Rocky Mountain Bride (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 2) by Lee Savino Read Free Book Online Page B

fire?” His sternness brought out some perverse stubbornness, even as she shifted on her throbbing sits spots.
    His lips tightened. “You may leave the cabin if it will save your life. But somehow I doubt there will be a reason for you to disobey me again.”
    She opened her mouth to disagree and he held up a finger.
    “New rule. No back talk, or I’ll repeat the punishment.”
    Her mouth snapped shut.
    “Good girl. Now,” he waved the finger in front of her face, “you will stay off that foot until I tell you otherwise.”
    Her melancholy grew as she watched him do her chores, fetching water and making breakfast. For all her good intentions, she still was making trouble. If she continued this way, perhaps he would send her home, despite his words last night. And then what would she do? She had no prospects there, except for one odious man they would make her marry…
    The thought made her so sick, she could barely eat what Miles put before her.
    His large hand settled on hers and squeezed. “Eat, Carrie. You need your strength.”
    She opened her mouth to protest, but saw his stern mien and thought better of it. “What shall I do today?”
    “Why don’t you make a list of things we need for the cabin.” He waved his hand around the small living space. “Chairs, rugs, needles for your darning.”
    “A new mattress?”
    “Aye,” he agreed. “We’ll need that sooner than later. Make a list. I can’t say we can buy it all at once, but we’ll work our way through it in time.”
    She nodded, grateful. He was trying to cheer her up.
    “I want you to be happy here,” he said, getting up to clear his place.
    His words stunned her. A new life she expected, but happiness? She had barely dared to dream of it.
    “Mr. Donovan,” she said quickly, before he could hit the door. “If you leave your shirts for me, I’ll do the darning.”
     
    *****
     
    The end of the week came swiftly. Miles and Carrie worked from one end of the day to the other, and she slept very well, despite only having a few blankets for a mattress. Her foot healed quickly, although it was a little swollen. Miles cautioned her about moving too far on it, but as long as she was careful, she was able to do her chores. Things went much more smoothly, although she had a minor mishap with the chicken coop door, leaving it open for half a day and barely catching all of the hens before Miles returned to the homestead. She thought he noticed some chicken scratching in the dirt near Monty’s pen, but he said nothing about it.
    One afternoon, she sat on the porch with nothing to do. The garden was weeded, the chickens all fed, and the cabin was as clean as she could make it. She’d done her best by Miles’ mending until the thread ran out. She was bored.
    In the distance to the right of where she sat, she could hear horses whinnying. In the corral to the left, Monty and Belle were nowhere to be seen. It must be the other horses Miles spoke of.
    What was the harm in going to look? Miles wouldn’t be home for hours. She took up the pail, deciding she’d get water, and headed down the hill to the thin woods.
    Her foot hurt a little, but the bruises had mostly faded and she was careful where she stepped as she forded the stream and stepped out of the copse, into a field.
    The land sloped further and a mile away, she could see a large body of cattle moving slowly over the plain. In the meadow in front of her, Miles had fenced off a large area for his horses. Chestnut, bay, and pinto, they all grazed, glossy and perfect.
    She went around the fenced area, and saw a separate, smaller pen, with a large white stallion running in circles around its master. Miles stood shirtless in the middle, holding whip and reins, his broad, lean body flexing and turning to keep his eyes on the horse at all times. It was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen, and she forgot herself and let the pail drop with a clank.
    At the sound, the horse spooked. It reared up on its