Free To Wed and Protect by Carla Cassidy Page B

fragile.
    He’d had the crazy impulse to take her in his arms and hold her tight. And his desire had nothing to do with anything physical, nothing to do with sex. He’d merely wanted to take away the pain that had momentarily whispered in her eyes.
    Crazy, he thought as he left the kitchen by the back door.
    He waved to the kids who were taking turns on the swing, then headed around to the front and began to pull down the last of the old porch. As he worked, his mind raced with thoughts of Abby.
    Had her marriage been a miserable one? Was it possible her husband had lied to her, broken promises…and even worse?
    Once again he thought of Jason asking him if his daddy was mean. Why would a six-year-old ask such a question unless he knew something about mean daddies?
    Luke had a feeling what Abigail Graham needed more than anything in her life was some good, old-fashioned fun. She obviously had a good sense of humor. That had been evident as she’d teased him.
    But how much fun could her life have been for the past year having the responsibility for raising two kids alone? And how much fun had her life contained prior to her husband’s death?
    He worked until dinnertime and managed to get the last of the old porch down. He’d just finished loading his tools in the back of the truck when Abby came around the side of the house.
    â€œI was just going to come in to find you,” he said.
    â€œI’ve got to get over to the family ranch and put in a few hours, but I’d like to come back later this evening and set the posts. That way they can set up overnight and will be ready by morning.”
    â€œThat’s fine with me, but I thought you worked at the Honky Tonk in the evenings.”
    â€œIt’s closed on Monday nights,” he explained. He looked at his watch. “It’s almost five now. I’ll be back here about eight, if that’s okay.”
    â€œSure, that’s fine with me,” she agreed.
    â€œOkay, then I’ll see you about eight.” He started to get in his truck, but paused. “Oh…and Abby, I’ve figured out what you need in your life.”
    â€œOh, really?” She arched one of her perfect brows.
    â€œAnd what might that be?”
    He grinned. “I’ll tell you later.” He slid behind the steering wheel and waved at her, then pulled away from the house.
    Within minutes he was at the ranch and spent the next couple of hours repairing a fence that was threatening to topple down.
    When he’d finished, he went to the main house, tothe bedroom that had been his as a child. Much of his clothing and personal belongings were still here.
    When he’d moved into the Honky Tonk, he’d taken very little with him, knowing it wasn’t a good idea to store anything of value in the tiny room. The ranch was close enough for him to obtain anything he might need in a short period of time.
    He showered, then changed into clean clothes, his mind whirling with memories that being in this room always evoked.
    When he’d been growing up, this room had served as both a retreat and a prison cell. There had been times when his father had sent him to this room, and other times when he’d run here to escape his father’s rage.
    He left the room and the memories behind, heading for the kitchen and a chance to grab something to eat before he returned to Abby’s place.
    He’d just sat down at the kitchen table with a ham sandwich when his brother Matthew walked in. “I thought I heard somebody down here,” he said.
    â€œI stopped by to shower and change clothes.”
    â€œAnd raid my refrigerator,” Matthew added dryly.
    â€œThat, too,” Luke agreed affably. “Things seem quiet around here. In a couple more weeks things will really be quiet.”
    â€œI’ve already started a list of things that need to be repaired in the guest cabins,” Matthew said as he leaned his back against the