Montana Legend (Harlequin Historical, No. 624) Read Online Free PDF

a dust plume where his horse had walked. She’d learned long ago that a person often didn’t get what they wanted. So it wasn’t too hard to let the air out of her chest and her wishes with it.
    So, what did it matter if Gage Gatlin was not the man for her? There was someone destined for her,someone kind and caring who could look past the five-year-old dress with the streaks of dirt on it and see the real her. He was out there somewhere, and he’d be worth the wait.
    What she’d better do now was get back to the house and check on her daughter. Sarah stood and noticed ten naked toes peeking from beneath her hem.
    No, it couldn’t be. She blinked, but her bare feet were still there. She wasn’t wearing her shoes. The whole time Gage Gatlin was here, she’d been exposing her bare feet like some sort of strumpet.
    Embarrassment burned through her like a grass fire, and she started to laugh. Gee, he had to notice. Laughing harder, she covered her mouth with her hand to keep from waking Ella. See? That’s what she got for being prideful and fretting about her appearance.
    A floorboard squeaked behind her. “Ma, is it dinner yet? I’m awful hungry.”
    Ella appeared, thin and pale, in the shadowed hallway. Sarah forgot everything, even a man as handsome as Gage Gatlin, as love for her daughter filled her up. She folded the spindly little girl into her arms and held her tight. It hadn’t been that long ago when she’d feared her daughter would not live. “Are you feeling better, sweetie?”
    â€œYeah, but I wish I didn’t get so tired all the time.” Ella rubbed a fist over her forehead as if her head still hurt.
    Sarah pressed a kiss to her child’s brow. “You’ll feel better after you eat. Come, let me get you some dinner.”
    â€œI wanna drumstick.” Ella collapsed in a chair and propped her elbows on the table edge, her blond hairescaping from her braids in a sleepy tangle. “It’s nice with the cousins gone. Real nice.”
    There was no denying how difficult times had been staying in this house, but it wasn’t as if they’d had another choice. Sarah slipped the platter from the warming oven. “We’re grateful to them for letting us stay, remember?”
    â€œI know, I know. But do you have to stay here forever?”
    â€œNot forever, baby, but it is hard to say when we can leave.” Sarah kept her voice light, knowing her girl couldn’t understand how tough the world was for a woman alone.
    â€œAs soon as our medical bills are paid off, we’ll get our own place. I promise.” Sarah set the plumpest drumstick on a blue enamel plate alongside two big potatoes. “There’s carrot sticks in the covered bowl in front of you.”
    Ella found one and crunched into it. “Ma, could it be a house painted white and pretty?”
    â€œWe’ll see.” She set the plate in front of her daughter. “Clean your plate, or I’ll have to string you up by your toes from the maple tree.”
    Ella rolled her eyes. “I know, I know, and I’d better drink every drop of my milk or you’ll flog me.”
    â€œI’m glad you know how things run around here.” Sarah reached for the pitcher. “Do you feel up to helping me plant the garden this afternoon?”
    â€œSure,” Ella said around a mouthful of potato.
    â€œDon’t forget the bread.” Sarah set the glass of milk on the table and nudged the covered basket closer.
    A clatter rose in the yard outside. A second later two small boys charged into the house. Pearl followed,carrying squalling Baby Davie on one hip. His twin was silent but red-faced, balanced across Pearl’s other arm.
    Sarah hurried to help. “Here, let me take Davie—”
    â€œYou’d better take him because I’m worn out.” Pearl thrust the year-old child into Sarah’s arms as if eager to be rid of