Dakota Father Read Online Free PDF Page B

into her, dark, powerful, full of—
    She jerked back and pressed her palm to her throat.
    Promise? Hope? Or was it despair? Warning?
    Was she seeing things she wanted to or things that were real?
    In a flash she thought of the way he watched her on the train. Had he been kind or something sinister? No. He’d been kind and polite. Her imagination was simply getting out of control. He’d defended her before the others in the train. He’d helped her with her bags.
    And he’d warned her not once but twice that she didn’t belong here.
    Why? What lay behind his warning? Kindness or something else? What secret lay behind his not being married?
    Sufficient to the day is the trouble thereof.
    Pa’s oft-spoke words released her tensions and she laughed. None of those things mattered. She had a task to do and she would do it. She would keep her promise to Lena and Mark.
    Meggie had fallen asleep, the rag doll clutched in one hand.
    While she slept, Jenny quickly changed into a dark skirt and a wrinkled shirtwaist. It could do with ironing but at least it was clean and considerably cooler than her traveling outfit. Then she surveyed the room. There was nothing she enjoyed more than a task of significance and this was a big one. She tackled the job with vigor, singing softly as she worked.
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    Burke rode for half an hour, a leisurely, enjoy-the-quiet type ride. Out here he found peace and solitude—something he feared he would not find at home in the future.
    He reached the spring Mac had expressed concern about, took his shovel and attacked it, tossing out heaps of dirt. The work did its job—releasing the tension that started at the first sight of Jenny in hishouse, and built steadily throughout her announcement that Lena and Mark had died until it peaked when she informed him she would stay. He should have insisted she leave. Before this country sent her screaming into the distance.
    He paused to suck in air. Lena was dead. Her husband, too. He let sorrow drench his pores, let it ease out in the sweaty drops beading his skin. He would miss her.
    The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.
    He would not finish the sentence… blessed be the name of the Lord . The taking held no blessing in his opinion. Only regret and sorrow. Deep sorrow.
    He returned to digging out the hole until water broke loose and flowed freely into the shallow pit he’d fashioned last year. At the scent and sound of water, a nearby cow bellowed and headed toward him. The call echoed across the short grass and was picked up and passed along by other cows until he could see them running like a living, shrinking circle.
    The first cow saw him and balked. A human on foot made her nervous.
    He obligingly swung into the saddle.
    The cow tossed her head and raced onward, her calf skipping at her side.
    The herd neared. As they crowded in for water, he smiled. A man could forget his troubles out here.
    And just like cows heading for water his thoughts headed for home. What was he going to do about Jenny? She didn’t belong out in this country. But he couldn’t seem to persuade her otherwise. And until he did, he was stuck with her.
    How could he best prove to her he didn’t need her?
    He thought of little Meggie crying and struggling in his arms and amended his question—he didn’t need her for long.
    He considered his options. First, he didn’t want any pretty young woman languishing out here in order to care for Meggie. He would manage her care. All he had to do was give her a few days to get used to him and then he would simply take her with him as he worked. She’d grow up as his sidekick.
    Someone to share his life with. The idea gave him a jolt of pleasure.
    Carefully, he laid out his plan. A few days for her to get to know him, and then they’d ride and work together.
    And Jenny could return to her safe home back east. Before it was too late.
    That settled, he reined around and headed back