Her Cowboy Knight Read Free Page B

aback. “First things first: safety. The biggest rule for you in my barn is that you don’t ever, ever, ever approach the horses like I just saw you doing. Not until you are a lot more familiar with them, and I am a lot more familiar with you. Is that clear?”
    Gabby stammered, “But I hired on as a…”
    “Is that clear?” His low words weren’t yelled, but they cut across Gabby’s just the same.
    Gabby nodded. “It’s clear.”
    “Good. Now, as for what you’ll be doing around here, there are some projects that have been piling up that I think will be perfect for you.”
    Gabby looked at him in puzzlement. “But I do work with horses. I thought I was hiring on as a hand.”
    Cooper said, “Jed said you traveled with some sort of Medieval Fair, and that you needed a job. I already have hands that handle the horses.”
    At this point, Gabby stopped and decided to just let him see her in action at a later point. He’d have to relent when he saw what she could do. She’d do things his way for the time being. She had seen her father put volunteers through this sort of process, though she had never really been at the other end of things herself. “Okay, so what would you like me to do?”
    “Well, there will be all sorts of things, but I’m sure it won’t be anything you can’t handle. If you have any problems, just come talk to me about it, and we’ll work it out. Now as for rules, as I’ve said, the biggest one is to stay away from the horses. Also, just let someone know where you are. This is a big place, and we need to know where everyone is so we can keep track of everyone. Take a radio and some water if you are going out on a walk or anything… you aren’t taking any of the horses, so that one shouldn’t be too big of a problem; you can’t get far. Other than that, just keep a good attitude and do as you’re told and everything should go along fine.”
    After that speech, Gabby wasn’t sure quite what to say. It sounded like he expected her to be trouble, which—after she’d arrived in a police car, and the sheriff’s little introduction—she guessed she couldn’t blame him. Still, she didn’t like being talked to like a naughty twelve-year-old, and she made it clear with her tone when she said, “I’ll work hard, Mr. Harris. Of course, out of courtesy, I will inform someone of my whereabouts.”
    Cooper regarded her for a long moment. “Then we’ll get along fine. Fill out these papers, and we’ll get you situated. When you are finished, come on outside and see me.” He pushed away from the desk, but turned around at the door, leveling his blue eyes at her. “And this time, I mean straight out to see me, not stopping along the way.”
    Gabby flushed guiltily and nodded, turning her eyes to the paperwork in front of her.
     
    * * *
     
    Gabby dove right into the list of chores Cooper left her that afternoon, figuring that the best way to prove herself would be to do her best on the little chores in order to be given more responsibility. When Cooper checked on her two hours later, she had completely nearly a quarter of the items on a list that was meant to last a week.
    “Whoa, slow down, Gabby, no need to knock yourself out.” Cooper leaned on the doorjamb of a shed Gabby was organizing.
    Gabby looked up and grinned. “Oh, Mr. Harris, you scared me.”
    “Cooper, please. Come on. I’d like you to meet my foreman, and it’s time for lunch.”
    Gabby followed him to a gentleman who hovered over some papers in the back of a truck. The new man turned around as they walked up, removing his hat as Cooper said, “Kwan, I’d like you to meet our new hand, Gabby. She’ll be doing a few odd jobs around here. Her dad is an old friend of Jed’s. Gabby, this is Kwan Martinez, my top hand. If you have a question or problem and can’t find me, you can ask him and his word goes, okay?”
    Gabby nodded and took Kwan’s offered hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Martinez.”
    “It’s