Free The Cowboy's Courtship by Brenda Minton Page B

barn, Andie was waiting. She was leaning against the support post in the barn, messing with her fingernails. She looked up and smiled at Alyson.
    “I thought that would get under your skin.”
    “Does this have to be our relationship?”
    “Alyson, I got left here because you were the good one. You were the easy child. You didn’t make messes. You probably even learned to read and I bet you can do long division without a calculator.”
    “Of course I…”
    Andie looked away and Alyson got it. “She rejected me because I wasn’t the perfect child. I don’t think shecould have known about my dyslexia, because my teachers didn’t figure it out for years. They thought I was rebellious in school. But she knew that you were going to be special. You’d already proven that. And I’ve spent my life hearing it from everyone who met you—the sweetest toddler in the world. I can’t live up to their perfect memories of my perfect twin.”
    Alyson reached for her sister, but Andie shook her head. “Don’t. I’m not ready to hug you.”
    “Can I just say…”
    Andie shook her head. “No, you can’t. And even though I baited you to come down here, I don’t want your help. I’m just cleaning out the trailer and I can do that alone. I need to be alone and I think Etta is probably ready to drive out to Camp Hope. Go with her.”
    Andie walked away and Alyson stood in the yard, watching her go. “I was just going to tell you that you had Etta. You had our father. And I’ve never been perfect.”
    But Andie didn’t hear and Alyson didn’t know if she’d ever listen. She turned back to the house, and Andie had been right. Etta was waiting.

Chapter Six
    J ason walked through the stable, amazed by what Adam and Jenna had built in one year. They had built a place where dreams came true for kids who wouldn’t ordinarily get to attend a summer camp, not one like Camp Hope.
    And they wanted him to be a part of it.
    In a couple of days a group of kids would arrive. He could stay here and teach those kids to ride, barrel race, rope calves and ride bulls.
    He obviously wasn’t going to be riding a bull for a while. So maybe it was worth thinking or praying about. Adam came out of the office, distracted.
    “What’s up?” Jason walked through the double doors and into the arena.
    “I don’t know. I’ve been trying to get hold of our accountant about some bills and a few checks from donors that haven’t cleared.” Adam shoved a few letters into his shirt pocket. “It’s okay. Let’s talk about camp.”
    “I’m thinking about it.”
    “It’s a big commitment.” Adam at least acknowledged that.
    “Yeah, it is. And I haven’t really thought about ending my bull-riding career this way.”
    “I get what you mean.” Adam pointed to the mechanical bull at the end of the arena. “Were you wanting to try that thing out?”
    Jason remembered Adam mentioning it. That was a huge improvement. “Yeah, I do. Give me a minute to stretch.”
    “Take your time.”
    Jason walked over to the mechanical bull. He would have touched his toes, but he couldn’t manage it just yet. He raised his arms and swayed to the left and right. He bent his right knee, but the left pulled. He squinted against the sharp pain.
    “Is he going to ride that?” It was Alyson’s voice.
    He turned and lifted his hat in greeting. “Yes. Do you want to give it a try?”
    “Sorry, I’m pretty sure I’m not a bull rider.”
    He laughed at the look on her face. And then he remembered Andie.
    “Andie came home, right?” He held his arms out and twisted right, and then left.
    “Yes.”
    “You okay?” He stopped stretching and she nodded. “Sure you are.”
    Alyson approached, staring at the mechanical bull, and then turned her attention to him. Blue eyes caught and held his, and he forgot about pain.
    “You’re okay to do this?” Her gaze slid back to the bull.
    “I’m good.” Or at least he was about to find out if he was.
    He climbed