Where the Wild Rose Blooms by Lori Wick Read Free Book Online

disliked him.
    "I think we'll wait on dessert," Elaine said as she came to the kitchen. "Milly, will you please help me with the dishes?"
    "I'll help coo," Danny offered.
    "All right," Elaine accepted with a smile. "Clay, why don't you take Sammy to the barn and show her the kittens."
    "You should go too, Jackie," Addy said as she came from the living room with her hands full of dishes, "Jackie is our animal lover," she added to her hostess.
    "Come on, Sammy," Clayton invited the youngest girl. "Let's head to the barn."
    "Aren't we going to take Jackie?"
    Claytons eyes showed his amusement as they swung to the older girl. "I'm sure she won't be interested."
    Jackie's chin lifted to the challenge. "As a matter of fact, I would love to see the kittens."
    A smile split Clayton's face. He never dreamed she would accompany them, but he didn't comment. A moment later he stepped aside so that Sammy could lead the way. She threw a smile his way as she passed, but Jackie, who also walked in front of him,

refused to look in his direction.
    "Clays a terrible tease," Elaine commented when they were gone.
    "That might not be all bad," Addy told her softly. "Jackie takes herself much too seriously."

    "I love the smell of barns," Sammy told Clayton enthusiastically. The blue eyes that were so like her mother's smiled up at him.
    "So do I," he agreed. "I think it must be the hay and horses."
    The sky was growing dark, so the spacious barn was dim with the fading light. Clayton moved to a post below the

hayloft and took down the lantern. The light flared in the

shadowy barn as he
led
the way to a nearby stall. He need not have bothered. The sound of kittens crying could be heard from several feet away and would have led them with ease.
    "Hey," Clayton spoke as he knelt in the straw, "where's Princess?"
    "Oh," Sammy breathed, and Jackie, who had remained very quiet, bit her lip, her eyes alight with pleasure.
    "Aren't they adorable, Jackie?"
    "Oh, they are," the older girl agreed. Clayton thought he'd never heard her voice so sweet.
    "Look, Jackie! A gray stripe. Your favorite." Sammy gently lifted the kitten and placed it in her hands. Jackie let out a breathless laugh, unaware of the way Clayton's eyes studied her.
    "She's so soft."
    "This one is too," Sammy exclaimed as she cuddled a tiny red kitten close to her cheek.
    The two remaining kittens found Claytons lap, and he lazily stroked their tiny heads while watching the wonder of his guests. He'd never known so much physical beauty in one family. Morgan was a handsome man, and Addy was downright beautiful. The girls were all lovely as well, but he wasn't completely convinced that all was as it should be. Things seemed to be in place with Mrs. Fontaine, Eddie, Danny, and even Sammy, but the others were a mystery to him. His thoughts were interrupted when a large calico cat sauntered into the stall and meowed loudly to her children.
    "Here's Princess," Clayton commented.
    The girls' kittens were no longer content in their arms, and the two from Claytons lap were swiftly making their way toward supper. A minute later all four were eagerly lined up along their mothers side, and purrs of contentment rumbled throughout the stall. The three watched for a few minutes, and then Sammy jumped up to explore the rest of the barn. Jackie rose as well, and Clayton followed slowly.
    "How many horses, Tag?" Sammy asked.
    "Just three."
    Sammy skipped on ahead, and Clayton caught up with Jackie. She veered off to look in one of the stalls, and Clayton, acting instinctively, took her arm.
    "Watch that pitchfork, Jackie. I must have forgotten to put it away. r
    Jackie jerked her arm from his touch and stepped away. Clayton was bending to put the fork against the wall when Jackie spoke in the voice he was accustomed to hearing.
    "I'm surprised you didn't look forward to seeing my foot stabbed."
    Claytons head whipped around, but his face was in the shadows so Jackie couldn't see his shocked expression.