LITMIR.BIZ

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more like Libby wants me to find something to do. I owe her big-time, but asking me to play wrangler to a bunch of kids is a bit much.”

      Too bad he hadn’t knocked that chip off his shoulder when he fell. Claire noticed him favoring his hurt leg. “Come into my office and let’s talk.”

      Since yesterday, she’d made a dozen phone calls, with no luck. At this late date, anybody who might have the summer free had already found employment. Unfortunately, Claire hadn’t interviewed anyone for the job beforehand, since Barry had been the perfect candidate—or so it had seemed. Lesson learned. Always have a plan B.

      Seth followed her inside and eased down into a chair, his relief obvious as he removed his hat and laid it in his lap. He was a good-looking guy in his midtwenties, around Claire’s age. Light brown hair showed traces of fading sun streaks, and that athletic physique hadn’t come from a gym.

      “Like I said, I doubt I’m what you’re looking for.” His brow furrowed. “I’ve never done anything like counseling before.”

      Claire toyed with a pen on her desk. “Right now I might gladly take any male over twenty-five.” She realized how that must sound to a stranger, and when he chuckled, the heat of a blush crept up her neck.

      “Well, I fit that bill. Looks like we’re both in a bind.”

      Boy, did he ever fit the bill—in spades. Golden eyes the color of a cougar’s held her gaze and turned up the thermostat under her skin until she forced herself to break contact and try to concentrate on what the job entailed.

      “Look,” she said. “I’m desperate to find an authority figure for one of the boys.”

      “Micah? Libby told me a little about him.”

      “Yes, Micah Abbott. The guidance counselor won’t allow him or the other boy to attend if I don’t have a man as a full-time assistant camp director.”

      “Assistant camp director? You’re getting way out of my league now.”

      “Won’t be too difficult. I need a male authority figure to help keep Micah in line, that’s all.”

      “And you think just having me around will do that, when the entire school system can’t? Won’t take a smart kid long to test a banged-up cowboy.” Seth’s gruff voice carried a hint of frustration, maybe even anger.

      “Even if you were whole, I would expect you to avoid physical force.”

      “Number one, I am whole, lady, just broke my leg,” Seth snapped, pushing himself up from the chair and setting his hat back on his head with a thump. “And number two, I think you need to find somebody else to wrangle this kid.”

      If his attitude was a reflection of how he would handle students, she might just be creating more problems by hiring him. Besides, the sex appeal oozing from his pores might be too much of a distraction. Still, she had to have an assistant.

      “I’m sorry, I should have said ‘even if you were completely healed.’” Claire rose also. “There are other ways of asserting authority besides being physical, you know.”

      “No, I wouldn’t know much about that. I’m pretty used to physical.”

      “Libby told me you were a bull rider.”

      “Am. I am a bull rider,” Seth said, his words clipped with irritation.

      “I understood from your sister that you wouldn’t be able to ride again after this injury.”

      The color drained from his face and his breathing quickened perceptibly. “Libby’s got no business saying that. That’s my decision to make.”

      “I must have misunderstood,” Claire said quickly. “I thought she mentioned that was the doctor’s prognosis.”

      “The surgeon is probably the best there is, but he’s not God. I hope you find somebody for your camp.” Seth spun toward the door, and in the process lost his balance. He caught hold of the door frame to steady himself.

      Claire’s first instinct was to rush to help him, but she refrained. He froze in the doorway as if paralyzed, and she realized he was in pain physically as well as emotionally. His pent-up frustration and fear were palpable.

      Claire’s nurturing instinct kicked in. “Seth,” she called quietly. “I could really use you this summer. Libby almost promised you’d help me out.”

      He wouldn’t turn back to her. “She’s got no business saying that, either.”

      “I do need help.” Claire eased around her desk. “If I can’t give the guidance counselor a name by early next week, my camp may not be able to open.”

      Seth’s grip on the door frame tightened until his knuckles went white. “You need somebody else,” he said between gritted teeth. “Like you said, somebody whole.”

      “I wouldn’t offer you the position if I didn’t think you could handle it.”

      He didn’t respond, but he didn’t leave, either.

      “And, Seth,” she said, “I could work with you to strengthen your injured leg and improve your balance. That’s what I do for a living, you know. Therapeutic riding. Think about it overnight, okay?”

      He shook his head in a brusque, dismissive movement and started for his truck.

      “I’ll be here at eight tomorrow morning, if you change your mind,” Claire called after him.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      “SETH, GET UP.”

      Libby’s voice outside his bedroom door startled him awake.

      He groaned and muttered, “What?”

      “Get up and go tell Claire you’ll help her.”

      Seth sat up in bed, the covers pooling around his bare stomach. His sister had harangued him all last night for turning Claire down. “Don’t start on that again, Libby.”

      “I just talked to her. She’s at the stables for a few hours this morning. Get your butt dressed and get out there.”

      Seth did a double take, staring at the closed door. Libby never used an off-color word, not even butt. “Come on. I told you I don’t want to—”

      “This is the way it is, Seth! Either go work for Claire this summer or I’m going to tell Daddy you’re just wallowing in self-pity, and that he should come up here and get you.”

      Seth breathed a few choice words that Libby couldn’t hear. Just what he needed—his father and two of his older brothers on his case all summer. Lane, the one closest to his age, might cut him some slack, but his oldest brother, Howdy, wouldn’t. Sometimes Howdy acted as if he thought he was Seth’s father anyway. “Okay. All right. I’m getting up.”

      “Good. Get up and stay up.” She was in full schoolmarm mode now and not to be denied. “I’m teaching early Sunday school today. If you get things straight with Claire in time, it wouldn’t hurt you to come to church.”

      “Don’t count on that,” Seth muttered.

      “What?” Libby said though the door.

      “I said I’ll try,” he called. “You can stop the lecturing now. I’m up.”

      He heard Libby cross the hall to her bedroom and close her door.

      It was 7:00 a.m. He hadn’t been up this early since he’d gotten out of the hospital. Before his accident, he’d never lain in bed past six. Maybe it was time for him to get back to normal. But he hated the thought of facing Claire Ford again after yesterday. She must really be desperate if she was willing to hire him in his current physical condition.

      He shook his head. He wasn’t used to a woman studying him with that analytical, sympathetic

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