Almost Heaven by Jillian Hart Page B

didn’t criticize you for doing all this, did they? This is an incredible job.”
    â€œThanks.” She shrugged, turning away from him as if to hide her true emotions.
    All he saw was Kendra, as she always looked, hair tied back neatly, shimmering in the sunlight, casual but looking impeccable in faded jeans and a shirt, scuffed riding boots and a leather belt cinched at her slim waist. A small gold cross glinted in the hollow between her collarbones.
    Had she put all her heartache into this place? Working hard to forget, moving so far out of town for peace, for distance from anyone who could hurt her?
    He knew something about heartbreak.
    He could see the spread through the wide double doorway at the head of the stable. Perfect rail fencing, groomed paddocks, mellow green meadows, covered arenas, two other new stable buildings and the hint of the original brick cottage nestled behind two ancient maples.
    A massive change from what this place used to look like—a forgotten, falling-down homestead that had sat unused, except for the grazing cattle and growing hay.
    He’d always assumed she’d had the place rebuilt. She came from one of the area’s wealthier families. She could probably pull together a loan for that kind of an investment. But to have done this herself?
    He was real glad he’d chosen to go with her stable.
    She ambled away from him. Her gait wasn’t jaunty, but not slow, either. A graceful, quiet way she moved. Unconscious of her country-girl beauty. Looking so wholesome and good-hearted, she made him notice.
    What are you trying to tell me, Lord? Puzzled, Cameron followed after the lovely lady who was affecting him.
    â€œCome take a look,” she invited, pausing in front of a stall with a horse in it.
    The big animal made a low sound in its throat, nosing over the low gate to press its muzzle into Kendra’s waiting hand. Nuzzling against her palm, sighing atthe wonder of Kendra’s caring touch. The horse closed its eyes in obvious bliss.
    â€œThis is one of my best friends, Willow.” Kendra leaned her forehead against the horse’s, their affection for one another clear.
    As warm as sunlight and twice as dazzling, the woman before him changed. Her defenses falling, she looked better, brighter.
    That horse looked awful big. Kendra was right. He also saw the bond between woman and horse. Friendship.
    Yep. He could use some of that.
    â€œOh! Stop that, Sprite!” Kendra’s reprimand was sprinkled with merriment as she whisked her ponytail out of another horse’s mouth. “Stop being jealous.”
    â€œYour horse, too?” He’d seen her on one that looked sort of like that when she rode to town. From the shadows in the neighboring stall, he couldn’t get a real good take on the color of the horse, except it was dark.
    â€œYeah. This is my barrel horse. We took first in the state last year, but I’m not competing anymore.”
    â€œI read about that in the local paper. Hometown girl does good.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Not so good. It’s really the horse.” She didn’t know how to say it, but she was blessed to have these horse friends in her life.
    â€œSo, are these all your animals?” He gazed down the aisle at the other animals holding out for attention.
    â€œNot the rest in this aisle. This is my best rentalstable. Nice big box stalls with attached corrals for them to stretch their legs during the day.”
    â€œLooks like you’ve got a lot of space available.”
    â€œNo, it’s Saturday. Our busiest of the week. Kids come in to spend the day with their horses.”
    â€œJust kids?”
    â€œMostly, but about a third of my clients are adults. Lots of country girls like me, who grew up on a little land with room enough for a horse. They have to work in Bozeman where the jobs are and can’t pasture a horse in a subdivision, so they board here. It’s a good