Branded by Scottie Barrett

Author:Scottie Barrett [Barrett, Scottie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sexy cowboy, jealousy cowboy, western erotic romance, alpha male cowboy, jealousy romance, hot cowboy, erotic historical romance, western romance
Publisher: Scottie Barrett
Published: 2017-03-14T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Lacey had gone mad waiting for the men to arrive home with the new cattle. Or, more particularly, one man. She sat on the rocker, once again, counting the porch planks. There weren't even enough boring chores, with most of the men gone, to break up the boredom.

Dora came out onto the porch drying a plate and looked down the empty path. "They'll be home today. I can feel it."

Lacey wasn't convinced. Dora had been making the exact same prediction every morning this week.

Dora walked back inside and then almost immediately walked back out, still drying the same dish. "Hope those boys didn't run into any bad weather."

Dora was starting to make her nervous. "I think I'll head to the barn and give Irish a grooming."

Lacey led the old horse out into the sunlight and tied her to a fencepost. She brushed Irish's neck and the horse turned her head suddenly, nearly smacking Lacey with her nose. The usually unflappable mare was finding something very interesting in the distance. Her nostrils started twitching. Lacey felt a vibration under her feet and squinted toward the gate. He was back.

She ran to the house and collided with Dora who dropped the plate she'd been drying all morning. It shattered. Shards of china, now polished to a high sheen, were strewn in the dirt.

Lacey bit her lip at the sight of him astride his horse. His black hat was powdered with trail dust as was his long black coat. He swung out of the saddle even before reining the horse to a full stop. He scooped up Dora and swung her around in a wide arc. Lacey tried to look inconspicuous. She hoped he didn't think she was waiting for a hug. She decided it was best to walk away.

"That's a fine welcome, Duchess," he yelled.

Before she'd even squeaked out the word hello, he had her in his arms.

She clutched desperately at him.

"Miss me, little thing?"

She clung to him unable to say a word. Lacey felt as if she could go on holding him forever.

He felt so warm and solid. So totally dependable. Something she had never expected to feel about him.

Dora cleared her throat. Slade rubbed the top of Lacey's head with his chin before setting her on her feet.

* * * *

Lacey plucked another ripe tomato off the vine. She glanced up as Dora approached with a little lift in her step, like a woman with good news to deliver.

What if Grady had returned? She fumbled the tomato. It landed by her feet, splitting down the center. With each passing day, she'd dreaded his return more. How would she be able to hide her feelings for Slade? More importantly, how would she be able to pretend she had feelings for Grady?

"Lacey, honey, come back to the house."

Lacey braced herself for the worst.

"I had Tait and Blue clean up the clutter in that old sewing room. Now there's a big open space to work in. I even mopped the floor so you can cut your patterns out right there in the center of the room.

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