The Jewel of His Heart by Maggie Brendan Read Free Book Online Page A

something he hadn’t felt in a very long time. The deep sadness in her large eyes conveyed a longing he felt an urge to respond to. He figured she was quite a bit younger than him, unless he missed his guess. What would she possibly see in a short, stocky sheepherder and a man several years older in the first place?
    He did get his hair trimmed, but not as short as he kept it while on his father’s ranch. His hands were a lot rougher now from hours spent building his cabin, shearing sheep, and mending fences. He’d never worked so hard in his life before he moved to Montana.
    On his father’s big ranch, most of the really hard labor was carried out by hired hands. But doing most of his own work gave Josh a feeling of accomplishment and worth. He couldn’t afford any hired help other than Andy.
    A waiter came and took his order, promising to bring him a fresh cup of coffee, and Josh settled back in his chair, keeping an eye on the front door for Juliana. He was halfway through his meal of steak and potatoes when he looked up and saw her making her way down the stairs into the foyer, looking so young and innocent. He put his fork down, pushed his chair back, and hurried into the foyer. She was heading toward the front desk away from him, and he watched her from the back, admiring the gliding way she moved. She was light on her feet, and her skirts created a gentle whisper from the swaying of her hips. Her thick hair fell in lush, dark curls down her shoulders.
    “Juliana,” Josh called out.
    Juliana paused, turning halfway. “Hello, Mr. McBride. It’s good to see you again.”
    “Please, could you call me Josh?”
    She smiled back at him. “I believe I can do that . . . Josh.”
    “Have you had dinner?”
    “Matter of fact, I have.” Juliana stood primly, holding her hands together.
    “Too bad. I was going to ask you to join me.” Josh couldn’t believe those words had just tumbled out of his mouth. She didn’t really know him. Why would she have dinner with him?
    “Another time, perhaps?” Her lips curved in such a sweet way that he could only stare at her pink, upturned mouth. She seemed in no hurry to leave.
    “I’m sorry. I guess I should have asked if you were on your way somewhere.”
    “Actually, no. I was just going to go sit in the parlor to get out of my room for a spell. There are a few books in there I’d enjoy reading.”
    Josh liked the fact that she was a reader. Many a night he’d sit by the fire after a long, cold day and read before going to bed. A hazy vision of Juliana sitting beside him reading, firelight illuminating her face, popped into his mind. He blinked his eyes and mentally shook his head.
    “Well, then how about dessert? I hear the apple pie is excellent.”
    She gave him a lopsided grin. “You are persistent, aren’t you?”
    Josh cleared his throat. “Only when I need to be.”
    “And is this one of those times?”
    Her blue eyes twinkled with delight at teasing him, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for her to do, making her seem older than her youthful face indicated.
    “I eat alone all the time, except when I’m at the camp with Andy. So how about it? We could ask if they have ice cream to put on top of the pie.” He hoped that might tempt her to come sit with him awhile.
    Her eyes widened. “Now you’re talking.”
    “Must be my lucky day!” Josh took a step forward, offered his arm, and guided her to his table, where the half-eaten steak lay waiting. He wondered what he would say to her now that she had accepted.
    He ordered another piece of pie and coffee, then settled Juliana across the table from him. He noted that the tiny blue flowers of her calico dress brought out the color of her eyes. His eyes slid down to her hands, which were red and chapped. She had long, slender fingers with small oval nails. Fingers that shouldn’t have to work like that.
    Josh shook his head slightly to clear his head. What was wrong with him? She was just a