The Rogue Read Free Page B

humorless smile. “If that stallion took a notion, he could jerk the reins right out of your hands, the same as I did.”
    “Shetan is a well-trained horse,” Diana defended. “And I never ride him around the mares, only in the arena, and only after I’ve worked him a bit on the ground. I am perfectly capable of controlling him.”
    “Even the best-trained horse can rebel, if only for a few seconds. With someone like you on his back, that’s all the time it would take.”
    “I’ve been riding these stallions for years.” Which was stretching the truth quite a bit.
    “I don’t care what you’ve been doing. While I’m around, you aren’t going to,” he informed her.
    “You’re nothing but hired help,” Diana declared with haughty scorn. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
    “I just did.”
    “Holt has a good point.” At the sound of a third voice joining the heated conversation, Diana spun on her heel to see the Major standing at the corral gate. “I think it would be best if you don’t exercise the stallions anymore, Diana. I’ve had misgivings about it from the beginning. There are times when you have to manhandle even the best-trained horse. And you couldn’t do it.”
    Every nerve in her body screamed in protest, but not a sound passed from her lips. She shoved the line into Holt’s hands and walked rigidly out of the corral. Her eyes were dry, but there was an enormous lump inher throat. She thought she would choke on it.
    Diana walked blindly, not caring where she was going, heading into the open spaces beyond the corrals. It was several minutes before she heard someone hurrying along behind her. Diana glanced back and saw Guy.
    “If you still want to ride,” he began hesitantly as she finally acknowledged his presence.
    All the pent-up anger suddenly exploded. “You dumb little kid! This is all your fault!” she accused. “Why did you have to open up your mouth and tell your stupid father what I was doing?”
    His small face whitened. “I didn’t mean to, honest.”
    “I didn’t mean to,” Diana repeated in sarcastic mimicry. “I thought you didn’t like your father, so what were you doing talking to him about me?”
    “I don’t like him,” Guy insisted, “but he asked me what I was doing with your saddle and—”
    “—you told him,” she finished. “You said you wanted to be my friend, but you are no friend of mine. Go away and leave me alone. I don’t want you around! You’re nothing but a pest!”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” Tears filled his eyes as he stared at the ground, his chin quivering. He began sniffling, seemingly unable to move.
    Diana was still glaring at him with contempt when the tears began spilling over his pale lashes, streaming down his cheeks. His small hand couldn’t stem the flow. She was suddenly uncomfortable. She couldn’t remember the last time she had seen anyone cry. Diana didn’t know how to handle it.
    “Stop being a cry-baby,” she muttered, but that only seemed to increase the volume of tears, despite Guy’s valiant attempt to obey. “Come on. Stop it.” Impatience and unease brought a frown. Diana turned partially away, not wanting to watch him cry. “Forget what I said. It wasn’t your fault. It was
your father
making trouble, trying to worm his way into theMajor’s favor by pretending he was concerned that I might get hurt. He doesn’t give a damn about you or me.”
    “Then you’re not mad at me?” Guy asked for more assurance.
    “I’m just mad in general.” She gave him a sidelong look and grudgingly extended a peace offering. “I’m going to the irrigation pond to cool off. Do you want to come along?”
    He hesitated. “I don’t have my trunks on.”
    “So?” Diana lifted her shoulders in an uncaring shrug. “Neither do I. Do you want to come along or not?”
    He accepted eagerly, scrubbing the last traces of tears from his face. Now and then he sniffled at his runny nose as he walked beside her