Free The Reluctant Wrangler by Roxann Delaney Page B

give to her. As she stepped out of the barn, Mac was waiting outside.
    “You handled that well,” he said when she stopped in the big doorway.
    Still not ready to forgive him for the things he’d said to her the day before about her clothes, she shrugged. “As I told you, punishment and even discipline aren’t always necessary.”
    Mac turned to watch Kirby running toward the cabins. “I don’t know what could be worse than going hungry, but I guess it happens sometimes.”
    “It isn’t uncommon for children to steal food when left on their own.”
    Mac shook his head. “He knew it was wrong, but he didn’t like going hungry, and there was no one who could help him.”
    “That’s what kids think. There are places they can go, but most don’t know about them.” Nikki remembered kids she’d met when she was growing up. She’d been lucky. Although she and her mom hadn’t had it much better, there’d always been enough to get by. She’d never been left alone to fend for herself. But there were somany others who had no one. “We help those we can, but too many fall through the cracks.”
    “Jules said the same thing when I first came to the ranch. I never understood all it encompassed.”
    “The sad thing is, we can’t help all of them.”
    She moved to step out of the barn, thinking of Kirby and all the others like him. There were so many who would never get the help they needed.
    “About yesterday…” Mac began.
    She froze. After all that he’d told her, why bring it up? “Don’t worry about it,” she answered.
    “But I have worried,” he said.
    Her emotions were in turmoil, whirling inside her like a tornado. She didn’t want to revisit this. Not now. But she knew it would be better to get it over with.
    “I apologize,” he said when she faced him. “It was completely uncalled for. I had no right to say those things to you.”
    She couldn’t look at him. “It’s done.”
    “It shouldn’t have happened. Please accept my apology. I was upset. I was concerned for your safety.”
    She couldn’t stop herself from staring at him. “My safety? In what way?”
    “I know you don’t see it,” he said, “but dressing like that can be a temptation to the older boys.” He smiled, but it was a wry smile and lopsided. “I know. I was that age once.”
    Her anger rose, but immediately vanished when she realized that he had been looking out for her. Maybe, just maybe, he had a heart under that sometimes stony exterior.
    “I accept your apology,” she said, knowing her own smile wobbled.
    He offered his hand. “Friends, then?”
    She put her hand in his, her smile feeling easier now. “Friends.”
    He continued to hold her hand for several moments. Of course it was innocent, she tried to tell herself, but the look in his eyes said more. So, unfortunately, did her heart.
     
    M AC SETTLED AGAINST the corral fence and watched as Nikki wrapped up the day’s riding lesson. He’d been amazed at how well they’d done, and chalked up her success to letting the boys get accustomed to their horses first. After that, each had taken a turn at dressing the horse, from brushing to saddling.
    “Aren’t we going to get on them?” Billy asked.
    “Next time,” Nikki answered. “You need to get to class, before I’m in trouble for keeping you too long.”
    A collective groan rose from the group, but each boy began removing the saddle from his horse. Thinking she might need a hand, Mac started to climb through the fence, but he stopped when he saw Tanner and his partner walking his way.
    “I guess we missed it,” Tanner said, disappointment in his voice as they reached the fence. “How’d they do?”
    “Good,” Mac answered before acknowledging Dusty. “I hope it was all right to let them have a try at saddling the new stock.”
    “You’re in charge of that decision,” Tanner reminded him. “You know more than I do about what she can do and what she can’t.” He looked out at the corral