Her Rodeo Cowboy Read Free Page A

You’re here to relax and to love my precious baby boy all you want. And to win that rodeo.”
    She was ready to talk about something else and grabbed hold. “Poor Murdock is so ramped up. He can feel that we’re getting ready for something. Poor horse has missed the barrels. But he’s doing so well, it’s like he was out in the pasture practicing while I was off at school.”
    Montana rubbed her face against Tate’s neck and he grabbed her hair, making her laugh as she disentangled herself from him. One day she was going to have a baby like Tate, and she wasn’t going to make him feel guilty for having dreams different from her own. She was going to love him and help him as he went after those dreams.
    â€œThis is ‘the good stuff,’ Lacy.”
    â€œYes, it is,” Lacy chirped. “I’m so happy, I really, really am. I wish you’d find someone like my Clint.” She grinned mischievously. “But all in God’s timing.”
    Montana was happy for her cousin. She and Lacy had always been a lot alike. Neither of them really needed a man to make them happy, and yet, there was no denying that Lacy seemed more content now. “Lacy, honestly, I’m so mad at my dad right now, andhis lying, that I don’t even want to think about letting a man in my life.”
    â€œI know, and you have every right to be upset. But I’m praying you’ll get over that. All men don’t lie. Some men happen to pride themselves on being honest, and that’s the kind of man God’s going to send your way.”
    Montana gave Lacy a scowl. “He better not send him anytime soon, or it won’t matter. I’m not interested in any man but this little man right here.” She cuddled Tate, burying her face in his chubby neck.
    â€œYou, my dear cuz, have good taste. By the way, I saw Luke Holden was here earlier. Did you meet him?”
    The cowboy’s image whipped into her mind like a red flag. “Yes,” she said warily.
    â€œWell, what did you think of him? I happen to think he’s a real cutie pie and a real fine man, too.”
    Surely she wasn’t thinking… “Lacy, I told you I’m not interested. I’m here to win a rodeo, not a man.”
    Lacy stuffed a fist to her hip, her eyes dancing. “Yep, yep, yep,” she sang. “You thought he was cute. I knew it!”
    Montana gasped. “I didn’t say that.”
    â€œDidn’t have to. Your refusal to answer my question said it all.”
    â€œOkay, he isn’t hard on the eyes. But don’t go getting any ideas.” The fact that Lacy might be having ideas about her and Luke had Montana’s nerves rattling a bit.
    â€œOh, I’m not promising anything. I was just checking your pulse.” Lacy smiled mischieviously.
    Montana lifted Tate into the air and looked up at hischerub face. “Tell your momma that my pulse is just fine, and you’re the only man I’m gonna be interested in for a good long while.” She shot Lacy a teasing but serious glare. “And I mean that. Got it, cuz? ”
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    â€œYou seen her?”
    Luke was sitting at the counter in Sam’s diner, waiting on his breakfast. It was 6:00 a.m. and the crowd hadn’t bombarded the tiny diner yet—but they’d be in at any moment. Applegate Thornton and his buddy Stanley Orr were already glued to the chairs at the window table. It was their usual morning spot to spit sunflower seeds at their spittoon, play checkers and get in on the happenings and business of everyone in town. Today they were starting with him.
    Applegate spit two sunflower seed shells into the old brass spittoon then repeated his question again loudly, as if Luke was the one who was hard of hearing instead of he and Stanley.
    â€œDid you see her yet? Montana Brown. Lacy’s cousin.”
    Oh, he’d seen her all right. And he’d been thinking about her