Mail Order Ruse (Kansas Brides Series #3) by Barbara Goss

Author:Barbara Goss [Goss, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Christian, Faith, Inspirational, Love Inspired, 19th Century, Bachelor, Single Woman, Frontier & Pioneer, Western, Cowboys, Hearts Desire, American West, Life-Changes, Second Chances, Honesty & Trust, Clean & Wholesome, Kansas Brides Series, Action & Adventure, Hunter’s Grove City, Kansas, Older Man, Ulterior Motives, Grown Children, Granddaughter, Family Life, Callous Ruse, Deception, Letter Writing
Publisher: Barbara Goss
Published: 2016-11-25T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Chase knelt down beside her.

“Grace, are you all right?”

“I t-think so,” she murmured. “I’m t-trying to c-catch m-my b-breath.”

“Does anything hurt?” he asked.

“J-just my p-pride.”

Chase rubbed her back gently. “It’s your first day. You’ll do fine tomorrow.”

He helped her to sit up. “You just got the wind knocked out of you.”

The horse stood behind Grace, and then began to stamp her feet and whinny. Grace squealed, grabbed onto Chase’s neck, and clung to him.

Chase continued to rub her back. “It’s all right, Grace, she's just letting you know she didn’t like having her bit pulled. You see, it hurts a horse’s mouth when you yank the reins like that.”

Grace stopped shivering in fear and decided she liked being close to Chase. She continued to cling to him, part of her refusing to let go owing to her fear, the other part wanting nothing more than to stay in his arms. Those strong, muscular arms felt so good around her that she pressed herself closer, enjoying the thought of his gorgeous biceps holding her. Chase responded by embracing her closer still. Then as if he’d thought better of it, he pushed her gently away.

“Grace, it’s all right. Can I help you to your feet?”

She nodded.

They stood facing each other when the horse started to whinny and stamp her feet again, and Grace threw herself at Chase again with another squeal.

This time, Chase responded by putting his arms around her waist and pulling her against him. She heard him breathing in her ear, and none too softly. What was happening? Grace was feeling things she’d never felt before. She felt as if she never wanted to leave Chase's arms. It was as if she’d finally found where she belonged, yet she knew, in those few seconds, that it was only a knee-jerk reaction, and that he’d soon regret pulling her to him in a romantic fashion.

Chase stroked the back of her neck for a few seconds and then pulled away. With a somewhat blank look, he studied her face without speaking, and then he said, “For a moment, I thought…” He stopped, took in a deep breath, and moved over to the horse. “Come, apologize to Sadie.”

Grace joined him and patted Sadie as she apologized. Then she turned to him. “You started to say something. You thought…what?” she asked.

“It’s nothing,” he said turning away. “Shall I drive us back?”

“Yes, please,” she answered, still wondering what he’d been trying to say.

He helped her up and took the driver’s seat. He began to explain things as he did them, but Grace put her hand over his. “It’s all right, you needn’t continue. I’m not going to learn to drive. I’ve had enough.”

Chase looked disappointed. “It’s my fault this happened. I let you trot along at too fast a pace for the uneven ground.”

“I was nervous the whole time,” she confessed. “I’m just not cut out to be a driver, I guess.”

“I'd be happy to continue teaching if you’d like another crack at it.”

Grace

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