Read Kelly's Jellyfish Romance (Romantic Short Stories) for Free Online

childhood
sweetheart was killed in a car wreck five years ago he stayed mostly to
himself.    
    After dinner Brett leaves the table to tend to the horses. A
horseman’s work is never done. Kate doesn’t mind cleaning up. She begins to
realize this life of country living and domesticity has an appeal she never
expected. She hasn’t felt this comfortable or happy since before her father
passed away. After putting the everyday dishes back in the cupboard Kate finds
what has become her favorite spot on the sofa; right in front of the
comforting, romantic fireplace. Brett returns from his chores covered in snow
to tell her the weather report on the radio is calling for the storm to last
well into the next day. Odds are the roads won’t be plowed until tomorrow
evening, possibly the following morning. Kate doesn’t worry. She is comfortable
and in no rush to leave.
    Brett goes right to work and makes up the spare bedroom for
Kate. She thanks him and as he says goodnight Kate musters up her courage and
steals a kiss. She’s totally amazed she is so forward. The kiss turns searing
and Brett struggles to pull himself away. He would much rather stay but still
cautious of complications retreats to his own bedroom. Kate is disappointed.
Feeling a little rejected she collapses onto the bed and falls asleep.
    Kate wakes up much later, just as the darkness of night is
beginning to lighten to gray. She hears a pair of boots approach the bedroom
door. Her hearts pounds a mile a minute in her chest as she hopes the door will
open. As the knob begins to turn, she hears Brett mumbling. “Get a hold of
yourself man! Leave the poor woman alone. She’s already had enough trouble.”
With a frustrated deep sigh, Brett walks down the hall to begin the day’s
chores.
    Kate stifles a moan of longing and tries her best to go back
to sleep. After unhappily lying in bed for an hour she forces herself up and
goes downstairs. A simple breakfast is waiting for her. She is not happy to be
eating alone. After finishing breakfast she spots Brett working out in the yard,
hauling hay through the falling snow. Determined to be useful, Kate runs
upstairs, quickly washes up, and puts on her winter clothes. Once outside, she
finds Brett still hard at work. Kate calls out to him. She wants to help.
Looking surprised but pleased Brett says, “Hey, glad to see you’re a worker”
and puts her to work feeding the horses.
    By the time they finish, they’re freezing.  The couple
warms up inside over cocoa. When Brett asks Kate if she would like to see the
rest of his farm on horseback, she eagerly agrees. Embarrassed, Kate has to
tell Brett she is a city girl; she doesn’t know how to ride a horse. Chuckling
Brett tells her no problem. She can ride double with him on Molly. They mount
up on the huge golden Belgian mare Kate saw the day before. For the next hour
Kate rides next to Brett around his farm, pressed in the saddle closely behind
him. Without thinking anything of it Brett ends the tour at the hay barn. He
wants to proudly show off a few of his other horses. As he helps Kate dismount
the huge mare she somehow falls right into his arms. The dual passion that had
been building all morning explodes. The two make love first in the hay barn,
and then move inside to the cozy house.
    The afternoon flies by in a blur as passions unleashed they
alternately make love and complete a few necessary chores around the farm.
Roger calls Kate that evening to see how she’s doing. He is delighted to learn
that Kate and Brett have been staying warm and cozy by staying close to each
other. Then Roger drops a bombshell. “It’s a real shame Brett won’t be able to
stay on his farm much longer. The bank is planning to foreclose early next
month.” “He’s going to lose his farm? The life he loves!” Kate blurts out
incredulously. Horrified she realizes Brett is standing in the doorway and must
have heard her. Embarrassed, Brett turns around and walks quickly out