SECOND CHANCES AT MG RANCH Read Free Page A

fence.  A small tree had fallen over two top strands of barbed-wire, causing it to sag in the middle.  He was still the foreman of this ranch, and it was still his responsibility to make sure things were fixed and taken care of.
    It took a few short hours to get the tree off the fence and the wire stretched back out, but in Sam’s opinion, it was a quick fix.  Some repairs took all day long or even days, depending on the amount of damage.
    Feeling satisfied with the repairs, Sam jumped back in the truck and headed back to the barn.  This had been one long day and he was anxious to put it behind him.
    On the ride back, he thought about Josh’s warning about not letting Loren get under his skin.  He was afraid that it was too late to worry about that now. The damage had already been done.
    Loren had already pricked his skin more than once, he thought as he entered the small bunkhouse that was attached to the end of the barn facing the house. It wasn’t the space that he had gotten used to up at the main house, but it was comfortable enough and he still had a roof over his head.
    Quickly washing up, he readied himself for bed, letting the two week old conversation with Josh drift from his mind.   It really wasn’t of importance now anyway.  What was done was done.  He would just have to bite the bullet and make the best of his time left on the ranch.
    Stripping down to his cotton briefs, he walked the short distance to the small iron bed that was positioned against the far wall.   The old springs creaked beneath the weight of his body as he sat on the small bed and lay back on the propped up pillows.  From his position on the bed he had a good view of the main house through the only window in the room.
    The light was on in the master bedroom, which Loren Randolph now occupied.  Her silhouette was visible in the soft light as she peered out the window.  The vision of her seemed almost angelic, with her blonde mane flowing around her shoulders.  Her innocence formed a halo around her, as if it meant to protect her.
    Getting lost in his own thoughts, he wondered what it would feel like to hold her soft body against his own and to press his lips against hers.   He imagined that her mouth would taste like rich honey fresh from a bees hive.
    He could feel his own body starting to respond to the crazy thoughts that was running through his head.   He had not felt the warmth of a woman’s touch in such a long time, and now it seemed as if his body was aching to do just that.
    Loren turned off the light, bringing Sam back to his senses.   What was wrong with him?  He was sure that Josh would not approve of him having an affair with his daughter.  And that is exactly what it would be, because he had no intentions of hanging around any longer than he had promised his friend, a few months and not a minute longer.
    Sam Burton had learned a long time ago that falling in love with a beautiful woman would only get your heart broken into at least a million pieces.
    He subconsciously placed his hand upon his chest as if to massage away the hurt he felt as all the painful memories of his high school sweet-heart, Stephanie Woodrow, came flooding back into his mind.
    They had planned to marry right after graduation and start a family.   He could remember it just like it was yesterday, instead of seventeen years ago.
    The re they were, standing outside the school waiting for the rest of their friends after graduation, when Stephanie had pulled him to the side and told him that they needed to talk.
    That is the day when his whole world had crumbled down around him.  All of the plans that he had made with the love of his life, had changed in the blink of an eye.
    For a moment, Stephanie seemed to be struggling with finding the right words.  But once the words started flowing, they didn’t stop until she was finished.
    The words felt like hard stones being peppered at him as they spilled from her mouth.  Apparently, Stephanie