A Promise To Keep (Return To The Double C Book 16) by Allison Leigh

Author:Allison Leigh [Leigh, Allison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Sensual Story Theme, Hearts Desire, Lifetime Love, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Romantic Schemes, Beautiful & Feisty, Love-Family & Forever, Small Town & Rural Area, Action & Adventure, Return To The Double 'C' Series, Animals-Horses & Cattle
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition; Original edition
Published: 2020-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The wildflowers had spread. In just three weeks, they had nearly filled in all of the turned-over earth of Otis’s grave.

By the time summer ended, Jed knew the only evidence of the grave would be the stone marker.

He poured the water he’d brought up to the ridge over the wildflowers. “Figure this is just the way you wanted it, Otis. Being one with your mountain.”

When the metal bucket was empty, he flipped it over and sat down on it.

He knew that April had to have been the one who’d planted the sprig of flowers after Otis died. He’d seen them, looking spindly and frail among the rocky soil that day she’d disappeared on him. It wasn’t something he’d have thought to do.

But there they’d been. Heads of purple and red barely hanging on in the constant breeze tugging at them.

He’d brought up water that day. Tamped down the roots again. Added a little more soil and moved some rocks to provide some protection from the wind.

Since there hadn’t been any rain, he’d done the same thing every day. And now the wildflowers were taking over all on their own. No longer in need of protection from the wind. Riotous, colorful weeds that would go to seed and sprout up again thicker than ever, finding life among the granite, in a cycle that Jed hoped would never end.

“She came back, Otis.” He squinted into the sun, looking down at the creek-side meadow where most of the cows were contained. Babies were dropping regularly, keeping him even busier than usual. Fortunately, there hadn’t been any orphans this season. It was a first, though Jed was too practical to expect the luck to continue. “That company of hers still wants your land.” He wasn’t going to think about anything else where she was concerned. Definitely not the fact that aside from Tanya, April was the only woman he’d ever wanted in his bed come morning.

And even though he’d fallen into the habit of talking more to Otis now that he was gone than he ever had when he was alive, there was no way Jed would share the fact that, out of all the women he’d been with since his wife died, being with April was the only time he hadn’t had a single thought about his past at all.

He pinched his nose to rid himself of the thought.

“Not sure she’s gonna get a deal, though,” he finally continued aloud. “Snead’s already bragging in town that he’s got a mining company lined up. You always told me you never wanted to see mining on your mountain.”

Jed had heard the cousin showed up a week after Otis died. He wasn’t inclined to think much of the guy. He’d never tried to see Otis in the five years Jed had known him. But then Jed supposed he wasn’t really in a position to judge another man’s character when his own hadn’t been anything to write home about.

“Court’s sending someone up here from an auction house over in Braden,” he went on.

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