Renegade Hearts (The Kinnison Legacy Book 3) by Amanda McIntyre Page B
Authors: Amanda McIntyre
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woman.
“My treat next time.” Sally pointed a finger at Angelique. “Regarding Mr. Dalton, who, in case you hadn’t noticed, is impossibly gorgeous—just sayin’. You’re bound to run into him now and again with your entire family working out at the ranch these days.”
“And I’ll handle it, thank you. This reminds me, my uncle asked me to run by and take a look at one of the horses. I need to pick up Emilee anyway. Aunt Rebecca insisted on staying to fix supper. Uncle Mike mentioned they’ve been working hard to get a pathway built connecting the cabins to the main house.”
“Yep, I guess they have their first guest arriving soon. Hey, Rein asked me to stop by sometime and check the cabin designed for physically challenged guests. Now’s as good a time as any--would you mind if I rode out there with you? I’ll leave my car here, and you can drop me back off at my car afterwards, if you don’t mind.”
“My uncle mentioned the new guest. An old college buddy, I heard.”
“Yep, his name is Clay Saunders. Clay, Hank, Dalton, and Rein were friends at college, is my understanding.” Sally hefted her large purse over her shoulder and followed Angelique outside. “He’s a wounded warrior, I guess. Middle East conflict. Sounds like he’s had a rough time since he got back.”
“It’s nice that they’re still watching out for each other. And it’s nice that you and Rein stayed friends even after you stopped dating and that he values your opinion.”
“He helped me a lot when we ended up having to remodel dad’s house when his Multiple Sclerosis got worse.”
Angelique looked over the hood of her car at Sally. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you back then.”
They climbed in the car. “I know you would have been if you hadn’t had a lot on your plate at the time.” She shrugged and looked out the window. “There were days that it was hard, but dad always tried to make me feel better, you know? The difficult times made me realize I’m a lot stronger than I thought. And I became a student of just about every aspect of creating handicap accessibility in a single-house dwelling.”
Angelique grabbed Sally’s hand and squeezed it. “I hope you know how lucky you are to have had the parents you had. And I don’t say that to solicit any pity on me. I really mean it. I’m glad for you.”
Her friend studied her. “You had to take care of your mom and were still underage when you moved away. You could have left when things got rough, after your mom passed. But you didn’t. I’m sure there are folks who pity me at almost thirty-two and never been married, because I had to take care of my dad and never really had the time or energy to date.”
“Well, you’re not exactly a spinster, Miss Sally.” Angelique smiled as she started her car. There was so much Sally still didn’t know about her life in Chicago. One day, maybe, she’d be ready to share it. Just now, though, she wanted to keep moving forward and leave her past in the past.
Sally buckled her seat belt. “True, but I have to be content with how things go, either way. I can’t imagine leaving End of the Line. I love my students, the school, when people say hi to each other on the street. I’m just a small-town girl, I guess.”
“I’m grateful that Emilee has had the chance to grow up here, but it’s been hard these days to drag her away from the ranch.”
“Is she getting attached to Gracie?”
They sped along the mountain pass road on the way to the Kinnison’s ranch. “She’s become quite the little mother, but she’s also excited to help my uncle with the horses. She wants to be in the middle of everything.”
“She’s a good kid.” Sally patted her arm. “I can’t believe how mature she was during that accident last winter with the school suburban. I remember that she told Aimee that she could be a brave hero, like her father.”
Angelique’s face flushed and it had nothing to do with the summer
“My treat next time.” Sally pointed a finger at Angelique. “Regarding Mr. Dalton, who, in case you hadn’t noticed, is impossibly gorgeous—just sayin’. You’re bound to run into him now and again with your entire family working out at the ranch these days.”
“And I’ll handle it, thank you. This reminds me, my uncle asked me to run by and take a look at one of the horses. I need to pick up Emilee anyway. Aunt Rebecca insisted on staying to fix supper. Uncle Mike mentioned they’ve been working hard to get a pathway built connecting the cabins to the main house.”
“Yep, I guess they have their first guest arriving soon. Hey, Rein asked me to stop by sometime and check the cabin designed for physically challenged guests. Now’s as good a time as any--would you mind if I rode out there with you? I’ll leave my car here, and you can drop me back off at my car afterwards, if you don’t mind.”
“My uncle mentioned the new guest. An old college buddy, I heard.”
“Yep, his name is Clay Saunders. Clay, Hank, Dalton, and Rein were friends at college, is my understanding.” Sally hefted her large purse over her shoulder and followed Angelique outside. “He’s a wounded warrior, I guess. Middle East conflict. Sounds like he’s had a rough time since he got back.”
“It’s nice that they’re still watching out for each other. And it’s nice that you and Rein stayed friends even after you stopped dating and that he values your opinion.”
“He helped me a lot when we ended up having to remodel dad’s house when his Multiple Sclerosis got worse.”
Angelique looked over the hood of her car at Sally. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you back then.”
They climbed in the car. “I know you would have been if you hadn’t had a lot on your plate at the time.” She shrugged and looked out the window. “There were days that it was hard, but dad always tried to make me feel better, you know? The difficult times made me realize I’m a lot stronger than I thought. And I became a student of just about every aspect of creating handicap accessibility in a single-house dwelling.”
Angelique grabbed Sally’s hand and squeezed it. “I hope you know how lucky you are to have had the parents you had. And I don’t say that to solicit any pity on me. I really mean it. I’m glad for you.”
Her friend studied her. “You had to take care of your mom and were still underage when you moved away. You could have left when things got rough, after your mom passed. But you didn’t. I’m sure there are folks who pity me at almost thirty-two and never been married, because I had to take care of my dad and never really had the time or energy to date.”
“Well, you’re not exactly a spinster, Miss Sally.” Angelique smiled as she started her car. There was so much Sally still didn’t know about her life in Chicago. One day, maybe, she’d be ready to share it. Just now, though, she wanted to keep moving forward and leave her past in the past.
Sally buckled her seat belt. “True, but I have to be content with how things go, either way. I can’t imagine leaving End of the Line. I love my students, the school, when people say hi to each other on the street. I’m just a small-town girl, I guess.”
“I’m grateful that Emilee has had the chance to grow up here, but it’s been hard these days to drag her away from the ranch.”
“Is she getting attached to Gracie?”
They sped along the mountain pass road on the way to the Kinnison’s ranch. “She’s become quite the little mother, but she’s also excited to help my uncle with the horses. She wants to be in the middle of everything.”
“She’s a good kid.” Sally patted her arm. “I can’t believe how mature she was during that accident last winter with the school suburban. I remember that she told Aimee that she could be a brave hero, like her father.”
Angelique’s face flushed and it had nothing to do with the summer
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