Cowboy Kisses (2 page)

Anguish pulsed through Kenzie. What job paid a sixteen-year-old the kind of wages she'd need to keep Ali at Silver Hills Stables? Before she could ask the question, her mother spoke.

“
That all sounds very reasonable, Tim. I’m sure we'll manage just fine,
”
Mrs. Sullivan announced.
“
You know, I think I'll give Vivian Yarborough a call. Last week her husband's secretary left to get married and he’s desperate for a replacement.
”
She laughed nervously.
“
Maybe even desperate enough to hire me!
”

She gave her husband a quick kiss and shot a meaningful
glance in Kenzie and Adam’s di
rect
i
on. Translated, it meant
Your dad's had enough trauma for one day. Don't make it any worse.

But Adam didn't pay any attention.
“
You can't be serious about my going to school here. Dad! I've alre
ady been accepted at the Univer
sity of Colorado!
”

Kenzie wailed,
“
I’ll
die
if I have to sell Ali!
”

“
None of us will die saving you
r father's com
pany,
”
Mrs. Sullivan said crisply.

“
I’m really sorry about college, Adam,
”
Mr. Sullivan added.

“
Our
j
unior college is fully accredited,
”
Mrs. Sullivan reminded her son.
“
You can transfer later, when things are better.
”

What about Ali?
Kenzie wondered.
Doesn't anyone care?
She threw Adam a dark look. What did it matter what college he went to? At least he'd still be going, while she might lose her horse!

“
How much does Silver Hills charge for boarding Ali?
”
Kenzie asked, dreading the an
swer. When Mr. Sullivan quoted the monthly fee, she closed her eyes, fighting back tears.

“
H
is
board’s paid through the end of the month.
”
her father added, as if that would make her happy.

It didn't. Now she had a deadline. In less than two weeks. Kenzie either had to find a job that paid major money or a stable that charged pennies for boarding fees.

“
I'm going to call Vivian right now about that job,
”
Mrs. Sullivan said.

Mr. Sullivan stood up, his face deeply etched with worry. He put his arm around his wife's shoulders and they left the kitchen together.

“
I
don’t
believe
this!
”
Adam groaned, shaking his head.
“
I have to trade in my truck, go to J.C., and wo
rk longer hours for less money j
ust because Dad's partner turned out to be a crook! It's not fair!
”

“
You'll still
have wheels and be going to col
lege,
”
Kenzie pointed out sharply.
“
I may lose Ali.
”

“
Gee, what a shame,
”
Adam said, scowling.
“
My situation is a whole lot worse than your having to get a job or sell your stupid horse,
Kenzie.
”

“
Ali's
not
a stupid horse!
”
Kenzie shouted.
“
He’s a purebred Arabian, and I love him!
”

“
What's going on in here?
”
Mrs. Sullivan asked from the doorway.

“
Adam’s being a jerk.
”

“
Kenzie's—”

“
The last thing your father needs right now,
”
Mrs. Sullivan declared,
“
is trouble between you two. For his sake, please try getting along.
”

Kenzie folde
d her arms across her chest, re
fusing to look at her brother.

“
I have some good news,
”
Mrs. Sullivan went on, a little too brightly.
“
As of tomorrow
,
I’ll be working full-time for Yarborough Insurance. I haven’t worked since you were bo
rn
, Adam, and I was afraid my secretarial skills might be rusty. But Vivian reminded me that I’ve been organizing and keeping minutes for clubs since I left the job market. I
'm sure I’ll be able to handle i
t.
”

Kenzie tried to sound enthusiastic.
“
That’s great
,
Mom.
”

“
Yeah.
”
Adam said glumly.
“
Terrific.
”

Mrs. Sullivan took a notepad and penci
l from the small desk in the corn
er of the kitchen.
“
I'll be gone all day, every day,
”
she said,
“
so there’ll be some changes around here.
”
She tapped the pencil thoughtfully on her chin.
“
We'll have to divide the household chores evenly.
”
She started scribbling on the paper.

“
Household chores?
”
Kenzie repeated, frowning.
“
What about Mrs. Owens?
”

Mrs. Sullivan met her daughter’s eyes.
“
We can't afford a housekeeper anymore, not even once a week.
”
Then she began to explain Kenzie and Adam's responsibilities.

But Kenzie wasn't listening. She closed her eyes, hoping that maybe this was all a bad dream. After a moment she opened her eyes and sighed. No such luck. Their lives
would never be the same again.

CHAPTER TWO

After her ride with Jeanette the following day, Kenzie stroked the velvety softness of Ali Ben's, nose. The horse nickered, nudging at her hand for a treat. Kenzie blinked back tears and pulled another apple slice out of her pocket.
“
Greedy,
”
she murmured, patting the gray’s neck. She
couldn’t bear the thought of Ali
being sold to someone else.

Outside the stable area, Jeanette gave two impatient blasts of her car horn. Giving
Ali
a hug and the last of the apples, Kenzie ran to Jeanette's fiery red sports car waiting at the gate.

“
Where exactly is the Lucky R Ranch?
”
Jea
nette asked, shifting the car into gear the instant Kenzie buckled her seat belt.

“
I’ll tell you where to turn.
”
Kenzie consulted the slip of paper in her hand.
“
It’s off the old highway, near the fairgrounds.
”

“
Out in the middle of nowhere!
”
Jeanette ex
aggerated.
“
Isn't there any way you can keep Ali at Silver Hills?
”

Kenzie sighed.
“
No. We just can’t afford it. I phoned all over and the Lucky R had the most reasonable boarding rates. But even they’ll be too expensive if I don't find a job.
”

“
Gosh, Kenz,
”
Jeanette said sadly.
“
The summer’s going to be a real drag with you working all the time. And riding Zenith won't be nearly as much fun without you and Ali.
”

“
Turn here,
”
Kenzie said, indicating a side road leading off to the left. In the distance she could see the fenced acreage of the Lucky R Ranch.

As they neared the entrance, Jeanette looked dismayed.
“
Are you sure you want to go in here? It seems awfully run-down.
”

Kenzie glanced at the shabby outbuildings and the small, nondescript house near a grove of weeping willow trees.
“
It’s not all that bad,
”
she said, swallowing her own disappointment.

Jeanette parked
the car near the stable area.
Several horses lifted their heads and whickered in greeting as the girls passed the corrals.

“
Hey
,
maybe there'
s hope for this place after all,
”
Jeanette whispered, poking Kenzie in the ribs.

Kenzie's eyes followed the direction of her friend's gaze. Two men were walking toward
them, and th
e younger one looked vaguely fa
miliar. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and muscu
lar. When he shoved the well-worn cow
boy hat back from his suntanned face, Kenzie recognized him from school, but she didn’t know his name.

“
What can I do for you ladies today?
”
the middle-aged
man beside him asked, his weath
ered face splitting into a wide grin.

“
I’m looking for Mr. Rudloff,
”
Kenzie said, then introduced herself and Jeanette.
“
I phoned about boarding my horse. I used to keep him at
the country club stables, but—
well, I decided it’s time for a change,
”
she fin
ished lamely.

“
I’m Hank Rudloff,
”
the older man said,
“
and this here’s Steve Calvert. He's my right-hand man around here.
”

Steve nodded. Without a trace of warmth, his dark brown ey
es flickered from Kenzie to Jea
nette
,
taking in
their hand-tailored shirts, im
ported stretch riding pants, and glossy boots.

“I’ll
let Steve show you around the place,
”
Mr. Rudlof
f
continued.
“
It's not fancy like Silver Hills, but we take real good care of our horses. You have any questions, just ask Steve. He
can answer ’em as good as I can,
and he's a mite better-looking.
”
He gave Steve a good-natured slap on the back.

Kenzie had a lot of questions, but Steve’s cool manner made her uncomfortable, so she said,
“
Mr. Rudloff
...
”

“
Everyone calls me Hank,
”
he informed her.

“
Hank,
”
Kenzie amended.
“
I was wondering if you collect your boarding fees in advance. I need to know because I’m looking for a
j
ob right now and I won't have the money for a while.
”

For some reason, Steve looked as if he didn't believe her. But Hank said,
“
Well, I just may be able to he
lp you in the employment department,
if you're interested. You a good rider?
”

Kenzie nodded eagerly.
“
Oh, yes! I've been riding almost since I could walk. And I’m definitely interested.
”

“
Hank
…
”
Steve warned, clearly objecting to the direction his boss’s thoughts were taking.

Hank glanced at him.
“
We're short an in
structor, remember?
”
Turning back to Kenzie, he said,
“
Last month there was an article in the local paper about the therapeutic riding sessions we offer here. Did you see it?
”

She admitted with a shake of her head that she hadn't. She didn't admit that she had no idea what therapeutic riding sessions were.

“
The Valley Handicapped Association comes out here every day during the summer,
”
Hank said.
“
I
can put you in as a spotter while you're learning about the program.
”

“
She's probably not interested anymore,
”
Steve muttered.

“
I
am, too!
”
Kenzie exclaimed, frowning at him. What was his problem, anyway?

“
I give a spec
ial boarding rate to my instruc
tors, which comes out of their pay,
”
Hank con
tinued.
“
You work six days a week.
”

“
Long
hours that include ranch chores,
”
Steve added.

Ignoring him, Kenzie smiled radiantly at Hank.
“
When do I start?
”