Jodi Thomas Read Online Free Page B

Holly in Zach’s arms.
    She pulled away from the stranger, trying to act as if her being in a man’s arms was not the eighth wonder of the world Sam appeared to think it was. “We’d best move the horses into the corral by the barn. I don’t want them spooking again.”
    “I’ll help.” Zach moved with her to their coats.
    “No, Yank . . .” Holly hesitated. “Zach. I don’t need a man helping who doesn’t know his way around the grounds after dark. The corral can be tricky. You stay here. I’m capable of running a ranch, even if I can’t dance.”
    She knew he would’ve argued if he’d known her better, but a guest on an unfamiliar ranch had no choice. She appreciated his offer. “Sam, you stay here, too. With that bad knee of yours, we’re liable to be pulling you out of the mud.”
    “All right.” Sam was already taking off his coat, as if he’d known he’d be staying behind. He touched his knee, which always seemed to give him trouble when any work appeared after sunset. “I need to talk with this here young fellow anyway.”
    Zach stood silent as he watched Holly pull on her coat. He could still feel her in his arms, and her fresh smell lingered, if only in his mind. He wanted to stop her, but he knew she was doing what she did every day of her life—the only thing she seemed to feel comfortable doing: being a rancher.
    When Zach finally turned back to the fire, Sam had made himself comfortable in the only chair. “I know what you’re going to say, old man, and there’s no need.” Zach wanted to make it clear to Sam before the old guy started giving him warnings and threats. “I realize I’ll be sleeping under the same roof as Holly, but I assure you I’m a gentleman, and she has nothing to fear.”
    Sam hooted with laughter so loud, Zach was worried about the man’s sanity. When finally he quieted down, Sam shouted, “Son, it wasn’t Holly’s safety I was worried about; it was yours! You can bet that if you do anything to displease her, she’ll have you tied to the hitching post come morning.”
    Sam shifted the tobacco in his mouth and looked toward the door. “I best get going.” He shoved himself
from the chair. “Consider yourself warned. Don’t dance with the devil’s daughter unless you can take the heat.” He slapped Zach on the back like he probably wouldn’t see the man alive again.
    As the door slammed behind the old man, Zach folded into the chair and ran his fingers through his hair. He was too tired to think about anything. It seemed a million years since he’d watched the sunrise at the train station. For the first time in months, he fell asleep without the taste of whiskey in his mouth or the memory of the war on his mind.
    The fire was low when he heard the door open. He didn’t move while Holly took off her coat, gun belt, and boots. She’d been gone for hours, but she looked as fiery and beautiful as before.
    Keeping one eye open slightly, he watched her tiptoe across the room to a huge wardrobe. She glanced his direction, then, satisfied he was asleep, unbuckled her belt.
    Zach felt guilty for spying on her, but he couldn’t bring himself to move and announce that he was awake. The gentleman in him told him to keep his eyes closed; the man in him wouldn’t allow it. He knew there was nowhere else to get undressed that was as warm as this room.
    The wool trousers slipped from her hips to the floor with a soft plop. Her oversized shirt hung almost to her knees, hiding all but a quick glimpse of her legs. She pulled her arms into the shirt, and he thought she was going to pull the huge garment over her head; but instead, she began unwrapping a long strip of white cotton from around her chest.
    Zach had heard his mother talk of women binding their breasts when they wanted to stop nursing babies, but he’d never known a woman to do so otherwise.
    When she finished, Holly tossed the binding in a drawer and put her arms back into the shirt. Tiptoeing over