Capturing the Cowboy's Heart Read Free

interview when they’d spoken on the phone.  Now Bustin’ Loose was a rag?  It was his mood she reminded herself, recalling Burk Lowry’s words.  She had to remain unaffected by his words and convince him to follow through with their agreement.  The money she would make would help pay for her grandmother ’s care at the Alzheimer’s care home back in Denver .   And getting her own column with the magazine would help ensure that her grandmother was properly cared for.  
    “I’m here as per our agreement,” she explained with a forced smile .
    “Our agreement?”
    “The one we discussed over the phone,” she prompted only to receive a blank look from the man hovering over her .  “ Where y ou agreed to let me do a story on your life .  A bout how Cade Tyler, one of rodeo’s best, is living after leaving the circuit."
    His expression darkened.  “I did what?”
    “You-”
    He cut her off.  “I heard what you said, but that’s a flat out lie.  I never agreed to anything.”   
    He had the nerve to call her a liar?  She’d just spoken to him two days before to confirm everything.  “Look, Mr. Tyler, I’m not sure why you’ve changed your mind about letting me do the story, but I don’t appreciate your playing games with me.   The least you could have done was call to let me know and saved me the eight hour drive. ”
    “Lady, you’ve got the wrong man.  I’ve never spoken to you, nor would I ever agree dish out my personal life for the whole world to see.  So you can just go find yourself another has-been.”
    “Are you always this personable?”
    “Are you always this annoying?” he countered angrily.
    It took every ounce of restraint she had not to give the irritating cowboy a piece of her mind.  But getting into a verbal sparring match with him wouldn’t accomplish anything.  She couldn’t force him into letting her do the interview.  But she also couldn’t give up.  Her grandmother was the only family she had left and Lacy wanted to make her remaining days as comfortable as possible.
    She fought back tears of frustration.  Think, Lacey, think.  You need this assignment.  
    “You’re obviously not a man of your word,” she said, determined to hit him where it hurt.  A man’s pride was everything.
    “ Did they just let you out of the funny farm or are you hard of hearing,” he asked with a deepening frown.  
    “Excuse me?”
    “For the last time, you and I have never spoken on the phone.  Now, if you’ll excuse me I’ve got work to do."  He grabbed his hat from just inside the door, slapped it on to his head and started past her, the screen door banging shut behind him.
    Lacy spun around , watching him go .  “ Do you know what I think?” she called after him.
    “No, and I don’t care to,” he replied over his shoulder.
    Don’t say it , an inner voice warned.  “I think you land ed on your head one too many times during your rodeo days.   That’s what I think! ”
    Cade Tyler stopped dead in his tracks and then turned to face her.  Fury lit his eyes as he moved toward her in long, angry strides .
    Lacy took a step back only to find herself up against the screen door.
    “It’s not her fault,” a voice said behind her , making her jump.
    “What do you mean?” Cade asked, his steps halting.
    Lacy moved aside, grateful Burk Lowry had chosen that moment to return.  It took a moment longer for his words to sink in.  But the moment they did she repeated Cade’s question.  “What do you mean?”
    The screen door swung open as he stepped out onto the porch, guilt written all over his face.  “I did it.  I was the one who talked to Ms. Dalton on the phone.”
    She gasped.  “That was you?  You said you were him,” she added , pointing at Cade.
    The lanky cowboy s hrugged.  “A little white lie.”
    “Little hell,” Cade growled as he moved up onto the porch to join them .
    “Look, Cade,” his ranch hand said, “the business needs the