Unbroken Hearts by Anna Murray

Author:Anna Murray [Murray, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B0017I7XY0
Goodreads: 6158295
Published: 2007-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Late afternoon orange-blanketed the ranch. Rich smells rumbled up to the house on the chuck cook's smoky fire.

Emily's blue eyes spotted Roy as he returned from his trip to the mining camp. She lit off her perch next to Ned and Mrs. Easton and ran, singing out his name. Roy rewarded her salutation by wildly waving both arms. Em whooped and ran into his long shadow.

Roy leaned from his saddle and scooped the little girl up, wrapping one arm tightly round her tiny waist. Sarah and a gaggle of ranch hands watched as the chattering duo rode past the corral and bunkhouse. Roy nuzzled the top of Emily's head and handed her back down to Ned, who'd limped out to greet them. Then he disappeared inside the barn, and the ladies folded back into the kitchen.

After a few minutes the back door slammed. Roy sauntered across the crooked floor and kissed his Mama. He inhaled deeply, because no place smelled like home these days. Sarah slid a piece of fresh bread onto a plate, set it in front of him, then reached across the stove and poured a cup. Roy leaned back to stretch weary limbs as he listened to Sarah and Emily recount the events of the previous two days.

He laughed, and his eyes danced when Emily told him of their scrap at the general store. Nearly nine years younger than Cal, Roy displayed the heart of a child, especially when he was with Emily. His boyish energy was well-suited to Emily's animated manner, and Sarah felt a rush of pleasure thinking about the friendship blossoming between them.

"I've a wee something for you in the barn." Roy winked playfully at Emily. "It's in a wooden box near the door. You can't miss it." He lazily spread butter on the bread and took a bite. Faster than a rattler strikes Emily was on her feet and out the door, blond curls trying to keep up.

"I've never seen anyone so excited about a surprise," Roy observed.

Sarah sat down across from him and looked at her hands. "She likes you." She felt awkward. Emily hadn't even thanked Roy properly before she'd bolted out the back door, and she felt she owed explanation. "I remember a few holidays, but Emily was just a babe so she doesn't have memories. My uncle didn't put much stock in giving gifts." Then Sarah reddened and stiffly put her fingers to her lips. It was the truth. Uncle Orv wasn't prone to kindness.

"That's a shame." Roy cleared his throat.

"It's in the past," she shrugged. "I saw some scraps of fabric in your pantry . . . and I was wondering . . . might I use them to make a rag doll for Em?"

Roy nearly coughed up the piece of bread he was swallowing. "Sure, not a problem," he waved offhandedly. "Use whatever you want."

"Thanks."

Roy nodded, tipped his cup, and slugged down the last of it. "Anytime. You make good coffee."

They heard Emily squeal all the way from the barn, and Roy smiled triumphantly.

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