Debra Holland - [Montana Sky 02] Read Online Free PDF

I’d not want to put you to the trouble.”
    “Trouble?” Somehow arguing with her drained away his anger. He grinned. “We’ll just have to see about that.”
    “Mr. Thompson—”
    “Just call me Wyatt.”
    Footsteps clattered behind them.
    “Pa!”
    He turned, knowing his daughter would throw herself into his arms, and he’d better be ready for her. With Christine’s growth spurt this year, gone were the days he could swing her up to his shoulder.
    Christine ran into the stable, blonde braids bouncing on her shoulders, pink calico skirt flying behind her, blue coat tucked under one arm. She dropped her schoolbag and launched into a hug that landed around his waist. He leaned over and gave her a squeeze.
    “Pa, you weren’t waiting outside the school.”
    “I know. I’m sorry.” He took her hand, turning her to face the widow. “This is Mrs. Rodriguez, our new neighbor.”
    Christine dipped a wobbly curtsy. “Pleased to meet ya, ma’am.”
    He watched the woman’s face soften and caught his breath at her beauty. Something stirred deep within him.
    She lightly touched Christine’s shoulder. “Thank you, Christine. How old are you?”
    “Eight, ma’am.”
    “Eight. That’s wonderful. My son Daniel is nine. I hope you two will be friends.”
    “Christine makes friends wherever she goes. Like her mother that way,” Wyatt said, feeling his forehead crease at the thought.It was enough to give a man gray hairs wondering whom she’d befriend next.
    The child smiled up at him.
    “Remember I told you about Mrs. Rodriguez and her Falabella horses from Argentina?”
    Christine looked around. “Where are they?”
    “Go look in the empty stalls.” He touched a cautionary finger to her cheek. “And no squealing when you see them.”
    He wasn’t a bettin’ man, but he knew no one would be able to resist his daughter when she wanted something, and she’d want to be around those little horses. Samantha Rodriguez would have to accept his assistance and be done with it.
    Satisfaction settled the kicked place in his stomach. But he didn’t stop to wonder why it had suddenly become important for him to help the attractive widow.

    Thompson. Her neighbor. The man she’d thought so kind. This man!
Samantha would
not
accept
his
service. Although watching the interplay between him and his daughter gentled some of her annoyance.
    He stepped forward into the square of light thrown by the open stable door. Sunbeams bronzed his brown hair and tanned skin, highlighting his high cheekbones and slightly aquiline nose. Amusement glinted in his gray eyes. He seemed to have recovered from his previous irritation.
    When she tipped her head to look up at him, a shaft of warmth tingled through her. She could feel her cheeks flush. What was wrong with her? She’d seen handsome men before. Her husband’s family was full of them. But none of them hadcaused this reaction in her. She flushed deeper. In dismay she noted the candy stain on his shirt.
Daniel’s work
. She’d apologize to him and offer to wash his shirt, but she wouldn’t accept his help.
    Trying to ignore Wyatt Thompson’s unsettling presence, Samantha turned away to watch his daughter. She loved to see children’s reactions when they first discovered her little horses.
    Christine stood on tiptoe, peering over the stall door. “Pa, oh, Pa.” Her words slurred in an excited whisper. “What are they?”
    Samantha smiled at the girl, some of her anger draining away. The beautiful, fair-haired child must take after her mother. Samantha buried a strange pang of disappointment at the thought of his having a wife. “They’re miniature horses. That’s as big as they get.”
    “Please, ma’am, please, may I touch one?”
    She warmed to the child. “Of course you may.”
    Footsteps sounded outside the barn. Daniel ran into the stable, his face scrubbed free of candy. When he saw Christine, he slid to a stop, panting. A dazed expression crossed his normally