Heaven Sent by Sandra Madden

Author:Sandra Madden [Madden, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Western Historical Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2011-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

It was late afternoon when Matty and Cooper T. reached the high whitewashed gates of the Silver Star Ranch. Riding through the impressive gates never failed to give Matty goosebumps. She pulled Spirit to a stop.

Although Cooper T. wasn’t aware of it, they had been on Applebee property for an hour. The route to her home had taken them over rolling lush green hills and through thick copses of pine, oak, and sycamore, fields of wild yellow daisies and crimson red poppies. They’d waded Traveler and Spirit across wide streams and narrow brooks that wound through the ranch.

“Welcome to the Silver Star, Cooper T.” Matty grinned proudly.

He scanned the land from their hillside vantage point. “Looks to be a mighty big spread.”

“One thousand acres of fine cattle grazing land,” she told him. Her love for the ranch swelled inside her. It felt so good to be back. Her odd malaise seemed a thing of the past. Turning her face into the soft breeze, she surveyed the familiar ground. Grinning with pleasure, she inhaled the distinctive fragrance of rich soil.

She was home on the Silver Star.

“Isn’t it beautiful. Cooper T.?”

He nodded solemnly. “Yes, it is. Can’t say as I’ve ever seen a spread quite like it.”

“The house is up on the next ridge.”

His stony expression was inscrutable as his eyes locked on hers. “I only promised to bring you to the gates of the Silver Star, Matilda Rose. And we’re here now.”

“It’s almost dark,” she protested. “You can’t travel any farther today.”

He shook his head.

“I’m not going to tie you down or force you to marry Phoebe tonight at gunpoint. I... I promise.” At the moment, she would promise him anything.

“You’re not planning to lock me up in the barn, are you?” he asked with a droll twist of his lips.

“No. What good would it do? I’ve got a feeling you’re experienced at escapin’ from just about anywhere.”

“You’ve come to know me well.”

“Besides, when you meet Phoebe you may just change your mind about leaving.” And if he didn’t, Matty reckoned her daddy could convince Cooper T. to make an honest woman of Phoebe.

“Not likely.”

“The house is just another mile beyond the gates.”

He shot her a crooked smile. “Our last mile together?”

A hard, tight pain tore at her heart.

“I reckon,” she said as soon as she figured she could speak. With a slight movement of her knee, Matty signaled Spirit to move on. She didn’t want Cooper T. to see the tears that had suddenly sprung to her eyes. She didn’t know where they’d come from or why.

This was the time she’d been looking forward to since she’d taken Cooper T. Finally she had the drummer where she wanted him.

Cooper T.’s horse walked slowly beside hers. “Matilda Rose ...”

“Yes?”

“Although we’ve encountered some ... ah, problems on this journey together, I want you to know that...”

“Yes?”

“More often than not, you made a good companion.” His tone softened. “You’ve got spirit and courage. And intelligence.”

Cooper T.’s unexpected kind words caused a burning

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