Heart of Grace (Return to Grace Trilogy #1) Read Online Free PDF

stood close by.
The older filly, her shoulders barely reaching the middle
fence rung, saw Cole and walked to him. She bowed her head
in hope that he would give her a rub. Cole obliged, stroking his
hand up her long nose, between her eyes.
“Dakota’s going to be easy to break,” he said
conversationally. “She took to me right from the start. Now,
Rosie’s a little tougher. I haven’t started training her yet, but
she hasn’t moved more than fivefeet from her mama.”
“Can you tell that early?” Angela asked. “Wouldn’t all
horses want their mothers that young?”
“Not always. They’re like people. You know right away the
ones that’ll be more approachable.” Cole gave the horse a light
slap on the flank and she wandered off. “Dakota walked to me
the first time I came to her with the halter.”
“Maybe she knows she’s meant to be broken.” Angela
hadn’t meant to say the words, but they were out before she
could stop them. She leaned on the fence and watched
Dakota’s white mane wisp over her spotted coat. Cole sighed
and Angela closed her eyes, knowing he had picked up on her
embittered tone.
“I won’t say I’m sorry your dad died,” Cole said quietly, his
eyes fixed on the horses. “Mostly, I’m sorry Henry lived.”
“Why’d you work for him, then?”
The first drops of rain pelted them.
“Came a bit earlier than I thought it would,” he said easily.
“Go on inside and I’ll be along in a few minutes.”
Irritated that he had brushed her off, Angela did not go
inside. She stood at the corral gate and watched him direct the
horses into the stables. In the field beyond were a few others
that paid no heed to the rain. Cole jogged out to them,
whistling so they would follow him in.
Once he secured all his horses, and made a last check of
the stable guards, he took Angela’s arm. They hurried to the
house, making it through the back door seconds before the
rain dumped from the sky in a torrent.
She dropped her shoes onto the floor.
Three young men came in behind them and filed into the
adjoining dining room. Raucous laughter broke out. A moment
later, Nadine came out of the room carrying the large, now
empty, stewpot against her bosom. The pot was almost as big
as she was.
“I set aside a bit of stew for you both. Will you be having
it in the nook?” Nadine grinned at Cole and Angela, each in
turn.
“No.” Cole smirked and took the pot from her to place it
on the stove. “We’ll be eating with the crew.”
“Cole…” Angela pleaded.
Not discouraged by her protest, he winked, took her hand
and pulled her into the dining room.
The voices faded away one by one as she and Cole walked
through the arched entryway and toward the table. Eight pairs
of eyes stared at her, spoonfuls of stew stopping halfway to
gaping mouths. Cole pulled a chair out for Angela, between a
boy of about seventeen and a man in his twenties or thirties. It
was hard to judge his actual age, as a full beard covered most
of his face. All eyes followed her to the chair.
She thought of every board room she had stood in and all
the business men and women she had addressed. None of
them were nearly as intimidating as this group of work-wary
men. Taking her seat, she became much too aware of her
expensive Chanel suit, and of how useless it was now.
Cole took his seat at the head of the table.
Nadine had not been exaggerating about the smell. Angela
looked at the eight worn men, all jeans and flannel and scruffy
faces.
The maid came back in to serve Angela and Cole. She
mouthed “sorry” at Angela, and placed Cole’s bowl in front of
him with a flick of her wrist.
As she shuffled out of the room Angela thought she heard
the old woman mutter “no way to treat a lady.”
Angela met Cole’s gaze from across the table. He smiled at
her, but she couldn’t decide if was in challenge or
companionship.
“Angie,” he said, “meet Jeremy, Josh, Nathan, Andrew,
Kevin, Steve, Matt and Allen.”
“Hello.” She