Free A Home in Hill Country (Harlequin Heartwarming) by Roxanne Rustand Page A

emerged from the trees far beyond the Four Aces fence line. “Just someone else out riding.”
    He looked up at her with damp eyes. “Maybe he has tweezers.”
    The broad-shouldered rider started down the long hill toward them. “I sort of doubt it, Cody.”
    “But you’ll ask, right? Please?”
    They were probably close to the Four Aces buildings, but a lone woman and child could still be at risk in an isolated place. The guy heading their way could be anyone.
    “I’ll ask. But first let’s get you up on your horse.”
    He gingerly grabbed for the horn with his good hand as she gave him a leg up into the saddle, then she remounted Boots. By the time she’d reached over to knot the ends of Rebel’s reins for Cody, so they couldn’t fall to the ground, the other rider had loped to the fence line.
    At first glance she thought he was Ryan, with those blue eyes and wavy black hair, but where Ryan was toned and muscular, this man was thickset and developing a heavy belly that hung over the trophy buckle on his belt. Trevor, she figured, though she’d only met him briefly many years before.
    “Howdy, ma’am. Everthin’ goin’ all right? Did the boy get hurt?”
    “That’s Hayden’s dad,” Cody stage-whispered. “I see him at football practice all the time.”
    “Just a little tumble into some cactus…and an unhappy boy,” she called to him. “No broken bones, but thanks for asking.”
    “Trevor Gallagher.” He touched the brim of his hat. “And you must be Miz Cantrell. I’ve seen you and the boy at school.”
    “Just Kristin is fine. This is my son, Cody. We just moved into the place next door.”
    He smiled at them. “Come on over here and let me take a look.”
    Kristin and Cody rode alongside the fence, and Cody held out his hand.
    “Whoo-eee, I bet that stings.” Trevor gave him a man-to-man appraisal. “You’re one tough cowboy, let me tell you.” He paused, considering, then reached for the cell phone clipped to his belt. “My wife, Donna, is good at taking those out, but our house is on the other side of the Four Aces. The main place is closer. She could meet us there, if you want to take care of this before you go home. She’s a whiz with tweezers…though I’m sure your mom is, too.”
    Kristin bit her lower lip. “But our horses—how far is it?”
    He pointed to the south. “There’s a gate down in that next draw—we can get you through there. If we need to, we can trailer your horses home. It’ll be dark before you know it.”
    Remembering Clint’s harsh last words at the clinic, she hesitated. Alone, she wouldn’t care, but there was no way she wanted to risk Cody witnessing his wrath. He’d seen entirely too muchof that from his own father. “Are you sure this will be okay…with Mr. Gallagher?”
    Trevor shrugged. “Why not? He’s holed up in his office anyway. He almost never comes out to the barn.”
    She would’ve done anything to take back her sharp words that made Cody lose his balance. She’d gladly have taken the cactus spines in her own hand. But there was a silver lining. While they were at the Four Aces, she could ask a few questions.
    She owed her dad that much.
     
    T HE THREE OF THEM tied their horses to the hitching rail in front of a long, low horse barn, and Trevor escorted them inside to an office, where Cody could rinse his hands in the adjoining bathroom.
    Trevor’s wife walked in minutes later, her long black ponytail brushing the waistband of her jeans.
    She was, without a doubt, one of the loveliest women Kristin had ever seen—even in jeans and a plain cotton shirt. Her oval face and dark, expressive eyes probably turned heads wherever she went.
    She offered her hand to Kristin. After a round of introductions, Donna smiled at Cody. “I hear you had an adventure.”
    He looked at her in awe and held out his hand, palm up.
    Donna withdrew a plastic bag from her back pocket and offered it to Kristin. “I’ve got a couple of these tweezers.