A Family to Come Home To (Saddle Falls) Read Online Free Page A

then calmly and rationally go over everything again just to be certain before she made any decisions.
    Only once had Hannah allowed her emotions to overrule her practicality and common sense. Only once had she allowed her own desperate yearning to have a family of her own—a real family—get the best of her, and the end result had left her a young, naive, woefully unprepared single mother.
    But she’d learned, she thought, glancing affectionately at her daughter again. She’d learned quickly that decisions and actions based on emotion could only lead to innumerable mistakes and heartache.
    The end result of her own naiveté had been the loss of her pride, her self-esteem, as well as her family, who’d disowned her for disgracing them by getting pregnant and refusing to marry Riley’s father. Before she and her parents could reconcile, they’d been killed in a boating accident, but they had left Riley their house—in trust. Hannah never knew if that was their way of saying they’d forgiven her or not. She didn’t dwell on it because the pain of their words, their anger and disappointment had never faded. She’d never apologize for bringing Riley into the world. Not to anyone.
    Well, the reason Hannah wouldn’t marry the man was that not only had he never asked, he had also never once mentioned that he was already married and had a family. Riley’s father hadn’t been interested in the family he already had, let alone a new one. Although Hannah felt guilty sometimes for depriving her precious daughter of a father, she figured in the long run she hadn’t robbed Riley of too much except a whole lot of disappointment and heartache from a man who hadn’t wanted Riley and couldn’t or wouldn’t accept her.
    Despite the loss and the painful life lessons, Hannah had received an incredible gain—a beautiful, loving daughter who filled every need in her heart.
    Biting her lower lip, Hannah wondered if the career decision she’d made so recently had been made with her usual practical common sense. Or a bit of emotion. Perhaps it had been both, she considered, hanging the last sheet out to dry.
    She’d been an accomplished cook since the age of twelve and loved creating beautiful meals, so having a job doing something she loved seemed perfect. The salary Tommy had offered was more than generous, and with his longtime housekeeper/cook, Mrs. Taylor, finally retiring, accepting the job would also allow her to spend more time with Riley since she could bring her to work with her.
    It was, Hannah realized, a dream come true. Enough money to support them, a job she loved and more time to spend with her daughter.
    So why was she worried? she wondered, trying to shake off her own concerns.
    Perhaps it was that she always worried that she was taking advantage of Tommy and his family. As her godfather, it was Tommy who’d always been there for her, including her in his own family, making her feel welcome, wanted and loved, something her own parents never had time for, even before they disowned her.
    Although she’d been a bit younger than Jake, Jared and Josh, they’d always treated her like the sister they’d never had, and Riley like one of their own children, giving both a sense of belonging.
    Having the Ryans in their lives gave Riley a sense of being part of a huge, loving family, the one thing—the only thing—Hannah wasn’t able to provide for her daughter on her own.
    With another sigh, Hannah hung the last pillowcase on the clothesline. Unconsciously, her gaze traveled to the driveway and she felt an instant of panic. Riley’s bike was lying on its side, pink streamers blowing in the afternoon breeze.
    But her daughter was nowhere to be seen.
    “Riley?” Hannah stepped over the now-empty laundry basket, knocking it over and wiping her suddenly damp hands on her jean shorts. “Riley!” she called louder, trying not to panic. Her daughter knew better than to leave the driveway.
    “Mama! Mama, come see. This