Read Heart of Mine (Bandit Creek) for Free Online

reached forward, stroked its warm neck. Whether the gelding liked her or not, he tolerated her presence and attention. Which was more than she could say for her husband and the fine folks of Bandit Creek. Digging into her pocket she then withdrew the few dollars and coins she'd collected. It wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. Her hands fisted around the money as reality did the same around her heart. She was in trouble. Big trouble.
    Behind her the stable door opened. Laura cringed, drew up her shoulders and tried to make herself as small as possible. Please don't let it be Jake. Footsteps came her way, slowed. She angled herself away, drew her collar up to cover her lower face.
    "Laura? Is that you?"
    Laura recognized the deep baritone. Her chin dropped to her chest. It was Jake's grandfather, Zachariah Evans. It looked as though Jake was going to find out she'd been in town after all. With nowhere to hide, Laura turned, braced for the worst.
    Blue eyes looked at her from beneath white, wooly brows. "I thought I saw you coming from the boardinghouse."
    "Hello, Mr. Evans."
    "We're family now, Laura," his narrow lips curved. "Best call me Zachariah."
    Her jaw fell open. "You're not angry I married Jake?"
    "My dear, I've seen folks get married for all sorts of reasons in my day, so it's not the circumstances that interest me. What does concern me, however, is whether or not you can make my grandson happy." His blue eyes were gentle as they held hers. "If anyone can, Laura, I believe it's you."
    She clicked her teeth together, looked a little closer. He wasn't lying. He genuinely believed she'd make Jake happy. While that truth sang in her heart, singing just as loudly was the fact that Zachariah considered her part of the family. A real family. Even before her mother had passed away Laura had never known what a real family entailed. Not with the kind of man her father was. But Zachariah Evans, respected business owner in Bandit Creek, wasn't horrified his grandson had married well below his station. He didn't want anything from her and he liked her.
    Her hand slid over her heart where his words curled warmly like a sleeping cat in the sunshine. There was one person in Bandit Creek who thought she had value, who didn't look upon her as though she were the very dirty water she'd tossed outside this morning. For a moment, she felt light enough to fly.
    Until she remembered her father's visit. She had less than two days to come up with more than forty dollars. Short of stealing it, Laura had no idea how she'd manage. Happiness was quickly smothered by harsh reality. She'd never be any better than her father, no matter that it wasn't her choice. As if to say different, the paint nudged Laura with his nose.
    "Friend of yours?"
    "I'd like to think so." Laura shifted so as to be able to see both man and animal. "I don't know who he belongs to, but he seems happy to have my company." And because she was so very grateful for that, she raised her hand to stroke him. The money she'd had clasped inside her palm fell to the floor at her feet.
    "Oh, no!" Knowing she couldn't afford to lose any of it, Laura dropped to her knees. Fingers frantically searched the straw and dirt. She had to find it all. She simply had to. Ignoring the fact that she was getting dirty, Laura didn't stop until she had every last coin. Only once she ensured she had the right amount did she breathe. If she'd lost any…
    "Did you find everything?"
    Mortification burned Laura from her neck to her scalp. She'd been so worried about her money she'd forgotten Zachariah was there. And now he'd witnessed her scrounging through the dirt for a few dollars. Laura nodded, dropped her money into her pocket. She couldn't bring herself to look at the man.
    He took the choice from her when he curled a firm hand under her elbow and drew her to her feet. He said nothing as she brushed the dust and straw off her skirts, but Laura felt his stare. When her skirts were as clean as they