Cowgirl Up and Ride (Rough Riders #3)(101)

Heh. A little comparison might be interesting, huh? He’d see about that. He snagged it and put it in his truck under the seat. To be ornery, he draped a rope over his shoulder, just so Little Miss Smartypants knew he wasn’t kidding.


Cord knocked on the front door.


Jenn answered. “Cord McKay? What on earth are you doing here on a Saturday morning? Is everything all right?”


“Fine. I’m lookin’ for Amy Jo. Last week she offered her help and I’m here to take her up on it.”


“What kind of help?”


“Dealin’ with my horses. Since we’ve been cross breedin’ for a couple of years with your stock, I’d sure like her opinion on which ones I oughta sell when she sells yours.”


“Come on in and have a cuppa coffee. She’s a regular Dale Evans when it comes to horses. I’m sure she’d love to help.”


First thing Cord noticed were the boxes stacked everywhere. Second thing he noticed was AJ glaring at him.


“Mornin’, Amy Jo. I was just tellin’ Jenn about you helpin’ me out today with my horses. Doin’ a little ridin’.”


“But I can’t possibly help today. As you can see”—she gestured to the stack of flattened cartons—“my hands are full.”


Was she really challenging him? He mouthed, “That’s one.”


Her back snapped straight.


“Oh pooh, you don’t need to stick around here, Amy Jo. Take a break. Spend time outside. You deserve it. The kids and I have gotten really good at packing in the last week.” Her eyes zeroed in on his shoulder. “What’s the rope for?”


Cord kept his gaze on AJ’s. “I figured I might have to drag her out. She can be stubborn.”


A bit of unease flashed in AJ’s stormy gray eyes.


Jenn laughed. “Now that I’d like to see.”


He grinned, knew it looked predatory and didn’t care. “Comin’ along peacefully, Amy Jo? Or do I have to prove to you and your sister just how good I am with ropes?”


“I’m coming.” She stood and snatched her purse off the counter. “I’ll follow you in my car.”


Like hell. “I can bring you back, no problem.” He bestowed his best aw-shucks-I’m-a-good-ol’-boy grin on Jenn. “She’ll be gone all day. And to show that I ain’t a total ingrate, I’ll probably take her out for supper.”



A kid screamed, another one yelled, “Mom!” Jenn sighed and disappeared upstairs.


Cord gave AJ’s jeans and T-shirt a once over. “Get your boots on.”


“Cord—”


“Now.”


“They’re in the entryway.”


He held the door open for her. “After you.”


AJ reached for the red ropers lined against the wall with the others. He noticed the silver spiked-heeled boots and pointed at them. “Bring those too.”


“I can’t ride in those.”


“You can for the kind of ridin’ I got planned.”


“Fine.” She slipped on the boots and grabbed the other pair.


“Get in the truck.”


“Bossy much?”


“Oh, you ain’t seen bossy, baby doll. Not by half.”


She swallowed hard and climbed in.