Second Chance Brides Read Online Free PDF Page B

he had family to search for. Now, she was stuck in the muck and mire of the ditch and couldn’t get out. Could things get any worse?
    A rope landed with a loud thud right beside Leah, and she jumped.
    “Give me your hand, and I’ll help you up, ma’am.”
    Leah looked past the thick hand that reached for her and found its owner. A huge, broad-shouldered man, probably six foot four at least, waited for her response. Past him, she could see the sky had brightened, and patches of blue peeked through the thinning cloud cover. None of the storm’s ferociousness that had sent the whole town scurrying for cover remained. They had tornados in Missouri, but she’d never had one breathing down her neck, trying to devour her before.
    “If you prefer, you can tie the rope around your waist, and I can haul you up.”
    Leah winced. That made her sound like a piece of freight. Standing, she shook out her skirt. She’d never get all the mud and stains from this garment, and she couldn’t afford to lose one of her few dresses. Thin as they were, they were all she had.
    Gathering her strength and fortitude for another attempt up the slippery slope, she stepped forward. The man above her looked well capable of lifting her weight. Wasn’t he the town’s blacksmith or something like that?
    She wiped her muddy hand on her dress and held it up. He grabbed her around the wrist and pulled. Her body flew upward, but her feet felt as if they were anchored in quicksand, and for a second, she thought she’d be torn in two. But a sucking smack sounded, and her feet followed her body. Even her boots were still attached. Good thing, since they were her only pair.
    She landed hard on solid ground and wavered, trying to regain her balance. The man kept a hand on her shoulder until she quit wobbling. She glanced up—way up into a pair of eyes so dark she couldn’t distinguish the pupils from the irises. He nodded and released her, moving past her to help the family still in the ditch.
    Watching him so effortlessly help the woman up and then gently reach down to receive the squalling baby quickened something deep inside of Leah. The man’s wide shoulders had to be at least three feet across the back. If her father had matched her up with a man like this instead of that ancient curmudgeon, she’d have never run away.
    The father of the baby shinnied up the slope, using the rope. He shook the big man’s hand and smiled for the first time since the storm. “Thanks for coming to our rescue, Dan.”
    The big man—Dan—nodded and turned back to Leah as the family walked away. “You all right, ma’am?”
    Leah snorted a laugh and looked down at her filthy dress. “Do I look all right to you?”
    His gaze traveled down the length of her body, and a crooked smile tugged at one side of his mouth. “A little mud don’t change a thing. You’re mighty fine in my eyes.”
    Leah’s heart skipped a beat, and she glanced up to see if he was serious. His eyes held no humor, no jesting. “Well…uh…thank you, Mr….”
    He yanked off his stained hat. “Howard, ma’am. I’m Dan Howard.”
    “Leah Bennett.”
    That quirky smile returned. “I know who you are, ma’am. I reckon the whole town does.”
    Leah’s smile melted, and she pursed her lips. “I suppose you’re right. Thank you for helping me out of that ditch.”
    “Happy to help, ma’am.” He tipped his hat again and looked past her as if he wanted to be on his way. “Reckon I’ll go help out at the store. Looks like it caught the worst of the storm.”
    Leah gasped as she noticed its remains. All that was left of Fosters’ Mercantile were the floorboards, and debris of all kinds littered the boardwalk and street nearby. Even worse, the Foster home, which sat right behind the store, was lying in a crumpled mess across Bluebonnet Lane. Two dozen or more of the townsfolk were helping with the cleanup. How would the town get by without its only store? She allowed her gaze to roam over