Lone Star Rancher Read Online Free PDF Page B

Texas twang,” he said, falling into step beside her as she continued her stroll around the grounds, heading for the stables to see if they kept horses at this ranch.
    â€œMost of it,” she agreed. “I still say ‘y’all’ when I get excited.” She kept her smile polite but remote.
    â€œI miss it,” he said suddenly.
    She was certainly shocked to hear that. “I’m sure you get plenty of down-home dialect from the locals.”
    He nodded and smiled. “I still don’t understand everything the owner at the tractor place says. His son clues me in when I look blank.”
    She thought of long-ago days and laughed. “The way Violet did for me when we were kids.”
    â€œYeah.”
    While his tone was somewhat amused, there was a seriousness about him that didn’t invite levity.
    Violet had told her Clyde had been hurt by the death of his first love when he was fresh out of college and the triplets were trying to realize their dream of owning a ranch. The woman had died in an auto accident, apparently the day they were to be married.
    Violet had also warned that Clyde never, ever spoke of it. For a time, Jessica had thought it was her job to ease his hurt. But she’d been young and romantic back then, she mused, excusing the impressionable girl she’d once been.
    â€œHe needs to listen to his heart again,” her friend had told her gravely.
    Fine. Maybe he’d meet some woman who would bowl him over and bring out those devastating smiles more often. That woman wouldn’t be her, though.
    â€œHere,” he said. He held out his hand.
    When she extended hers, he dropped a set of keys onto her palm. She looked at him, a question in her eyes.
    â€œThere’s a station wagon in the garage. Feel free to use it. The other key is to the front door. We don’t lock it, but once in a while the cleaning lady does. I don’t want you to get locked out.”
    â€œThanks. That’s very thoughtful of you.”
    He hesitated. “If you need something at the grocery,there’s one on down the road about five miles. You don’t have to go to the one in Red Rock.”
    â€œThat’s good. I’ll get cereal and nonfat milk, if you don’t mind my using the refrigerator.”
    â€œBe my guest. My mom would love to see something in it besides beer, soda, orange juice and moldy lunch meat.”
    He actually laughed. It was so enchanting Jessica could only gaze at him, spellbound, for a second. Then she smiled and stuck the keys in her pocket.
    â€œSee you later,” she said, then snapped her fingers at the dog. “Come on, Smoky. You can be my guide while we explore the ranch.” She paused and glanced at her host, who was looking at her with an unreadable expression in his eyes. “If that’s okay?”
    Clyde nodded. With his long, easy stride, he headed for a pickup parked next to the stable, then paused. “My parents may drop by later. Tell ’em I’ll be back soon and that Miles will be here tonight. They’re staying at the Double Crown this week.”
    â€œRight.”
    After he drove away, Jessica strolled the grounds and admired the many flowers. She assumed his parents’ visit had something to do with the mysterious body found in Lake Mondo. The murder hadn’t made the national news, but it had caused a big flurry of gossip and speculation in their corner of Texas. She and Violet had discussed the story at length.
    The deceased man had had a birthmark on his right side, one that looked like a double crown—the same birthmark that Ryan Fortune had and that his father had named his ranch for.
    Only it didn’t come from the Fortune bloodline.
    Ryan Fortune’s father, Kingston, had been an abandoned baby, left on the doorstep of Hobart and Dora Fortune, who’d lived in Iowa. The kind and loving couple had adopted the child and raised him as their own. Kingston had