Roxann Delaney - The Rodeo Rider

“Both of those are more important than rodeos,” Tanner told them, “but I know what you mean. It’s never easy to do the things you have to do, instead of what you want to, but some things can’t be ignored. School is one of them.”

Both boys nodded, their expressions solemn. “Thanks, Tanner. We’ll see you this weekend. You’ll know it’s us by the whoopin’ and hollerin’ in the stands.”

Tanner chuckled and shook his head as they walked away. Jules was impressed by the way he’d handled the boys. They obviously idolized him, and he’d given them good advice. She suspected they would heed his words much more than they would their parents’.

She hadn’t missed how much people in the small town liked him. It was becoming clear he had a good heart. “They certainly think highly of you here in Desperation.”

“They keep me going. Doesn’t matter to them how good or bad I ride, they’re always behind me, cheering me on.”

“Has it always been that way?” she asked.

“They’re good people. If somebody needs help, there’s always someone or a bunch of someones who are there and ready to lend a helping hand, no matter what it is.”

She admired the way people in a small town pulled together. She’d never been aware of the same in Wichita, but then, it was a large city and she didn’t have a lot of opportunities to socialize. Her career took up the bulk of her time. Why, she didn’t even know her neighbors in the apartment building where she lived!

“I’d better get back to the ranch,” he said, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. “There’s work to be done before the shindig on Friday. You’ll be there, right?”

She knew he was talking about Desperation’s upcoming Fourth of July celebration. Beth and several other women in the community had talked her into helping the next day to set up for the community barbecue on Friday. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“The rodeo, too?”

His serious expression told her he wasn’t joking, and she wondered if it had anything to do with his proposition. “Well…”

“That’s what I figured,” he said with a curt nod, his mouth turning down in a frown. “Tell Beth hello for me.”

He turned around to walk back the way they’d come, leaving Jules totally baffled. With a sigh of frustration, she continued on her way. She couldn’t help it if her heart lodged in her throat every time she saw someone climb on a horse. She suspected it would be even worse to watch Tanner ride again, now that she was getting to know him.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.