Page 9 of Cowboy's Sinful Bargain

Miko's brow flickered. "Burs?"

"It's the rough prickly part of a burdock plant likeHoundstongue. They grow wile around here."

"And they are bad?"

"They can hurt livestock, especially if they become embedded in the eye or eyelids. It can cause eye damage in animals.Houndstongueis also toxic to livestock. It can poison them."

"How do I know of thisHoundstongue?"

I smiled. I liked Miko's inquisitive nature. His thirst for knowledge would be helpful in getting him to know about ranch life. "Houndstongueproduces a reddish-purple flower that stands about one to four feet tall. We see them mostly in the mid-simmer. They are actually quite pretty, but they are nasty for ranchers."

"You...show me, please?"

"Sure, I can show you aHoundstongue."

"Now?"

"Oh, uh, they aren't in bloom right now."

"Then why do you brush the horse?"

"There are all sorts of things that can get into a horse's fur, Miko. Burrs, twigs, dirt, even rocks. If you're going to have a horse, you'll have to learn how to take care of it."

Miko gasped as his eyes grew large. "I'm going to have a horse?"

I frowned. "You live on a ranch, don't ya?"

Happiness danced in Miko's caramel colored eyes as he turned to pet Bucky some more. "I've never had a pet before."

My eyes started to twitch. "Horses aren't exactly pets, Miko. On a ranch, they are as much workers as the ranch hands."

"I will work on ranch?"

"We'll see." I wasn't going to agree to anything until I knew a little more about Miko. I had no idea what sort of skills he might have, if any, but I really didn't see the slender man working cattle with the rest of the ranch hands.

"We should probably get headed back to the main house. Mrs. Gibbons is making us dinner."

"Yes, of course." Miko's whole demeanor changed in the blink of an eye. He went from being filled with happiness to the staid and stiff man I had first met. He even dropped his head down to stare at the ground.

I couldn't stand it. I reached over and lifted Miko's chin. "We can come back and see Bucky later and maybe tomorrow I can take you for a ride."

"Oh." Miko's eyes strayed to the horse. "I could ride him?"

I winced.

"You can ride with me," I corrected. "Bucky doesn't let anyone ride him except me, but if I'm with you, you should be fine."

"Please."

I smiled before sliding my hand over Miko's hip to pull the man to my side. "Tomorrow, Miko."

Miko nodded and then watched Bucky over his shoulder as we walked out of the stall.

"Do you know how to ride, Miko?"

"No, but I would like to learn if that is permissible."

Permissible?

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