Free The Cowboy's Healing Ways (Cooper Creek) by Brenda Minton

could melt a girl’s toes if she wasn’t strong. Laura liked to think she was strong.
    “Do you know how to ride?”
    She shook her head. “Sorry, never been on a horse. I grew up in the city. I can ride a bus but not a horse.”
    “Then it’s time to learn.”
    “I don’t know.”
    He opened his door to get out. “Trust me.”
    She wanted to, but her heart ached and she was all out of trust. It had been used up, poured out, stepped on and depleted long ago.
    She joined him on the walkway that led to the house. As they drew closer to the huge home, her breath tightened in her chest. Jesse glanced down and smiled.
    “Breathe.” He reached for her hand.
    “I’m breathing.” Barely. His hand on hers didn’t help. She knew he meant it to comfort her, give her strength. Instead it made her feel weak. Mostly in the knees.
    When they walked up the front steps of the house the door opened. A man a little older than Jesse stepped out. He nodded first to her, then to Jesse, and he shook his head. “Housekeeper my foot.”
    Jesse muttered something in Spanish. The other man laughed and kept walking but he glanced back as he headed down the steps. Laura stumbled over the slight step into the house.
    “Ignore Blake. He’s in a good mood and taking it out on everyone around him.” Jesse led her through the living room, barely giving her time to study the family pictures on the walls or the massive fireplace that stretched across the far wall.
    “Blake is one of your brothers?”
    “Yes.” He led her through a dining room with two long tables set end to end. “He recently found his daughter.”
    “Found her?”
    “Her mother took off with her years ago. There have been a few phone calls, some pictures. He hired a P.I. who found her living in Africa.”
    “Amazing.” She could sympathize because she knew how it felt to lose a daughter. She couldn’t imagine years without Abigail.
    And then they were in the kitchen. A woman turned from the sink, her smile bright and welcoming. She wiped wet hands on a towel and then brushed back her short brown hair.
    “Mom.” Jesse hugged the woman and she stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “This is Laura White.”
    “Laura, I’m so pleased to finally meet you. And I’m so glad you’re feeling better.” She patted Jesse’s arm. “And since we haven’t been officially introduced, I’m Angie Cooper, Jesse’s mother and Myrna’s daughter-in-law.”
    Laura held out a hand, which Angie Cooper took in hers and held.
    “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Cooper.”
    “Call me Angie—everyone does.”
    “Angie.” Laura bit down on her bottom lip and then managed a smile rather than the tears that stung her eyes.
    Angie shot Jesse a look. He had moved to the stove and had a dipper in a pan that steamed and smelled wonderful. “Stay out of that soup.”
    Jesse lowered the dipper and grinned. Laura looked away, choosing to study the details of the large kitchen with its many windows and shelves lined with planters overflowing with herbs of all types. At one end was a large table, and French doors led to a patio where a swimming pool reflected the blue sky on its shimmering surface.
    “I hope you like the soup, Laura. It’s a new recipe. And I have homemade bread rising.”
    “I’m sure it will be wonderful.”
    Jesse leaned against the counter, casual, relaxed. “Dad home?”
    “No, he’s in Grove picking up another silly llama. I don’t know why he has this sudden thing for those animals. They growl.”
    “He says he’s giving one to each of his grandkids for Christmas.”
    “Craziness.” Angie picked a few basil leaves and rinsed them before crumbling them in the soup. “Did you need to talk to him?”
    Jesse looked from his mother to Laura, and Laura had to look away. His eyes were kind, considerate. This was how it felt to have wagons circled.
    “Laura’s stepbrother is making her feel a little threatened.” Jesse turned to pour a cup of coffee. He handed