Free Diane R. Jewkes by The Heart You Own Page A

the room.

Chapter 9
    Kara was up early, dressed once again in her work clothes. She walked into the kitchen, grabbing a roll from the plate on the counter. “Consuelo, could you have some lunch ready for me? I need to get back out to the branding pens today. We’re almost ready to move the cattle up to the summer pasture.”
    “Mija, have you told your papa you were going to work today?” Consuelo wiped her hands on a cloth tucked into the waistband of her apron and walked over to Kara with a plate of eggs and tortillas. “I think he wanted you to show Senor Stoneham and Senor MacCairn around the ranch today. Such men, mija, no?” Consuelo smiled. “They are so polite and told me how much they enjoyed my food. Besides, aren’t you going to see the Roberts off?”
    She was torn. The work needed to be done, but she really wanted to find out what secret the two men were keeping.
    The ranch was more important. She decided to put off her sleuthing plans for a few days.
    “No, Consuelo, I’ve said goodbye to the Roberts. As for my father’s partner, I don’t think I will spend time with them today. If my father wants them entertained,” her chin tilted up, “he’ll have to do it himself. Could you have my food ready, please?” She quickly dismissed the men from her mind. “I need to get my hat and I’ll be right back.”
    Turning, she went out onto the patio and up the outside staircase to avoid running into her father. As luck would have it, it wasn’t her father she ran into, but a solid wall of flesh in a crisply ironed shirt. She jerked her head up looking into Alec’s smiling face.
    “Good morning Miss Jonston,” Alec said, grasping her arms to steady her, setting her back from him. She felt a blush warm her skin as Alecs’ gaze traveled from the ground up followed by a soft whistle. Mumbling an apology she scooted by him and rushed up the stairs.
    Kara made it to the barn without running into anyone else. She noticed the big gray stallion in the stall across from her horse.
    “You are a beauty,” she said softly, slowly approaching the big horse, “and so big. You’re hands taller than Gally. Here now, I won’t hurt you,” she whispered, seeing the flared nostrils and large head toss up and down nervously. Reaching up, she stroked the velvety muzzle, “I’d sure like to give you a try.” She admired the long, strong legs and deep chest. “Bet it’d be like flying.”
    “I’m sure the pleasure would be all his.”
    Kara jumped hearing the deep smooth voice coming from behind the big animal.
    “Titan would be more than happy to have you on his back.” Hawke smiled, appearing at the rear of the stall. Walking toward her, he slapped the horse affectionately on the neck. She noticed how the big horse turned to nuzzle his master. “I must warn you, though,” he continued as he combed the horses’ mane, “he’s not trained to a lady’s sidesaddle.”
    She stopped stroking Titan’s nose.
    “It might surprise you, Mr. Stoneham,” she said, her voice tight, “I’m not trained for ladies’ sidesaddles either.”
    Seeing an eyebrow raised in question, she added, “Most women out here don’t ride sidesaddle. It’s a blasted nuisance … can’t get any work done and it’s dangerous. No, most women ride astride, ‘just like a man’.”
    Hawke approached the stall door and she felt a flutter along her nerves and wondered at the knot in her stomach.
    • • •
    Kara stepped back as he reached the door and Hawke got his first good look at what she was wearing.
    Stopping midstride, he let his eyes roam from her head to her toes. A part of his brain once again noted how delicate she seemed. The rest of his brain and his body, however, focused on the sight of her long legs wrapped in snug denim trousers and the man’s shirt tucked into the waist.
    Thankful he was still behind the stall door, so she was unaware of the physical evidence of his reaction to her, he murmured, “You certainly