Free His Cowgirl Bride by Debra Clopton Page A

upside down. When Brent had shown up and refused to help her she’d been so miffed. Now, after talking to him, she felt assuredthere had been no mistake. There was a reason she was here with Brent, though she didn’t have a clue what that reason was yet.
    Surely it wasn’t to irritate the cowboy, because that was pretty much what she’d been doing. And though they were talking now, she had no misconception that once she pushed him some more to let her help with those horses, they’d be right back to square one. And she would push. She still had to follow her dream.
    Though she felt bad for him and even empathized with him, Tacy would not back down. She was not his sister. She’d make him see that somehow.
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    Brent had surprised himself when he’d started telling Tacy about his family issues. He’d meant to reveal as little as possible—just enough so that she would see how futile her efforts were to try to change his stance on teaching a woman how to break a bronc. She’d truly seemed to care as he told his story. The only person he’d ever revealed so much to had been Pace.
    Something about Tacy drew him out, despite their difference of opinion. But she wasn’t the type to give in—and even after telling her his story, he had no illusions that she’d say okay and give up. And he would not give in.
    â€œDo you and your dad speak?” she asked.
    He considered the question as he turned the horse off the road and onto a trail leading through the trees. “No,” he said at last. “I haven’t spoken to Dad in about six months. He likes it that way.”
    â€œSurely not.”
    The disbelief was strong in her voice.
    â€œIt’s for the best. I let my dad down in more ways than one.” He wasn’t about to air the rest of his dirty laundry for Tacy to give more gasps of disbelief. Her sympathy was the last thing he was looking for. Her cooperation—now that he would take gladly.
    â€œYou said your dad sounds a lot like my dad. Do you speak to your dad?”
    â€œYes, of course I do. He’s not happy about me going against his wishes to pursue my dream of breaking and training horses. But he’s proud that I have his spirit and drive and won’t take no for an answer. You see, I think that if I learn it somewhere else, it’s different in his mind than if he or my brothers teach me. It takes the responsibility off him—not that he’d ever admit that. He still rants and raves about it and is more than pleased about how this has turned out for me down here so far. He keeps telling me to stop wasting time and come home to the ranch. My dad and my brothers have a custom stirrup company, and there’s a great job waiting for me in the family business.”
    There was no mistaking the way she felt about that. Brent glanced at her to confirm that Tacy Jones had no intention of ever going into the stirrup business. That was plain enough.
    â€œYour family is Jones Custom Stirrups? ”
    â€œOne and the same,” she quipped.
    â€œThose are great stirrups.”
    â€œYup. They’ve been good for the family.”
    â€œBut not you?”
    â€œNot what I want to do with my life. I’m proud of Dad and the business. It’s just not my dream.”
    â€œSo when did you know that training horses was what you wanted to do?”
    â€œI got serious about it when I was a senior in high school. That’s when I realized I had a mind of my own and a will that I could start asserting. Believe me, when you’re raised by a protective dad and four older brothers, that isn’t something that just jumps out at you.”
    â€œI can’t picture you as a gal who didn’t assert herself. Quiet and obedient don’t compute when thinking of you.” Brent chuckled.
    Her laughter joined his and reverberated through the woods. “Believe me, I was never quiet. Obedient could be