Sacred Ground Read Online Free PDF Page A

migraines, a family thing. I started at Lance's age too. He's learned to stay quiet and relax. I have to admit I worry about it. Our doctor doesn't seem all that concerned. I wish we could pass on only the good genes, but life isn't that easy." She realized he'd stopped massaging and she opened her eyes to find him looking at her. A flush of heat raced across her cheeks.
    "You'd better dry off," he said.
    She wondered if his tone seemed deeper, even husky. She dismissed the thought. Brett ruffled the towel over his head, then peeled off his shirt to dry his skin. She found herself spellbound by his muscles moving as he worked. A light cover of sandy hair added to his masculine appeal. She tore her gaze from him, hiding her increased breathing by drying herself with a vengeance, keeping all her cold, soggy clothes intact.
    Willow cleared her throat. "Do you realize we've been neighbors for almost ten years and I don't really know you?" She immediately wished she'd kept the comment to herself.
    "Yeah, I've been thinking a similar thing. It's not that I didn't want to, I mean, Gordon did come around our place now and then. But, it seems friendship wasn't something we shared." Brett lunged to his feet and stomped over to check on Thunder.
    She thought about his comment. Finally she shuffled through the straw and sat close by. "What did you mean by that?" she asked, watching him intently.
    "Nothing particular."
    His answer came too fast. "I don't believe you. You had a point behind that comment, now you don't want to explain it. I don't ever recall Gordon saying he went to your ranch. He seemed to have a friendship with Wyatt Anderson, not you. I don't think he cared one diddly what you did or didn't do. I think you owe me an explanation." She didn't look at Brett, but concentrated on watching Thunder use her rough tongue to cleanse her newborn.
    "Stuck between you and Wyatt's run-down ranch has been a real experience in neighbors. The way I see it, I owe you nothing. It's you who owes me an explanation," he snapped.
      She took in his firm stance, feet spread, hands on his hips, while towering over her. Willow swallowed hard. Her heart beat fast. If he hit, she'd aim for his balls, no hesitation. Gordon was the last man who would mistreat her. "What could I possibly have to explain to you?"
    "Justify sabotaging my ranch. It's all I have to give Sean when I leave this earth. I work hard to provide for my mother and son. I don't pretend not to have raised some hell in my youth, but I've been sober and solid since my son was born. You may call me a spoiled rich kid, but I'm not. What you've done to me isn't excusable. I've done nothing to you."
    "What are you talking about?" She stood and stretched her full length before him. "How would I know anything about what's been happening on your ranch? Your cattle problem wasn't my doing. Your well? Hell, why would I want to disable your well? If I wanted you to suffer for lack of water, I'd dam-up your main water supply on my property, which I have no intention of doing. When your great-grandfather purchased that tract of land it was in good faith. Gordon said all his ancestors have honored that agreement, I'm not about to change it."
    "Last fall I found a small strip of wheat burned out. Don't suppose you know how that could have happened?" he asked, sitting hard. "I saw plenty of horse tracks in the area. Just to keep you from lying, I followed the trail; it led straight to your place."
    His contemptuous tone sparked her anger. "I admit I was there, I never denied it. Why didn't you come over and ask me about it then? You would have discovered I didn't start that fire, I put it out." She glared at him. "You accused Gordon of doing some land sampling too. He wouldn't have―"
    "One damn minute! I have proof," he yelled, his voice rising. "I didn't get to see the results, but I did see the cash payment receipt and it was signed by Gordon Jenkins."
    "Let me see it," she demanded between