Lorraine Heath Read Online Free PDF Page B

exactly where his lips had covered hers. She had been surprised to feel her heart beating so hard, to hear its thundering in her ears, and to realize she felt disappointed when he had said good night.
    A lifetime. She wrapped her arms around herself and smiled. A lifetime.

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    I T DIDN’T TAKE long for the black stallion to learn who was master, although Rebecca knew it would take a few more months for the sinewy mustang to adapt and become the first-rate cutting pony she wanted. His training would begin on the trail when they left for Texas.
    “I ’m going to call him Shadow!” Rebecca called out, smiling at Jake. Her smile was even broader than the one she’d given him when she’d first watched him work with the horses. She felt a swelling of pride in her chest that threatened to burst the buttons on her shirt.
    Her eyes were as bright as the sun and Jake couldn’t resist giving her his own smile, which had nothing to do with his success in taming the horse, and everything to do with that gorgeous expression he’d been able to bring forth on her face. He removed his hat and hit at the dust on his pants. When he looked up, she placed her hand on the back of his head, planting a kiss on his lips to the hoots of the few men who had come to watch the horses being broken.
    His smile became as broad as hers. “Do that every time I break a horse, and I ’ll break the whole herd instead of the ten that belong to us.”
    Rebecca laughed, a sweet, melodic laugh as she released him and turned her attention to the restless horses prancing in the corral.
    “Which one do you want next?” he asked her.
    “The palomino.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Not going after any without spirit, are you?”
    “No need to when I got you.”
    Her words warmed him as much as her lips pressing against his. He plopped his hat back on his head. “Okay, boys, she wants the palomino!”
    After witnessing the hostility Anderson had been directing at his daughter, Jake had decided breaking the horses might be what Reb needed to take her mind off her troubles. And it certainly did seem to be doing the trick. The tension lines he’d spotted beneath her eyes that morning were gone and the smile had returned to her face. He intended to make sure she understood that she was no longer carrying her burdens alone.
    The days before the wedding flew by like a flock of birds heading south for the winter. Jake bought a wagon and some supplies, storing everything at the north line shack.
    One evening he took Rebecca into town to have dinner at the hotel so they could have a relaxed meal without her father. It was comforting to find that despite the strain of the coming marriage, together, alone, they were at ease with each other. For appearance’s sake, he would kiss her good night because eyes were always watching somewhere, but the kisses remained chaste. Not a night went by that he didn’t go to sleep without his last thoughts concentrating on eyes of blue and all he would do to keep them sparkling and happy.
    Rebecca sank down into the tub, leisurely washing herself with the scented soap her father had imported from France for her. She leaned back, the warm waters creating a mist around her. The groom wasn’t the man she’d spent countless nights dreaming about, wasn’t the man she loved, wasn’t the father of her child. But Jake Burnett was a good man. In all the time she’d known him, he’d never shown her anything but kindness.
    She stepped out of the water and dried herself off with soft towels before sitting down before her mirror. She gazed at her reflection, somehow expecting it to look different.But it didn’t. She took a deep breath and began to prepare herself for the most important day of her life.
    When she was satisfied with her efforts, she moved to the window, looking out at the familiar view. She had once found comfort here. All her future comforts resided with the man awaiting her downstairs.
    She stepped into the