Fallen Angel by Melissa Jones Read Free Book Online Page A

amused. She coaxed the little filly in a wide loop of the yard.
    “What do you guys think? Is that enough or does she need more?” She asked the men still watching her. The foal took advantage of her pause and latched onto the bottle.
    “That is probably enough for the first trip out.  You’ll just want to increase it a bit each time.” Tom said. She heard hoof beats and looked up to see Luke ride into the yard astride the big bay stallion she had seen in the barn his dark coat gleamed in the sun.
    “Don’t you guys have something to do?” He said as he flipped his reins over the corral rail before he walked to the house. They didn’t answer and it was clear he hadn’t expected them to but both men straighten ed up.
    “That’s our cue to get back to work.” Tom said and tipped his hat at Angelica. Both men walked away, not rushing but clearly not wanting to be there when Luke came back either. Angelica gently coaxed the foal back inside to the stall to finish feeding her. She thought about what George had said about the competition, perhaps she would practice with the leather. It might be fun to be able to compete at something just like she was one of them .  She wondered if Luke would be upset if she beat him.  He was so stern most of the time but she had seen a few glimpses of his sense humor, she knew he had one. She got the impression that he just didn’t like her very much.

Chapter 5
    Over the next few days Angelica settled into a somewhat exhausting routine. She slept in between feedings but since the foal ate just about every two hours she didn’t get a lot of rest. It was very satisfying to see the foal growing though. She had gained weight and even gotten taller. It had also gotten easier to exercise her, she just followed Angelica where ever she went she didn’t even need the lead rope or the bottle anymore.  She hadn’t seen much of Luke but she was glad that the foal was visibly thriving so he wouldn’t think she was suffering.  After she had been caring for the foal for nearly two weeks James interrupted her nightly routine.
    “She looks good.”  She stopped brushing the foal at the sound and looked up and smiled.
    “She does, doesn’t she?”
    “I came to offer my babysitting services.” He said stepping into the stall.
    “What?”
    “I’m not sure I can be trusted with a baby but horses I know.”  He said seriously. Angelica laughed.
    “I appreciate the offer but we are doing alright.”
    “Really? Because you look like you could use a good night’s sleep.”
    “Well I am sure I look like a wreck but I’m not as bad off as I look.” She laughed.
    “Angel, nobody does it all on their own. We work in two man shifts around here and we don’t have to do as much for the whole herd as you do for this little filly, there is no harm in taking a break.”  Angelica smiled at him she was touched by his concern but as tired as she was she liked caring for the foal she really didn’t want to leave her in anyone else’s care.
    “I am very aware of how hard you all work, everyone has a job to do here except me. I am perfectly happy to spend my time looking after her. I don’t want you to lose any sleep.”
    “I don’t sleep at night anyway, I am the night shift remember.”
    “Then why aren’t you out there?”
    “It’s my night off.”
    “What do you normally do on your night off?”
    “Nothing,” He laughed, “Nothing to do.”  Angelica laughed, she liked the peacefulness of the ranch, especially at night when the only sou nds she heard were the crickets but she could how it might get old for some.
    Luke stood in the shadows at the back of the barn listening. He was amazed at the dedication she had shown. She had been there for every one of the foal’s needs she had not complained and even now as he heard James offer to fill in for one night she refused. He pushed off the wall and walked to where they were.
              “Evening.”
    “Evening