Free The Stafford Collection, Historical Western Romances by Lynn Hubbard

outside. 
    Sensing her nearby, Troy neighed in anticipation as she walked up to him.  She stroked his neck and chatted softly to the horse. “Your big dumb master doesn’t bring you by to see me, does he?” she whispered. Troy shook his head as if in answer.  She scratched behind his ears and watched a quiver run down his spine from pleasure.
    A shadow crossed over her and she spoke to the man behind her. “How’s the new home?” Sabrina asked. She meant for the comment to come out off handedly, but instead it sounded wistful. Angry at herself for letting her emotions get the best of her, she patted Troy and walked away before he could answer. She felt his eyes following her as she headed back to her sanctuary.  She couldn’t fight the feeling that she had left a bit of herself behind.
     

 
     
    Chapter 6
     
     
    T he following day Sabrina did not see Brock or Troy at all. Thomas stopped by to drop off some liniment for Mrs. Swanson’s rheumatism. Sabrina did not know why he couldn’t have taken it to their house instead of dropping it off with her. To make matters worse, he did not leave; he just hung around chatting while she cleaned Star’s saddle. The Reynolds had a new barn built and no longer kept their horses in town so there was no excuse for him to stick around.
    “Looks like a storm’s coming in,” he commented as a brisk breeze rose. Sabrina looked up, taken off guard as she looked at the darkening clouds off in the distance. She did not know why she hadn’t noticed the change in the weather herself. Even the air had changed; it was thicker somehow, as if it was gathering energy.
    She put away the saddle and polish and went to check on the horses; they were snorting and moving restlessly. She went to the last stall in the back and patted the gentle Star on her nose.  “It’ll be okay, girl.  I promise,” she whispered as the horse neighed back at her. She barely took note as Thomas left to head home. Closing the main bay doors against the wind, she made a check on the horses one by one.  When she’d settled them all, she lit a lantern, providing light in the now-dim barn.
    Oklahoma had many bad storms. She had heard lots of stories of strong winds coming out of the sky and picking up anything in their way.  She thought people had been joking at first but, after hearing so many different stories from different people, she realized they couldn’t all be false. She wished she was not alone.  She wished someone was with her---even someone like Thomas. Ever since she’d been on her own, she’d hated storms worse than ever.  Settling into her loft she lay awake, cringing a little every time a gust of wind shook the rafters.
    She lost track of time.  The wind blew and blew. She wondered where all that wind came from and what riled it up in the first place.
    The horses were getting restless. Sabrina climbed down and, edgy as she was, tried to quiet them. She took deep breaths trying to calm herself as well.  The horses could sense fear, and she did not want to upset them any more than they already were.  The storm raged on outside even fiercer than before. She could hear thunder in the distance and cringed at every rumble as it drew closer.
    As a child, during storms Sabrina’s mother would always try to soothe her by telling her God made storms so that there would be rainbows. She recalled her mother’s sweet voice as she sang at her bedside until it passed. Sometimes the whole family would gather in the main room and sing. She vividly remembered the rich deep voices of her father and brother. Tears burned her eyes yet again. Sniffling, she moved from horse to horse, petting and singing softly to them trying to sooth herself as well as them.
    That evening there were four horses in the large stable. Their thoughtful owners boarded them at the livery while they were in town visiting for the night. Along with Star and another older mare, there were two choice stallions both strong and