Cowboy Protector by Margaret Daley Read Free Book Online

been with us for a year. Great mouser. She and Barney get along great. You should go down there and meet Snowball. Misty named her. Snowball appeared one day in the barn during winter in the middle of a snowstorm.”
    “Can I take Misty to the barn? That is, if this snow doesn’t last long.”
    “Sure. One of my ranch hands clears the snow fairly fast around the house and barn. A visit to the barn mightbrighten her mood. My daughter is an active little girl, and lately her activities have been curtailed drastically.”
    Hannah finished her milk. “I’ll see what I can do about that.”
    “According to my grandmother, you’re just the person to accomplish that.” Rising, Austin grabbed her empty mug and his and took them to the sink. “The first decent day, I’ll have to show you around the ranch.”
    “On a horse?”
    He faced her, eyeing her. “Is that panic in your voice?”
    “I’ve never been on a horse, so I doubt that would be the best way to see the ranch.” The thought of getting on a horse didn’t appeal to her at all.
    “Actually I have several motorized vehicles I use here at the ranch.”
    “Then Misty could go?”
    “Yeah, although her favorite way to see the ranch is on Candy.” He lounged back against the counter, clasping the edge of it on either side of him.
    “Seeing her with Candy yesterday evening, I certainly understand. Her whole face transformed when you brought the mare up for your daughter to pet.”
    “I hope nothing happens to Candy. Misty couldn’t take another death.”
    “I can imagine.” Her mother was alive but knowing she would never be able to see her bereaved her as if her mom had passed away. “I’m so sorry to hear about your wife dying. Misty said it makes you sad when she talks about her.”
    Austin flinched. “Not sad. More like angry. Not at my daughter but Jillian. If she hadn’t taken her that night, Misty wouldn’t be in the situation she’s in right now.” He shook his head as though ridding himself of someunwanted image and pushed off from the counter. “I think your milk remedy is working. I need to head to bed. Tomorrow will be here soon enough.”
    With a glance at the clock over the stove, Hannah rose. Although Austin tried to suppress his anger toward his wife by wiping any from his expression, it flowed off him in waves, the tension in his body palpable.
    “And my daughter wakes up early.”
    “I gathered that from this morning. I’m an early riser, too.”
    “Even when you go to bed at three?”
    “Yes, even then. It takes me a while to get used to a new place. This is normal for me.”
    At the end of the hallway near her bedroom, he angled toward her. “Then why don’t you stay in one place?”
    If only I could. I would gladly give up this lifestyle to put roots down in one place. “I fill a need.” Which really wasn’t an answer. She could see in his eyes he wasn’t satisfied by the reply. She forced a yawn. “I think the milk’s working for me, too. Good night,” she quickly said and hurried toward her room before he pursued the reason for her wanderlust.
    She closed the door and leaned back against it, breathing deep inhalation to calm the galloping of her heartbeat. It was too easy to talk to Austin when he wasn’t in his interrogation mode. For a while in the kitchen she’d forgotten her past and was totally into the moment with him.
    I can’t do it. I’ve got to keep my guard up .
    For a second she thought of praying to the Lord for strength to keep going with her charades. But then, why should she? He hadn’t answer her last prayers in Los Angeles or when she’d first come to Montana. Obviously she wasn’t worthy of His attention.
     
    As the first rays of light spread across the landscape the next morning, in the barn Misty presented her flat palm with a piece of an apple in it to Candy. When the horse plucked the treat from her hand, the little girl giggled. “She always tickles me with her nose.”
    Hannah