Lorraine Heath Read Online Free PDF

was a prostitute. I don’t know for sure who my father was. I have an idea but I can’t be positive.”
    Resting her hand on his arm, she searched his eyes. “That’s what you meant about being called names. Oh, Jake, I just thought you meant children’s teasing. You know firsthand what this child would go through growing up.”
    A sadness crept into his eyes. “What they say about words not hurting … it’s not true. I would have preferred the sticks and stones.”
    She studied his face. He may not have had sticks and stones, but she was certain he’d had some fists. “Did you get into fights because of your background?”
    Self-consciously, he rubbed the uneven bridge of his nose. “Yeah.”
    She touched the scar above his brow, wondering how many other things she didn’t know about him. Things she would learn in time, things about her that she supposed he would learn.
    He wrapped his fingers around hers, bringing her hand away from his face, and they continued walking towards the corral.
    Rebecca rested her arms on the fence, her chin on her arms. “He’s giving us ten of these horses as a wedding present. Pick out the best and we’ll take them with us.”
    “Speaking of what we’re taking with us….” Jake gave her a hard stare. “You’re not planning on taking all those forks with you, are you?”
    Her laughter filled the night, washing over him like a summer storm. “No. Two should do it. One for me and one for you.”
    Jake released a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”
    She slipped her arm through his as they started walking back towards the house. “What are all those men doing outside the bunkhouse this time of night?” she asked.
    They stopped walking a few feet from the house. Jake rubbed the back of his neck. Some of the men had seemed downright disgruntled when the news of his marriage to Reb had spread through the bunkhouse. Others had thrown threatening glances his way. He couldn’t blame them.“Well, they heard you were marrying me and most of them ain’t believing it.” “And why not?”
    “Because they have the same opinion I do.” “Which is?”
    Oh, Lord, he was going to lose her now. “That you’re a beautiful woman and could marry any man you wanted. All you’d have to do is let him know. As a matter of fact, Reb, I was thinking … if there’s someone else—”
    She put one of her slender fingers to his lips. “Don’t you think they’re going to think it a little strange if you don’t give me a good-night kiss?”
    “Would you mind?”
    “If they thought it strange?”
    “No.” His eyes lovingly caressed her face. She was offering him more than he’d hoped for. “Would you mind if I gave you a good-night kiss?”
    Her smile was warm, her lips inviting. “No, I wouldn’t mind at all.”
    He removed his hat. Placing a roughened hand on the nape of her neck, bringing her close, he leaned down to brush his lips against hers, feeling the softness, the fullness of them against his own. He lingered only a moment before pulling back, afraid the temptation to taste the sweetness of her mouth would overpower him.
    “Good night, Reb.” His voice was drowned out by the catcalls and kissing sounds of the men at the bunkhouse. “Damn cowboys,” he muttered.
    Smiling up at him, she turned and started skipping back towards the house. “They’ll be worse at the wedding!” she called out over her shoulder.
    Jake headed towards the bunkhouse, shoving his hat down low over his brow, ignoring every question that was asked since every question was the same, only asked in a different voice. How had he managed to convince Rebecca Anderson to marry him?
    Rebecca blew the lamp out before walking to the window of her bedroom. Looking out over the east side of the ranch,her gaze fell onto the bunkhouse. As she traced the outline of her lips with her finger, she wondered if Jake was already asleep. Although the kiss had been brief and as light as fairy wings, she could still feel