Bound by an Angel

Author:Mackenzie McKade [McKade, Mackenzie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2012-10-08T13:00:00+00:00

“Dammit,” Clancy cursed, clenching the steering wheel tighter. It seemed like every time he got close to Tess, something inside him knotted up and he forgot who he was. Yet for a brief moment when they stood in her hallway, nose to nose, their lips a breath away, he could have sworn she wanted to kiss him. That she’d felt the same magnetic pull he had. Wanted the same thing he did, but it had only been his foolish pride.

No. Tess Gilmore had her head on straight, her priorities in line, and taking a chance on a worthless cowboy wasn’t on her list of things to do. The sooner he realized that, the sooner he could get some much-needed sleep, but it wouldn’t be today. He turned his truck toward the Petersons.

Several young colts kicked up their heels as he maneuvered down their driveway. As he approached, he saw Shelby disappear into the barn, Clint Senior behind her. Easing on the brake, Clancy came to a stop and turned the engine off. Within minutes he was out of his vehicle and slipping into the barn.

Silence met him, as well as the sweet scent of hay and oats.

Then he heard a low, guttural moan and Shelby’s excited high-pitched wail. “Oh look.”

“Shhh…” He didn’t need to see the one who responded to know it was Jessie. He’d recognize her voice anywhere.

As he moved down the path of stalls, he saw Shelby peering through the slats of one. Next to her stood Clint Senior and next to him was Madeline, his wife, and finally Jessie. Something inside had caught their attention.

“It’s a colt,” Wade said from within the stable.

“Darn,” Shelby grumbled, while Clint Senior chuckled.

“Whoa, girl,” Ty cooed as grunts and shuffling followed.

By the time Clancy stepped next to Shelby, the mare inside had risen and was nosing her baby, a wet little Dunn.

“Clancy!” Shelby yelled, spinning around to hug his waist.

He gazed down at her and his chest squeezed. From the moment her worthless father abandoned her with Jessie, the little urchin had captured his heart.

He placed a finger against his lips, quieting her, and then pointed to the newborn. “Watch.”

On wobbly, bent legs, the colt attempted to rise, falling down only to try again. Ty, Wade and Clint Junior stood off to the sides, watching his progress as the womenfolk made soft sounds of encouragement.

“Dry him off.” The tall, sixty-three year old man shook his head. Throughout the years, gray had slipped through his brown hair, cut short and neat. “We don’t want him to get a chill from this darn weather.” Each of his sons grabbed a towel and quickly went to work, as Clint Senior shook Clancy’s hand. “Why do these females want to drop their babes in this kind of weather?”

“Hell if I know,” he responded, but it was true. There was something about a rainy day that triggered birthing. He’d had two cows drop their calves around five this morning, another mama in the early stages of labor when he had left the house earlier.

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