Riding for Love (A Western Romance) Read Online Free

foreman but one of her best friends and mentor. He came slowly toward her with a limp, evidence of an encounter with a stubborn horse. A year ago, while he was picking out the hooves on an old Appaloosa, the horse had decided to use Tom’s foot as a landing pad. Tom’s refusal to have a doctor check the foot had caused permanent damage to the tendons. He tried to hide the daily pain, but Eve saw it etched on his weathered face. As the day wore on, his limp became more pronounced and Tom’s hat would slide further over his eyes to hide his discomfort.
    Over the months, Eve had discreetly moved some of his chores to other employees, until he caught on. When he confronted her about turning him into a “useless old coot,” she gave up and let him do the work he loved.
    “It’s hard not to laugh watching Nibby’s antics.” She turned back to the pasture watching the mare and her baby. Tom joined her at the fence.
    “The colt reminds me of you,” he said, smiling.
    “What? Long, skinny legs and no chest?” she bantered back, punching him lightly in the arm.
    Tom laughed and grew serious. “No. Beautiful and spirited.”
    Eve sighed. He did know her better than anyone, including her parents. Tom had been a family friend for as long as she remembered. When her mother died eight years ago and her father was jailed, he stepped in and helped get the ranch going.
    He was caring, supportive, perceptive to her moods, all the things her real father wasn’t. Most of all, he loved her like no one else. She shared everything with him. Well, nearly everything. A girl had to have her secrets. Today, though, she didn’t care to share her feelings about Dent.
    But, Tom wouldn’t let up until she spilled her guts.
    “C’mon, kiddo, out with it.”
    “Okay, okay,” she answered, raising her shoulders to her ears. “I ran into Denton Johansen this morning as I was leaving Max’s office.”
    Tom stiffened and clenched his fists. “Really?” he asked.
    “Yes. I mean, I literally ran into him or his SUV anyway. My truck got the worse end of the deal.”
    “Nothing he doesn’t deserve,” Tom commented, then chuckled.
    Eve sensed his gaze on her, but kept her eyes on the pasture and woods beyond. If she weren’t careful, he would know exactly what was going on in her mind.
    Usually the chirping of spring birds doing their mating dances soothed her. But today, nothing settled her nerves and the thoughts of Dent re-entering her life. In the past ten years, much to her dismay, visions of Denton Johansen crept into her mind when she least expected. Today he simply crashed back in, and not even the antics of Tilly’s new baby banished the memory of seeing him again.
    Nibby wound down and ambled to her mother for nourishment. Over the years, Eve wondered if the emptiness inside her came from the lack of children. Unless she found a man to cast out all thoughts of Dent, children were not in her future.
    “Eve?” Tom tapped her forearm. “Earth to Eve.”
    Eve tore her gaze from the distant trees. After a moment, her eyes focused back to her foreman.
    Tom eyed Eve’s soft profile. At times pride in her nearly made it impossible to button his shirt. Like a daughter he never had, she was kind and gentle. He figured most men thought their daughters pretty, and even though he’d had no part in creating her, he felt partially responsible for turning into such a beautiful woman.
    Tom grabbed the fence. If anyone ever hurt her, he’d . . .
    “Tom? What’s wrong?”
    He released his white-knuckled grip from the top fence rail and rid his mind of his angry thoughts.
    “So, kiddo, you gonna tell me what took you so long in town this morning and why you’ve been wearing such a serious expression since you’ve returned?”
    Eve opened her mouth to respond. He put up his palm up. “And don’t tell me it’s over worrying about Tilly and the upcoming season. I know you better than that, girl.” He patted the back of her hand.
    Tom