Page 38 of The Cowboy’s Reckoning

And she’d felt so powerless waiting, waiting, waiting.

“It’s hard when you have no control.”

“And it’s hard when you don’t know what you’re up against, if anything.” She nudged the straw at her feet. “I want something tangible to fight against,” she grumbled.

“Me too.”

The weary agreement in his voice made her smile.

“When is your sister coming?”

“Early next week.”

“When are you going to tell her about the cow?”

“Probably just before she boards. Who knows? We might have other things to tell her by then.”

“How do you think she’ll take it?”

“She’ll come armed for battle.” He frowned at her and she said, “That’s the way Maya is. She’s soft and feminine and was never one for the outdoor stuff, so people tend to underestimate her. That’s a mistake and she uses it to her advantage. She put more than one high school bully in their place. Law was a perfect choice for her. I’m just surprised she didn’t become a trial lawyer.” Lil cleared her throat. “I’ll just throw this out there for you to think about … she might have some insights into your inheritance.” When he didn’t answer, she added, “I don’t know how well she knew him, or if she knew him at all.”

“I’ll think about it,” he said after a long pause.

He separated the wires he’d pulled out through a hole in the rough-sawn wall planks.

“I’m hauling three of the four horses to your place, if that’s okay.”

“What about the fourth?”

“The owner decided that he’s had enough training.”

“Dudley?”

“Oh, no. That owner wants the miles put on him. The thoroughbred’s owner is coming to get him.”

“Let me know when you’re ready to haul and I’ll go with you.”

“I was going to ask you about that.” She had not looked forward to going alone, but she was not used to asking for company, either.

“I wouldn’t throw you to the wolves.”

“Right. Your family seems really wolf like.”

“You should see them at a steak dinner, ripping and tearing, snarling at one another.” He waggled his eyebrows at his bad joke before going back to his wiring.

Lil shook her head, but she felt a touch lighter inside.

“I’m going to catch horses.”

“Let me know when you’re ready to load. I’ll give you a hand.”

Yet another thing Lil wasn’t used to. She and Meg shared chores, worked together, but rarely did they lend each other a hand in simple things like loading horses. That said, Lil appreciated the offer.

And the man.

What had started as a gentle tug of attraction was beginning to feel more like a tractor beam. Good thing? Bad thing?

She went with complicated thing.