Fallen Angel Read Free Page B

the table and he let the matter drop as the men began dishing up their plates.  Angelica felt supremely uncomfortable she really didn’t want to just reach into the middle of the men and yet she could see that was what she was expected to do.
    “Let me help you with that dear,” Ella picked up her pla te and dished eggs, potatoes and a biscuit on to it before placing it back in front of her. Angelica smiled her thanks.
    “Any problems last night” Luke asked once everyone had settled down again.
    “No sir, all quiet.” Charlie said in between bites.
    “When do you want to do the branding boss?” Tom asked.
    “Next week, Sophie is getting ready to foal, I am hoping she will have done it by then.” Luke responded. 
    Angelica’s discomfort didn’t ease throughout the meal, there were so many unfamiliar people, she didn’t know what to say. The food was good but she wasn’t really hungry so she just picked at her food hoping to appear to be eating.
    Once they were finished the men voiced their appreciation for the meal before filing back out the door once again. Everyone left except for Luke. He hesitated looking from Ella to Angelica and back again then he got up and left without saying anything.  Ella got up and began clearing the table and Angelica followed suit.
    Angelica walked out into the bright spring sunlight.  She wasn’t sure where she was going but she felt like she was drawn outside. She looked around she saw several buildings the biggest was clearly a barn, the next looked to be a bunkhouse. She didn’t see anyone around but she could hear hammering and other activity from somewhere.  She walked slowly across the yard to the barn and peered inside, it smelled of fresh hay and she felt herself smile, the scent was comforting even if it didn’t conjure any real memories.  She walked down the aisle and looked in the stalls. The first stall contained a palomino mare with a very extended belly, Angelica assumed this must be the pregnant horse that Luke had been referring to. Upon seeing her at the stall door the horse approached. Angelica smiled as she rubbed the horse’s nose. She spoke quietly to the horse running her hand down its neck as far as she could reach finally she just opened the stall door and stepped inside. She picked up a brush off the shelf and began brushing the horse. This felt right, for the first time since she woke up here she found something that felt good. She brushed the entire horse before she left the stall.  She felt better as she walked through the rest of the barn looking at the other animals there were a few other horses and a very pregnant cow, and in the very last stall a big bay stallion that was beautiful but when she stopped at his stall door he just looked at her and snorted then went back to munching on a hay flake.  She turned and walked back through the barn pausing to stroke the mare’s nose again on her way out.  She walked around the other side of the barn towards the sounds. She passed an empty corral and a couple of empty pens and continued until the source of the sound came into view.  She saw Luke and John working on a small building.
    “ Alright John, give me that last board.” Luke held out his gloved hand but when John didn’t place the board in it he turned to see what the problem was. John wasn’t looking at him he followed John’s line of sight and saw the problem, it was Angel.  An unfamiliar woman on the ranch was distracting enough but a beautiful one was going to be a disaster. She was definitely a beauty. Even he was staring now, her hair had looked dark brown inside but out here in the sun it glowed a deep red.
    “ John.” He barked regaining the other man’s attention, irritated that she had distracted him as well even if it had only been momentary.
    “Sorry Boss.” John mumbled handing him the board he had requested.  Luke took the last board and hammered it in place before climbing down, by that time Angel had reached