Free The Cowboy Code by Christine Wenger

distraction, but she was still a distraction, and he needed to concentrate on Cowboy Quest. He had to be on the lookout for trouble so he could squelch it before it happened.
    He pulled on the horse’s reins to hold him in check. He was high spirited today.
    â€œDo you think that I’ll be a good enough rider for the cattle drive?” Maggie asked.
    â€œYou’ll be fine. So will the others. You can walk Lady all the way through it and follow alongside Cookie’s chuck wagon. It’s a real roundup, you know. We’re moving the cattle from the winter pasture to the summer pasture.”
    â€œHow long will it take?”
    â€œWe’ll be five days and four nights on the trail, depending on the weather. To tell you the truth, my crew and I could do it in an overnight, but we extend it for Cowboy Quest. Some of the participants have never camped before. Can you believe that?”
    She put her hand over her heart and faked a heart attack. “No! Some people have never camped before? What’s wrong with them? Aliens? Or do they just prefer four-star hotels and indoor toilets like Ido instead of sleeping on the ground and carrying a shovel?”
    He turned around in the saddle, ready to dazzle her with a witty retort when Checkmate whinnied and pawed the ground.
    Maggie let out a blood-curdling scream. “Snake!”
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a snake curled up and ready to strike. He yanked his knife from the leather sheath at his side, and threw it.
    As he leaned over to see if he’d hit his mark, his sudden motion unsettled Checkmate, who bucked, side-stepped, then reared.
    Off balance, Joe flew through the air and landed flat on his back. Checkmate took off at a dead run.
    Maggie screamed again as Lady took off at a gallop, chasing Checkmate!

Chapter Seven
    J oe dragged himself up from the ground. Being tossed was a rookie mistake. He’d never been caught off guard or off balance like that before.
    Damn snake.
    He scrambled to his feet and saw Checkmate and Lady galloping away, with Maggie hanging on for dear life.
    He whistled. Short, long, short. The two horses immediately slowed down, then stopped completely. Another whistle brought them walking back to him.
    He brushed himself off and picked up his hat, grabbed his knife and returned it to the case onhis hip. Then he hurried to meet the horses—and Maggie—so they wouldn’t have to encounter what was left of the snake.
    â€œWhoa,” he said as he approached them. The horses immediately stopped. He looked up at Maggie. “Are you okay?”
    Her eyes were shiny, her cheeks were pink—with fear or excitement? He couldn’t tell.
    â€œI—I’m okay. Just a little rattled, pardon the pun.” She shuddered. “What the hell happened?”
    He shook his head. “I’m really sorry, Maggie. Even the best-trained horse can’t be taught to stay calm with a snake present.”
    â€œDid you get the snake?”
    Joe nodded. “Yeah, he’s history. But I’m pretty embarrassed. I haven’t been tossed by a horse in years.”
    I was too busy looking at you to pay attention to anything else.
    â€œDon’t be embarrassed on my account.” She put her index finger over her lip. “I won’t tell a soul.”
    The twinkle in her eyes told him that it would be all over the ranch in less than an hour.
    â€œYeah, sure.” He chuckled. “Shall we go back?”
    â€œDon’t go back on my account. My confidence level just skyrocketed. I stayed on!”
    He swung onto Checkmate’s back. “You suredid. That was pretty outstanding riding for a city slicker.”
    If she could ride like that, she could handle anything that might come her way.
    Â 
    Maggie couldn’t stop grinning at Joe’s compliment. Her ride hadn’t been pretty by anyone’s standards, and she’d been petrified that she’d be thrown, but