Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? Read Online Free Page A

his shoulders to loosen the building tension before he stood, knocking the chair back a couple of inches. “I don’t even know why I’m listening to this. You’ve already decided my life for me. I’m going to check those fence posts.” Passing through the mud room off the kitchen, he grabbed his hat hanging from a hook near the back door and ignored the female protests as he headed down the dirt path to the stables. The dogs left with him, racing ahead to the stables in a canine game of tag.
    Sweet hay and earthy manure permeated the air, and Riley welcomed the familiarity while he saddled Westley and left the building. In the distance, the craggy peaks of the Teton Range stood out against the vibrant blue sky, a constant visible reminder of the life he’d been yanked away from.
    The quick canter on his horse in the crisp spring air relaxed some of the muscles that had tightened while he listened to his family daydream about his love life. Before his father died, he would’ve spent the morning in fire prevention training or running through the trails for exercise. He would’ve spent the day assisting hikers, checking campsites for code violations and if the mood struck, finding a woman who was there for the natural beauty of the Tetons and to flirt with a ranger. And he would’ve spent the night in her tent. Being a ranger had fulfilled a dream he’d had since childhood when he saw those mountains every day. But even lifelong dreams can get cut short.
    Now he wanted to spend the day galloping over the green countryside, but duty called. One of the few remaining cows had used a fence post to scratch and revealed rotting wood underneath. The bridle jingled as he guided Westley to the work site and he let out a slow breath and forced himself to relax. There would be time for rediscovery later.
    Steve and Dallas had already braced most of the fence line and replaced some of the rotting posts when Riley rode up to join them, but working the ranch was not the sanctuary he’d expected. He knew he was in trouble when he dismounted and Steve greeted him by taking some wilted carnations pinned together out of the pickup and trying to stick them onto his shirt. Riley swatted the flowers away. “So you know, then.”
    “Jeanne was so excited about this she told us all yesterday,” Steve said. He rubbed his hands together and a big smile spread over his face. “Can’t wait for some fresh meat to come around here.”
    “Need some advice, Riley? On what to do with a woman?” Dallas asked. “We’ll be glad to help you out. Or even write out an instruction manual. With pictures. Detailed pictures.”
    “I’ve got it covered.” He thrust on his leather work gloves and grabbed one of the old cedar posts. At least the men were acting normal, not like his gone-off-the-deep-end sisters.
    “You sure? You been in the mountains for so long maybe you forgot. Women are different than the animals you find up there. They’re not completely covered in fur, for example.”
    “I bet they all have real great personalities.” Steve smirked and gave Riley a thumbs-up.
    “Just like yours,” he responded, loading the post into the back of the truck.
    The other man nudged Riley on the arm with his work gloves. “Can I have your leftovers?”
    “If you can get them. I think they’ll all take one look at you and run screaming for home.”
    “He’s got you there, Steve.” Dallas braced the wood around a rotting post. “Oh, Riley!” he squeaked in a high-pitched voice “This big, mean horse is about to eat me! I’d rather you did it instead.”
    “Don’t be crude. You treat these women like ladies.” The ranch’s foreman stepped up beside Riley and folded his arms, glaring at the hands. Riley hadn’t heard Cookie approach. Years of working outdoors made him resemble a hard-living rancher in an old movie, and the man could be stealthy even on horseback. Steve and Dallas made kissing noises, but focused their attention back