A Tender Touch: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Logan Point Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

take schooling toward becoming an equestrian veterinarian. I’ve done my first four years in University and have another four years of specialty college. Right now, I am a qualified assistant.” I sighed again. “I’ve worked so hard and I feel like I still have such a long way to go. So that’s the reason for my extended stay. I’m looking for that perspective I always seem to find when I’m here. I need to find what’s important in life again and where I really want to go, because where I am right now, I just don’t want to apply for another four years of school.”
    As soon as I was done with my speech and silence filled the little space between us, I realized I’d just poured all my problems onto Gracie Donnelley - the owner of the Ranch I loved with my entire heart and soul - the mother of the man I had daydreamed about since forever - and the woman who always made my mother and I feel welcome even when our budget didn’t offer much in the means of extras. She’d always cut corners and offered us an extra day or two for free in the cabins. She was a good-hearted woman and I had just unloaded all my problems onto her.
    I stepped back, feeling shocked and ill. “I’m sorry...”
    “Ember Brighton, don’t you dare walk away from me.” Gracie’s tone was motherly and I stilled. She took a step closer to cover the distance I’d put between us. “Now, you listen to me, and you listen good. I’ve seen you every year since you were just a little girl. I’ve bandaged your scraped knees and I’ve watched you ride your first horse. I think of you as a wonderful extension of our family here at the Ranch. And I know you know you’re always welcome here.”
    “Thank you.” I felt my cheeks burn with the painful heat of a blush.
    She didn’t miss a beat. “If you ever need anything, someone to talk to, to yell at, or to cry with, you come to me, you hear? I want to know what’s going on in your life and if I can help you in any way, you know I will.”
    “Gracie...”
    “And for as long as you need, you know this place can be your home. Whatever you decide to do, Ember, you are welcome here. You just listen to the words in your heart and you won’t be led astray.”
    I sniffled, unable to help the running of my nose as emotions begged to pour from my body, if not in tears, than in the slobbery form of ugly sniffles. “You always know just what to say.”
    Gracie chuckled. “I raised four boys, Ember. If you don’t think they have their fair share of problems...” she snorted. “Let me tell you they do! They’ve got problems, but they’re my boys and I’ll do anything I can to help them through.”
    I smiled. “You’re a good mom.”
    “I know.” She beamed proudly. “Now, since you’re here at the Ranch and you’ve got all this training in science and Kami tells me you worked alongside an equestrian veterinarian last summer, how do you feel about helping us in the stables?”
    “Oh, really?”
    She nodded, grinning widely. “If you’re available?”
    “Definitely!” I laughed, the sound nearing on hysterical happiness. Straightening my spine, I tried to find some sort of professionalism. “I mean, yes. I’d like that.”
    Gracie shook her head on a giggle. “You can start as early as today. Just go on over to the stables as soon as you’re finished with your breakfast and tell Luke I sent you.”
    At the mention of Luke’s name, my heart fluttered and I felt a betraying blush rise into my cheeks. “I will. Thank you, Gracie.”
    She pulled me into another hug, squeezing me tight. This time, I squeezed her just as tight. For the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful. The possibilities for my life were endless.
    Gracie pulled back, tucking a strand of red hair behind my ear. “I think your breakfast dates are here.” She winked. “You’ve got the whole posse of Donnelley women, and soon to be Donnelley woman, staring at you from that table right over there.”
    I stretched