Christmas With the Mustang Man by Stella Bagwell Page A

working?” Boone asked before the other man had a chance to speak.
    â€œNo. But there was plenty of water left in the tank. I’ve been trying to fix the thing for the past two hours. It’s going right now. But I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
    Boone grimaced. “We’re going to have to replace the old thing. It’s causing us more time and trouble than it’s worth. And I don’t want that tank going dry.”
    â€œNo. It’s probably a good two-mile trip to the other one,” Mick said, then glanced curiously around Boone’s shoulder and into the dim cavern of the barn. “Ms. Donovan gone in the house?”
    â€œShe got hungry for lunch,” Boone explained. “I was just about to join her. You want to eat with us?”
    Mick cast him a droll glance. “Three makes one too many. I’ve got a sandwich in the truck anyway. I’m gonnawolf it down, then saddle up and check that fence line down by the riverbed.”
    Boone pushed the brim of his hat slightly off his brow as he studied his longtime friend. He should ignore Mick’s comment about one too many, but he couldn’t let it slide. Mick had been his friend for thirty-four years, ever since they’d walked in Miss Grayson’s kindergarten class the very first day. The two had been through thick and thin together and he was the closest thing to a brother Boone would ever have.
    â€œThere’s no need for you to choke down your sandwich out here. Dallas and I don’t need the kind of privacy you’re thinking about. For Pete’s sake, I’ve just met the woman.”
    Mick’s expression was uncharacteristically serious as he looked at Boone. “Yeah. And from the way things look you must have gotten acquainted real quick.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    Mick shot him a look of disbelief. “You have to ask? Since when has a woman spent the night in your house—other than your mother when she was still living?”
    Boone shook his head. “None. But you’re reading way too much in this, Mick. The woman’s truck broke down. Where else was she going to stay?”
    â€œHow about a hotel in town? That’s the logical place.”
    That’s what Dallas had said, too. But Boone had talked her out of it. And right now he didn’t want to dig too deeply into his reasons. Common, logical sense was enough of a motive for now.
    He glanced away from Mick and over to the small dusty lot holding the six horses Dallas had chosen to take back to New Mexico with her. He was going to miss the four-legged critters. And he was going to miss her. That much he already knew. Damn it.
    He turned his gaze back on his friend. “Mick, the woman drove nearly a thousand miles to buy horses from me, the least I can do is offer her a bit of hospitality. Especially when she’s virtually stranded.”
    â€œYou like her, don’t you?”
    The two men rarely discussed women. What was the point? Mick had as many as he wanted and Boone wanted none. There was nothing for them to talk about.
    â€œYou’re being ridiculous, Mick.”
    â€œAm I?”
    Boone mouthed a curse word under his breath. “What if I said I did like the woman? What if I said I was happy about her hanging around for a few days? So what? It’s my business.”
    The other man’s face paled just a fraction and Boone realized he’d not only shocked him, but he’d also angered him.
    â€œYeah, it’s your business. What the hell am I worried about it for anyway?” Mick growled back at him.
    â€œThat’s right! Why are you worried? Afraid this is one you won’t get?”
    His jaw rock-hard, Mick glared at him. “That was uncalled for.”
    â€œThis whole conversation is uncalled for,” Boone snarled back at him, then turned in the direction of the house. “I’m going in for lunch. You do what you want to do.”
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