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Chapter 15
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The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 16
Chase headed out to check the fence line once more. When he reached the area where it had been cut previously, he saw a nice repair job. He hadn't heard from the Sheriff or from his neighbor Duffy, and decided to go have a talk with him himself. They'd been friends for years, and neighbors forever.He turned his horse around and took a shortcut to Duffy's house. His longtime neighbor didn't rise when he rode in, just sat quietly on one of the rockers on his front porch. He'd aged a lot in the few weeks since Chase had seen him at the last quarterly Bureau of Land Management meeting. He had a full head of silver hair and watery blue eyes that appeared to have seen too much. He hadn't been active in the ranch for the last couple of years due to his age and failing health, but he knew what needed to be done and how to do it.Chase got off his horse and tied the reins to the bar across the front porch. "Mornin', Duffy." He held out his hand. Duffy placed his hand in Chase's and pumped hi
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 17
Chase had to walk away from Lauren or they'd end up spending the day in bed.He wanted to be in bed with her, but she wasn't a neighborly rancher's granddaughter he was trying to entertain, or some random date for the hell of it. I'm hooked, damn it.He didn't understand his feelings for her and didn't know if he ever would. When near her, he felt like the king of the mountain, savior of the worldSuperman. He groaned. And Lauren was his Kryptonite. She sapped the strength from his body. When she turned her gorgeous green eyes on him, his knees grew weak. He broke out in a sweat when she was anywhere in his vicinity. Just thinking of her left him heaving for air like a racehorse.What was wrong with him? No other woman had such an effect.He reached the stall of the buckskin he was training and led the colt out of the barn and into the round pen. He swung the lead rope above the horse's head like a lariat, sometimes touching the animal's legs, chest, or sides. When the colt no lon
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 18
The tension in the truck was as thick as the morning fog on the mountaintops. Chase hadn't said a word, hadn't even looked her way. She squirmed on the bench seat. She hadn't felt comfortable since breakfast when he'd kissed her and then made a quick getaway, as if burned by her touch. She didn't know what it was, but something felt wrong between them. She stole a glance at him out of the corner of her eye and wondered what she may have said or done that would make him react this way.She didn't know him very well and still wasn't sure what to expect. One thing she didn't expect was to be riding to town with the quiet, brooding man he'd suddenly become. She turned her focus to something more pleasant. The magnificent view overwhelmed her. Snowcapped mountains in the distance, lush new green growths on the trees, and wide-open space in between. But, after a few minutes and all the beautiful scenery, she was suffocating in the silence. "This is such a beautiful part of the country."
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 19
Lauren opened the door to the dress shop and a bell jingled above. A middle-aged woman walked out from the back. Her blackish-gray hair was pulled up on top of her head in a tight bun and her glasses dangled on her chest by a gold necklace. She was dressed casually in black slacks and a black print top. "Good morning, how can I help you today?" Her blue eyes brightened as her gaze traveled from Lauren's head to her toes. "Well, I've been invited to your town dance, and I have no idea what would be appropriate to wear. Can you make a recommendation?" Lauren began to look through the racks of clothes."Ah, the spring dance. I remember it well. It's always so much fun, and I think I've got the perfect dress for you. It comes with a matching sweater, which you'll appreciate come the chilly evening." The store assistant walked over to a rack and searched for the right size, then pulled out a simple coral sundress. "This looks about right," she said, holding the dress up next to her. "G
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 20
Lauren watched the rolling green hills, painted with wildflowers, rush past the window. She loved the dress, but was ticked off at Chase for insisting on buying it. She wanted to simultaneously kiss him and strangle him. She'd never be able to repay him unless she found a job. She had a degree in Criminal Justice and had supported herself as a legal assistant back in Michigan, but that felt like a lifetime ago. Maybe she could find something as fulfilling in Saddle Creek or somewhere close. She'd worry about locating a place to stay after her first paycheck came in. Leaving the ranchand Chasewould be hard. Her throat tightened as she held back her tears. How could she survive without seeing his face every morning or hearing him whisper her name? She wouldn't live a day without caressing his bronze body as only a woman could do with a man. She swiped away the moisture in her eyes. The cab of the truck seemed to close in around her. A knot formed in her stomach. She couldn't think stra
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 21
She stared at the barn from the open window above the sink. What was happening out there? Chase's face had turned red with anger when Amos told him about another theft, but Lauren didn't hear any yelling from the barn office. No one came flying through the door, landing on his backside. Chase was probably handling things in his usual calm and composed way.Just like he'd curbed his temper, turned to her with kindness in his eyes, and told her to go into the house. Would he always be tender to her if she lived with him day and night, during their lovemaking, when she had his babies? Oh my god! A thought struck her between the shoulder blades and knocked the breath from her lungs.She'd never really thought about their sex together resulting in a baby. What if she was pregnant already? She touched her abdomen with her hands, almost hoping there was a baby already growing inside her. What will he or she look like? Will they have his gorgeous blue eyes and blond hair or my bright eye
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 22
Lauren ran to her bedroom and closed the door. Mrs. Lauren Montgomery. She wouldn't mind if she were his to take care of for the rest of their lives. Alone in her room, his words somersaulted around in her head so fast she wondered which were hers and which were his. "Look in my eyes and tell me you don't have feelings for me, that your heart doesn't jump into your throat every time you think about me, every time you look at me." She lay on the bed, her overloaded head full of thoughts she desperately wanted to clear. She couldn't shake Chase from her mind. She tried to think of nothing, but that didn't work, because his words just kept coming back, echoing with every passing second. How could she figure out how she felt about him, and figure it out fast? Could marrying him really be the answer to all her problems, or would it cause more? How would marrying him keep Clint from invading her future? Surely Clint will give up trying to find me by then.She didn't want to be responsible
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 23
Lauren woke early, dressed, and again beat Chase to the coffeemaker. She sat at the table and watched the sun rise on a beautiful, clear, and dry day as she pondered her immediate future. She was getting married.One thing she'd learned about the handsome rancher was he didn't rush into anything. He thought everything through and through. Sometimes he thought it to death, and she surmised he'd done that before proposing to her as well. She could only hope he'd had the right idea and she'd made the right decision.She'd have to get used to the sound of Lauren Montgomery instead of Lauren McCray. She rolled her tongue around the new name. At least I'll have the same initials. Then again, maybe I won't bother changing my nameat least not till we get past the first year. * * * *Instead of jumping out of bed as soon as he smelled the coffee aroma wafting into his room from the kitchen, Chase lay there thinking about his bride-to-be. He snorted. That was nothing new. She'd been the o
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