White Dove's Promise by Stella Bagwell Read Free Book Online Page A

We’ll join you in a few minutes.”
    The surprise that registered on Enola’s face told Jared the older woman wasn’t accustomed to having Kerry intercede with her own wishes. Especially in such a blunt way. Enola opened her mouth to say something else. But instead, she threw Jared a withering look, then turned and headed into the house.
    Once the woman was out of sight, Jared joked in an effort to lighten the moment, “I don’t think she likes me.”
    Kerry sighed. “Her behavior embarrasses me. I don’t know what’s making her this way.”
    Jared did. There weren’t many mothers in Black Arrow that welcomed the sight of him on the doorstep. He knew he had a reputation for dallying with women’s hearts, maybe even crushing a few. If that was true, he’d not done it intentionally. Of all the women he’d dated in the past, he’d never once led them to believe he was a serious suitor with marriage on his mind. They’d gone into a relationship with him knowing it would only be fun and games. But convincing Enola WindWalker of that would be as fruitless as talking to the wall.
    â€œForget it,” he told Kerry with a rueful grin. “I take no offense. Especially since I got such a nice greeting from my little dove here.” Placing his forefinger under Peggy’s chin, he lifted the angelic face up to his. “Are you going to be a good girl for your mother and stay in the yard from now on?”
    Peggy nodded emphatically and Jared stroked the shiny black waves tumbling about her shoulders. He could see touches of Kerry in the girl’s proud thin nose, high cheekbones and faintly pointed chin. Yet her café au lait complexion made Jared suspect her father had been a white man. His own father had been half-white.
    â€œThat’s just what I wanted to hear,” he told her proudly.
    â€œI have a dog,” Peggy said to him. “Do you have a dog?”
    Jared chuckled as he found himself charmed by a set of big brown eyes and twin dimples. “No. But I met your Mr. Fred yesterday. And you know what, I think he’s almost as smart as you are.”
    Peggy gave him another emphatic nod of agreement, then to Kerry and Jared’s amazement, she leaned forward and smacked a kiss on his cheek.
    â€œI gotta go feed Fred,” she said suddenly, then squirmed, signaling that she wanted to be put back on her feet.
    Jared complied, and smiled as he watched her scurry into the house.
    â€œLooks like I need to be thanking you again,” Kerry said.
    He turned his head in her direction and was instantly taken with the natural beauty of her face, the sensual curves, partially camouflaged by her loose clothing. She was not a glamour girl. So why did he wonder, ashe had so many years ago, what she would look like in his arms with nothing on but a smile just for him?
    â€œFor what?” he asked, forcing his mind off the tempting thought.
    â€œThat’s the most Peggy has said to anyone today. She’s obviously taken with you.”
    Jared was glad the child had warmed up to him. Yet it was her mother that he really wanted to charm.
    Shrugging, he glanced down at the toe of his boot and wondered why this woman made him feel like a shy teenager wanting to steal a kiss. “Well, I’m kinda taken with her, too. That’s why I wanted to stop by and check on her.”
    Kerry folded her hands primly in front of her. “Thank you. It was kind of you.”
    No, it was selfish, Jared thought. Sure, he’d wanted to see little Peggy and make sure she was okay. But even more he’d wanted to see this woman. Yet he wasn’t going to confess such a thing to her. Right now she saw him as a gallant knight and he didn’t want to spoil it.
    With a sudden grin, he lifted a hand in farewell. “You’d better go get your supper, Kerry. Before your mama comes after you.”
    Kerry watched him walk to his truck. As