Cowboy for Keeps Read Free

artistic career. That and the volunteer photography she did for
several local no-kill animal shelters.
    “Don’t forget baby pictures,” Conner added.
    “Right.” She smiled, glad the momentary awkwardness between the
two of them had passed. Not only for the sake of the book, which would require
them to spend considerable time together during the next few weeks, but also
because of her fondness for him.
    He was fond of her, too, and attracted to her. Still. Dallas
could tell. When they’d first met—she’d been retained by Triad Energy for a
company brochure—there were instantaneous sparks. First, they’d gone on a group
lunch together. Then a happy-hour gathering after work. Their next happy hour
had included just the two of them. It had ended with a kiss that left her
thinking of nothing else for days.
    By the end of her two-week project, she’d been completely
smitten and convinced he had all the potential to be the one.
    During that same period of time, Richard had also made his
interest in her known. Dallas liked him, but kept him at arm’s length, her
attention focused entirely on Conner. After her stint at Triad was over,
however, he’d stopped calling her so much, then not at all. He cited work and
spending weekends at the office as the reason, and apologized. Dallas had
believed him. She’d heard the employees talking about a potential large contract
and that Conner would be in charge.
    After two weeks without a single peep from him, she gave up
hope. Richard’s call and invitation to a movie wasn’t entirely unexpected, and
she’d accepted. The rest, as the saying went, was history.
    She’d be lying if she didn’t admit Richard was a rebound
romance. And that she’d occasionally wondered what might have been if Conner
hadn’t become buried in work.
    Well, they were both unattached now.
    Dallas instantly dismissed the notion. She couldn’t think about
seeing anyone right now, and not for a while. She and Richard had only recently
split. And then there was the matter of—
    “Is this close enough?” Conner asked, interrupting her train of
thought.
    “Perfect.”
    He’d pulled the truck alongside the larger of the three
connecting pastures, not far from a gate. About a hundred yards off, four
mustangs had raised their heads to stare at them. Not completely used to humans,
they were content to stay put and watch. That would change as soon as Conner
removed the bucket of grain he’d brought along.
    Dallas hopped out of the truck, grabbing and then discarding
her sweater. It was early October, and, typical for southern Arizona, the
seasons were only now starting to change from summer to fall. The mildly nippy
early-morning air had warmed as the sun rose. By afternoon, they would be
running the air-conditioning in their vehicles.
    Standing with the door open, Dallas rifled through her
equipment bag, grabbing her digital camera and two lenses, one a zoom on the
slim chance the horses proved able to resist the lure of a treat. Depending on
the shot, she occasionally used a 35mm camera. A good photographer always
allowed for choices.
    She met up with Conner at the gate.
    “Wait here,” he instructed. “These ponies are fresh off the
Navajo Reservation and pretty unpredictable. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
    Dallas started to tell him she wasn’t a novice where horses
were concerned and could handle herself, then reconsidered. Things were
different now, and she’d be wise to practice caution. So she did as instructed
and waited beside the gate, readying her camera.
    Conner shook the bucket. That got the attention of the horses,
and they meandered toward him. Dallas raised her camera and studied the scene
through the viewfinder.
    These mostly untamed horses were perfect for the book, in looks
and disposition. Despite their shaggy coats, long manes and tails, and compact
muscled bodies, they were extraordinary, and they knew it.
    Not just any horse, they carried the blood of their