Heartland Read Online Free Page B

thud. “Did you honestly expect me to greet you with open arms?” The angry words were out before she could stop them, yet another admission of a pain she hadn’t wanted him to see. Where was her Danvers’ pride?
    â€œNo, not open arms.” His voice went quiet, and the hint of laughter left it for once. That softening shook her. “Just an open mind.”
    Lara felt a sigh ripple through her.
    â€œWhat’s happened to you, Lara? When we met, you were filled with so much gaiety, so much excitement. I’ll never forget that day I first saw you down at the stream.”
    â€œI’ve grown up a lot since then.”
    â€œGrowing up shouldn’t mean an end to laughter. I’ve watched you over the last few years. You never seem to laugh anymore. It’s as though someone broke your spirit. Was it me?”
    The observation rankled. “I hate to spoil your egotistical fantasy that you’ve ruined my life, but I’m quite happy. I have a full life—family, friends, work.”
    â€œThat’s not what I hear. I hear the only thing in your life is this farm.”
    â€œGossip is a pretty unreliable source of information.”
    â€œIt’s all I’ve had, since you’ve made it plain you don’t want me around.”
    â€œI’m surprised you bothered even with that.”
    â€œI wanted to know how you were doing.”
    â€œWhy? So you could buy up the rest of the farm the minute it fails? I hate to disappoint you, but we’re operating in the black.”
    â€œI know that, too.”
    Lara stared at him, incredulous that he’d apparently been prying into her life. “Mr. Hogan, I suppose?”
    â€œHe’s very proud of your success.”
    â€œHe’s glad the bills are being paid,” she retorted with a touch of asperity. Forcing a more cheerful tone, she said, “Well, now that you’ve seen for yourself how terrific things are around here, you can be on your way.”
    Steven ignored the blatant dismissal. “You’ve never married.”
    Lara’s hands stilled. “So? Marriages don’t guarantee happiness. From everything you had told me about yours, you of all people should know that.”
    He winced. “You’re right. I was just a kid, and my marriage wasn’t a particularly happy one. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t try again, if the right woman came along. What about you?”
    â€œI suppose, if the right man came along, I’d marry.”
    â€œBut in all these years he hasn’t appeared? Maybe your standards are impossibly high.”
    She frowned at the sarcasm. She’d heard the same thing from Tommy all too often. Even mild-mannered Megan chastised her for shutting herself away on the farm. Only Greg, the youngest of the three siblings, left her alone. He was too absorbed with his paintings to even notice the rest of the family. Choosing a solitary existence for himself, he saw nothing odd about her life-style.
    Her resentment of the familiar refrain was all too clear in her tone. “Your mythical perfect woman apparently hasn’t shown up, either, or am I wrong?” she said, attempting to turn the tables and put him on the defensive. “Have there been other women since you left here eleven years ago?”
    â€œThere’ve been women,” he admitted curtly.
    â€œBut no marriages?”
    â€œNo. I think I was spoiled.”
    â€œOh?” She heard a note in his voice that puzzled her. It was the same solemn hint of regret she’d caught at the bank the day he’d offered to buy her land.
    He picked up a small piece of dough, worked it nervously for several minutes as tension built. The air was still, crackling with the promise of a storm and something more. At last he dropped the dough back onto the counter and let his hands fall to his sides.
    â€œI’ve missed you, Lara.”
    Her eyes widened in shock. That