Rocky Mountain Oasis by Lynnette Bonner Read Free Book Online

moment he moved easily toward the door, leaving her alone.

    Stepping out of the room, Sky leaned against the closed door, tipped his head back and closed his eyes. She had thought he was going to...hit her? For oversleeping? The thought was agonizing. What had she endured in the past?
    He knew she’d had a nightmare in the night. He had been awake when she sat up with a start and began to cry. He had done the only thing he knew to do that would not frighten her. He had lain still in his bed on the floor and prayed for her.
    Uncertainty assailed him as he realized he didn’t know one thing about her background. Yet, without a doubt, he had done the right thing in marrying her. If Jason were married to the beautiful young woman in the room behind him, her future might be the same as her past must have been. But Sky determined to give her better. He would protect her.
    The thought of Jason moved him to action, and he headed outside to saddle up. When he got home, Jason would either be blind with rage, dangerously calm, or maybe he will have seen the truth of the words I spoke to him . That was the dangerous side of Jason Jordan these days. One never knew how he’d react in any given situation; he might be explosive and volatile one time, yet composed and lethally quiet the next. But always under the surface, in the last several years, ran a cruel, vengeful current of maliciousness.
    He prayed Jason would listen to the truth as he let his thoughts wander back to the night he had learned of his cousin’s plan.…
    After arriving at home that night, he’d spent a good deal of time in prayer. Heaven knew he hadn’t wanted to get involved. He’d argued with himself that it really was not his problem and, deciding he’d better just leave well enough alone, had gone to bed to try and sleep.
    He had been on the verge of drifting off when the face of Victoria Snyder entered his mind. He opened his eyes, staring up into the darkness overhead.
    What if it were Victoria? He sat bolt upright, his heart pounding in his chest. Victoria, his childhood sweetheart, had a caring and sweet spirit. What if this girl was like Victoria? The very thought of a girl like Victoria in Jason’s control was unthinkable. He would never be able to live with himself if he didn’t try to do something.
    Getting up, he quickly penned two identical notes, then saddled his stallion and headed back to town. Jason, a permanent resident at Jed’s place, would probably be passed out in his bed by this time of night.
    Praying for wisdom as he pulled up in front of the darkened edifice, Sky swung down and headed for the door. He banged loudly, then leaned his hands, fingers tapping, against the doorjamb, waiting for Jed to answer. Feeling impatient and wanting to complete the unpleasant task at hand, he pounded on the door again after only a moment.
    “Comin’, Comin’! Hold your britches on!” Jed hollered from inside. When he opened the door and saw Sky, he frowned. “Shoulda taken care o’ business ’fore you left in such an all-fired hurry, ‘stead o’ disturbin’ people in the middle o’ the night. I knew you’d be back.” Stepping back, he nodded toward the door that led to the sleeping quarters and grumbled, “Go on. Jason’s in his room same as always. Conked out with his bottle o’ whiskey.”
    Sky stepped past Jed, the sound of his cowboy boots loud in the stillness of the room. He did not bother to knock on Jason’s door. He probably wouldn’t wake up anyway. Opening the door, he stepped inside. Jason lay sprawled on the bed in the corner, snoring loudly, his usual bottle of booze grasped in one hand, his still-booted feet crossed at the ankle and hanging over the end.
    “Jason, wake up.” Sky’s voice was firm. There was no response, so he grasped the toe of Jason’s bottom foot and threw his feet off of the bed. They landed on the floor with a thud, but all Jason did was mumble something unintelligible, smack his lips, and