Espino, Stacey - Hardcore Cowboys [Ride 'em Hard 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Stacey Espino Read Free Book Online Page B

many years of traveling.
    “It was okay until the storm hit.” Her brow creased, and she lowered the cup. “The rental car. I have to get back to it.”
    “I don’t think so, little lady. You’ll be surprised how weak your body is. Cord said no fresh air for you for at least a week, probably two.”
    “Two weeks? I only have a week off work. I should be heading back by now. I have to return the rental, and get back to work—”
    “Whoa! You’re making my head spin.” She was rambling on, anxiety ringing in her voice when she should be taking it easy. He reached out and tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him in the eyes. “ Relax. I said I’d take care of everything.”
    “But—”
    “Hush now.” He shook his head. “Drink your soup, then I’ll get you set up for a shower.”
    He left her alone for a bit and cleaned up the kitchen, pouring a bowl of soup for himself. By the time he returned to check on her, she’d fallen asleep. Curled up in a ball on her side, she resembled a sleeping angel. Her face was heart-shaped, and her pouty lips were slightly parted. Such a fragile, soft-spoken little thing with so many worries on her shoulders. He wanted to erase those problems, be her knight in shining armor—if there ever was such a thing. Would he measure up to the kind of man she needed, deserved?
    Wyatt decided to make good use of his time while Samantha got much-needed rest. The property had to be plowed, and the animals needed tending. He donned his boots and warm outercoat and headed out into the bright, crisp afternoon. His breath escaped in a cloud as he exhaled. The air was cold, but fresh. The Great Canadian winter.
    As he took labored steps through the deep snow, the dogs struggled to reach him, eager to greet him after such a long absence. They cried and yipped, probably hoping for a good rubdown. He continued on to his truck. He’d drive up to the plow by the side of the house, hook up, and clear everything from barn to road. By the time his brothers returned from their work, the land would be easy to navigate.
    He did his duty without wasting any time, not wanting Samantha to wake up in an empty house, alone. She may need something or worry she’d been abandoned.
    He had to hand shovel the plow free, and it took him longer than expected to hook up the hardware. His leather gloves were made for labor, not extreme cold. By the time he returned to the ranch house, his Wranglers were soaked through, his cowboy boots filled with snow, and his hands stiff from cold.
    He stomped out his boots just outside the door and hooked up his coat before entering the family room. Samantha wasn’t where he’d left her. His mind wandered. He hopped forward, trying to remove his damp socks.
    “Samantha?”
    She wasn’t in the kitchen, so he ventured up the stairs. The power was still out, but daylight illuminated the stairwell and hallways with a dim light. He peered into the first bedroom—Cord’s. It was simplistic, a queen-sized wooden bed, matching dresser and blanket box. He wasn’t one for personal mementos or home décor.
    No sign of the girl.
    “Hope you don’t mind. You said I could use the shower…”
    He twisted in the narrow hall to find Samantha, her wild curls damp and tame, waving down her back. She looked perky and vibrant, totally transformed from the girl he first brought back to the house yesterday. An oversized white towel covered her body as she stood barefoot on the hardwood.
    “You shouldn’t be standing out here in the draft. You’ll get a chill.” He ushered her down to the end of the hall with a hand to the small of her back. Her dark hair was a stark contrast to the white towel. She smelled like fresh soap.
    “This is your room?” Even though he came and went as he pleased, his room was always as he left it. Just another monument in the Carson ranch.
    She wandered in and walked around the perimeter, holding her towel shut tight with both hands.
    “When I come