Page 36 of My Cowboy Freedom
“Now, wait just a damn minute. You are a barely mature hottie.” I stomped after her. “He seems like a guy who will treat you right. Who cares how old he is?”
“I don’t want people looking at me like I’m some kind of cradle-robbing freak.”
I had her covered there. “I’m still the Rocking C’s resident freak. You got nothing to worry ’bout.”
She punched my arm. Not too hard, but still. I whined,“OW-wuh.”
Maisy barked at her. “Oh, you didn’t even feel that.”
“But I saw your tiny bird fist dent the skin there a little. Ialmostfelt it.”
“Booger. Race you back.” She took off and Maisy and I chased. We ran, but after about forty-five seconds, she dropped back, doubled over. Panting hard. “Stop.”
I stopped and called back to her, “This is because you don’t like to lose, isn’t it?”
She waved at me to wait while she caught her breath. “Forget it. Why do people even run like that? Where do they gotta be so fast they need to run to get there? Idiots.”
“It’s good for our hearts.”
She gave a snort-laugh.“I’ll watch you run, baby. My heart will enjoy that plenty. I’ll catch up when you slow down.”
Said the woman who thinks I never see her sneaking a cigarette when she thinks I’m not around.
“The way you’re gasping for breath, Maisy and I should probably hang around and make sure you get back okay.”
“Very funny.” But we kept our pace lazy for the rest of the walk back. “I like this. Taking a nice leisurely walk. People today are always in a big hurry. Nobody takes time to stop and smell the roses anymore.”
“It was your idea to race,” I pointed out.
“Not how I remember it.”
Maisy saw a squirrel and despite how badly she wanted to chase it, she gave it the hairy eyeball and a promise for the future. “Good girl.”
She turned to me for the treat she knew I’d offer. I dug into my pocket for one.
A few minutes later, the paddock came into view. With Tad and Sky in town all morning, I’d wondered who’d done the barn chores.
My question was answered when Foster Splint came out leading the colt, Smoky Joe. “Hey, pretty lady.”
Elena honest to God caught fire.
Hilarious.
“Foster.”Her hands fluttered unnecessarily over her hair and her clothes. I hid a smile.
Smooth, Elena.
“What?” Foz asked. “You don’t think I know a pretty lady when I see one? Hey, Rock.”
“Hey.” Though his attention was all for Elena, I felt it deep inside my gut too. Foster Splint knew how to look at a woman. I’d combust on the spot if he looked at me like that.
“Foster,” she said his name again softly. Her lashes lowered, and he leaned in as though each individual lash was a string that pulled him closer.
“Lay-nah.”He mimicked her, saying the name like a challenge. He met her gaze, his brown eyes soft, his crow’s feet lines white against his work-weathered skin. He was a silver fox, just like Sterling Chandler. Elena was a lucky woman.
He grinned at her. “I’ll be seeing you later, Miss Elena. I’m already thinking up my excuse.”
She held her head high and she passed him like she wasn’t paying him any mind, but Foster winked and I knew she saw it by the way her stride loosened just enough to make her walk sassy.
