him blankly.
"Basically what it boils down to is spending seventy seconds with a bull that's intent on killing [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

himalia.xlx.pl