Higher Than Eagles (Donovans of the Delta) Read Online Free PDF

and came toward him.
    Suddenly he was smothering in a cloud of pink chiffon and the heady scent of roses. The first consequence of his impulsive decision to plant petunias was upon him; he wanted to pull Rachel into the flower bed and make love to her, right there in the dirt. The intensity of his desire shocked him.
    Rachel was a heartbreaker, and he was determined he wouldn’t be her victim again.
    “Would you mind stepping back a little, Rachel? You’re blocking the sun.”
    “Blocking the sun?” She stood where she was, so close, her fantasy nightgown was brushing against his arm and her perfume was turning him to putty.
    “Yes, dammit! How can I see to plant petunias when you’re in the way?”
    “Well, who told you to plant petunias in my garden anyway?”
    “You needn’t shout, Rachel. I’m not deaf.”
    “I’m not shouting!”
    “Yes, you are.”
    “Get out of my garden.”
    He rose to face her. “These petunias are my apology, and I intend to plant them.”
    “Apology! Don’t you think six years is a little too late to apologize?”
    He caught her shoulders and pulled her against his chest so tightly, she grunted.
    “What am I to apologize for, Rachel? Loving you too much? Trusting that you would wait for me so we could work things out?”
    “You’re just as stubborn and mule headed as you were six years ago, Jacob.”
    “And you’re just as unbending.”
    “It’s a good thing we didn’t marry each other.”
    “A hell of a good thing.”
    They glared at each other, panting. The air around them was hot with anger and pulsing with passion.
    “Mommy, look!” A small boy burst through the door, his Big Bird pajamas drooping at the waist and a bedsheet flapping around his neck. “I can fly!” The little boy ran to the edge of the porch. “I can fly!”
    A big black Labrador barked at his heels.
    “Benjy, no,” Rachel called, but it was too late. Benjy had launched himself off the edge of the porch and was flying straight at them.
    Jacob turned and held out his arms. The landing would have been perfect, except that Benjy was coming with such force, he knocked them to the ground. The dog bounded down the steps and circled them, barking.
    Benjy bounced up, laughing. “Let’s do that again.”
    Rachel caught him around the waist and hugged her to him. “Young man, how many times have I told you not to fly?”
    “Sixty ‘leven. Granpa says I’m a beardevil, just like Gramma. What’s a beardevil?”
    Jacob was enchanted. If he’d had a son, he’d have wanted him to be exactly like the small boy standing in the crook of Rachel’s arm. He stood with his sturdy little legs planted apart and his freckled face shining. His eyes were green like his mother’s, and his streaked blond hair stood up in front with a cowlick.
    His question already forgotten, Benjy turned his attention to Jacob. “Hi, I’m Benjamin Deblin. Who are you?”
    “Jacob Donovan.”
    The little boy stuck out his hand. “Please to meet you, Mr. Donoben.”
    Jacob solemnly shook his hand. “So, you like to fly, do you?”
    “No,” Rachel said.
    “Yes,” Benjy said at the same time.
    “Oh, Lordy have mercy!” A large woman bustled through the front door, wringing her hands on her white apron and rolling from side to side with each step she took. “I’m sorry, Rachel. The little scamp got away from me.”
    She made her way down the front steps and across the lawn. When she reached them, she took Benjy’s hand. “Now, little mister Benjamin. We’ll march right back upstairs and put that sheet on the bed where it belongs. Then we’ll get all cleaned up and have a nice breakfast.”
    Jacob could hardly believe his eyes. Standing beside them was the same woman who had been housekeeper to the Windhams and surrogate mother to Rachel since Mrs. Windham’s death, the woman who had once told him she wanted to live long enough to give his and Rachel’s children a proper upbringing.
    He dusted the dirt off his pants