Once More a Family by Lily George

Author:Lily George
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-08-14T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Ada eyed the team of men as they hammered nails into place. The foundation had already been laid, just a month after Aunt Pearl received her letter. These men, ranch hands from their place as well as Aunt Pearl’s and Mrs. Stillman’s, were now preparing to raise the first wall. Ada hugged herself with excitement. It was too bad that Jack was still on the mend and unable to see this sight. Perhaps she would have the chance to tell him about it later, once she came in for dinner.

There was a rustling in the grass behind her and, out of practice, Ada whirled around. Her right hand sought the pistol she now carried with her everywhere she went. Too many close calls with rattlesnakes and other varmints, as Macklin called them, had taught her to come prepared.

“Whoa, there,” a familiar but still weak-sounding voice called. “Don’t shoot. I come in peace.”

Ada’s heart surged with gladness as Jack’s head, topped with his usual cowboy hat, came into view. Her happiness faded, however, when she recalled the doctor’s orders. “Jack, you aren’t supposed to be out walking until another two weeks have passed,” she chided. “What if you reinjure yourself?”

“I won’t.” He walked so slowly that Ada made her way down the hill a bit to help him. “I’ve stayed in bed for a month now. There’s only so much of that a man can take.”

When they crested the hill, he paused, taking in the view. “They sure are working hard.”

“They are, indeed. I think they are going to get all four walls up by the end of the day.” She was right. It was better to take this all in with Jack beside her. Even though he wasn’t supposed to be here, and even if he ran the risk of reinjuring himself if he wasn’t careful. This was a part of his life, as well, and it was good to share in it.

Jack settled himself against a tree stump. “I reckon so. Wish I could help them. It takes all the fire out of a man to be laid up for so long.”

“Don’t fret,” she admonished. “You’ll be hale and hearty again in no time.” In truth, that had been worrying her since she had found him that terrible night. What would happen when Jack was well again and able to go back to work? What if he had another terrible accident? What if he didn’t merely escape with a few broken ribs? She had been working this land for a month now, and while it was beautiful and wild, it was also harsh and unforgiving. More than anything, she wished to lay her head against his chest and beg him to take up something less potentially violent. He should be a bank president or a postmaster. Then he might be safe.

Not that it was any of her business, really. She was just looking out for him as a friend. It would be terrible for Laura to lose two parents in her young life.

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.