In His Will Read Online Free PDF Page A

the point of redness.
    Dylan gave her an impatient look. She stood there, feeling completely flummoxed. “Lady, you’ll need to learn to pitch in if you plan to make it through the next year,” he snapped. “So, if you’re staying, make yourself useful.”
    “What do you want?”
    “Bring in six buckets of water and some soap.”
    By the time she hauled in the sixth bucket of water, Sondra gathered her wits enough to also bring a few towels. She watched as Dylan soaped all of the way up to his shoulder. He grimaced, then knelt down at the business end of the cow.
    Feeling sympathetic, Sondra went back by the cow’s head, sat cross-legged in the thin layer of sawdust covering the floor, and took hold of the rope Nickels had tied around the cow’s neck. “It’s okay, girl. Take it easy. Easy.” She winced as she watched Dylan.
    “It’s malpresentation, all right. Lateral. I’ll see if I can’t. . . nudge. . . Nickels, brace her. I’m going to have to get some pressure going here.”
    With obvious skill, patience, luck, and strength, Dylan managed to turn the calf. Weak as the cow was, he ended up pulling the calf out. As he washed the worst of the mess from himself, he and Nickels discussed what remained to be done.
    “Any other late calves due?”
    Nickels shrugged. “One that I know of.”
    “I’ll have my men pull down the fence tomorrow. We’ll have both herds summer together for now. I’ll decide the rest later.”
    Sondra stewed silently. Even if she didn’t know diddly-squat about ranching, he owed her the courtesy of informing her about these matters before he made announcements. She didn’t expect a full-on consultation, but a brief word in advance was reasonable. To her dismay, Dylan Ward didn’t seem like the reasonable sort at all.
    Dylan turned and gave her that mocking smile again. “You kept your stomach, city-girl. I’m surprised.”
    “I’m sure you’ll be surprised a few more times before our year is up.”
    He tilted his head at the calf. “So what do you think?”
    “I think it was a miracle,” she said in awe.
    “Don’t expect too many miracles.” Dylan then rasped at Nickels, “I expect to be called any time there’s a problem. Don’t let me find one out by accident again.”
    “You got it, boss.”
    As much as it galled her, Sondra kept her mouth shut. She didn’t dare alienate her ranch hands. Miller knew his business well, and he’d hired only the best. She shouldn’t make matters so uncomfortable that they’d decide to leave.
    Both men were looking at her. Sondra sensed that they wanted to be rid of her. They’d been working a long while and probably missed supper, but she didn’t have much of a notion what was in her kitchen. Instead of offering to rustle up a quick meal, she excused herself and bade them a good night.
    Bed never felt so good and night never passed so quickly. Her muscles protested as much as her grainy eyes did, but Sondra dragged herself out of bed at first light and hastily prepared to meet the day. She headed for the stable and used a dolly to move the hay bales to help Joseph feed the horses.
    Feeling quite proud of herself, she then went to the hen-house to meet Luna. In a soft drawl, he told her all about the coop, how he cleaned and packaged eggs, and how much to feed the chickens.
    Dylan sauntered up. He looked cocky—just like the class troublemaker before he pulled a stunt. Sondra got suspicious.
    “I have men taking down that section of fencing. Get in the Rover, and I’ll take you to see what we’re doing. I have the others retagging some of the stock we purchased at auction.”
    “I’d like that.” After seeing more of the outlying area of the ranch, she felt breathless. How could Miller have given her all of this? It amazed her. Then again, it humbled her. She now knew she wouldn’t ever be equal to the task of running it. She also knew precisely why Dylan insisted on this expanded tour—he wanted to drive that fact