Free His Texas Wildflower by Stella Bagwell

here.”
    He spotted her immediately and quickly changed directions.
    She stood where she was, taking in his tall, muscular stride until he reached her side. This evening he’d changed his denim shirt to a teal plaid accented with flapped pockets and a long row of pearl snaps down each cuff. He looked very Western and extremely sexy and as he smiled at her, she could feel her heart reacting like a runaway drum.
    â€œI was going to the house,” he told her. “I thought I’d find you there.”
    It was impossible for her to keep her lips from spreading into a wide smile. Though she didn’t understand completely why, just seeing him made her happy.
    â€œI’ve been down at the barn, shutting the horse in the corral so it wouldn’t leave before you got here,” she explained. “Would you like to go have a look at her now?”
    â€œSure. We’re already halfway there anyway,” he reasoned.
    With Beau on one side and Jake on the other, she led the way to the barn. As they moved forward, she noticed he was taking in the heaps of neatly piled junk she’d gathered from all corners of the yard.
    â€œI’ve been trying to clean up the clutter,” she explained. “Gertrude must not have believed in getting rid of anything. Even after it was broken. I’ve never seen so many old tires and rusted buckets.”
    â€œI’m surprised at how much better the place is beginning to look. And while we’re on the subject, I could haul this stuff away for you,” he offered. “That is, if you don’t already have someone to do it.”
    She gave him an appreciative smile. “It’s nice of you to offer, Jake, but Abe has already offered to send some of his hands to come pick it up for me.”
    â€œYou’ve talked to Abe?” he asked with surprise.
    She nodded. “This afternoon after I got back from Ruidoso I drove down for a little visit. I wanted to let him know in person how much I appreciated his kindness the day of Gertrude’s funeral. He’s such an easy man to talk to. If I tried, I couldn’t have picked a better neighbor.”
    He chuckled. “If Abe wasn’t eighty-five I’d be jealous.”
    Jealous of her with another man? Even though theidea was ridiculous, it thrilled her to imagine this man getting possessive ideas about her. But no one had to tell her he was teasing. This morning while they’d drunk coffee at the Blue Mesa, he’d confessed to her that he’d never been in love or intended to be. And she’d spent the rest of the day wondering why.
    Trying to keep a blush from stinging her cheeks with pink color, she purposely turned the conversation in a different direction. “Did you get your work done at the racetrack?”
    â€œFinished up about an hour ago. I’m still trying to get the kinks out of my back.”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have bothered you with Starr. You should have told me to call a vet.”
    â€œStarr? Is that what Gertrude called the horse? Or did you find registered papers?”
    â€œIf Starr has papers, I’ve not found them. But then I haven’t begun to sift through all the drawers and cabinets filled with Gertrude’s papers and things.” She glanced away from him as she realized there was nothing for her to do but answer honestly. “You see, up until the morning of her funeral, I had no idea my aunt had any sort of pets.” Trying to smile, she directed her gaze back to him. “So I’ve given them all names of my own. They might not like what I’ve christened them, but it’s better than calling them dog, cat or horse.”
    â€œWell, looking over Starr is hardly a problem for me,” he assured her, then added with a wink. “And moving around helps the kinks in my back.”
    At the barn, they walked to the small fenced lot connected to the left side of the building. Inside the