Free Christmas With the Mustang Man by Stella Bagwell Page B

south, across the dusty, open range of White River Ranch. As Dallas watched her only means of independence disappear from sight, Boone stood a few steps away watching her.
    â€œI forgot to tell you last night that I have to drive Hayley to the school bus stop every morning. It’s ten miles away, so I’m usually gone for thirty or forty minutes. Same goes in the evening to pick her up. Did you find something for breakfast while I was out?”
    â€œYes, thanks.” Since he was unaware of exactly how late she’d slept, she wasn’t going to admit that all she’dhad time to eat was a banana. “Do you and Hayley have breakfast together before she has to leave for school?”
    A wan smile crossed his face, and not for the first time, Dallas noticed that he’d not bothered to shave this morning. The dark brown stubble that covered his jaws, chin and upper lip made him look almost as wild and rangy as the horses he trained, and as she looked at him, she couldn’t help wondering how it would feel to have that stubble rubbed against her cheek and breasts, to feel its roughness beneath her lips…?.
    Embarrassed by the erotic thoughts going through her head, she looked beyond his shoulder at the gathering clouds and tried to forget that the two of them were well and truly alone.
    â€œHayley would rather sleep than eat at five-thirty when I do. She takes something with her and eats it on the way to the bus stop,” he answered, then gestured in the direction of the barns. “Let’s go have a look at the horses. I’ve already fed them so the kicking and maneuvering for special spots at the feed trough is already over with.”
    He took off in a long stride and, grateful for anything to break her train of thought, Dallas hurried after him. They were almost to the barns and corrals when the black-and-white shepherd dog joined them.
    Boone introduced her as Queenie and Dallas quickly dropped to a squat so she could greet the dog on her level. Sensing that Dallas was a friend, Queenie gave her a big canine welcome by placing a paw on each of her shoulders and licking her cheek.
    Laughing, Dallas said, “I think she likes me.”
    â€œGood thing. ’Cause she doesn’t take well to strangers.”
    Dallas gave the dog’s head an affectionate rub beforestraightening to her full height. “You know a friend when you see one, don’t you, girl?”
    Queenie barked as though she understood every word Dallas had uttered, then followed close on her heels as they moved on to the corral full of horses.
    Next to her, Boone shook his head with disbelief. “I should’ve warned you beforehand that Queenie has been known to snap at people she doesn’t like. But I didn’t want you to appear afraid.”
    â€œGee, thanks,” Dallas said dryly. “What were you planning on doing, letting her bite my hand off?”
    He chuckled. “No. I had a feeling that you had a way with animals.”
    She cast him a droll look. “Maybe I do. But just be sure you don’t neglect to warn me about an outlaw horse. I don’t particularly want to be hospitalized with a broken bone while I’m waiting for my truck to be repaired.”
    He feigned an offended look. “The only outlaw I own is my personal horse. He’s mean. But so am I. So that makes us a good pair.”
    Boone, mean? Domineering, perhaps, and a bit cynical, but not mean. Then again, one evening of light conversation, along with a very hot kiss, wasn’t enough to show her every side of this Nevada rancher.
    â€œIs that why you keep him?” she asked curiously. “Dad won’t keep an outlaw on the place. He says you can feed a good horse for the same price you can feed a bad one.”
    â€œSounds like your father is a wise man.”
    Dallas’s chuckle was full of affection. “He’s raised six kids. He’s practical.”
    A faint semblance