Country Bride (Country Brides) Read Free Page A

truck backed out of her driveway, and Kristin turned to check on Molly. “I know girl, very weird. I wasn’t expecting him.” She had a small smile on her face thinking about the handsome man that had just left. This is wrong – she hadn’t thought about a man since she lost her husband. Pushing away the feelings, she brushed it off.
    “Let’s clean up, and get you your medication started,” she said to her buddy who sat looking at her.

Chapter 3
    Just as he stated, Ty showed up a few days later to fix the gate out back. Kristin was on the porch swing as he pulled into her driveway. Molly was by her side, still stumbling, but the medication helped steady her.
    “How’s Molly doing?” He asked, getting out of his truck.
    “She’s hanging in there.” It was hard to see her tipping over, not having control of her body the way she usually did, but she was growing used to seeing it, so each day it got a little easier.
    “In about two or three weeks, she’ll start to feel more like herself, getting stronger, having her balance back again.” He stooped down to pat Molly’s head. Molly’s tail wagged in greeting.
    “I brought the stuff to repair the fence and gate. I noticed a few spots that could use some help, so I’ll patch those as well. We don’t want her wandering off.”
    “I wish I could tell you she wouldn’t take off, but given the right squirrel taunting her, she’d go after him in a heartbeat. Thank you again.”
    “Sure thing, do you want to help me bring some of this stuff around back?”
    “ Sounds good,” she stood, stretching.
    Working side by side with him, Ty showed her what he was doing and how. He was patient, and instead of just doing it himself, he helped Kristin learn how to do some of the repairs, so she’d know how in the future.
    The talk between them was comfortable, and as they worked, a mutual attraction grew.
    “This place has been empty for a while,” he said. “It gets rented out time to time, but it’s nice to see someone will be here for an entire year. It will give us some time to get to know you.”
    “I’d love to invite you and your wife over for dinner one night. I’m not a great cook, but it’s the least I can do for all your help.”
    “I’m not married,” he said. The words hung in the air between them.
    She didn’t mention her very brief marriage – it felt too personal at the moment.
    Standing beside him at the fence, she took notice of his size and strength. His shoulders were broad, and his arms pushed out of his sleeves, with biceps that spoke of hard work. They weren’t cut like a bodybuilder’s physique, but from a man that worked outside, a natural shape and bulge that had her wishing she hadn’t noticed. She kept stealing small peeks, a blush spreading across her cheeks. Was this the same man she met just a few days before? How was it even possible?
    His smile was genuine and warm, and for a minute, she forgot about their first encounter.
    “How did you decide to become a vet?”
    “I grew up on a farm, so I’ve always been around animals. Though I work with larger animals as well, being a country vet you have to be adaptable, I’m partial to domestic breeds like cats and dogs. What do you do?”
    “I used to work at a large telecommunications company, but I needed to take a break from life. I’d like to write, and thought I could use this year to work on some creative things.”
    “So you just up and quit a secure job?”
    “Sort of,” she felt young and foolish on hearing his tone.
    He shook his head. “I guess that’s great if you can take that chance in life.”
    “I had some money put aside, life made a dramatic turn on me, so I needed some time off.”
    “I guess everybody has their own path to travel. How did you decide on our area?”
    She flushed, embarrassed by her impulsiveness. “I threw a dart at a map, and went from there.”
    “A dart chose your destination?”
    “Well, general area. I looked it up, and it