Free Forever Dreams (Montana Brides) by Leeanna Morgan Page A

for sparkly jewelry in the middle of a cattle ranch.”
    “I don’t need to be living in a city to wear them.” She pulled a strand of ‘diamonds’ off the table, “I might wear this lovely necklace next time I ride Daisy. I’m sure she’ll appreciate the effort I’ve gone to.”
    “You’ll probably spook all the other horses from the glare bouncing off the glittery bits.”
    “Have I ever told you there’s not one romantic bone in your body, Trent McKenzie.”
    “More than once, honey.”
    Gracie gave him a bland look and carefully put her purchases back in their bag. Heading toward the stairs with the rest of her shopping clutched in her arms, she said, “Much as I’ve enjoyed your scintillating company, I’ve got to get changed and meet Jordan over by the barn. He’s going to show me how to muck out a stall.”
    “Lucky Jordan.”
    Her snort of laughter brought a smile to his face. He walked back to his office and gazed down at the spreadsheet he’d been working on. Gracie in jeans and a t-shirt was enough to give a man sleepless nights. But Gracie in a short summer dress and strappy sandals that showed off her pink painted toenails, just about had him on his knees. If she looked like that each time she hit the stores in Bozeman he’d have to make sure he wasn’t around to admire her purchases afterward.  
    He shook his head and tried to focus his brain. Jordan would need his wits about him if he planned on teaching Gracie anything, especially if she got it in her head to be downright sassy.
    Trent stared at the computer screen. Maybe he’d wander down to the barn once he’d finished the accounts and give his brother a bit of moral support. God knows he’d need it with Gracie around.

    An hour later, Trent threw his pen down in disgust. Since Gracie’s unexpected return he hadn’t been able to finish any work sitting in front of him. His spreadsheet wouldn’t balance and his internet connection had died. What he needed was a cup of coffee and a piece of Mrs. Davies vanilla cake. It had to be better for him than staring at a computer screen and wondering what Gracie and Jordan were getting up to in the barn.
    Standing up, he glanced out the window. Who was he kidding? Even Mrs. Davies cooking held little appeal compared to a pixie with pink toenails. He reached for his boots and pulled them on. He might as well put himself out of his misery and go and get some fresh air.
    Before he’d made it three quarters of the way across the yard he heard squeals of laughter coming from inside the barn. He increased his speed just as Jordan’s booming voice roared in the still afternoon air. Rufus and Spot were barking their heads off. Gracie let rip with a laugh that was quickly followed by a deeper male voice. He couldn’t make out the words, but he knew for sure there was more going on inside those four walls than mucking out the stalls.
    Trent stood quietly inside the barn, letting his eyes adjust to the dim light. Gracie let out a peel of laughter, shouting, “Die, cowboy!” as she chucked a pile of hay on Jordan’s head from the overhead loft.
    Pure delight shone from her face. She sat waist deep in the hay, a chaotic mess of red curls and hay stalks falling around her face. A sparkling tiara hung off one side of her head and if he wasn’t mistaken, she’d added diamante earrings to add an extra bit of glitz to her barn-girl meets Hollywood ensemble.
    Rufus noticed Trent long before anyone else did. He barked an excited greeting, running backward and forward between Trent and the haystack called Jordan. Gracie gazed down from the loft, giving him a cheeky wave.  
    “Hi, boss. Want to come and play?”
    All kinds of thoughts flashed through his mind. He frowned at Jordan, catching the gleam of laughter in his brother’s eyes. Yelling up to Gracie, he said, “Some of us have work to do.” With a pointed look at Jordan he added, “And some of us obviously don’t have enough to do.”
    Gracie