Heartbreak Ranch Read Online Free Page B

would have been concerned about the situation his daughter had found herself in. Most would insist on flying to her side, to try to shelter her from the worst of the fallout from that mess in Florida. But not Julianne’s father.
    â€œHow come this guy’s in the foaling barn?” she asked.
    Jed fed the colt one last handful of oats, then shook his head at the horse. The beast would eat all day if allowed.
    â€œHe snagged a back fetlock on the barbed wire. Got a nasty gash. The vet came and took care of him, but we need to keep it clean for a few days. Then he can go back to the fields with his mama.”
    They walked through the nearly empty barn. Although it was usually full in spring, most of the foals were pastured with their mothers when they were a few weeks old.
    When they exited, Jed led her to a gleaming red, half-ton pickup. “Hop in. I want to take you to the new cattle barn we’re building, and it’s a ways from here.” He could see the slight stiffening in her shoulders before she shook her head.
    â€œI don’t mind walking.”
    He stopped in his tracks and looked hard at her. He wasn’t used to seeing her this edgy, and a sudden thought bloomed and twisted through him viciously. He strode over to her and took her elbow, forced her to face him.
    â€œWhat’s going on, Julianne?”
    Her eyes met his, startled, wary. “What do you mean?”
    â€œYou’ve been nothing but nerves every time I’m within two feet of you. Is it me? Or any man?” His voice went lethal as he voiced the questions, and his fingers tightened unconsciously. “Was it Richfield? Did he hurt you?”
    Her gaze widened as she caught his meaning, and she shook her head vehemently. “No, Jed, nothing like that. Andrew had more than his share of vices, but hitting women wasn’t one of them.”
    He dropped his hand as relief coursed through him. “Then what?”
    She lifted a shoulder. “I guess you’re right. I’ve been a little nerved-up lately. But it doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
    Unconvinced, he continued to watch her, but her eyes were cool and dark, revealing nothing. Out of patience, he turned away. If there was something riding Julianne, he wouldn’t find out about it until she was good and ready to tell him. The last several months had proved that.
    â€œGet in the truck, then,” he said brusquely. “I’ll show you the barn we’ve got going up. It was supposed to be done last week, but they ran into some supply problems and missed the deadline.” He opened the door and swunginto the truck. After the briefest of hesitations, she complied. He drove the quarter of a mile to the structure.
    The building was little more than a massive skeleton. As they walked up to the framed building, she said disbelievingly, “Good Lord, it’s going to be huge. What in heaven’s name is it for?”
    â€œWe’ve added to the herd, and we’ll be expanding more.” He pointed to a far corner that had been framed off. “I have plans to leave space there for a veterinary office. When there’s a problem, we’ll have some basic equipment right here.”
    â€œThat will be convenient. Is Mike Lytrell still the vet around here?”
    Jed nodded. “He’s got an assistant now. He wanted to take it a little easier. Haven’t noticed that he’s slowed down much, though. We’ll still be using the old barn, too. We’re going to need them both.”
    â€œThis is wonderful,” she said, turning a shining gaze on him. The sincerity in her voice uncurled a ribbon of pride deep inside him. Then she continued, and just as quickly the feeling withered. “I can’t believe that Harley is finally taking an interest in the ranch again. All these changes…” She indicated the structure with one hand.
    â€œHe must be planning to come back here for