Rocky Mountain Hitched: Contemporary Western Romance (To Love Again Book 6) Read Free

jackets, grabbed mittens, scarves, and hats. A blast of frigid air greeted them when Susan pulled the door open.
    “See you in a bit, Betty,” Ann called, as they stepped out into the night. Supporting Isabel between them, they made their way across the yard to the barn.
     
    ~~~
     
    The moon was enormous, a bleached white orb that looked like it had been placed in the sky for their pleasure. It hung over the east horizon, partially hidden behind a slight haze. Isabel pulled the blanket around her tighter, and shifted closer to Tray. He kept the horses at a steady pace across the prairie. The fields rolled out before them without end.
    Behind them, the children threw fresh hay and roughhoused with each other. Their mothers sat on a bale of hay chatting.
    Jesse and Michael rode alongside. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, they both wore only battered cowboy hats, their scarves loosened around their necks.
    “Jesse,” Ann called. “Will you please wrap that scarf around your neck? You just got over a cold.”
    Her husband blew her a kiss and tossed one end of the material over his shoulder. Tipping his hat in her direction, he trotted out in front of the sleigh. Michael pulled away to join him. Together, they led the sleigh team further into the night.
    “Your family’s great,” Isabel said, happy to have a few minutes alone with Tray.
    “Aw, shucks ma’am, well, thank you very much,” he grinned, resting his arm along her shoulder and pulling her close. He leaned in to kiss her, but backed off when the kids started hooting. “Everybody sit down back there, and hold on,” he said. “We’re going to pick up speed soon.”
    Isabel raised her eyebrows. “Nice try,” she said. Ahead of them, Jesse and Michael split off to opposite sides of the sleigh and dropped instantly out of sight. What the … She gulped as the team of horses also dropped out of sight, then she screamed and hung on when the sleigh plunged behind them. Tray worked the brake and behind them the children shrieked with glee.
    The sleigh hurtled down a small hill and then - whoops - they were level again. She struggled to catch her breath, laughing uncontrollably. “Auntie Isabel,” called one of the kids, “Are you all right?”
    She brushed a tear from her eye. “That was a blast,” she said, turning to the older girl. “Did you know that was coming?”
    The girl nodded, eyes wide. “We do it every time,” she said. “Uncle Tray made us promise not to tell you.” Behind the girl, Susan and Ann smiled at her.
    She started giggling again, and turned back in her seat to look at Tray. “Where are we? I thought the prairies were flat.”
    “Mostly flat,” he agreed. “We’re in a coulee. Basically it’s a dry river bed.”
    “And we’re staying down here?”
    “We’ll follow it for a while - easier to get down than up in this area. Plus, it makes a good wind break.” He winked at her. “How’s the leg?”
    She shifted slightly and her leg responded with a dull throb. “Feeling better, I guess. I’m sure it’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
    “It’s so fun having you here.” He smiled into her eyes and she found she couldn’t hold his gaze. Too intense. She wondered what he had been planning because it seemed clear that he’d planned to have her to himself out here.
    “Uncle Tray, can you stop so I can go with Daddy?” Michael’s eldest boy leaned over and poked his head between them. “Daddy said I could, once we got in the coulee.”
    “You betcha, champ,” Tray said. “Whoa,” he urged the team to a stop. Jesse and Michael circled back. Michael lifted his son into the saddle in front of him.
    Jesse pulled alongside. “What about you, Lizzie? Want to ride with me?”
    Lizzie ran to her mother’s side and shook her head. “I want to stay with Mommy.”
    “Take me Daddy, take me,” cried Sarah, bounding across the hay toward her father.
    “Not tonight, love,” he said. “You’re too small.”
    “I’m always