Free The Cowboy's Courtship by Brenda Minton

was about to get the surprise of her life. There was no telling what she’d do when she walked through the doors and saw Alyson in her home, with their grandmother. People assumed life didn’t bother Andie. Jason knew better.
    The truck and trailer ahead of him turned into the driveway at Etta’s and pulled down to the barn. He stopped next to the house and got out of his truck. As he walked, Andie jumped down out of her truck. It took him by surprise, how much she looked like her twin. He hadn’t seen it before. They weren’t identical, but they were close.
    Andie was tough. She was country, the real deal, with her jeans tucked into leather boots, her T-shirt said something about being raised country. Her soft edges were hidden by a sharp personality, a sharp attitude.
    “What are you doing here so early?” She walked back to the end of the horse trailer, sprang the latch and then flipped up the bar that kept the doors safely latched.
    “Saw you driving by.” Thought she might need a friend. He doubted that now.
    “Cool.” She walked into the empty side of the trailer, down to the end, where her horse was tied. She pulled the lead rope and freed him. “Back up.”
    The horse obeyed. When he backed out of the trailer, Andie had the lead rope. Her gaze shifted, to the back door of the house. Her eyes widened. Jason waited.
     
    “What’s she doing here?” Those were Alyson’s sister’s first words to her in over twenty-five years. So much for happy family reunions.
    “She’s found us.” Etta said, reserved, smiling. “She found out who she is and she came looking for us.”
    Andie stared and Alyson waited, not knowing what to do. At least having a twin wasn’t a surprise for Andie. Alyson’s gaze shot to Jason Bradshaw and she wondered why he was there. For her sister, no doubt. They’d always known each other. They were friends.
    And now, Alyson knew that she was the one who wasn’t supposed to be here. Andie sighed and held her horse close. Andie, who had had this life, these people, their father, the horses and a childhood.
    “Andie, I’m glad you’re home. I’ve been hoping…” Etta started.
    Andie shook her head. “Right. I need to put my horse up. He’s had a long trip.”
    Alyson made a move to follow her sister but a handon her arm stopped her. Jason’s hand. “Give her a few minutes alone. You’ve had a few days to adjust. She needs a little time, too.”
    “Okay.” Alyson watched Andie walk through the doors of the barn and disappear into the darkness.
    And she knew what her sister was feeling. She knew the emptiness. She knew betrayal, and the feeling that everyone knew something she didn’t. It was a deep down hurt. Alyson felt it, too.
    “How about a cup of coffee, Jason?” Etta, quick to get it together again. Her outfit today was jeans and a tie-dyed T-shirt. Her lavender/gray hair was held back with a scarf. “Did you already eat?”
    “I had coffee, but I need to head out to Camp Hope.” He pulled a notebook out of his pocket and Alyson smiled as he read it off to them. “Camp Hope, a bridle that Dad ordered, and dog food. If I don’t see you all today, I’m sure I’ll see you at church tomorrow.”
    Church. Alyson watched him walk away and she had another moment of not knowing what to do. Church? She glanced from her grandmother to the barn. Her sister did needlepoint verses. She probably understood faith.
    Jason pulled out of the drive, waving as he took off down the road. Andie was still taking care of her horse. Or maybe waiting it out until they were gone.
    Etta looked at the barn, and then back to Alyson. “We might as well go inside and wait. I guess I should have left a message on her phone, but I didn’t want to tell her like that.”
    Alyson nodded because she didn’t know what to say. She followed Etta to the house. Her grandmother hadstirred up bread dough earlier and now she dumped it out on a cutting board. Alyson was pouring herself a second cup