Conall's Legacy by Kat Wells Page B

arrived, and had more often heard him working in the depth of night. Still she could picture his face as well as her own. The creases between his eyes were deep enough to have been brought by pain. Sadness turned his blue eyes molten at times. They had sparked with momentary joy and surprise when the filly landed in his wet lap. The mental picture brought a smile to her.
    His fleeting joy had faded, though. Sorrow returned to weigh on him. What made his heart ache so? she wondered.
    The stinging spray reminded Luisa of her own ache. The thought of being alone on the ranch the rest of her days wrapped cold fingers around her heart and twisted. She had only Cindy and the animals to tell her innermost thoughts. Some days Luisa felt the presence of her father on the ranch and spoke to him. She shook her head. If anyone saw her one-sided conversation, they’d have her committed for talking to a memory.
    Luisa chewed on the inside of her lip. What would it be like to have a man in her life? One to raise children with, to spend a lifetime with? One who would be a soul mate to her? Her thoughts ran together cluttering her mind and making her impatient. She didn’t waste time on useless speculation, and dreaming of a man that wouldn’t materialize fell into that category.
    The shower spray revitalized her and cleared the nagging thoughts from her mind. She reined in imagination and stepped from the shower with a disgusted sigh.
    Why had Drake come here? She’d had her life under control, but now it was spinning off its axis. Drake Forrester spelled complications, and she didn’t need any of those. The ranch had been a place of peace and sanctuary for her, but that had changed the day he’d pulled his clattering, dust-covered truck and trailer into her ranch yard. She wondered if she’d ever regain that same peace of mind.
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    Drake jerked his fingers through his tousled hair. The knock came again, firmer this time. He brushed a hand over stubby whiskers and thought about ignoring the sound. No vehicle had crunched up the dirt and gravel drive and every sound carried on this place. That meant it had to be Luisa. He was in no mood for visitors. The dreams had come even in the morning hours. They got stronger instead of fading away.
    The knock was more insistent this time, rattling the screen door. “What does she want?” he grumbled. Maybe she intended to tell him not to work at night. It might disturb her precious animals. He thought of the tiny, red filly and smiled. Well, so maybe they were special, but they were still just animals. Weren’t they?
    Maybe the noise was bothering Luisa, and she wanted him to stop working. That wasn’t an option. He’d covered his mallet with a cloth trying to mute the sound somewhat. Wasn’t that enough?
    Besides, the iron sculptures were something he had to do. He beat out his frustration and grief while trying desperately, and unsuccessfully, to keep the nightmares away. It was the only way to drown out the sound of Conall’s final breath. He worked all night and into the dawn until he was so exhausted not a thought passed through his brain. Then he collapsed on the bed and slept. Usually. This morning it hadn’t worked.
    Luisa knocked louder and he wondered briefly if he could just shoot her and go back to bed. She didn’t give up. The knocking came again. “I’m coming. Hold on.”
    He slipped a black T-shirt over his head as he walked across the small living room. His black jeans contrasted bare, white feet.
    Luisa stood on the porch, the cake in her hands visible through the screen door. A tentative smile curved her lips when their gazes locked.
    Drake’s heart hit his chest twice--hard. Desire coiled in his long-celibate body like a rattler ready to strike. He caged it to keep her safe. He wasn’t the kind of man to take advantage of a woman, especially one isolated out here in this back of beyond. He shook his head at the wonder of why any human, let alone a female one, would