Her Christmas Family Wish by Lois Richer

Author:Lois Richer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-02-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“So you’ve brought over some of Tanner’s rescued horses.” On Saturday morning Ellie studied the scruffy-looking animals surrounding Wyatt inside his pasture and thought how happy he looked among them. “To stay?”

“Temporarily. I know they’re not the most handsome beasts, yet,” he said. “But with some pampering, they soon will be.” He smoothed his palm over the withers of the nearest stallion who quivered under his touch. “You’ll be amazed by what they look like in a month.”

“I don’t understand why you’re spending so much time worrying about your practice.” Ellie smiled as he fondled the ears of a mare who bore obvious signs of malnourishment. “Caring for animals is obviously what you love most about being a vet, so why won’t you accept Tanner’s offer of full-time employment?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” He opened the gate and left the paddock, his face mirroring his inner struggle.

“Try me.” She walked with him toward the house, enjoying Cade’s laughter as they swung him between them with Gracie egging them on.

“I told you. Growing my practice, making it the best in the city, that was the last thing I promised my father before he died.” He stopped and stared into the distance. “I promised that I’d make him proud, Ellie. That’s a promise I cannot break.”

“You don’t think just being who you are would make him proud?” Cade tugged his hands free, then headed for the sandbox. She nodded when Gracie asked to join him.

Ellie walked with Wyatt to the patio table and sat while he poured them each a glass of lemonade. She lifted her face into the sun, loving the warm caress of it, especially after hearing numerous reports of a blizzard in North Dakota. Today she did not miss the cold or the snow that were part of her childhood, but, oh, she missed her family.

She frowned at Wyatt’s smartly pressed shirt and perfectly fitting jeans, then glanced at herself. She’d chosen to dress down for the visit to Albert, choosing worn jeans, a plain shirt and her favorite battered sandals in hopes that she wouldn’t stand out against Albert’s usually threadbare clothes. But Wyatt’s appearance gave her second thoughts. Either the man didn’t own a pair of tattered jeans or he’d chosen not to wear them. As usual, he looked great. And he’d shaved.

A memory of his bristled face against hers when he’d kissed her burst to life. Her skin prickled, her heart started thumping, and her brain screamed again, again so loudly she could barely hear the mourning doves cooing in the gravel path.

Focus, Ellie.

She cleared her throat, took a deep breath and returned to the subject at hand.

“Wyatt, you’re a well-respected veterinarian who’s been asked to join the staff of a thriving ranch that’s doing good work in the community. What’s not to be proud of?”

“Working at Wranglers—that’s not the kind of thing Dad would have admired.” His face stiffened into a mask that warned her not to press any further. “He was more into status and wealth.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.