and Shady.
All throughout dinner, Colt
studied her until she turned bright red from the attention. At one point, she
wondered if she had a piece of food on her face. It made her uncomfortable, and
her stomach fluttered.
He certainly was a contrary
man. One minute mad as all get out, and then tender the next. The last few days
had their difficulties, but she was certain he had a good heart and it was
something she could carry with her through the doubt. Now if he would stop
staring at her, they might have a nice dinner.
Shady and Bibbs kept
exchanging glances, and it made her wonder. She felt Caleb’s absence keenly in
moments like these. He’d been such a friend to her and would have been the one
she could speak to in this sea of looks. It was still hard to believe that he
was gone. Whatever she felt she knew Colt felt it tenfold.
She served them cake for
dessert since it was her birthday. Even though no one knew, she’d had the best
birthday ever.
After dinner, Colt excused
himself and went out to the barn. Bibbs and Shady said their “good nights” and
went to the hardly-used bunkhouse. Then the house was quiet, almost too quiet.
Colt had been so good to her. Tomorrow she’d make cookies for him as a thank
you for the coat and boots. He’d already given her so much she didn’t expect
more. Colt, Bibbs and Shady had all treated her with respect but she couldn’t
help but be on alert in case of trouble, in case this kindness melted away.
What was it like to simply be able relax and enjoy?
She waited a while for Colt to
return but he stayed in the barn. She could see the lights on across the way.
Finally, she gave in and went to bed. She rolled onto her right side trying to
get comfortable and winced. Her shoulder still hurt like hell. Maybe she’d get
a chance to heal. She couldn’t remember the last time her whole body was bruise
free.
* * * *
Colt leaned against the barn
door waiting for the house lights to go off. He was a coward, but he couldn’t
deal with the feelings that Spring brought to the
surface. Women weren’t his forte, but Spring was
different. She reminded him of his poor mistreated horses, and he’d have to be
gentle with her. He wished he could fist plant the guy responsible.
Gazing at the house, he
wondered what type of life she’d led. It was bad enough for Caleb to help her
get away from her ex-boyfriend. The light in her bedroom went off, and taking a
deep breath, he headed toward the house.
At least McCoy finally came
over and explained things. Poor little Rachael’s cries tore his heart, and Winter’s guilt floored him. His pain had overridden his
judgment in dealing with the McCoys . He still
harbored a little resentment, but some of his anger finally drained after they
left. A weight lifted from his shoulders and he was grateful. It had become
almost too much to bear.
Rachael was such a special
girl, offering to get rid of Snoopy. She loved Caleb too. He thought back to
the Winter Dance, smiling as he remembered Rachael yelling, “dip me!” to Caleb.
They’d had a special bond. One time Rachael came to spend the night, and she slid
down the porch banister, landing face first onto the hard, frozen snow. The
only one who she’d take comfort from was Caleb.
He took off his coat and hung
it up next to Spring’s . He smiled remembering her
excitement over her new coat and boots. Her blue eyes brightened his day,
perhaps a bit too much. He had a right to still mourn, he had a right to be
angry, and he had a right to hell… he didn’t know.
He liked her too much and that
couldn’t happen. It was never his plan and never his dream. These days he just
wanted to work with his horses and be left alone. Caleb hired her so he’d honor
Caleb’s decision but that was as far as it could go. No more walks together.
They would just be employer and employee.
She was a little bit of a
thing, and whoever hurt her was a fool. First of all, you never hit a woman,
let alone
All throughout dinner, Colt
studied her until she turned bright red from the attention. At one point, she
wondered if she had a piece of food on her face. It made her uncomfortable, and
her stomach fluttered.
He certainly was a contrary
man. One minute mad as all get out, and then tender the next. The last few days
had their difficulties, but she was certain he had a good heart and it was
something she could carry with her through the doubt. Now if he would stop
staring at her, they might have a nice dinner.
Shady and Bibbs kept
exchanging glances, and it made her wonder. She felt Caleb’s absence keenly in
moments like these. He’d been such a friend to her and would have been the one
she could speak to in this sea of looks. It was still hard to believe that he
was gone. Whatever she felt she knew Colt felt it tenfold.
She served them cake for
dessert since it was her birthday. Even though no one knew, she’d had the best
birthday ever.
After dinner, Colt excused
himself and went out to the barn. Bibbs and Shady said their “good nights” and
went to the hardly-used bunkhouse. Then the house was quiet, almost too quiet.
Colt had been so good to her. Tomorrow she’d make cookies for him as a thank
you for the coat and boots. He’d already given her so much she didn’t expect
more. Colt, Bibbs and Shady had all treated her with respect but she couldn’t
help but be on alert in case of trouble, in case this kindness melted away.
What was it like to simply be able relax and enjoy?
She waited a while for Colt to
return but he stayed in the barn. She could see the lights on across the way.
Finally, she gave in and went to bed. She rolled onto her right side trying to
get comfortable and winced. Her shoulder still hurt like hell. Maybe she’d get
a chance to heal. She couldn’t remember the last time her whole body was bruise
free.
* * * *
Colt leaned against the barn
door waiting for the house lights to go off. He was a coward, but he couldn’t
deal with the feelings that Spring brought to the
surface. Women weren’t his forte, but Spring was
different. She reminded him of his poor mistreated horses, and he’d have to be
gentle with her. He wished he could fist plant the guy responsible.
Gazing at the house, he
wondered what type of life she’d led. It was bad enough for Caleb to help her
get away from her ex-boyfriend. The light in her bedroom went off, and taking a
deep breath, he headed toward the house.
At least McCoy finally came
over and explained things. Poor little Rachael’s cries tore his heart, and Winter’s guilt floored him. His pain had overridden his
judgment in dealing with the McCoys . He still
harbored a little resentment, but some of his anger finally drained after they
left. A weight lifted from his shoulders and he was grateful. It had become
almost too much to bear.
Rachael was such a special
girl, offering to get rid of Snoopy. She loved Caleb too. He thought back to
the Winter Dance, smiling as he remembered Rachael yelling, “dip me!” to Caleb.
They’d had a special bond. One time Rachael came to spend the night, and she slid
down the porch banister, landing face first onto the hard, frozen snow. The
only one who she’d take comfort from was Caleb.
He took off his coat and hung
it up next to Spring’s . He smiled remembering her
excitement over her new coat and boots. Her blue eyes brightened his day,
perhaps a bit too much. He had a right to still mourn, he had a right to be
angry, and he had a right to hell… he didn’t know.
He liked her too much and that
couldn’t happen. It was never his plan and never his dream. These days he just
wanted to work with his horses and be left alone. Caleb hired her so he’d honor
Caleb’s decision but that was as far as it could go. No more walks together.
They would just be employer and employee.
She was a little bit of a
thing, and whoever hurt her was a fool. First of all, you never hit a woman,
let alone
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