Free Wishing on a Rodeo Moon (Women of Character) by Grace Brannigan Page A

I'll take him over to the barn. He might as well get
introduced to Tibald right away, since Tibald's top horse in the pecking order
here." Tye knew she was talking too fast, but she felt mortified at her
cowardice. She put her shoulders back, trying not to let dejection override her
initial joy.
    Tye saw
the stiffness on Jake’s face and felt ashamed of her churlishness.
"Thank you," she muttered, still stinging over his interference. She
was acting illogically, but it was all she could manage.
    Pulling
the lead line from her brother's hand, Tye walked toward the stables with Pongo
following behind. When she was several feet away, Tye turned back to her
brother and flashed him a bright smile.
    "Thanks
for bringing him, Ben."
    "It
was Jake’s idea," Ben repeated, narrowing his eyes. "I agree
with him that it’s a good idea. You could be a little more
gracious," he chided.
    Tye
shrugged a shoulder, hating the feeling that her life was moving beyond her
control. She looked up at Jake and met his gaze. Some of the tension eased from
her body. "Ben’s right. I’m sorry. I love having him
here."
    "There's
plenty of room," Jake said flatly. He turned to Ben. "I told Tye her
horses were welcome if she wanted to move them out here."
    When she
moved out of earshot, Ben said, "I apologize if that’s how
Tye’s been acting toward you. I’ve never seen her so disagreeable,
to say the least."
    "We
seem to hit the wrong chords with each other."
    "Also,
I thought Tye knew about your plans for the house. I let it out of the
bag."
    "A
few months makes no difference. I’ve converted a big box stall in the
barn as a work area."
    "It
must be kind of crowded with all your tools." Ben’s gaze strayed to
his sister, who’d stopped to give her horse another hug. "So you and
Tye aren’t hitting it off so good?"
    "Sometimes
yes, sometimes no."
    Understanding
lit Ben's face. "You don't have to tell me, I know how difficult she can
be."
    "Well,
this time it’s my fault. I probably stuck my nose where it didn't belong
when I had you bring the horse. I still think it'll do her good to have Pongo
to fuss over. Maybe she'll start riding."
    Ben
nodded his head slowly. "You might be right. Sometimes Tye needs time to
cool off and think things through. I hope she doesn't get it in her head to go
too fast and hurt herself. Not that I dare tell her that. Mom and I have tried
to steer her thoughts away from rodeo, but she's got her mind set on it. Have
you tried to discourage her from going back to the circuit, Jake?"
    Jake
laughed, feeling hollow inside. "Me talk Tye out of rodeo? That’s a
joke in itself. No, our disagreements are nothing like that. She's let me know
in no uncertain terms she doesn't want me looking out for her in any manner."
The words cost Jake, pulling at that empty spot deep down inside him. He
didn’t want to be affected by anything Tye said, but it bothered him
nonetheless.
    Ben
looked at his friend speculatively. "Tye doesn't take kindly to any curb
on her independence. It must be eating the hell out of her to have to go easy.
I hope you’re right that having Pongo here will make her happy. I want my
sister back."
    "I
haven't got a clue, Ben, what makes your sister happy." At one time Jake
had thought he knew. He’d been wrong. He reminded himself it didn’t
matter in any case.
    "She
likes it here, but we all knew up front it was only temporary. I apologize,
Jake, for tying you up like this. I’ll keep looking for another
place."
    Jake
didn’t answer. He was watching Tye, and that tightness in his throat
wouldn’t ease up. His head was telling him not to let her leave again
― that she wasn’t ready to be on her own. But Tye had always been
independent. She hadn’t listened to him the last time he had begged her
to stay. He’d never beg her again.

§ Chapter Seven §
    Tye
introduced Pongo to the horses in the large pasture. After the first initial
kicking and squealing, the horses went back to grazing and ignored