Free Reunited with the Cowboy by Carolyne Aarsen

didn’t want you thinking I’m incapable of helping.”
    He eased out a smile. “I’m glad you proved me wrong. It would have been too much work to handle all by myself, and would have taken me three times as long.”
    Heather stroked Rowdy, then patted Sugar on the head, as if thanking her two companions for their contribution. “So that worked out well. I’m heading up to the house to clean up. Princess Heather can tolerate only so much dirt.”
    John laughed, then glanced at the scrape on her face, frowning. “How’s your cheek?” He resisted the urge to take a closer look.
    Heather lifted one gloved hand, as if to check. “It hurts, but it’s not a big deal.”
    â€œIt looks like a medium deal,” he said, still concerned.
    She laughed. “Keira used to always say that.”
    John smiled at that. “I know. That’s why I said it. But you make sure you clean that up good. I don’t want to be the cause of the famous Heather Bannister’s disfigurement. I’m sure the designer of your jeans would be more upset about the mark on your face than the dirt on his pants.”
    Heather released a harsh laugh. “Oh, don’t count on it. The model is just something to hang the clothes on. Mitch always said I was easily replaceable.”
    The hard note in her voice bothered John, as did what she said.
    â€œThat wouldn’t be the first time that idiot was wrong.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it. “Sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t talk about your husband that way.”
    â€œ
Ex
-husband,” Heather corrected as they walked toward the barn, Rowdy plodding along behind her. “Very much ex-husband. And you can call him what you want. I’ve probably called him worse.”
    Sadness braided with anger crowded in on John at the bitterness in her voice. He wanted to reach out to touch her. Connect with her. Try to find the old Heather buried in this new, harsh version.
    Then she looked up at him, a shadow of the smile she had given Sugar and Rowdy lingering on her lips. “Thanks for letting me help. It was great to be riding again.”
    He held her eyes a moment, catching yet again a glimpse of the woman he had once cared for so much.
    â€œMake sure to look after that cut,” he said quietly.
    â€œYes, sir,” she said, then walked away, her horse following behind her.
    As he watched her leave, unable to keep his eyes from her slender form, he felt as if his emotions were a jumbled stew of memories, care and concern.
    Then he shook them off. He had work to do. Heather was part of his past. He had to let it go.
    Again.

Chapter Six
    â€œW ow, Heather, you look gorgeous.”
    Heather glanced up from her makeup bag on the bathroom counter and gave her sister, who was standing in the doorway, a self-conscious smile.
    â€œIt’s not too fancy for church in Saddlebank?” she asked, smoothing one hand down the skirt of the dress she had just finished ironing. The aqua-and-gold-leaf-printed garment was a gift from a designer who had called her in a panic, needing a last-minute runway model. It was a bright contrast to the simple blazer, white shirt and dark pants that Keira wore.
    â€œNo. It suits you,” her sister said, slipping past Heather and plugging in a curling iron. “You could always pull off clothes that would look too over-the-top on other people.”
    â€œSo are you saying this is too much? Should I change?”
    Keira gave her a puzzled look as she pulled a brush out of one of the drawers. “Where is this coming from? The Heather I knew never cared much what people thought of her.”
    It came from too many days of listening to Mitch criticizing her, Heather thought. Telling her not to dress like a rodeo princess, and to think like a model instead. Of hearing photographers and makeup people talking about which of her flaws they had to hide,