Colorado Heart (9781101612026) Read Free

things easy for them. He finished up by putting on a short heavy jacket, followed by his duster, leather gloves and toboggan. He shoved his hat on top of the toboggan and got a Spencer from the gun rack next to the front door.
    â€œHere’s hoping I don’t freeze to death,” he said to the reflection he saw in the mirror of the coat stand. “Dang it, Fu is right. I do need some company since I’m standing here talking to myself.” Jake shook his head at his foolishness and walked out the front door, shutting it securely behind him.
    â€œYou heading to town, Mr. Jake?” Two of his hands, Randy and Dan, came out of the bunkhouse as he approached the barn, both dressed for the weather. Jake knew they were as antsy as he was.
    â€œYes,” Jake said. “I’m worried something might have happened down there, since that fool donkey showed up here.”
    â€œWe’ll ride with you,” Randy said.
    â€œIf you don’t mind,” Dan added.
    â€œSuit yourself,” Jake said. He didn’t mind the company, especially if the snow was bad. More than one man had died a cruel death in this weather, and there was safety in numbers.
    It took no time for his men to saddle up and join him. Jake gave Libby’s lead to Dan and they started out, but Skip had only taken a few steps when a horrible ruckus started. Jake turned to see Libby sitting on her haunches in the snow with her front legs planted while she brayed her distress at the top of her lungs.
    â€œNow what?” Jake groused. He dismounted and as soon as his foot hit the ground Libby got up and trotted to him. She butted her head against his side and hee-hawed again. Dan and Randy both cracked a smile.
    â€œLooks like she’s sweet on you, Mr. Jake,” Randy said.
    Dan handed him the lead. “Only one way to find out for sure.” His face twisted in an effort not to laugh.
    Jake sighed. If Libby followed him without a fight he was never going to hear the end of it from his men. Who knows, maybe he’d get lucky and Libby would just lie down in the snow and refuse to move.
    Jake swung up on Skip and gave a tug on the lead. Libby trotted right up next to his leg and shook her body indignantly, as if Dan’s hold had been an insult.
    â€œSmart-ass,” Jake said to the donkey.
    Dan and Randy burst into laughter.
    â€œNot another word,” Jake threatened good-naturedly as they set off. Skip settled into the trough that the donkey had plowed on her way to the ranch, with Libby following behind and Randy and Dan bringing up the rear.
    â€œToo bad she didn’t show up sooner,” Randy said.
    â€œWould have kept Mr. Jake from spending all those evenings alone,” Dan rejoined.
    â€œYup, she probably would have curled up on the rug in front of the fire like a big dog,” Randy added.
    â€œI’m going to shoot both of you and leave you for the coyotes if you don’t shut up,” Jake said.
    â€œThat’s the biggest ass I’ve ever seen in more ways than one,” Dan said.
    â€œHey,” Jake barked. “Now you’re getting personal.”
    â€œYeah, Dan, don’t you know you’re never supposed to talk about a lady’s personal . . . er, accoutrements?”
    â€œThat donkey ain’t no lady,” Dan observed.
    â€œWhere in the heck did you learn a word like
accoutrements?
” Jake asked Randy.
    â€œI wasn’t always a cowboy, Mr. Jake,” Randy said. “Sometimes circumstances dictate a fellow’s future, no matter what else he’s planned for.”
    Jake raised an eyebrow. “Circumstances?”
    â€œDon’t ask,” Dan said.
    â€œIt was all because of a girl,” Randy said.
    â€œIsn’t it always,” Jake said.
    They moved on, down the trail that led out of the wide valley that was home to Jake’s spread, the Rocking J. The going got easier the farther they rode out of the