Free The Outer Edge of Heaven by Jaclyn M. Hawkes

her like that. It wasn't like her to back away from much, but he truly bothered her for some reason.
    She was determined not to let this new issue of the ranch hand interfere with her intentions to have a fabulous experience here this summer. Although she tried to stay away from him, she went on about doing what she could to be a mothering influence to the children as planned. Their garden was coming along beautifully, and she and the little ones spent some time every couple of days weeding and watering it with care. The little girls had started their dance lessons, and they had been practically living in their leotards and little dance skirts from the very first day.
    Weeding and dancing and feeding the piglet were a bit of a deadly combination and the dancing clothes would probably never be the same, but the girls didn't seem to comprehend this. Charlie had worried the first time she caught Evie bottle feeding the pig and doing twirls at the same time, but the piglet appeared relatively durable and seemed to be able to handle it without throwing up its breakfast.
    In the middle of the night that night Charlie woke up with the terrible thought that maybe piglets couldn't throw up and that it hadn't been able to even show it if it was motion sick. At breakfast the next morning she asked Luke if pigs could be sick if they needed to. He looked at her as if she'd grown an extra head. At that point, she decided she would let the pig be at risk rather than have Luke think she was crazy.
    One day as she came in from helping Tuckett with a cow that had kicked the scraper he was using, she met Luke in the great room and had to laugh out loud when he smiled and said, "You stink like a farm girl."
    Smiling sweetly in return, she replied, "That would be because I have bottle fed a piglet, taken a riding lesson, weeded a garden and helped Tuckett keep a cow from bleeding to death." Luke had sounded just like Fo for a second.
    He raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "That explains it. How did you help Tuckett?"
    "I held pressure on the bleeder while he did his darnedest to keep the cow snubbed tight to a post until the vet showed up."
    She had to laugh again when he mimicked Fo as he said, "Dang, Chuck! I'm impressed! Your aroma is completely warranted."
    She shook her head and grinned. "Well, if it's all the same to you, as soon as I check on the kids I'm going to go shower anyway, although it made Chase keep his distance, for once."
    As he went into the office, Luke said, "Maybe you should wear that scent more often, for Chase’s sake.”
    “It might even be worth it, but Fo would tease me mercilessly.”
    “Tell me if Chase gets over the top and I’ll make him stop. And I promise I won't tell Fo anything about you smelling."
    Charlie shrugged cheerfully. "He brought me here, knowing I could handle it."
    Much as she tried to ignore the fact that she liked Luke too much, it was nearly impossible. There was a lot to like about Luken Langston. He was involved in everything around the ranch, and was in and out as he oversaw all the different crews and operations. A good portion of his time he spent in the ranch office there in the main house, and he took an active interest in how the kids were doing that was nothing short of admirable. He truly loved them dearly and they all knew it and adored him back.
    Charlie tried, but the more she got to know him, the more respect she had for him and the way he lived his life. Every time she rode with Lindie, and especially as they became fast friends, Charlie felt guilty about her feelings for Luke.
    The riding lessons were one of her favorite things about the whole summer. She had always loved horses, but had never had much opportunity to ride consistently. She was enjoying the whole experience enough that she felt silly about being paid for the chance to be here. After a week or two of riding in the arena, Lindie took them outside and they began to takes long trail rides. They would all come