Free The Cowboy Claims His Lady by Meagan McKinney Page A

and drink horses. But through all the hard work, she found a peace that she had never known in New Orleans, crammed in her office at the back of the shop.
    Perhaps there was something to the idea of getting back to nature. Montana touched the spirit inside of her, healing the wounds of urban life—the fast pace, the stress and the pollution.
    Indeed, perhaps she was ready to embrace the cowboy life.
    But she wouldn’t be embracing the cowboy, she thought wryly as she watched the two sisters from L.A. flirt outrageously with their cowboy guides. Kim had taken up with Justin from the minute the woman’s gaze landed on the redhead. That left Susan with no male companionship other than Bruce’s.
    And Susan saw to it that Bruce was never lonely. Heading out on the trail, Susan always maneuvered her horse directly behind Beastie Boy.
    Lyndie didn’t even dare go near them, for Girlie and Susan’s horse were notorious fighters. She’dbeen told by both Justin and Bruce that she must not let Girlie anywhere near Susan’s horse, and vice versa, or they would suffer the consequences of bucking, biting mares.
    Which certainly killed any desire to get near Bruce.
    Lyndie was resigned to losing the bet with Hazel, anyway.
    That night at the rodeo proved she was out of her league when it came to Bruce’s seduction tactics. He was the tomcat, she reminded herself, while she had learned nothing about relationships except how to play the good and devoted wife. Seduction had not been emphasized in her love experience.
    Besides, as she told herself bitterly, she clearly wasn’t all that good at it: her seductions hadn’t kept Mitch in the marital bed.
    â€œWe’ll be leaving the trail early today. Storms coming,” Bruce announced, turning Beastie Boy as if on a dime.
    The rest of the riders followed, allowing Justin to lead the way back.
    â€œDamn lightning,” Lyndie heard Bruce mutter after the flash of light from the black sky.
    Girlie’s ears pricked forward. She began prancing.
    A few seconds later, the delayed boom of thunder sent the horse into a frenzy. The animal scrambled along the path, but with the way ahead blocked by Roger’s horse, all she could do was dig her hoovesinto the vertical side of the mountain, causing a rock slide.
    â€œWhoa,” Lyndie soothed, amazed she was still on the frightened animal.
    â€œShe’s no good in a thunderstorm. Never has been. You’ll have to come with me if you don’t want to get hurt.”
    Lyndie heard Bruce before she felt his arm go around her. In one swoop, he’d taken her from the saddle and placed her on Beastie Boy. Then he grabbed Girlie’s reins and calmed the skittish animal.
    â€œThat’s her only flaw. Hates lightning,” Bruce muttered.
    â€œI have the same flaw. I hate it, too.” Lyndie tried to relax against Bruce’s torso, but the solid wall of muscle against her back unsettled her. Especially when he moved. Then every ripple seemed to burn into her back like a branding iron. And the rhythmic movement of the ride made her think of other kinds of activities she could do with him. His scent, too, was becoming all too addictive. Now mixed with the pungent scent of lodgepole pine and saddlesoap, he was a living aphrodisiac.
    â€œComfortable?” he asked, his mouth against her hair.
    â€œI’m fine,” she answered quickly—perhaps a bit too quickly.
    He laughed, and her paranoia increased.
    â€œWe’ll be back down the mountain soon. If you want another horse tomorrow, I’ll get you one.”
    She looked back at Girlie. “I don’t want another one. I like her.”
    â€œYou might have to ride with me again.”
    Shrugging to free herself of unwanted sensations, she said, “I can handle her next time.”
    â€œI admit you’re both pretty well matched. I ought to get Hazel to buy her for you.”
    â€œBuy her? And where would