Read Galloping Hearts (Contemporary Cowboy Romance) (Texas Heat series: Book 2, Mitchell and Moira's story) for Free Online

walking into the barn. Sure enough, Mitch was already feeding and grooming the horses. She watched as he took each animal its morning grains and a treat, whether it was part of an apple, sugar cube, or carrot. He also seemed to know which treat each animal liked best. When he’d finish filling their buckets, he’d nuzzle against each one.
    The only one he had a problem with was Caliber. That wasn’t a real surprise. For whatever reason, only her and Daddy could handle Caliber. Still, even that old man seemed more relaxed around Mitchell than any other hand. She was certain with a little time, Caliber would accept him.
When he finished with the last horse, she walked in all the way to greet him. He was just walking from Caliber’s stall.
    “Morning, Mitch.”
    He wheeled around, almost falling over in the process. She laughed.
    He stuttered out. “Good morning. You gonna take a few of them out today?”
    She nodded. “Probably only one or two. Need to check on some of the further herds and might as well work one or two of them in the process.”
    He nodded.
    She held up the basket. “Grannie made some amazing biscuits again this morning. Want some? I know I want one before breakfast. It’ll calm my stomach.”
    He nodded and smiled. “That sounds great. I kinda over slept. I didn't hear my alarm this morning.”
    “Yeah, I hear you were out late last night.”
    She loved the way his smiled broadened, showing his slightly crocked teeth. “A few of us did, if I remember correctly.”
    She giggled as she poured them both a cup of coffee.
    Handing him one, she asked, “So, you want to come in for breakfast? Grannie said to bribe you with her preserves. I think that was meant more for me.”
    He laughed. “I already smell like horse.”
    She shrugged. “There are worse smells around that table sometimes.”
    “With all your brothers, I don’t doubt it. If that’s the case, I would be honored.”
    She was so happy in that moment, she was certain her heart might well bu rst.
    ******
    Mitch followed Moira into the house. Everyone was already at the table. Well, everyone except Andrew, who still wasn’t back from wherever it was he’d gone. He noticed that there were two noticeably empty chairs – right next to each other. He was fairly certain that wasn’t a coincidence after his conversation with Billy the previous night. Still, he washed his hands in the sink and sat down at the table.
    Throughout the breakfast, dishes of food and conversation were passed around the table naturally. He looked around, awed at what he was witnessing. There was easy banter between the siblings and good food too. He could see the love they all had for one another. What he was witnessing were the things his dreams, and the O’Connors, were made of. He made sure to keep his mouth full so he wouldn’t talk and get kicked from the group. Plus, Grannie’s food was too good to let go to waste. The woman made food better than Paula Dean – although it probably had as much grease and butter.
    Once breakfast was done, he went to help Grannie start cleaning up the kitchen. It was how he’d been taught in the foster homes he stayed in; clean up after yourself.Just as he went to start washing up some of the dishes, Miss Elaine scolded him. “What are you doing, Mitch? I have that. Go on out and do what you are hired you to do.”
    He looked down, embarrassed. “Sorry, ma’am. I was just doing what I thought was proper.”
    She laughed as she swatted him on the arm. “What’s proper is making sure the animals are well taken care of. If you start taking my job over, they might put me to pasture too.”
    He chuckled. “For some reason, I highly doubt that, Miss Elaine.”
    She shook her head. “Go on now. And might I make a suggestion? I know Moira is going to be checking some of the stock today in the further pastures. Why don’t you go with her? I know Billy was thinking about going with her but he has other things to do. Still,