Free The Bull Rider Meets His Match by Jeannie Watt Page A

see my horse.”
    â€œAll right,” Katie said. Kristen took her hand and they walked over to Lex, Grady following a few paces behind. When they got to the trailer, Lex glanced over her shoulder at the girls, then smiled. A breathtaking smile. Grady almost stopped in his tracks. Wow.
    Had he ever seen Lex look like that before?
    â€œHi, guys. Ready to ride?”
    â€œKind of,” Katie said.
    â€œKind of?” Lex lowered the brush she’d been using to sweep the road dust off the mare’s back and cocked her head at Katie, who nodded that yes, she was kind of ready to ride.
    â€œWe’re working through a few things. I need to speak to Jared.” Grady met Lex’s puzzled gaze. “Would you mind if the girls hung here with you for a few minutes?” He gave her a look that promised an explanation later, and she gave a small nod.
    â€œNot at all.” She turned back to her brushing. “You might want to stand back, or you’ll end up wearing the dirt I’m brushing off these guys.”
    The girls obediently stepped back and Grady went to find Jared, who was discussing the day’s lesson with his helpers. Grady explained the situation, and Jared told him that he’d talk to Katie, but if she was truly afraid then he wasn’t about to force her onto a horse. Grady was in full agreement, but after the talk with Jared, Katie told Grady she’d try again, because Jared said she could stop whenever she wanted. She lasted for half of the lesson, until it was time to trot; then she raised her hand and asked if she could be done.
    Grady met her at the gate, where he’d stayed with a small group of parents instead of sitting in the stands with Lex, and helped her dismount.
    â€œThat was good,” he said.
    Katie nodded and he could tell that she was embarrassed at having quit early, but her instinct for survival was stronger than her fear of embarrassment.
    It was a quiet ride home. Kristen had enjoyed the lesson, but she wasn’t about to talk about it when Katie so obviously didn’t enjoy herself.
    â€œGive her time,” Annie said later that evening when she and Grady were sitting on the porch. “Katie has always been more cautious than Kristen.”
    â€œNeither of them struck me as cautious until riding lessons.”
    â€œKatie’s a little nervous around big animals,” Annie said. “She takes after me. Kristen takes after you.”
    â€œIn some ways that’s more worrisome than Katie being afraid of falling off a horse.”
    â€œI’m not touching that one,” Annie replied, sending him an amused look.
    She didn’t seem that concerned, so Grady decided that maybe he didn’t need to be concerned. “How’s work?”
    â€œI love it.” She leaned her head back, a smile still playing on her lips. “I can’t believe that something went right in my life for a change.”
    â€œHey, you have a free sitter.”
    â€œWell, there is that,” she said. “It took a tornado to get me my free sitter, but—” she gave her head a small shake “—whatever it takes.” Her expression sobered. “I really appreciate you coming back to help.”
    â€œI should have been back earlier. As in years ago.”
    â€œWhy do you say that?”
    â€œIt was selfish of me to winter in Oklahoma when I could have been here.”
    She gave him a hard look, similar to the one she’d given him after seeing the aftermath of the twins’ cake-making efforts. “You’re my brother, Grady. With a life of your own. You owe me nothing.”
    â€œI disagree.” They sat in silence, and then he said, “Do you see much of Lex at the store? And don’t read anything into the question.”
    â€œShe comes by a couple times a week. We have business meetings on Wednesdays, and she helps cover when Danielle is busy with her wedding preparations.” She