Page 3 of The Cowboy's Promise

“Sure I can.”

“You’re impossible sometimes.”

“Yeah? Well, so are you.”

“Are you leaving because you don’t like being around people like Courtney, or because you don’t think you measure up?”

“What does it matter?”

“Just answer the question.”

“I will if you say please.”

“I swear…” he grunted. “One of these days…”

“One of these days, what?”

“Once more,” he said tersely, “are you leaving because you don’t like being around people like Courtney, or because you don’t think you measure up?”

“Both! Now it’s your turn. One of these days, what?”

“One of these days you just might find yourself over my knee.”

Unexpected butterflies suddenly sprang to life in her stomach. Not knowing what to say, she asked Apollo to walk forward, but as she rode away her heart was racing. She’d been training with Blake for over a year and they’d had their share of quarrels, but there was one she couldn’t forget…and a part of her didn’t want to.

There was a row of blanket hooks at one end of the barn aisle. Clients were allowed to hang two blankets per horse. Any more and the area became over-crowded and the blankets would fall off, but she would consistently put up three, or even four.

When he’d remind her only two were allowed, she’d complain she didn’t have anywhere else to put them, which was true. He knew she loved blankets and had one for every possibleweather condition, so he’d suggested a second trunk. She’d brought one in, but continued to break the two blanket rule.

Late one night, worried it might rain, she’d returned to the barn after work to switch out Apollo’s cotton sheet for a warm, waterproof one. Blake was still in his office, and as she was hanging the cotton sheet on the hook on top of two other blankets he appeared in the barn aisle.

“Heather!” he called sternly, striding towards her. “You have to store it in that trunk you bought.”

“It’s just overnight. I’ll roll it up and put it there tomorrow, assuming I have room. I just got another couple of the high neck—”

“No, not tomorrow. Put it away now.”

“Oh, for goodness sake, you’re totally overreacting.”

Without warning he’d lunged forward, grabbed the sheet, somehow managed to wrap it around her body, then threw her over his shoulder and carried her into his office as she squealed and squirmed.

“You can sit there until I’m done,” he’d said sternly, plonking her on the love seat and settling behind his desk.

“Are you crazy?”

“Nope, but I am fed up. You may be a talented rider and one of the most gifted horse handlers here, but the rules are for everyone. Now be quiet, I have to concentrate. Give me any trouble and I’ll spank your ass.”

Now approaching the barn the memory wrapped around her like the cotton sheet, and she felt a warm shiver ripple through her body. She’d had a crush on Blake since the first time she’d seen him. She’d driven into his ranch to ask about boarding and training, but when she’d rolled to a stop all she could do was stare at the handsome cowboy. He’d been shirtless, and marched out of the barn carrying a bag of feed over his shoulder. His muscled body had glowed copper under the hot summer sun,and as she’d climbed from her truck he’d paused his step and smiled across at her.

He’d looked like Adonis.

It was a moment she’d never forgotten.

Climbing off Apollo and leading him into the barn, she had no doubt, at some point, Blake would make good on this threat to spank her.

CHAPTER THREE

With her trunk still in the back of her truck, all Heather had to do was drive back to the barn and load Apollo. As she walked through the many rigs she didn’t see anyone, but as she passed Courtney’s impressive trailer she heard a noise. Walking around to the back she found the ramp lowered, and when she looked inside she was shocked to see a groom holding King Henry while Courtney pushed a syringe into the horse’s neck. Quickly ducking out of sight Heather started to creep away.

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