Wide Open Spaces (Harlequin Super Romance) by Fox Roz Denny

Author:Fox, Roz Denny [Fox, Roz Denny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises
Published: 2012-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

VIRGIL WAS FORCED TO EAT HIS words at dusk when Colt and Tracey scrambled from Colt’s pickup. They were dirtier and wearier than in the morning, but otherwise in good spirits.

“How far did you boys get with that field?” Virgil asked.

Colt removed his hat and used his neck scarf to wipe the grime off his face. “We finished cutting, baled the hay and ricked the bales behind the barn. Our first field’s ready to torch. We would’ve lit it, except a breeze came up.”

“You’re kidding. You men cut and baled that whole field in one day?”

Trace tapped the tally book peeking from his shirt pocket. “Junior said to tell Mrs. Marsh she got high-grade prices for that new type of wheat she planted last spring.”

Summer stepped out on the porch in time to hear the end of the conversation. Rory appeared behind her, followed by Lancelot.

“That’s the best news I’ve had since spring,” she exclaimed. “I’d say it calls for a celebration. Audrey prepared a huge pot of spaghetti and meatballs. Colt, why don’t you and Tracey clean up and join us at the table.”

Tracey happily accepted the invitation as Colt declined, saying, “I thought we were responsible for fixing our own breakfasts and suppers? Why else did we stop and buy groceries?”

Tracey jabbed Colt’s ribs. “All of it’s stuff we have to clean or thaw. It’d be a whole lot nicer to shower and sit down to hot grub.”

Colt didn’t think it would. Summer’s sweet-smelling perfume reached out to him in a disturbing manner. And she’d changed out of her work clothes into a pale-green shirtwaist dress that brought out bewitching mossy flecks in her eyes.

Rory bounded down the steps to hop up and down in front of Colt. “I told my teacher you raised Morgan horses. She let me take a book out of the school library. It tells how Morgan horses got named. If you eat with us, I can show you the book. Maybe you could read me a chapter?” The child’s expression hovered between hope and fear of having that fragile hope dashed.

“Rory,” Summer cautioned, glancing worriedly between her needy child and her clearly hesitant ranch hand. “Colt’s tired, and he’ll be starting early again tomorrow.”

Tracey must have seen a slim crack in Colt’s veneer. “If Colt’s too tired to read to you, kid, I’ll do it,” he said quickly. “That way, Mrs. Marsh, it’ll give you and Colt time to discuss the supplies we’ll need going into roundup.”

“Trace, I really wish you’d call me Summer. And I appreciate your thoughtful offer. We are short of time. Having a meal together will give us a chance to coordinate a lot of things. How long do you men need to shower? If I tell Audrey to hold supper twenty minutes, will that be sufficient?”

“You bet.” Tracey was obviously pleased with himself.

Rory galloped around yelling “Yippee!” Lancelot raced after him, barking wildly.

Colt dealt Tracey an exasperated look. All the same, he muttered, “Twenty minutes it is,” before he stalked off.

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.