The Rancher's Wife Read Online Free PDF Page B

face.
    â€œYuck!” The escapee ran several feet across the mud and jerked to a halt at Logan’s open door. He scowled, jabbing a dirty finger in Traci’s direction. “Look what Traci’s doing to Jayden, Uncle Logan. Tell her to stop.”
    Logan stifled a laugh. Leave it to Kayden. He was always the first to point the finger of blame.
    â€œCome on, now,” Logan said. “You can’t go on the attack, then cry for help. Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.”
    â€œI ain’t did no dishing,” Kayden argued. He paused, forehead scrunching before saying, “I didn’t do any dishing.”
    â€œThat sounds better,” Logan praised.
    Kayden nodded. “Aunt Cissy don’t like us using no double negatives.” He climbed onto the truck’s running board and leaned into his hands on Logan’s thigh. “Anyways, I ain’t did no dishing. We were just throwing snowballs.”
    â€œThere’s no snow out here, buddy.” Logan ruffled his golden hair. “Y’all were throwing ice.”
    â€œSo.” Kayden shrugged. “It’s white.”
    â€œUnlike a friendly snowball, ice hurts and I’m sure Traci felt a twinge or two. Both of you owe her an apology.”
    â€œYes, sir.” Kayden rolled his eyes, the blue pools skimming over Logan then narrowing on Amy. “Is that her?”
    Logan turned, absorbing the warm look Amy directed at Kayden, and smiled. “Yeah. This is your aunt Amy.”
    Amy frowned but quickly adopted a polite smile when Kayden leaned in for a closer look at her.
    Logan helped Kayden jump from the running board back to the ground. “Why don’t you go around and introduce yourself properly?”
    Kayden took off, his blond head bobbing out of view as he rounded the front of the truck.
    â€œIt’s not a good idea introducing me as their aunt, Logan.” Amy unbuckled her seat belt. It snapped back with a clang. “I’m leaving for good soon.”
    â€œMaybe.” Logan met her hard stare with one of his own. “But you’re here now.”
    She shook her head, grabbed her purse and climbed out of the truck. Logan followed, strolling to the other side of the truck to find Kayden tipping his head back and staring up at Amy.
    â€œGahlee, you’re tall,” Kayden said, mouth hanging open.
    Amy’s grin faltered as she teetered, her high heels sinking into the mud of the driveway. Logan stifled a laugh. The combination of melted ice and dirt had turned the path into slick mush. She yanked against it, attempting to jerk her shoes free, but the sludge won out.
    Kayden stepped closer, studying her sinking shoes, then observing the rest of her. He blushed and stuck out dirty fingers. “I’m Kayden. And that’s my brother, Jayden, over there. Good to meet ’cha.”
    Amy lowered with care, braced with one palm against the truck for balance and shook his hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, too, Kayden.”
    â€œBoys,” a deep voice called.
    They all turned. Dominic ambled down the wide front porch steps of the main house and crossed the lawn toward them.
    â€œUh-oh.” Kayden smirked.
    He tore off toward the house, Jayden and Traci following. Dominic swept the boys against his thighs as they passed, kissing their heads and shooing them toward the porch with a pat on the butt.
    Logan held Amy’s elbow and helped her regain her balance. “You gonna ditch those shoes now?”
    â€œNo need.”
    She steadied herself by holding his forearms and yanked her heels from the suck of the mud. They broke free with a deep slosh. She lifted onto her toes, released her grip on his arms and straightened her purse strap on her shoulder.
    â€œWell, I’ll be damned,” Dominic drawled, smiling wide and knuckling his Stetson higher on his brow. He strutted over, landing a heavy pat on Logan’s back, then edging