Midnight Thunder(INCR) Read Online Free PDF Page B

if to walk out of the barn. Then he swung back and reached for her. Before she could protest he’d pulled her into his arms and brought his mouth down on hers. It was a hard kiss, a kiss filled with frustration. There was no tenderness, only heat and confusion. It was over before she could respond.
    He left the barn without looking back. Heart pounding, she pressed her fingers to her mouth. She still loved him with every fiber of her being. And he still loved her. But as she’d learned five years ago, love wasn’t enough.
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3
    C ADE WASN ’ T A fan of hospitals, especially this one. His mother had died here when he was barely thirteen, before he’d had a firm grasp on the concept of cancer. Years later he’d concluded that the actual cause of death had been hopelessness. But that wasn’t a medical term, so cancer had been listed instead.
    Coming back here took some white-knuckled determination on his part, but Rosie lay in one of these rooms, so that meant he had to slay his dragons. Everyone he met on his way to her room was wonderful. It wasn’t their fault that he dreaded walking these halls with his mother’s ghost at his side.
    When he came into the room, the sight was terrifyingly familiar. Rosie appeared to be asleep in that sterile white bed, and she was hooked up to a bunch of monitors. Herb rose from a chair and came over to enfold him in a fierce, silent hug. The guy was more bony and fragile than Cade remembered.
    For the first time he realized that these people who had been the seawall standing between him and drowning were now vulnerable and in need of protection. That thought focused him more than any other. He could do this.
    Herb released him and motioned for them to go into the hall. “She’s finally asleep,” he murmured. “I’d hate to wake her up, although she’ll be excited to see you. Did Lexi call you?”
    â€œShe did.”
    Herb nodded. “Not surprised. She’s good that way. You sure didn’t waste any time getting here.”
    â€œI started out right after she called.”
    â€œYour boss is okay with you taking time off?”
    â€œI quit.” Technically he’d been fired, but better not to get into the full story right now.
    â€œNot because of this, I hope.”
    â€œNo, no. I was headed over to another possible job when Lexi called. It’s fine, Dad. I can stay as long as you need me.”
    Emotion welled in Herb’s gray eyes, and he glanced away in obvious embarrassment. “That’s...that’s mighty nice to hear. But we’ll be okay.” He cleared his throat and bravely met Cade’s gaze. “Just a little bump in the road.”
    â€œOf course it is. I never thought anything different. But since I was between jobs, I figured I’d come on up for a visit.”
    â€œI’m real glad you did. It’s good to see you, son.” He turned back toward the room where Rosie continued to sleep. “I should get back in there. I don’t like leaving her alone in case one of those monitors does something funky. But if you drove all night, you must need food or at least a cup of coffee.”
    â€œJust coffee. Can I bring you some?”
    â€œSure. That’d be great.” He reached in his hip pocket for his wallet.
    â€œPut your money away. Coffee’s on me. But listen, I wanted to ask something.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œWhat are those three extra horses doing in the barn?”
    Herb looked startled. “How do you know about that?”
    â€œI have a horse now, and I had to drop him off when I got to Thunder Mountain.”
    â€œOh.” Herb rubbed the gray stubble on his chin. He was only five years older than when Cade had seen him last, but he appeared to have aged considerably more than that. “Rosie and I figured we shouldn’t let the space sit idle.”
    Cade smiled. “Getting a little bored