The Forever Family. Leigh Bale

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СКАЧАТЬ watched as Rachel Walker struggled to put her coat on over her sprained arm. When she flinched, he lifted the weight of the garment so she could slip it on. She smiled her thanks, fumbling with the zipper.

      A lock of blond hair fell across her eyes and she tucked it back behind her ear. With her manicured nails, dainty features and soft hands, she reminded him too much of Melanie. He could spot a city girl from a mile away. It didn’t matter that she was Frank and Myra Duarte’s granddaughter. He doubted this woman had ever worked a hard day in her life.

      No, siree. He wanted nothing to do with her.

      He stood back, feeling surly. Against his better judgment, something about Rachel Walker drew him like a moth to flame. By midday, word would spread all over town that a new woman was moving into Finnegan’s Valley, just south of town. No doubt she’d draw attention from every bachelor for miles around.

      Not him. Not only was he too old for her, but he didn’t have time for a pretty young woman who demanded lots of attention. Love passed him by long ago. He’d had his chance and ruined it. He accepted that. But he still couldn’t help yearning for a family of his own. He had Gladys and Charlie, but it wasn’t the same.

      As he walked to the front door, he felt Rachel’s eyes boring into him like a drill. When he turned, he found her checking her wristwatch. “What time is it? My watch must have been damaged during the crash.”

      “Just after four a.m. Almost time to get up. I may have to take a snowmobile out to my place to feed the livestock.”

      “Do you have a lot of animals out at your place?”

      He didn’t even crack a smile. “You could say that. Twenty-three head of cattle, eight horses, five cats, three pigs, two dogs and a new litter of pups born last week. I fed them before I left last night, but they’ll go hungry if I’m not back in time to feed them and break the ice over their watering troughs.”

      She gave a short laugh. “I can’t imagine caring for that many animals. I killed Danny’s goldfish when I forgot to feed the poor thing for three days. Danny still hasn’t forgiven me. What he really wants is a dog.”

      Yeah, she looked like the goldfish type. Probably didn’t do well with live plants, either.

      She clamped her mouth shut, as if realizing she’d told him too much. He didn’t speak as they walked past the kennels to the front office. A tabby cat lay curled in its cage, watching them with glowing eyes. A dog stood and stretched lazily before giving a shrill bark. Rachel jumped, her eyes widening with fear.

      “It’s okay. They won’t bother you,” he assured her.

      “Are they sick?” she asked.

      “Nah, they’re just boarding with me while their owners are out of town. Gladys and Charlie feed and play with them a couple times each day. Gladys is a trained vet tech and works for me.”

      “Oh, and what does a vet tech do?”

      “Basically, she’s my assistant,” he explained.

      “Oh.”

      He left her standing in the front office while he locked the back door. When he joined her again, he caught her staring at a sign in his front window that read: Help Wanted—Receptionist. Inquire inside.

      Great! Now she’d ask for the job. She obviously needed an income. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t want to hire her. She couldn’t be worse than the last receptionist he’d hired, but something about this woman put him on edge. She made him feel strange and out of sorts.

      He discouraged further conversation by flicking off the light and opening the front door. A blast of wind and snow struck them, rattling the front windows. Rachel gasped. Her first step outside, the rubber soles of her impractical tennis shoes slipped against the icy pavement. She cried out and grabbed for his arm, and he found himself holding on to her so she wouldn’t fall. In the dim shadows of the street light, she stared up into his eyes, her mouth rounding with surprise.

      Sam didn’t smile, but his heart rate sped up. He cleared his voice as he clasped her elbow. “Sorry, ma’am. I should’ve taken your arm.”

      “It’s okay.” She spoke above the roar of the storm, flashing him a forgiving smile that melted his frozen heart.

      He knew then he’d crossed an invisible threshold he didn’t understand. As he sheltered her from the brunt of the storm with his own body, he realized he couldn’t go back in time and sensed he would never be the same again.

      

      Hunching her shoulders against the wind, Rachel shuffled through the snow down the dark street. She was highly conscious of the strong man walking beside her, holding onto her arm. The cold and wet beat against her, stealing her breath. She could barely see in front of her feet, but Dr. Thorne seemed to know the way. His presence comforted her for some odd reason.

      By the time they reached Gladys’s house, Rachel’s ears, feet, hands and nose felt numb with cold. Snowflakes wet her face and she brushed them away. Her hair felt weighted down with dampness.

      Dr. Thorne led Rachel to the back porch, where he immediately released her arm. In the darkness of the storm, she could just make out the color of blue trim around the shutters. He opened the screen door, and she brushed off her coat before preceding him inside. Warmth engulfed her, and she caught the tantalizing scent of cinnamon. A night-light by the kitchen sink gleamed red across the refrigerator, table, four chairs, and yellow daffodil wallpaper.

      Rachel stomped off the snow on a large, fluffy rug before doffing her coat. The doctor carried the garment into the other room. Rachel followed and watched as he spread it on a chair before a low fire burning in the living room hearth. His consideration confused her. She didn’t think he liked her much, but he was still polite.

      A single lamp had been turned on, sitting on a table beside the flowered sofa. She peered through the shadows, noticing the simple but comfortable recliner, afghan and pillows, family pictures on the mantel, a small television set and a basket of yarn and needles sitting nearby. The surroundings reminded Rachel of Grammy’s farm house. Humble but comfortable and inviting. A place where you found refuge from the world.

      “Where’s Danny?” she whispered.

      Placing a finger against his lips, Dr. Thorne beckoned her to follow as he led her down a narrow hall to a bedroom. The door creaked as he pushed it open. The tall shadow of a bunk bed showed her son sleeping soundly in the bottom bed. Another boy about the same age as Danny slept in the top bunk.

      Rachel tiptoed across the room and knelt beside her son. She cupped his warm cheek and listened to his even breathing. He gave a deep sigh, his mouth puckering. She could sit and watch him sleep for hours. Knowing he was safe brought her the greatest peace. She could hardly believe complete strangers would take him in, feed him and give him a bed. Dr. Thorne and Gladys’s kindness touched her deeply.

      A movement beside the door caught her attention. Gladys stood beside her brother wearing a pink bathrobe and fuzzy slippers. Rachel pulled the quilts around Danny’s shoulders, then stood and backed out of the room before Gladys closed the door. She followed the doctor into the kitchen where Gladys turned on the light. Rachel blinked her eyes against the sudden brightness.

      “How are you feeling?” Gladys asked kindly.

      “Better, СКАЧАТЬ