Sleepless Nights (The Donovans of the Delta) by Peggy Webb

Author:Peggy Webb
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: horses, football, animals, romantic comedy, small-town romance, Southern authors, romance ebooks, romance, Peggy Webb backlist, the Colby Series, Peggy Webb romance, classic romance, humor, comedy, contemporary romance
Published: 2011-12-08T20:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Amanda decided a long walk in the moonlight would help her forget everything—the planes zooming across the sky that afternoon, Tanner’s proposal, and most of all, her love for him. Dressed in jeans and a sweater, she left her house and started down the block. Although the temperature had dropped, fifty degrees was still warm for December. There was no wind, and the stars hung in the sky like tinsel on a Christmas tree. It was jeans-and-sweater weather, football weather. Amanda kicked at a twig. Why did everything have to make her think of Tanner? She missed him so much, she had to hug herself to hold in the ache.

She lengthened her stride, keeping her mind busy by checking off the houses as she walked. She passed the Crumpets’, who were sitting in front of their picture window with the blinds open, watching Wheel of Fortune as if their lives depended on keeping the TV set warm. The Rogers’ house was dark. They’d probably gone to Minneapolis to visit their daughter for the holidays. Music poured forth from the Grahams’, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, amplified loud enough so that the grandmother, who hadn’t heard anything since Pearl Harbor, could feel the vibrations and tap her feet. Amanda made a mental note to take Grandma Graham a box of those peppermint bonbons she loved. The Pickens children were in their front yard playing a last game of hide-and-seek before their parents called them in from the dark.

“Hey, ‘Manda,” Sue Lynn called. “Santie comin’ to see you?”

Amanda stopped on the sidewalk and spoke to the six-year-old. “I hope so, Sue Lynn. Do you and Richard have your stockings hung?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Eight-year-old Richard ran up and tugged her hand. “Wanna see?”

“Yes. That would be lovely.” The Pickens children tucked their sticky hands into hers and led her into their house. She properly admired their stockings, politely took a candy cane they offered, chatted briefly with Martha Sue and Eddie Wayne, then went back outside to continue her walk.

She was halfway down the next block before she noticed her cheeks were wet. Sniffing, she rubbed her face with the back of her hand and sat down on the curb to eat her candy cane.

That’s how Tanner found her.

“Is this a private party, or can anyone join in?”

She looked up to see him sitting on an amazing black stallion with a silver-studded saddle and bridle that would put Roy Rogers to shame. The moonlight reflected off the tears on her cheeks.

“The horse is invited.”

He slid off and sat down beside her. “You’re beautiful when you cry.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, put one arm around her, and dabbed her tears away. “What’s wrong, love?”

The sweet croon of his voice undid her. “It’s this candy cane.” She held the sticky treat aloft.

“What about the candy cane?” He caressed her back as he gently prompted her.

She buried her face in his shirt and clung to him, heedless of the peppermint. “Oh, Tanner.” She squeezed him tighter, squashing candy juice against his back.

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.