Absentminded Amelia by Jo Grafford

Author:Jo Grafford [Grafford, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781944794491
Publisher: JG PRESS
Published: 2020-01-26T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Their arrival at his ranch was yet another joyous affair. Nathan tried to see his homestead through the eyes of a newcomer as they drove around to the front porch. It was a two-story stucco home, freshly painted a clean shade of cream. When he’d first bought the place, it had needed some patching and paint, but that was months ago. It looked like a new home now with an expanded wrap-around porch. The flooring, posts, and railings were stained a dark shade of oak. Jones had even constructed a rocker for Nathan’s bride-to-be, claiming all women required a sturdy rocker for reading and holding little ones. Jones had painted the rocker a barn red and scrounged up a brightly embroidered cushion for it from the General Store.

“Is this truly your home?”

Nathan glanced in surprised at his bride to determine the cause for her muffled voice.

At it turned out, her hands were cupped over her mouth, and her eyes were as wide as saucers. “That is, you actually live here?” Her voice ended on a high note of incredulity.

“If I say yes, is that going to be a problem?” he asked cautiously.

She gave a choking laugh and lowered her hands. “Only if I die of happiness. Oh, Nathan!” She turned to him, eyes shining. “It’s…perfect!” She clapped her hands with a giddy sound of pleasure. “More than perfect.” She turned back to his home in awe. “Two whole stories all to ourselves? It’ll be like living in a castle.”

A castle, eh? If Nathan’s chest puffed out any more, it was going to explode. He was starting to feel more like the king of his realm than a cattle rancher.

Jones came jogging down the porch stairs with all four children at his heels.

Nathan leaped down from the buggy to toss him the reins and clap him on the back. “It appears you survived your first stint at playing nursemaid.”

“You owe me,” Jones growled, but there was a good-humored twinkle in his silvery eyes. “Four children, sir? Four? You sure never do anything halfway.”

“Speaking of which,” Nathan hurried around the side of the buggy to assist his bride to the ground. “We got married this morning.” Noting Amelia’s attempt to conceal her wince of pain, he perceived she was still sore from her escapade across the desert. He’d have Jones draw her a hot bath soon to ease the aches from her lovely limbs.

“Well, I’ll be hogtied and roasted to perfection!” Jones whistled in amazement. “I declare your bride is the prettiest filly that ever high-stepped her way onto this here ranch.” He stuck out a scarred and callused hand, since he refused to wear gloves for any occasion — from cattle roping to baking. “It’s mighty fine to meet you, Mrs. Jagger. Jones is my name.” He gave her a courtly bow. “I am ever at your service, madam.”

She gave a girlish giggle and shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you, sir. I am Amelia, and I am most happy to make your acquaintance.

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.