Bobbi Smith Read Free Page B

her gun. “Angel and I were chasing the phantom, and we were doing just fine. I was going to catch up with him until you came riding out of nowhere and ruined everything!”
    “The phantom?” he asked.
    “Oh, nothing. Never mind.”
    “Well, I’m sorry I bothered you. I’ll just be on my way.” Hawk turned Bruiser around, ready to ride away. He wasn’t really going to leave her there, stranded. He fully intended to go after her mount and bring it back to her.
    Randi had no idea who this Hawk Morgan was, but she honestly believed he was coldhearted enough to just ride off and leave her on foot.
    Not that she didn’t deserve it. After all, she had pulled her gun on him. But it would be one really long walk back to the house.
    She looked down at the gun she still had in hand.
    “Wait a minute!” she called out.
    Hawk reined in and looked back to see her holstering her sidearm. “What?”
    “You can’t just ride off and leave me here!” she declared.
    “I can’t?” He couldn’t help grinning at the look on her face. He could tell it really annoyed her to have to ask him for help. “I thought you didn’t need rescuing?”
    It irritated Randi to no end that he was mocking her, but she had no choice. She grabbed up her hat and jammed it back on her head. “Well, now I do.”
    “Then it’ll be my pleasure to help you.”
    Hawk rode back to her side and offered her a hand up.
    Randi took his proffered hand and swung up easily behind him. “My name’s Randi Stockton, by the way, and this is my family’s ranch, the Lazy S.”
    Hawk had been wondering who she was, and now he had his answer. “Nice to meet you, Randi Stockton. I take it you’re related to Jack Stockton.”
    “He’s my father. Why? Do you know him?”
    “No, I was just on my way out to speak with him when I saw you.”
    “Do you always ride after people like that?”
    “I thought you were on a runaway. Sorry about the mixup. It won’t happen again.”
    “It had better not.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll know better next time.”
    “Good,” she said with some satisfaction.
    “Besides—if there ever was a next time, you probably wouldn’t hesitate to shoot me,” he said wryly.
    Randi’s tension finally started to ease, and she managed a grin.
    “You’re right,” she said.
    “Let’s go find your horse.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Hold on,” Hawk instructed.
    Randi linked her arms around his lean waist. She tried not to notice how broad and muscular his shoulders were as they rode off in search of the runaway Angel.
    “Who was this phantom you were chasing?” Hawk asked, now that they were on speaking terms. He was worried that the phantom was an outlaw or someone he should be on the lookout for.
    “The phantom’s not a person. It’s a stallion.” She started to tell him the story.
    “I remember hearing about that legend,” he remarked. “But that was some years ago.”
    “The tale has been around for quite a while.”
    “How do you know this is the same stallion?”
    “That’s what’s so fascinating about it. We can’t be sure, but whoever finally catches him will find out the truth.”
    “If anyone ever does catch him.” Hawk was skeptical. He knew how elusive wild stallions could be. The horse hadn’t earned the reputation as a phantom for nothing.
    “I’m going to get him. You just wait and see,” Randi declared with certainty.
    “But the legend says only the finest warrior can catch him, and you’re not a warrior,” he pointed out simply.
    “I’ve been known to put up a pretty good fight,” she countered.
    “That’s true.” He chuckled.
    “I’ve been trying to find the phantom for more than six years now, and today was the closest I’ve ever gotten. Angel is fast. If any horse is going to catch him, it would be her.” She paused, realizing his horse had run her down. She added, slightly annoyed at having to give him any credit, “Or maybe yours.”
    Hawk nodded. “Bruiser’s fast. Keep an eye