Carol Grace Wild Mustang Man (epub)

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.Invite the whole ad agency to dinner if you want.”“It’s not what I want.It’s what Max wants.I only want what’s best for you.I can’t help thinking you ought to expand your circle of acquaintances to include a few more people than horses.”“Okay, okay, she can stay to dinner.Are you happy now?” he asked his mother.“Delirious,” she acknowledged, favoring him with a fond smile.“Let me know how it turns out.The shepherd’s pie, I mean.”That’s not what she meant at all, he thought, watching her go.His mother was an incurable romantic and wouldn’t rest until Josh had found someone else, a mother for Max, a mate for himself.She’d left him alone until this year, then she’d started dropping hints about various women in town who were single or divorced.Up to now he’d ignored her successfully.But tonight she had a look in her eye he hadn’t seen before.A look of quiet determination.When he finally got his horse settled down, he reluctantly made his way to the house where he bumped into Ms.Ad Agency Exec of the Year.“Oh, I was just leaving,” she said, her hand on the doorknob.“I thought you were staying for dinner.”“You did?” There was no mistaking the way her eyes lit up; she was pleasantly surprised he hadn’t shoved her out the door.Maybe he did need more adult company.“No,” she said, “I couldn’t intrude.”He wiped the dirt off his forehead with his handkerchief.“What’s the matter, don’t you like shepherd’s pie?”“I love shepherd’s pie.I mean I think I’d love it.I’ve never had it.It looks wonderful.”“You’re here.You might as well stay.”“If you’re sure.”“I’m going to wash up,” he said and walked down the hall to the bathroom.Bridget sat on the edge of the plain pine kitchen chair.Was it possible that she’d been invited to dinner at the very house she’d been summarily dismissed from only a few days ago? Of course he hadn’t invited her.His son had.But he hadn’t objected.At this point she was grateful for small favors.The conversation at the dinner table was minimal.But the food was great.His mother was a wonderful cook.She told him so.“It sure beats the food at the diner in town,” she said enthusiastically accepting a second helping.He gave her a sharp look as he served himself another large helping, and she realized what she’d said could be misconstrued as a hint she’d prefer to eat there with him.“Of course it’s a wonderful way to learn about the town.People are so friendly and talkative,” she added.He didn’t say anything.Maybe he thought she was comparing him unfavorably with the gregarious crowd at the cafe.“That’s where I heard about the wild horse sale.At breakfast this morning.”“Uh-huh.”Breakfast, such a long time ago.In the interim she’d signed up the perfect Wild Mustang Man, learned about wild mustangs, but not much about the man.Which was okay.It wasn’t necessary to get into his background.She’d met his son and his mother.She’d seen the inside of his bathroom and was now eating dinner across the table from him.What more did she want?“Can I be excused?” Max asked, hopping down from his chair.His father looked surprised at his sudden display of manners.“Yeah, sure.I guess so.”“I gotta try out my new slingshot.I promised Bridget I’d show her how to use it Then I gotta show her how to ride a bike.”She smiled as he ran out the back door.“I feel like I’ve missed a lot growing up in the city.”“Never had a slingshot?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.“Or a bike or a horse.”“What did you do for fun?”“Um.I don’t know exactly.I’m sure I never had as much fun as Max.”“Or get injured as often as Max,” he said.“Oh, no, I never got injured.My mother wouldn’t have permitted it.Mothers can be terribly overprotective.Mine was.”“I worry about Max.Maybe I’m not protective enough.”“Seems to me he’s turning out fine.He’s a lot of fun.” She stood and looked out the kitchen window to watch him race across the grass, falling head over heels and picking himself up in pursuit of a pebble he’d lanced from his slingshot.“I envy you,” she said softly.He didn’t say anything, though he must have wondered what she meant.Hadn’t she told him today that she wasn’t interested in marriage and children, that they were incompatible with a career in advertising? She’d told herself that so often she almost believed it.The room was quiet, so quiet she could hear the ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room.Long shadows fell over the fields that stretched as far as the eye could see.His land.His son.His life.Why did that make her feel melancholy? As if he had everything and she had nothing? She had a great job and great friends back in San Francisco, and to top it off she’d had a wonderful day.“Thanks for the dinner,” she said over her shoulder.“I’ll go out for a brief slingshot lesson, then I’ve really got to go.”She pushed the back door open.“By the way,” he said.“I hope you got enough pictures, because I’m going to be busy tomorrow.” There was no mistaking the firm determination in his voice.He didn’t want to see her tomorrow.She didn’t dare ask about the next day.“Me, too,” she said, and stepped outside into the warm summer evening.“I’m going to be busy, too.” He wasn’t the only one who’d be busy.She had no idea what she’d be doing, but by heaven, she knew she’d be busy.Horses whinnied in the distance.Max shouted to her and beckoned eagerly when he saw her, which warmed her heart It was nice to know there was one Gentry who wanted her there.While Bridget watched, Max put a half dozen empty soda cans on a log.Then he took Bridget’s hand and marched her to a patch of lawn he’d marked off with string.He stood next to her, shot a pebble at the cans and missed by an inch.“Dad gum it” he grumbled.“That was close,” she said.“I been practicing all afternoon.I still haven’t hit a can.Now it’s your turn,” he said handing her his slingshot“But Max,” she protested, turning the slingshot over in her hand.“I can’t do this.I haven’t the slightest idea—” A leather strip, two pieces of rubber and a smooth wooden handle.She hadn’t a clue what to do with it“Here’s a pebble,” he said.“You put it there in the leather, pull back and let her rip.”Bridget did what he said.The pebble fell to the ground at her feet.Max shook his head and handed her another.The same thing happened.Bridget sighed, wishing she could make a graceful exit.But Max was looking up at her so hopefully, she had to try again.She didn’t glance at the house.She didn’t want to know if Josh was watching her.Somehow she knew he was.She felt his eyes on her.His curious gaze [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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