Damaged Hearts Read Online Free

the saddle as he grabbed a lead rope and hooked it to the young stallions halter.  He quickly led the palomino inside the barn and rubbed him down before turning him into his stall that opened into an outside paddock.  He then measured out some oats, forked out a bit of hay and latched the stall door meeting Matt with the other two horses. 
     
    While Kaitlyn had her palominos, Rick’s forte was his paints.  Matt shrugged his shoulders as if to ask him which mount he wanted.  Lucifer was younger and a horse to be proud of, but Rick left him to Matt instead taking Warlock.  The two of them had a long history and there wasn’t currently a horse he’d rather have under him other than possibly Kaitlyn’s Golddust. 
     
    After leading the horse out of the barn and tying him to the post, Rick left Matt to saddle him as he turned and headed towards the house.  Stopping to turn back again momentarily, he issued instructions.  “You gals may as well get down for a second and come on in.  I need to make sure the housekeeper knows we are leaving and see if she can keep an eye on the girls while we’re gone.  We don’t need Morgan sneaking out and trying to catch up with us.”
     
    Kat slid off her horse but as usual, Matt was right there to assist Angel down.  Kat noticed that his hands lingered on her sister’s waist longingly so turned and started towards the house to give them a couple minutes of privacy.  She knew the two had a prior history that her sister didn’t really want her to know about yet. 
     
    Walking quietly into the house, Kat was hit the minute her boots cleared the entryway.  Caught by surprise, she tripped over Rick’s little six year old, blonde haired bundle of energy that had launched into her and they both ended up sprawled out on the floor.  Kat and Ali sat up totally astounded, looking comically at each other they broke into laughter.  That was how Rick found the two of them as he came back into the living room with his arm around the older fifteen-year-old Morgan.  Glancing up and catching sight of them, Kat attempted to get back to her feet but the giggling Ali made it a little difficult as she kept wrapping her arms around them.
     
    Seeing her dilemma, Rick stepped forward, scooped his daughter up in one arm, and attempted to give Kat a hand up at the same time.  Morgan stayed where she was with her arms crossed, a hostile look on her face.  Sighing, Kat thanked Rick as she ruffled the hair on the top of Ali’s head making her laugh all over again.
     
    “Hello Morgan, how is school going?”  Kat asked, cautiously.  “Hopefully all your studies are going well.”
     
    “It’s not like you care!  You’re just after my father and his money like all the other hussies in this county.  You don’t care about me or my sister so you can stop your act right now.”  Morgan shouted as she stomped from the room.
     
    “Wow, that went well” Kat said dejectedly.  “Guess she’s still afraid that someone is going to try to take her mother’s place here.”
     
    “You could be our mommy Kat.”  Ali bounced excitedly in Rick’s arms.  “Morgan would be ok if you came and stayed here forever, honest she would.  She’s just sad because Daddy’s been too busy to notice that she’s got a boyfriend.”
     
    “Let’s let Kat think about one thing at a time ok Ali-bug?”  Rick answered for her before turning a shocked look at Ali.  “What did you say?  Morgan’s got a boyfriend?  When did this happen?”
     
    “I don’t know Daddy.  A bunch of days ago I guess.”  Ali answered him solemnly before asking, “Are you going to help Kat find her cows?”  Then turning to Kat, she added, “Are you sad that your cows ran away?”
     
    Kneeling down to talk to Ali on her level Kat answered, “Yes Ali, I am very sad about my cattle.  The problem is they didn’t just run away; somebody stole them and now we have to go look for them and bring them