The Heart of a Soiled Dove Read Online Free PDF Page A

surveyed those around her table, the shyness, awkwardness – it was as it should be.
    Emmy’s untimely and blatant question caught her off guard. “Where are these fine gentlemen sleeping tonight?”
    Luke Rigby coughed and Victor Mills stopped his fork midway.
    Roman Brennan, the man they all seemed to answer to spoke. “We’re used to under the stars. Ain’t that right, boys?”
    Luke agreed with Roman, then put forth a question of his own. “It isn’t none of my business, but what in tarnation are you girls doing all alone out here?”
    Aurora began to scoop up their empty plates. “We’re going to ranch.”
    “Does Donovan Ramsey know this?” The question came from Roman.
    “Why should he care what I plan to do on my very own land?”
    The men all shared a look and Aurora thought, not this again! She answered to God alone, not to any man.
    “I used to raise chickens on my farm in Missouri, milked cows.” Carrie Anne wrinkled her freckled nose. “Fed the hawgs.”
    Aurora loved how Carrie Anne’s words were drawn out.
    Victor made her blush. “A pretty gal like you raisin’ hogs? I just can’t believe it.”
    Shyness seemed to have overtaken Carrie Anne. She abruptly began to clear the table and Roman stood to help. He removed a tin plate from her hands with a gentle brush against her palm. Instantly Aurora’s inbred instinct came on guard, but it was easily let down – this group did not fit the bill in terms of the brutes she’d known.
    Carrie Anne seemed to struggle under his nearness. Aurora was going to replace Roman until she heard him say, “I am not so proud to think this is just women’s work.”
    “Amen to that!” Emmy agreed.

    Four days later Aurora emerged from mending bridles and working with leather – which Roman had earlier schooled her to do. She shielded the sun from her eyes by throwing on a floppy hat. Her stance exuded pride as she observed the small community working before her – impressed was an understatement for how she felt at that moment. Victor and Luke were double sawing a tree for the fence, after giving the girls much good-natured grief about their carpentry work. Her gaze shifted towards Roman and Christopher, putting up a newly built and sturdy looking barn door, and to Emmy, who was painting fence posts around Carrie Anne’s fresh dug garden. Jed had come towards Carrie Anne and arranged a few stumps for them to sit on in the shade. Since the two looked to be insinuating that it was time for a break, Aurora set down her project and joined them. Today was a peaceful day – what a difference it made when men expect nothing from you, when you are the one a man came to for orders. When you are in charge of all that is around you, including your very own self.
    Aurora poured glasses of lemon water and focused on the sweaty and constant hard-working men, handing them each a drink. “We could not have done this without you. So much has been accomplished in your short time here. We’ll be sorry to see you go.”
    Victor drank his down in one big gulp. “We got a week left. I think we’ll get it all done.”
    Roman agreed. “It’ll get done. And don’t think we are looking forward to eating trail dust and beans when we go back to the ranch!”
    Carrie Anne left them and walked about her dirt garden.
    “She’s sensitive isn’t she?” Roman asked.
    Emmy “hmmphed” and Aurora darted her with a look, which was supposed to read be kind .
    “I like her that way, it suits her,” Aurora said and watched Roman as his eyes followed Carrie Anne’s movements. He’d have a challenge of a lifetime if he thought anything about courting Carrie Anne – she was skittish of men, even pleasant and non-threatening ones like Roman.
    A lone rider came into the field and Jed swore, then amended his err quickly. “I apologize, ladies.”
    Aurora ignored his blunder and stood to see who was arriving. “Who’s the rider?” When Jed didn’t answer she asked him again,