Finally Home by Dawn Michele Werner Read Free Book Online

straight right now. I think you’re misunderstanding everything,” she tried to remain calm, but her frustration was growing by the second! Half of her wanted to stay and convince him how wrong he was. But the other half just wanted to run and quickly shield her vulnerable feelings from him.
    “ I need to get back to the ranch. There are phone calls I need to make,” he informed her.
    Her eyes rounded in horror. Was he calling Mr. Ellinger already? Was getting rid of the ranch...and her...his main priority now? She opened the passenger door and stepped onto the road. Then, pivoting on her black heels, she swung back her head and shot him a wounded glance. “I really am sorry about your father...and I know you’re hurting right now...but please know that I’m around if you need anything.”
    Slamming the door, Amanda crossed her arms and marched to the truck. Looking back at the jeep before she opened the truck door, she thought she heard Noah call her name. A feeling of hope flickered inside her heart as she waited, but the air was growing chilly by the moment. With haste, she climbed into the truck. Noah wasn’t coming after her. Maybe she had just heard the wind.
    Starting her truck, she shifted into drive and turned the radio up. A meaningless song, that's what she needed. No words of love or rejection... just a fun unemotional beat. Flipping through the channels, she finally found an energetic dance tune. Sighing loudly to herself, she rolled her shoulders in circles and bobbed her head from side to side, trying to release some tension. She couldn’t wait to get home so she could fill her bathtub with fragrant bubbles. Then she would slip into the warm water and soak her tired body.
    Yawning loudly, she glanced at the rearview mirror and noticed headlights not too far behind. It had to be Noah’s jeep. She wondered if he was racing home to get in touch with Mr. Ellinger, so he could start the sale of the ranch. The thought made her stomach churn. If the ranch was sold, she would have to sell her house too. Even though her grandparents had purchased the house from Thomas years ago, Amanda would never want to live next to a shopping mall. And she had a feeling that was exactly what cold-hearted Mr. Ellinger would be building after he bulldozed the ranch down. Angrily, she pressed her foot on the accelerator and sped up, causing the truck tires to spin against the gravel road.
    After a few miles, she stomped on the brake, realizing she had missed the turn-off to Moonlight Ranch. The truck screeched to an abrupt halt, jolting Amanda’s head forward. “Aaahhh,” she groaned in irritation.
    Turning the truck around, Amanda headed toward the ranch. Sighing, she pressed a hand against her aching forehead, wanting to close her eyes. It had been such an awful day... Thomas’ funeral, the tension between her and Noah, and the realization that she may lose her home! She just wanted to crumple into her bed and sleep for days. Fighting to keep her eyes open now, because of her pounding headache, she squinted at the road ahead. The arched entrance of Moonlight Ranch was only a few yards away. Such a beautiful entrance. An old friend of Thomas’ had crafted a wrought iron arch that had been welcoming family and guests for over thirty years. “Welcome to Moonlight Ranch,” Amanda read the words across the arch, her voice barely a whisper.
    Suddenly, Noah swerved his jeep over the cattle guard and through the entrance, startling Amanda. She slowed down the truck, so he wouldn’t see her. Her eyes followed the jeep as it raced over the road leading to the main house. Once she drove beneath the wide arch, Noah was out of her sight. But she was still thinking about him. If only she hadn’t pulled away from him the night he kissed her at the corral! Her fear had taken control...fear of letting herself trust him. Now he would probably never be interested in her again. And now that he was grieving for his father, any comfort