Lorraine Heath Read Online Free Page B

isn’t going to be happy we’re leaving. I don’t want to tell him until we’re ready to go. And I want to leave the day after we’re married.”
    That gave them ten days to get ready. “You sure you should be traveling?”
    “If I weren’t used to riding, I’d worry. But I think as long as I don’t do anything I don’t normally do, I’ll be fine. I want to leave now.”
    “I’ll have to get into town to get my money and some supplies. I could do that this Saturday.”
    She leaned forward, resting her elbow on an upturned knee, the luster returning to her eyes. Lord, but he loved that sparkle in her blue eyes, like the sun reflecting off a mirrored lake.
    “I have five hundred Herefords we can take with us. My contribution to the partnership. We can use the old line shack on the north side to store our things until we’re ready to go.”
    “We’ll have to hire a few men to help us with the herd,” he said. “Guess I’d best start figuring up everything we’ll need.”
    “Everything’s happening kind of fast, isn’t it?” she asked.
    “Yep. But that’s probably for the best. We’d probably both run off in opposite directions if we stopped to think about it too long.”
    He stood up, helping her to her feet. It was a warm day, the wind blowing across the sea of tall grasses, teasing the leaves in the majestic trees. And it occurred to Jake that they had just finished planning the beginning of their life together.
    The men inside the bunkhouse were tittering like little old ladies, but Jake ignored them as he sat on his bunk trying to make a list of all the supplies they’d need. He could thank Thomas Truscott for his ability to read and write. As long as he had kept up on his chores, he had been allowed to attend the one-room schoolhouse that had serviced their community. Allowed—as if it were a privilege instead of a right that everyone should have.
    He had left the Truscott ranch unprepared. He didn’t plan to leave this one the same way. He’d learned a lot in three years, and he intended to put all his knowledge to good use. He drew an unplanned line across the paper as his arm was roughly nudged.
    “Did you know, Jake?”
    He glanced up and smiled at Frank Lewis, the only person besides Reb he’d ever considered a true friend. The red-haired youth had been raised in the city. In search of adventure, he’d signed on at the Lazy A shortly after Jake had. Knowing how much experienced ranch hands liked to pick on city boys, Jake had taken it upon himself to teach Frank the things he’d need to know to survive life on a ranch.
    “Know what?” He hadn’t been listening, and he really couldn’t have cared less, but he didn’t want to crush Frank’s excitement. Considering the fresh nicks on Frank’s face, he figured Frank was going to announce that he was having to shave every day now.
    “Know about Reb getting married?”
    He felt the heat warming his face and he just hoped the red creeping up it wasn’t visible. “Yeah, I knew.”
    “Goddamn! So it is true! Goddamn! Reb getting married! Wonder who the lucky son-of-a-bitch is. Any idea, Jake?”
    Along with shaving, Frank thought the use of “goddamn” was a sign of manhood. Jake refrained from smiling at his overabundant use of the word. Once would have sufficed to get his message across.
    Jake hadn’t given any thought as to how he would tell people he was marrying Reb, and he wasn’t exactly sure how to tell Frank now without sounding as though he were bragging. He was given a momentary reprieve when the door to the bunkhouse opened.
    “Jake!” Bassett’s bellowing voice filled the room.
    Jake peered around Frank. “Yes, sir?”
    “Anderson’s expecting you up at the house for supper at seven. Be on time, boy.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Frank’s eyes widened. “Why’s Anderson having you up to the house for supper?”
    Although Jake had told Frank about his plans to be a rancher, he’d never shared his past or his