Reunited with the Cowboy by Carolyne Aarsen

Author:Carolyne Aarsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“Just take one more bite and then we can go outside,” Heather coaxed Adana, who sat in the high chair beside her at the kitchen table.

Early morning sun slanted into the room, illuminating the dancing motes of dust. Sugar, despite Alice’s restrictions that she stay on the porch, lay on the rug in front of the kitchen cupboards. Her tail beat out a slow, steady thump of pleasure as she watched Heather and Adana, as if curious to see who would win.

Adana just stared at her, then laughed. “No eat. Go ’side.”

Heather looked from the happy girl to the bowl of porridge she had been trying to feed her. Adana had eaten about a third of it. Was that enough?

“How about one more mouthful?” she asked, not sure if she should push her.

Adana turned her head aside and held her chubby hands out in front of her in a classic gesture of denial.

“Okay. I’m not going to be the big meanie,” Heather said, dropping the spoon in the bowl. She took the leftovers to the sink, walking around Sugar, who dropped her head on her paws, obviously losing interest in the standoff.

“Do you think I should have pressed her?” Heather said to the dog as she rinsed out the bowl. “Am I too much of a pushover?”

Sugar just looked up at her, then laid her head on her paws again and eased out a doggy sigh.

“You’re no help,” Heather said as she put the bowl in the dishwasher, then went back to get Adana and set her on the counter beside the sink. As she rinsed out a cloth to wipe the toddler’s face, she glanced out the window and her hands grew still. She let her gaze drift past the barns and corrals to the rolling hills surrounding the ranch. The snow was completely gone now and soon, with the spring rains, the fields would be greening up.

Her soul felt nourished, revived by the open land, and she tested the idea of staying. Could she find a job in Saddlebank that would allow her to feel independent? That would give her the sense of self-worth she’d spent so much time seeking?

“Daddy, coming here,” Adana called out, scrambling to her feet to stand on the counter, pressing her hands against the window.

Heather steadied her as she watched John walk toward the house. As a concession to the warmer weather, he wore a faded denim jacket instead of a coat over his shirt. His gloves were tucked in the back pocket of his blue jeans. His worn cowboy hat was pulled low over his face, but as Heather watched, he paused to cough again. Last night he had slept at his own house and she hadn’t seen him yet this morning.

As she studied him, she felt her heart shift in her chest. This man had taken up so much of her thoughts. And for a bleak time in her life she’d thought she would never see him again. Never be a part of his life.

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