Free Ryelee's Cowboy by Kathleen Ball Page A

out, hurrying to the kitchen.
    “You sit there ‘til I tell you,” he
said as he went to the kitchen.
    “Where did she learn that little act
of batting her eyelashes?” he asked Ryelee.
    “Today’s the first time I’ve seen it.
It’s strange-looking on a girl her age.”
    “You’re not kidding.”
    Rheenie’s little footsteps interrupted
them, and they both turned toward the doorway. Ryelee put her hand
on Clint’s arm as he started toward his daughter. A grim expression
crossed his face, and she could feel the tension in his
muscles.
    “I’ve thunk it over. All better.
Right, Daddy?” She put her little arms around his legs, hugging
him.
    Ryelee handed him his thermos of
coffee. “Go. I’ll take care of this. It’s time for girl talk.
Right, Rheenie?”
    Rheenie smiled. “Yep.”
    “All right, but you and I are having a
long talk when I get home, young lady.”
    “Ryelee, Daddy’s going to talk to you!
Isn’t that nice?”
    Clint groaned as he walked out the
front door.
     
    * * * *
     
    The men rode hard and fast to where
the barbed wire fence had been cut. They could see tire tracks, but
the roaming cattle had destroyed any other tracks. Every man out
there was outraged and hot for revenge.
    Burke Dawson whistled through his
teeth, trying to gain everybody’s attention, and waited for
silence. “There isn’t anything we can do right now except fix the
fence. Nash, I want you and Jimmy to come up with a night patrol
schedule. I’ve had cattle rustled in the past but nothing of this
magnitude. Let’s all keep our eyes and ears open. Hopefully the
thieves are braggers.” Burke looked at each of the hands that
worked the ranch. “Don’t take the law into your own hands. It will
only lead to trouble. If you learn anything, tell me or the
Sheriff.”
    Burke turned his horse and signaled
for Clint to join him as they rode toward home.
    “Of all days,” Clint said. “Both
Rheenie and Ryelee had been looking forward to Thanksgiving for
over a week. That’s all they talked about. I was surprised at how
much Ryelee knew about the Pilgrims. She really taught Rheenie a
lot. I have to admit I was surprised by Rheenie today.”
    Burke chuckled. “You had your hands
full.”
    “Did you happen to see her batting her
eyelashes? I wonder where she learned such a thing.”
    Burke looked away for a minute. “Well,
old friend, I’m afraid the blame lies on my shoulders. I taught her
how to flirt to get her own way. It seemed like fun at the
time.”
    “Thanks.”
    Burke laughed. “She’s adorable. I’m
sorry that you’re upset about it.”
    Clint shook his head smiling. “No, I’m
not mad. Ryelee said they were going to have a girl talk. Hopefully
she’ll set her straight.”
    “So that’s the way the wind
blows.”
    Clint couldn’t seem to keep the stupid
smile off his face. “I’m hoping so.”
    “I wish you luck, Clint.”
    “No advice?”
    Burke laughed whole-heartedly. “I’m
lucky I still have Annie, so no, I have no advice.”
    “Call me if there’s any news. I need
to go see my diva of a daughter now.”
    A warm reception greeted him from both
Rheenie and Ryelee. The smell of beef stroganoff made him hungry.
Before he knew it, he was sitting at the table with a big
plateful.
    “So, Rheenie, what’s been going on
around here?” he asked.
    “We had a girl talk,” she
replied.
    Clint cocked his eyebrow. “Oh? What
did you talk about?”
    “Daddy, you are not a girl. I told you
it was girl talk,” she explained with exaggerated
patience.
    Clint shared a smile with Ryelee. It
hit him right in the gut. He wanted to share smiles, dinner,
Rheenie, and, hell, everything with her.
    “Is there anything we need to talk
about? Maybe your behavior at the Dawson’s?”
    “All taken care of,” Ryelee informed
him.
    “Yes, Daddy, that was a part of the
girl talk.” She looked at him, her bow-like lips turned into a
frown. “I’m not allowed to do this anymore either.” She