Lone Star Winter Read Online Free PDF

liked me and loved this ranch. I figured we had as good a chance of making a marriage work as people who were passionately in love.” She sighed again. “Isn’t hindsight wonderful?”
    He leaned back in his chair and looked at her for a long time. “You’re a tonic,” he said abruptly. “You’re astringent and sometimes you sting, but I like being around you.”
    â€œThanks. I think,” she added.
    â€œOh, it’s a compliment,” he murmured. “I wouldn’t offer you anything except the truth.”
    â€œThat really is a compliment.”
    â€œGlad you noticed.”
    â€œWhat happened to the drunk cowboy?” she asked.
    â€œLuke’s wife is getting him into a halfway house,” he mused. “A real crusader, that lady. She is a bleeding heart.”
    â€œShe likes lost causes,” she countered. “I’ve heard a lot about her, and I like what I’ve heard. If I can get this ranch back on its feet, I’d like to help her.”
    â€œAnother latent crusader,” he teased.
    â€œA lot of people need saving, and there aren’t a lot of reformers around,” she pointed out.
    â€œTrue enough.”
    â€œThanks for sending that other man over to keep a lookout. He’s very nice. Did you know that he likes to do needlepoint?” she asked matter-of-factly.
    He nodded. “Nels does some exhibition-quality handwork. Nobody teases him about it, either. At least, not since he knocked Sid Turpen into the water trough.”
    She chuckled. “He looked like that sort of man. I knit,” she said. “Not very well, but it gives me something to do when I’m by myself.”
    â€œYou’re always by yourself,” he said quietly. “Why don’t you come home with me one or two evenings a week and we can watch television after I’ve finished with the books. I could come and fetch you.”
    Her heart jumped. She didn’t need telling that he’d never made that invitation to anyone else. He was like a wounded wolf in his lair most of the time. “Wouldn’t I be in the way?” she asked.
    He shook his head. “I’m alone, too. You and the baby would be good company before and after he’s born. You don’t have a husband anymore. I don’t have a family,” he said bluntly. “I’d like to help you through the next few months. No strings,” he added firmly. “And absolutely no ulterior motives. Just friendship.”
    She was touched. He made her feel welcome, warm and safe. She knew that a lot of people were intimidated by him, and that he was very standoffish. It was a huge compliment he was paying her. “Thanks,” she said genuinely. “I’ll take you up on that.”
    He sipped his coffee and put the cup down. “It might be good for both of us to spend less time alone with the past.”
    â€œIs that what you do, too, thinking about how it might have been, if…” She let the word trail away.
    â€œIf,” he agreed, nodding. “If I’d smelled the smoke sooner, if I’d gone to bed earlier, if I’d realized that Lopez might send someone after me even from prison…and so forth.”
    â€œI kept thinking, what if I hadn’t got pregnant sosoon after I married,” she confessed. “But I’m not sorry I did, really,” she added with a tiny smile. “I like it.”
    He searched her dark eyes for longer than he wanted to and dragged his attention away. All at once, he glanced at his watch and grimaced. “Good Lord, I almost forgot! I’ve got a meeting at the bank this morning that I can’t miss—refinancing a loan so that I can replace my combine.” He got to his feet. “No other problems except for drunk cowboys in your bed?” he asked whimsically.
    She glared at him. “Don’t look at me, I didn’t put him there!”
    His eyes roamed