A King for Kinsella (Mail Order Papa) by Schlachter Donna

Author:Schlachter, Donna
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PLS Bookworks
Published: 2023-12-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Monday, August 12

Kinsella headed for the barn immediately after breakfast. The sun shone in a cloudless sky, heralding fine weather. A perfect day for riding the fence line with King Marchmont. The past two weeks since he arrived had blown past like tumbleweed in a tornado. She’d barely drawn a breath, except to go to church.

But the king’s arrival also meant an extra pair of hands to help around the ranch. He’d surprised her with his willingness to step in and do whatever she asked. And whatever he’d expected from her, he graciously accepted her accommodation for him to sleep in the barn.

As she entered the barn, she slowed, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dimness inside. Their four saddle horses occupied the stalls down the left side, and her own, the bay mare, stuck her head out and neighed, beckoning her closer.

She chuckled. “Sally girl, you can smell your treat from there, can’t you?”

Kinsella held out the half apple she’d carried from the house, and the mare’s gentle lips snuffled then practically inhaled the fruit. She moved on down the line, offering the black, the pinto, and the gray their treat in turn.

Next, she retrieved the bridle, blanket, and saddle from the railing, opened the stall, and stepped inside. She nudged the bay aside with her shoulder. “Give me room, girl.”

Her horse, now long in the tooth and slower to move into a gallop, sniffed at her hair. A wedding gift from Abe, she wondered how many years she could look forward to with her. Two? Three, maybe? Then what? Would she be able to keep the beast, set her out to pasture, until she passed away from natural causes?

She’d thought she and Abe would make that decision together. Many years down the road.

But, as she’d learned recently and suddenly, life could be cruel.

As she slipped the bit between the bay’s teeth, she thought back on the intervening weeks since King Marchmont practically sailed into their lives. Although Thomas was a prime instrument in the man’s presence, their first days had been tense. Perhaps both were feeling their way around. Thomas had been thrust into head of household position without warning but had taken to his new role with enthusiasm. The king’s arrival required adjustment for everybody as each figured out where they stood and what was expected of them.

Thankfully, Sarah recovered well, and William never felt shunned to the point where he’d run away again. In fact, both looked up to the king with awe on their faces and in their voices.

Emily? Well, she accepted the man from the start, quick to defend him in his absence.

But really, the man was brilliant. He never took sides. He asked plenty of questions. And when Thomas took it upon himself to defend her honor with a bully at school, and received a trouncing for his bravery—well, the king taught him how to defend himself.

She set the saddle blanket across the mare’s back, then hoisted the saddle into place.

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