Love's Sweet Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page A

and what led him down the wrong path in his early years, it might all have been different. But as a father himself now, he was beginning to understand how hard it would be to tell his own son he’d killed his own father and lived the first thirty years of his life as a wanted man.
    He threw his saddle over the sidewall of the stall, then removed the blanket. “I’ll give Stephen the chore of rubbing you down, boy,” he told the gelding, proceeding to remove the animal’s bridle. “Time to teach the younger ones how to run a ranch, since it will be theirs someday.”
    Life was good here. He was more than happy that his days of riding beside Jake as a marshal were over. So was Katie. And Evie. He sobered at the thought of what had happened to his sister back in Oklahoma. She was damn strong, strong deep inside like their mother, and tough like Jake. They didn’t come any stronger than his parents. But Katie—she was growing stronger every day, too. God knew a woman had to be strong and determined to put up with the likes of him and his father. It felt good to know that his marriage to Katie became more solid every day since coming here to Colorado, their love becoming deeper and more devoted. He was finally able to see Katie for who she was—a sweet, caring woman who knew how to please a man and who was a good mother to his son, Stephen, and to the baby girl they’d had together. He was finally able to stop comparing her to Beth.
    He walked over to take a bag of feed from a shelf on the opposite side of the stall. “I’ll give you a few oats, Sammy, but not too much.” He hoisted the sack to his shoulder and carried it back to the horse, grunting a little as he set it down and untied the bag. “I don’t want you getting the colic,” he muttered. He lifted it again, pouring some into a trough.
    â€œI like watching those muscles at work,” a female voice spoke up as he lowered the bag of oats to retie it. The voice startled him a little. He whirled to see his wife standing outside the stall.
    â€œ Katie? Where in hell did you come from?”
    â€œCole Decker rode in earlier and said you were on your way back. I know this is the barn where you always put Sammy up.” She put her hands on her hips and swayed a bit seductively. “I took our little Tricia over to Evie’s so we could be alone. Stephen and Ben are out in the south pasture helping Terrel Adams corral a few breeding cows. I’ve been watching you from the loft.”
    Lloyd grinned. “You little vamp. You sure were awful quiet climbing down that ladder.” He carried the bag of oats out of the stall and stopped to close the stall gate, then set the oats aside and grabbed her close, whirling her around and planting a long kiss on her. He moved his lips to her neck. “Honey, I need a bath and a shave and—”
    â€œI don’t care. You can do all that when you come to the house. I have a couple of blankets laid out in the loft. All you have to do is put that board over by the door through the handles so no one can get in and then come join me.”
    Surprised, Lloyd set her on her feet. “Are you serious?”
    Katie darted away. “I most certainly am.” She ran over to the ladder, lifting her skirt to show most of one leg before she scurried up the narrow wooden steps.
    â€œSweet Jesus,” Lloyd muttered. He hurried over to the barn door and closed it, picking up the board used to slip through the handles to keep it secured. He practically ran to the ladder, climbing three rungs at a time up to the loft to see Katie’s dress was already off. He stood there a moment just looking at her soft, white skin and the way her bright-red hair spilled over her shoulders. Her blue eyes glittered with love as she unlaced her camisole. He loved her colorful glow—all white and red and blue, and in the most pleasing places…pink.
    â€œYou sure,