Fate's Intervention Read Online Free PDF

may have distracted the animal or startled him. He made a mental note to ask Moses to see about oiling the squeaking hinges.
    He went straight to the stallion ’ s stall, stepped inside and turned around. White Star paused outside the entrance and looked at Matthew with what he could only describe as mischie f . Matthew slid another grain cookie from his pocket and held it out. Obviously, White Star wasn ’ t about to perform any more feats of extraordinaire without additional incentive.
    The horse snorted, bobbed its head, and then entered the stall. Matthew allowed the horse to remove the cookie from his outstretched palm, then slipped past the massive body and slowly closed the gate.
    He turned to find the stable boy standing nearby, “ Make certain that he gets a good rub down, okay? ”
    “ Yes, Master Matthew, sir. ”
    “ Very good. ” Matthew rubbed a hand along the back of his neck to try to relieve the tension, and left the stable.
    He turned at the sound of a carriage barreling down the lane, kicking up a lot of dust. Man, he wished it would rain. He ’ d eaten enough dirt this past week to spoil most of his appetite for the next year.
    As the carriage drew closer, Matthew recognized Adam , the boss man ’ s driver, which could only mean that Stanharbor had finished his business in New Hope early.
    The carriage slowed to a halt in front of the main house, and Matthew ’ s curiosity pe a ked. He wondered what the new Mrs. Stanharbor would look like, be like, and how she would feel about taking care of so many children. He ’ d never met any of the former Mrs. Stanharbors , but rumors floated around the ranch about them – all nine of them. Matthew had even seen the graveyard where Stanharbor buried the women, or rather girls, as none survived beyond their teen years . It was eerie seeing so many gravestones clustered in one small plot , because not only did Stanharbor appear to have a need for a private graveyard , but also because he knew women who had died of in expl icable causes filled those graves.
    Odder still, no rumors circulated about how each of Stanharbor ’ s wives died, but plenty of talk circulated about how young they all had been. One rumor abounded about a man who started a rumor about the Stanharbor women ’ s deaths. That rum or was that the man was dead.
    Well, young or not, doomed to die or not, he figured the new Mrs. Stanharbor was going to have to like kids a great deal . As if thinking of the Stanharbor brood summoned them, the front door to the main house opened and all nine of Stanharbor ’ s seed lined up at the head of the staircase, preparing to meet their new stepmother. They must have been anticipating their father ’ s arrival with eager curiosity, since they presented themselves at the precise moment the carriage came within hearing range.
    His own curiosity overpowered the need for a bath, and Matthew leaned against the barn, waiting, like the children, for the carriage to roll to a stop and the door to open.
    Matthew noted, with a wry grin, that with so many children, the new Mrs. Stanharbor would need to have nerves of steel. Of course, if Stanharbor was true to the rumors bandied about, his new bride would probably be as young, which would provide a playmate for his eldest daughter , at the very least. Personally, i f he ever found himself in Stanharbor ’ s shoes – widowed with nine children – he ’ d find an older, more stable woman.
    His gaze scanned the eager faces of the waiting offspring . When his eyes fell on the thirteen-year-old daughter, he froze. She wasn ’ t staring at the carriage , as were the other members of the Stanharbor clan ; she was staring at him.
    Damn! The look registered in her eyes was one he hoped never to see again in a young child. Well, he ’ d not be run out of a job this time. If she decided to pursue whatever notions had her looking at him all addlepated, he ’ d set the record straight quicker than lightning ; make it