Forever Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Book 7) by Verna Clay Read Free Book Online

suitcase and purse while Dovie slung her backpack over her shoulder. They entered the great room to see several children sitting at a long table eating lunch. There was an adult male at one end and an adult female at the other. Sarah introduced the counselors Mary Lancaster and Lance Pittman. Then she introduced Dovie to the group. Lance asked the children to introduce themselves. He pointed to the oldest child to begin.
    Dovie figured this was Roxy.
    The girl said in a sullen tone, "My name is Roxy."
    The girl next to her who looked to be about thirteen or fourteen said in a sweet voice, "I'm Michelle," and grinned widely.
    The other children introduced themselves as Eric, Natasha, Luce, Bridget, and Mike. Finally, the youngest child said, "I'm Benny."
    Roxy suddenly spouted, "So, what happened that got you a fake leg and arm? Were you in an accident?"
    Mary, the counselor, looked displeased by Roxy's question and started to say something, but Dovie lifted a hand to stop her.
    Everyone had their eyes on Dovie when she replied, "No. I was born without a fully developed arm or leg. My condition is called genetic meromelia."
    "How much of an arm and a leg do you have?" The girl persisted.
    The female counselor said, "Roxy, your questions are rude. If you want–"
    Dovie interrupted. "It's okay. I deal with curiosity all the time." She held Roxy's gaze. "As I'm sure you do, too."
    Roxy shrugged. "Yeah. Well, are you going to answer my question?"
    Rather than answer, Dovie asked, "How do you usually answer questions about your challenge? You answer my question and I'll answer yours."
    Roxy smirked, "I usually tell them to go f-themselves."
    The other children gasped and then sniggered. When neither of the counselors chastised the girl, Dovie was glad. Obviously, they thought Dovie could hold her own in a war of wills with this child.
    Dovie grinned. "Well, I've never responded in that way because I'm not controlled by anger. But since you answered my question, I'll answer yours. My arm ends below my elbow with a nub for a hand, and my leg ends above my knee. Because I prefer walking to riding in a wheelchair, I've been fitted with prosthetic devices."
    The girl lashed out. "Well, aren't you the brave one. I've got braces on both legs and I hate it and I'll never get used to it."
    Dovie replied, "I didn't say I didn't hate it. I'd love to be whole, but if I had your attitude, I'd never have gotten anywhere in this life or been to the marvelous places that I've visited. I'd be sitting in a room experiencing my life through television." She glanced at each of the children and said with enthusiasm, "Not about to ride three days on a wagon train in just three weeks!"
    Everyone except Roxy smiled. The girl just hunched her shoulders and stared at her plate.
    Movement across the room caught Dovie's attention and her heart slammed her chest when she saw Toby standing in a doorway beside a man wearing a chef's hat. He lifted his hand to the brim of his Stetson in acknowledgment of her.

Chapter 9: Signed and Sealed
     
    Sally stretched and yawned. She hadn't felt so relaxed in ages. She turned her head on her pillow and came face-to-face with Flatfoot. Gauging from his expression, he was just as shocked as she.
    "Flatfoot!" she shrieked. She felt something on her right hand and lifted it. A gold band encircled her ring finger. Her mouth gaped and she jerked her eyes back to his.
    He raised his hand above the covers and she shrieked again when she saw an identical ring on his finger. She bolted upright and the sheet fell away from her body. She wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing. Grabbing the sheet back to her breasts, she was afraid to look at Flatfoot, but she had to know. She glanced sideways at him. The sheet was no longer covering his upper body and he was also naked, at least from the waist up.
    She fell backwards on the bed. "Flatfoot," she rasped, "Are you wearing your pants?"
    "No, ma'am."
    "I can't remember last night. Can