Riding and Regrets by Bailey Bradford

Author:Bailey Bradford [Bradford, Bailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Published: 2014-11-30T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Prissy ran along the stalls, singing a song she’d learned in daycare. The stalls were empty, but Jody still wanted her to learn caution. “Honey, remember, if there were horses in here you could spook them, and they’d maybe get hurt or hurt you.”

Well, he felt like he’d just rained all over her parade when Prissy stopped and turned to him, her bottom lip quivering. “Aw, honey,” he sighed, crouching and holding his arms out to her. “Come here. Daddy ain’t trying to be mean. I’m just trying to teach you some ranch safety rules.”

The idea of one of the horses freaking out, of Prissy getting too close to a stall and getting bit or worse scared the shit out of Jody. He wavered between worrying he was overprotective and not protective enough.

Prissy ran into his arms and Jody closed his eyes as he hugged her. How in the world had he lived for twenty years without this kind of deep and abiding love?

“I just want to keep you safe,” he whispered.

Prissy sniffled and he heard her whimper ‘Mommy’, which was happening less and less often in the month and a half she’d been with him. It still broke his heart, but honestly, Prissy didn’t seem to miss her mom as much as he’d have thought. Melissa had told him that Prissy had often been shuffled around among Elena’s friends while Elena partied. He guessed that was true, and it made him ache to think of his baby girl being handed off like that. It also made him realise how lucky he was that Melissa had brought Prissy to him, even though Melissa hated his guts.

She hadn’t wanted to take on the responsibility of raising Prissy, and neither had anyone else in his family, since she’d been born illegitimately. Crazy in today’s age and times, but that’s the way they were.

Melissa had made sure he knew he was dead to her and the rest of his family. Jody had figured as much, and it’d contributed to the lost feeling he’d had, but with Prissy in his life now, he had a purpose.

And with Noel in his life, he had hope, too. A different kind of hope than he had in regards to Prissy.

During the weeks they’d been seeing each other, Jody had found more and more to like about the man. Noel was kind and funny, generous to a fault, and he was a bone-meltingly good lover.

He also still had nightmares about that Clive fucker. Jody wondered if there was more to Noel’s nightmares than he was telling. More to the reality that had caused the nightmares he was sure Noel still had at times.

Jody stood up with Prissy in his arms as someone entered the barn. He turned and saw Troy walking his way. “Hey, Troy, what’s up?”

Troy waved at Prissy, who ducked her head and giggled. Jody thought she had a little crush on the big man.

“I was just coming to see what you two were doing. Figured you’d be in town with Noel, since it’s your day off.

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