Free Promise Kept by Mitzi Pool Bridges Page A

to be all right?” Mark asked, his eyes as big as saucers.
    Donovan had forgotten how little boys could worry just as much, sometimes more, than big ones. “She’ll be fine as soon as she rests awhile. She just got a little too much sun.”
    “It is hot today,” Mark agreed.
    “It’s a good day to stay indoors. I should have listened to my mom.”
    “Does your mom make you do things you don’t want to do?”
    That was a trick question if there ever was one. “Sometimes.”
    “Do you always mind her?”
    Donovan took a deep breath. “When I was young, I tried to be good, and do what I was told. Now that I’m a grown man, I make my own decisions. Sometimes they’re right and sometimes wrong.”
    “How did you learn?”
    “From my mom and dad. That’s what your mom is doing. Teaching you, so that when you’re an adult you can make wise decisions on your own.”
    Mark nodded solemnly.
    Donovan let out a sigh of relief.
    When the last of the groceries were out of the car and put away, they headed toward the barn with the horses.
    Queenie ran toward them, barking fiercely.
    “What’s wrong, girl?” Mark asked as he bent down to pet her. Queenie wanted none of it. Barking harder, she ran in circles. “Where’s Freckles?”
    They looked toward the barn, around the yard. No Freckles. The dogs were always together. Queenie ran toward the barn. Mark ran after her. Donovan took Stormy’s reins in one hand, Skye’s in another, and followed. Seconds later, Mark screamed for Donovan.
    Donovan dropped the reins and ran.
    What he saw when he walked into the dim interior of the barn made his heartbeat kick into overdrive. Mark was bent over Freckles, crying.
    “She’s dead.”
    Donovan felt for a pulse. “Not dead, Mark. But very sick.”
    Carrying Freckles, Donovan ran for the Jeep. “I’ll take her to the vet.”
    “I’m going with you,” Mark said.
    Cal rode into the barn just as Donovan started the motor.
    “Tell Mom Freckles is sick, and I’m taking her to the vet. Tell her Mark is with me.”
    He backed up. Stopped. “Take care of the horses.”
    Cal stared after them in astonishment as the Jeep roared away.

Chapter Seven
    “Freckles is sick, Mom.” Mark shook Phyl’s shoulder. “Mom…wake up.”
    His voice came from a distance. Something was wrong. She sat up so fast her head swirled in a kaleidoscope of sound and light. She fell back, put a hand to her head, focused until she saw Mark standing beside the bed with tears in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” Panic sent her to her feet so quickly that she had to grab the bedpost to keep from falling.
    “What happened?”
    He was sobbing, his face scrunched up “I don’t know. Neither does Donovan. But it looks like someone poisoned Freckles. We took her to the vet. He said she might die.”
    He said it all in one long sentence without taking a breath, distress flooding his voice.
    “Did Freckles get into the rat poison?”
    Mark shook his head. “Donovan checked. I helped. It was away from the animals where it was supposed to be.”
    Her head ached. Panic made it hard to think. If it wasn’t an accident, then what? And why? Her stomach curled. Could it be a warning directed at her?
    She had to talk to Donovan. “Go downstairs and stay with Nellie. I’ll be down shortly.”
    She made her way into the bathroom on unsteady feet then splashed cold water on her face. She’d have to watch it. This was the first summer in years she’d worked outside. Coming from Southern California she wasn’t accustomed to this intense heat. Nor was she accustomed to the feelings she’d had when Donovan held her next to him.
    It had taken every ounce of willpower she possessed to keep her body as far from his as possible. Even that wasn’t enough. Stormy’s every sway seemed to throw her against his hard body. What she hated most was that she liked it.
    Did he feel it, too?
    Brushing aside thoughts of the sensual ride, she went downstairs.
    There were more