The Rancher Read Online Free PDF

cheery feel.
     
    So why did she feel so much
misery while in it?
     
    Filling the teapot with water,
she checked the stove, adding more wood to the burning embers and
waited for the fire to grow enough to boil her water. She looked at
the foodstuff she had, debated on going to the hotel for supper and
felt her stomach clench just thinking about it. She wasn't prepared
to suffer through that humiliation again. Not yet. Being served by
people who obviously didn't like her was embarrassing, especially
when the other diners stared at her. No, she'd make due with what
she had and not step back into that restaurant until she had no
choice.
     
    When her water had boiled, she
poured it into her teapot, added the tea leaves and waited for it
to steep while grabbing one of the three china cups she owned.
Sitting at the small table, her thoughts a jumble of what ifs, she
waited until the tea had turned dark and rich and the aroma filled
her a bit with tranquility. Tea didn't cure all the troubles she
had but at the moment, it chased away the most depressing.
     
    Being in a town where no one
liked her was soul crushing but she'd made her choice. She'd have
to see it through. She just wished Holden Avery hadn't graced her
door. For the first time in over a year she had thoughts she never
dreamed of having about a man again. Thoughts that caused her face
to heat, her stomach to clench delightfully and made her pulse beat
so fast, she could hear the blood racing in her ears.
     
    She sighed, added a bit of sugar
to her tea and took a sip while trying to clear her head.
Regardless of her feelings where Holden Avery was concerned, she'd
stick to the plan. No man was worth the pain they brought,
especially one as handsome as Holden Avery. If being hateful to
every person she came into contact with, even him, was what it took
to protect her heart, then so be it. Living out her life alone was
a lonely proposition but it was one she could live it. She
hoped.

Chapter Three
     
     
     
    Greeting her students as they
ran up the steps of the schoolhouse was done with as stern a look
as possible. It almost killed her not to smile at them and say how
happy she was for them to be back. Truth was, she adored kids and
teaching was probably as close as she'd ever get to having children
of her own.
     
    She sighed, the noise from the
school bell ringing inside her head incessantly as Jesse continue
to ring it without fail. Seeing no one else running toward the
school, she was just about to turn when she saw the horse, and the
small rider seated in front of her father. Laurel's pulse leaped
when she recognized Holden and Alexandra coming down the road.
     
    Of all the people she hadn't
wanted to see, it was him. Her heart nearly beat out of control
whenever she looked at the man and she hated the effect he had on
her.
     
    She'd sworn off men after being
lied to and played for a fool, and knew the only way to be happy in
life was to make her own decisions. And she had. Life would have
worked out fine had she not made the grave mistake of falling for a
handsome face back in Missoula. Now, she was stuck in a town with
that same man. A man who heated her blood beyond reason and brought
to mind images of them together she couldn't seem to forget.
     
    Sighing, she waited for
Alexandra to dismount and prayed Holden wouldn't follow his
daughter to the building. Her prayers weren't usually answered and
today was no different. She tried to ignore him as he walked toward
her. Tried to be indifferent to his chiseled features, the whiskers
on his chin where he'd not bothered to shave or the sparkling blue
eyes that were firmly latched on her.
     
    She lowered her arms when he
climbed the steps, looked only at Alexandra and hoped he'd just go
away.
     
    He didn't.
     
    "I think we got off on the wrong
foot, Miss Montgomery." He smiled, and lifted his hand, the largest
red apple she'd ever seen resting on his palm.
     
    Her pulse leaped and she cursed
her traitorous