Love Somebody Like You by Susan Fox

finished off his pie, thinking that he could happily eat a dinner like this every day. Eating it across from Sally made it especially good.
    â€œA smaller version, yes. My home away from home.” She gave a soft laugh. “Actually, that was our real home. Misty and I were in that trailer more than we were at my parents’ ranch.” At the mention of her parents, her mouth tightened.
    He was about to ask her what had happened to that great horse of hers, but she spoke first. “How’re you doing this season? D’you figure you’ll make it to the CFR?”
    â€œDamn right. I’ve been doing well on earnings, and even if the injury costs me and I don’t qualify based on money, there’s a good chance of finishing first or second in one of the last ten rodeos.” The Canadian Finals Rodeo qualifiers were the ten top money winners in each event for the past season, as well as those who finished first or second in the final ten rodeos. “Both for me in saddle bronc and for Dusty and me in team roping.” Assuming Dusty didn’t decide to finish the season with the new guy. Ben touched his right hand to his bad shoulder. “I just need to get back at it.”
    â€œHow about the NFR?” The National Finals Rodeo in the States decided the world championships. Qualification was based on total earnings.
    â€œYou haven’t been following rodeo, have you?” he said, surprised.
    She shook her head. “Giving it up was hard. I went cold turkey. What’s going on?”
    â€œIn the past few years, only one Canadian has qualified for the NFR each year.”
    â€œIt’s tougher for Canadians, isn’t it? Rodeo has to be your entire life. You have to be on the circuit constantly, hit a bunch of U.S. events, do multiple events in a weekend. It’s crazy.”
    â€œYou did it, at least for a couple of years. Even finished second one time.”
    Green lights danced in her eyes. “No one ever said I wasn’t crazy.”
    Hoping she wouldn’t call him crazy, Ben shared the idea he’d come up with when he was watching that doe and fawn. An idea that, he now realized, had probably been percolating ever since he arrived at Ryland Riding and saw Sally. “I was thinking, how about I stay here until my shoulder heals?”
    â€œWhat?” The frown was back, creasing fine lines into her forehead.
    That sure wasn’t the reaction he’d been going for. “I could help you out.” Her frown had intensified rather than eased, so he went on. “You’d give me a place to park my rig and keep Chaunce. And I could borrow your spare ring when it’s not booked, and keep up with training. Seems it could be good for both of us.” Best of all would be spending time with her.
    â€œDon’t you want to go back home to Alberta?”
    â€œNot really. I kind of minimized the shoulder thing when I talked to my folks on Sunday. If Mom sees me wearing a sling, she’ll fuss and drive me nuts. And the horse trainer I work for when I’m not rodeoing already hired someone for the summer. As for being useful around here”—he shrugged his good shoulder—“sure, there’s some things I can’t do, what with this damned fracture, but there’s a lot that I can.”
    â€œYou should heal, not work.”
    He snorted. “Sit back and do nothing? I’d go outta my freaking mind.”
    Her lips twitched, but she quickly straightened them and frowned again. “Have you seen a physiotherapist? Do you have exercises to do?”
    â€œHaven’t seen one yet, but I will.” During his years in rodeo, he had several times gone to a registered physio—or physical therapist as they were called in the States—to help with rehab after an injury. There was bound to be one in Caribou Crossing.
    He’d hoped Sally would leap at his offer. It should relieve some pressure until she