Rancher to the Rescue by Barbara Phinney

Author:Barbara Phinney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

You’re selfish, Noah told himself. Keeping your secrets, allowing Clare to believe you are noble and honorable. Even your attempts to correct her were feeble and cowardly.

You’re a liar, too, for allowing a lie to stand was as bad as anything Elizabeth might have said to people after you left.

He flicked the reins to encourage the horse to a trot, and the wagon jostled over the ruts made a few weeks ago when a long spell of wet weather had turned the roads into muddy soup for days on end. After that, the air cleared and dried and deep ruts remained. Beside him, Leo flopped back and forth and received a push from his brother for his exaggerated antics. Leo shoved him back.

Immediately, Noah remembered the delicate photograph frames and special glass ornaments he’d packed in the boxes that sat behind him.

As soon as they reached the less used trail that led to his house, the ground smoothed. Noah wordlessly took advantage of the opportunity. He stood and deposited himself between the boys. The brothers went still, knowing they’d been caught.

Perhaps it was a good thing that he’d taken the boys with him, leaving Clare to visit with her mentor. Tim and Leo would keep his mind and body busy, as they’d done last night. Keep his mind from constantly reminding him that all those good deeds he’d done for Clare would never negate the fact that he was the least noble person in Proud Bend.

“Why did you buy all that food for Clare and not us?” Leo asked as they closed in on the house.

“She needs it. We don’t.”

“Aren’t you going to feed us?” Tim asked, his tone anxious.

“Of course I am.” Noah pulled to a stop between his small ranch house and the stable. He turned to the boys. “But first, give me your jackets.”

“What for?” Tim asked.

“I’m going to hang them in the stable. I want Turnip to get used to you. If he smells your scents, and nothing happens, he’ll learn to be calmer around you.”

The boys peeled off their jackets but stayed out of the stable while Noah hung them up on hooks beside Turnip’s stall. The old pony had refused to come in again last night, but Noah could see him through the open door to the large corral. He was watching them cautiously. With the clear sky and cooler weather, the animal would soon want to return to his warm stall. Noah was sure of that.

After unhitching his horse, Noah led the boys, each loaded with a box suitable for their size and strength, into the kitchen. He had enough food left from last night to tide them over until supper. In the cellar storehouse, he had a large, whole chicken hanging there ready to cook. He’d originally planned to cook it tomorrow so he and his ranch hand could have a good meal when the man showed up on Tuesday, but circumstances had changed. Instead, he dressed it and stuffed it into the Dutch oven to cook for supper while the leftovers were heating on the stovetop.

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