Rough Road Home (The Circle D series) by Audra Harders Read Free Book Online

condo, and her career. She needed to run the race the Lord had prepared for her, rather than becoming carrion on the road of some cowboy’s life. They needed to get on their way. Their separate ways.
    She snapped the lid in place and stood. The wind whipped her hair across her face, a cold edge in the air tingling her cheeks. Weather reports predicted a storm blowing in from Canada. Though it wasn’t due for another couple of days, by the chill in the air, she would’ve said tomorrow. Well, she’d have Nick delivered to Uncle Mitch by then. God willing, the trials of traveling with Nick Davidson, National Finals Rodeo Contender, would end. She’d be able to concentrate on rebuilding her day-to-day life, as well as her spiritual life, rather than having each block she set up knocked over by undisciplined anger and temper. Sadly, the past few hours showed her how far she’d slipped from Christ’s love over the years and how difficult that trust was to rebuild.
    Lord, forgive me for my weakness. Grant me strength and courage to overcome the obstacles in my path.
    She turned toward Nick. He hadn’t moved. She angled in front of him to block his view. Gradually, his tan hat tipped back until his puffy gaze met hers. His eye, no, make that the whole side of his face, still looked horrible, and for an instant, Rachel wanted to cuddle him close and offer comfort for the pain he bore. His pain and her pain. No. She hardened her stare. He’d chosen to ride the bull, no one had forced him.
    “We’ve got to go.” She gestured toward the truck with her elbow. “Night’ll be here before we know it.”
    His mouth tightened into a grim line. “Why don’t you go back where you belong?”
    Rachel sighed. If he wanted to bait her the rest of the way to Casper, so be it. She only prayed she had enough Psalms of serenity to get her there with her sanity.
    “I’d love to get on home. Why don’t you help me?” Reluctantly, she held out her hand.
    He ignored her gesture and with labored movements, stood up. She resisted the urge to drop the cooler and wrap her arms around him for support. Instead, she stepped forward and offered him her shoulder.
    “Here, hold on until we get to the road.”
    Slipping his arms into the sleeves of his jacket, he leaned on her as they made their way along the pavement. She stopped their progress about twenty feet from the truck with the sudden memory of the hospital instructions. Rachel shrugged his arm from around her shoulder and pointed. “Go ahead and walk for me, cowboy.”
    “What?”
    “Walk to the truck for me,” she repeated, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she shifted the weight of the cooler to her hip. “I need to see how well balanced you are.”
    He lifted a brow in disbelief. “Yeah, right.”
    She laughed at the skeptic look. “Honest. Nurse’s orders.”
    Nick mumbled under his breath as he shoved his hands into his pockets and took a step.
    “Uh-uh. Arms down at your sides. Balance, remember?”
    His growl carried another comment or two. He jerked his arms to his sides and stomped a couple of paces before slowing his gait. Each step he took carried a swagger so masculine, she could’ve watched him walk all day. His long legs bowed slightly giving him the gait of a man who meant business. A man on a mission.
    “Like what you see?” His soft query carried undeniable irritation.
    “Yeah. Okay.” Rachel blinked as she fumbled for composure. Somewhere between his first and last step, he’d turned around and caught her staring. “Nice. . .Good walk. I’ll have to keep watching, you know. . . for signs.”
    A corner of his mouth lifted and a faint crease formed beneath his beard stubbled cheek. “Signs? Right.”
    * * *
    Rachel crouched out of the wind at the back of the truck as she pulled out her cell phone. She didn’t know how much more she’d be able to take of Nick Davidson and his cowboy charisma. Having to watch him walk, really watch him walk,