Free Her Cowboy Knight by Johnna Maquire Page B

down the final support to Gabby’s thin reserves of strength. “We don’t need you today, Gabriella. We’ll make do. You shouldn’t sit on a horse in your state.”
    Nothing he could have possibly said could hurt her more. She absorbed the words as physical blows to her body. All of the high color she had displayed earlier left her face, and it took everything she had not to lose what remained of her breakfast.
    Gabby looked around the room at all of the damage she had just done with her extended outburst and felt all of the fight go out of her body. This family that had always been her haven looked like strangers in their judgment.
    She raised her chin. “Very well.” She walked out of the stable in complete silence.
    Gabby immediately spotted Eamon leaning on the rail looking at Thaddeus. She walked over and leaned on the rail beside him.
    He said, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you… that I was training, I mean. It was meant to be a surprise for you.”
    Gabby’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s not your fault, Eamon. I’m not mad at you.” She dropped her arm over his shoulder. “Actually, I came to ask you a favor.”
    Eamon looked up at her. “What’s that?”
    Gabby sighed. “Well, it doesn’t look like I’ll be back for a couple of months, at least until the end of Texas. Will you look after Thaddeus for me? I don’t really trust anyone else to make sure he gets the right attention. They are all so wrapped up in their own worlds and not quite sensitive enough.”
    Eamon looked forward again, excitement almost reverberating through him. “Really? Can I ride him, too?”
    Gabby smiled and gave a half laugh. “Only if Declan supervises. I mean it. I’m leaving you on your honor. I don’t want you getting hurt, but he will need exercise, and I can’t think of anyone better.”
    Eamon threw his arms around her. “Gabby, you really are the best.”
    Gabby hugged him to her and felt the first of the tears break through. “Go on. I’ve got to get going or the cowboy will get grumpy. Take care of yourself, okay?”
    Eamon said, “I will… and Gabby… you too, okay?”
     
    * * *
     
    As soon as she was gone, Declan said, “This is wrong. Dead wrong. I’ve seen that girl ride when she could hardly sit on a chair, let alone a horse, and now you’re saying she can’t ride because she’s had a temper tantrum? Well, it’s bullshit. Liam, I’ve never gotten between you and your children, but you’ve just crushed that girl, and it was wrong. I wished I’d spoken up while she was in here. She’s done everything you’ve ever asked of her, including ride through grief, heat, snow, pneumonia… you asked, she performed. I don’t know what you’re pulling, but to make her think you don’t want her, it’s cruel. Now, am I too hot-headed to ride, too?” He spun on his heel and stalked out of the stable to gear up to ride.
    Cooper looked at both of Gabby’s dumbstruck parents and followed Declan out the door of the stable. He found the older man just outside the door, where the tall redhead had stopped to lean against the wall. Declan called out, “Hey, Harris.”
    Cooper stopped and turned, intrigued enough to hear the man out. Declan continued, “Look, you can’t wrap Gabby in cotton. She’s a tough girl, and smart. If you’re the sort to mollycoddle a girl, or treat her as if she hasn’t a brain in her head, you might as well just walk away now.”
    Cooper said, “That so? Well, it sounded to me as if you lot didn’t seem to value her much.”
    Declan looked to the barn. “I don’t know what game her da’s playin’, but we value her just fine. I’m just sayin’, she’s not a girly girl who will be happy being treated like that, is all.”
    Cooper nodded once. “Well, thanks for the warning. I don’t exactly know what happened in there just now, but I’m going to do my best to sort it out. All I can say is that I care for Gabby… a lot.”
    Declan nodded. “I reckon