Song of the West Read Free Page A

twin had always been more delicate, softer and more dependent. And though Sabrina was trying to be brave and strong, her sister knew the fear of miscarriage still lurked in the back of her mind. She needed Dan’s support and love, and right now, she needed to feel his arms around her.
    Like the answer to a prayer, Samantha spotted two figures on horseback approaching from the lower pasture. Grabbing her heavy jacket from the hook by the back door, she scurried out of the kitchen and into the cold March air.
    As Dan and his companion drew closer, Samantha greeted him with a smile and a wave. She had noticed, even at a distance, Dan’s expression of concern. But a smile relaxed his features when he spotted Samantha.
    â€œSabrina’s all right?” he asked as he reined in next to her.
    â€œShe’s fine,” Samantha assured him. “Just a trifle restless, and tremendously lonely for her husband.”
    â€œDid she eat better today?”
    Samantha’s smile warmed, lighting her face with a quick flash of astonishing beauty.
    â€œHer appetite was much better. She’s trying very hard.” Samantha lifted a hand to stroke the smooth flank of the gelding he rode. “What she needs now is you.”
    â€œI’ll be in as soon as I stable my horse.”
    â€œOh, Dan, for heaven’s sake. Let your hand do it, or I’ll do it myself. Bree needs you.”
    â€œBut . . .”
    â€œâ€™S all right, boss,” the other horseman interrupted, and Samantha spared him a brief glance. “I’ll tend to your horse. You go on and see the missus.”
    Dan flashed his companion a wide grin and dismounted. “Thanks,” he said simply as he handed over the reins and turned to Samantha. “Coming in?”
    â€œNo.” She shook her head and hunched her shoulders in the confines of her jacket. “You two could use some time alone, and I’d like some air.”
    â€œThanks, Sam.” He pinched her cheek with brotherly affection and moved off toward the house.
    Waiting until the door closed behind him, Samantha walked over and dropped wearily onto the stump used for splitting wood. Resting her back against the fence, she breathed deeply, devouring the brisk, cold air. The strain of caring for her sister in addition to running the house and cooking the meals, including, over his objection, Dan’s predawn breakfast, had taken its toll.
    â€œA few more days,” she whispered as she closed her eyes. “A few more days and I’ll have adjusted to the routine and feel more like myself.” The heavy corded jacket insulated her from the bite of the cold, and she tilted back her head, allowing the air to play on her cheeks as her mind drifted on the edge of exhaustion.
    ***
    â€œFunny place to take a nap.”
    Samantha sat up with a jerk, confused and disoriented by sleep. Her eyes traveled up to the speaker’s face. It was a lean face, skin bronzed by the sun and stretched tightly over cheekbones, all lines and shadows, hollows and angles. The eyes were arresting, deep-set and heavily lashed. But it was their color, a deep, pure jade that caught and held her attention. His dusky gold hair curled from under a well-battered Stetson.
    â€œEvening, ma’am.” Though he touched the brim of his hat with due respect, his extraordinary eyes were faintly mocking.
    â€œGood evening,” she returned, struggling for dignity.
    â€œPerson could catch a bad chill sitting out too long after the sun’s low. Wind’s picking up, too.” His speech was slow and thickly drawled. His weight was distributed evenly on both legs, hands deep in pockets. “Oughtn’t to be out without a hat.” His comment was accompanied by a fractional movement of his head toward her unadorned one. “Hat helps keep the heat in.”
    â€œI’m not cold.” She feared for a moment her teeth would chatter and betray her.