The Virgin and Zach Coulter Read Online Free Page A

he thought with surprise. He hadn’t seen Cade in nearly a year and it was always good to catch up with his brother. As for returning to the ranch? There was an odd mix of reluctance to see the place and an uncomfortable weight onhis chest that reminded him of the way he’d felt after his mother had died. That same heaviness had returned when he’d left the Triple C, and again when Cade had told him Joseph was dead.
    He shook his head. He’d never spent a lot of time examining his feelings and he didn’t plan to start now. It was enough that he wasn’t turning the truck around and heading back to San Francisco.
    What the hell, he thought with a shrug. Life was full of surprises. He’d never expected to be driving down this road again.
    He shifted the truck into gear and left the crest of the hill, following the gravel road as it descended to the valley floor. The wood-and-iron bridge rattled beneath the wheels as he crossed the creek before the road climbed again to reach the buildings.
    Zach automatically swung the truck in a wide circle before parking in front of the house with the nose of the truck pointing toward the exit.
    An older pickup sat in front of the bunkhouse across the graveled ranch yard, and a newer model silver truck was parked just beyond Zach’s pickup.
    Guessing the newer vehicle belonged to Cade, Zach grabbed his duffel bag from the jump seat and stepped out, stretching in an attempt to relieve the aches from the long days of nonstop travel.
    The gate in the fence to the house yard opened without a creak when he lifted the latch.
    Cade had obviously been doing a lot of work on the place, Zach thought as he closed the gate behind him, his gaze assessing the semicircle of buildings facing the house around the large yard. The bunkhouse was freshlypainted and although the barn, machine shop and other buildings were weatherworn, the structures appeared to be solid.
    He turned back to the house, running a quick glance over the roofline and corners. Fresh white paint and green trim around the windows and doors had the old house looking better than Zach remembered it.
    He strode up the walk, crossed the porch and stepped inside without knocking. The aroma of simmering pot roast filled the air and he caught the murmur of a radio from the direction of the kitchen.
    â€œHello? Anyone home?” He dropped his duffel bag just inside the door. “Cade?”
    â€œWe’re in the kitchen—come on back,” a feminine voice called.
    Zach wondered if Cade had hired a housekeeper. He walked down the hall and entered the kitchen just as the woman standing at the stove turned to look over her shoulder. Her eyes widened in surprise before her lips curved in a smile, lighting up her face.
    â€œHey,” he drawled, stopping just inside the door to glance around the room. “I’m looking for Cade—”
    The door to the back porch opened and his brother stepped inside, halting abruptly.
    â€œZach.” Cade crossed the room and grabbed him in a brief, hard hug before stepping back. Eyes as green as Zach’s narrowed as he stared. “It’s good to see you—but damn, you look like hell.”
    Zach laughed. “And hello to you, too.”
    Cade laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re back. Even if you do look like you haven’t slept in a week.”
    â€œI probably haven’t,” Zach drawled. “I plan to say hello and find the nearest empty bed to sleep for a day or two. Have you heard from Eli or Brodie?”
    â€œNot yet. I’m hoping you’ll ask your ace assistant to join the search.”
    Zach shrugged. “Angela’s never failed to find whatever she’s looked for. Want me to call her?”
    â€œYeah,” Cade said. “Any help she can give us would be great. It can wait until you get some rest, though.”
    â€œAll right.” A movement behind Cade caught