Free Crack the Whip by Desiree Holt Page A

furniture on the porch. Her stomach did a little flip when she noticed the swing still hanging from its hooks. As kids she and Reece had done a lot of necking there with his parents keeping a discreet eye on them. Their fatal car crash had devastated her as much as it had their sons.
    The barns sparkled in the sunlight and the breeze carried the scent of fresh air with it. Katie inhaled, realizing just how much she missed the mingled aroma of hay, animal, and earth.
    She saw one of the big Golden Spur double cab pickups parked in the gravel area, but there also was another truck, one with no logo on it. Reece was sitting on the front steps.
    Next to him was one of the sexiest women Katie had ever seen. Lithe, tanned, and blonde, the stranger’s jeans and shirt couldn’t disguise the lush curves of her body. Jealousy instantly reared up and gave Katie a hard bite.
    Reece stood as she climbed out of her car, heading toward her with a warm smile. The woman walked right beside him.
    It had taken a lot of courage for Katie to come here today, knowing how things would probably turn out. She didn’t need another woman clouding the picture.
    “Hey, sugar.” Reece wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Meet Elizabeth Gillibrand. She owns the Lucky L
    horse farm a couple of miles from here. Liz, this is Katie Warren. She used to live around here.”
    “Hello.” Her body tense in Reece’s casual embrace, Katie gave the woman a sharp nod.
    Liz smiled and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.” She gave Katie a curious look. “It must have been a long time since you’ve been here. I don’t remember seeing you around.”
    “I left when I went to college, and shortly after that my folks moved to New Mexico.”
    “Aha.” She looked from one to the other. “Well, I guess I’ll be running along. I have two more stops to make. Thanks for the check, Reece.” She focused her gaze on Katie. “I just came by to collect a check for the Cattleman’s Association scholarship fund. Reece has been very generous with us every year.”
    Katie relaxed fractionally. So this wasn’t a social visit. “I’m glad to hear that.”
    “We’ve been neighbors for the past five years and served on some committees together.” Liz leaned a little closer to her. “I can see now why he never gives any of the women around here the time of day. Where’s he been hiding you?”
    Reece’s laugh was self-conscious. “No interrogation, Liz.
    You know how I am about my privacy. Just like you.”
    “Harmless teasing, Reece. That’s all. Well, see you at the meeting Wednesday night.”
    “You got it.”
    Liz climbed into her truck, and they watched her head off down the long driveway.
    “Do you know her well?” Katie asked.
    Reece shrugged. “We’re friendly, but no more so than I am with anyone else. Anyway, Liz is a very outgoing person, but she seems to keep an invisible wall around herself. I don’t think she has many friends.”
    “She seems nice,” Katie told him almost primly.
    He burst out laughing. “Nice, huh? Katydid, rest assured she’s no competition.”
    “I didn’t mean—”
    “It’s okay.” His face sobered. “I was afraid you’d change your mind about today and not show up.”
    “And give you something to rag on me about? Not likely.”
    “No ragging today. Come on. Josefina packed us a feast before she left for church.”
    His hand closed over her upper arm and electricity singed every one of her nerve endings. Oh, god. How was she going to do this?
    Reece led her through the house to the sparkling kitchen, picked up a canvas bag sitting on the counter, then strolled out the back door toward the barn. One of the hands was just leading two horses into the yard. She recognized Windsurfer at once, Reece’s Appaloosa, much older now but still huge and majestic. The other horse was smaller, a sorrel, with a friendly look in her eyes.
    Reece hooked the canvas bag onto his saddle then took the sorrel’s reins from