Robbie and Taron
Page 8
ABBY IS OLDER THAN Joshua Flint and heavily pregnant, with a brood of children, and distrustful of men. Why, then, is Joshua so deeply attracted to her? Anyway, as the new foreman, his duties keep him too busy to pursue a younger woman who vies for his attention, much less someone like Abby. Yet again and again, he finds himself drawn to her.
Abby vows never to seek love after her husband’s betrayal. Besides her duties as housekeeper and nanny leave her exhausted and too overwhelmed to form even simple friendships.
Yet a good-looking, young cowboy keeps showing up at her door ... even at the most inopportune times.
*Clean read.*
Excerpt from Abby and Joshua
Texas Triad, Book 3
Abagail Eldan
Chapter One
THE YOUNG COWBOY TIPPED his hat. “There you go, ma’am. Mr. Babbitt wanted me to get these to you right away.”
“No need to call me ma’am, Joshua. You make me feel old.” And she was, maybe not old but older. Why, he wasn’t even out of knee britches when she’d first moved to the ranch ten years ago. Back then, she’d been young herself, only nineteen, and naïve, not realizing most men went after what they wanted, regardless of the consequences.
She gazed into his smiling face, forgetting her disillusionment for a moment. “Please tell Mr. Babbitt thank you for me.”
“Yes, ma’am, I mean ... Abby.”
He tipped his hat again, but before he could leave, four-year-old Susie pushed past him. Shrieking to wake the dead, she barreled into the kitchen. “Momma, Momma! Tait hit me.” She hid behind her mother, holding onto her apron.
Tait, his eyes blazing with fury, charged in right after his sister, brushing against the young foreman. Joshua caught her son by the arm and then shot Abby a look.
She gave him a slight nod, and he knelt to hold her son at arm’s length. “Why did you hit your sister?”
“I didn’t hit her, I kicked her. I was bringing in the firewood for the stove, and she kept tripping me.”
Susie spoke from behind her. “You were stepping on the drawing I did in the dirt.”
Tait twisted his body to glare at his sister. “How was I supposed to know? I couldn’t see with a load of firewood in my arms.”
“Well, Tait ...” Joshua said, keeping his gaze locked on Tait’s.
“Yes, sir?” Tait’s eyes, so much like his father’s, had regained focus, and his cheeks reddened as Joshua continued holding him.
“Is there a solution to the problem so that it won’t happen again?”
Tait stared down at the floor. “I’m sorry.”
Joshua chuckled. “Are you apologizing to the floor?”
Tait looked up and gave Joshua a smile. “No, sir.” He threw a glance in Susie’s direction.
“I’m sorry, Susie.”
“That’s a good start.” Joshua released Tait but remained kneeling, one arm on a knee. He looked thoughtful a moment and then scratched his chin. “What else could we do so this won’t happen again?”
“When I trip Tait, blame Wade?” Susie piped up.
Joshua tried, without much success, to suppress a laugh.
“Susie!” Abby scolded.
“Sorry, Momma. I reckon I need to stay out of Tait’s way.”
Tait sniffed the air. “Momma, the biscuits are burning!”
All the commotion awoke the baby. Without Abby asking, Joshua scooted over on his knees to where the baby laid on a pallet on the floor. Abby hurried to the stove and cast a sideways glance. Joshua patted Catherine’s back until her cries slowly diminished.
By that time, Abby had rescued the biscuits. She walked to Joshua and held out her arms.
Joshua’s warm brown eyes searched hers. “Her diaper needs changing. Would you like me to do it?”
She was so surprised by the offer that her arms became limp and fell to her sides.
Tait stared at Joshua, his mouth agape. “Men don’t change diapers. That’s woman’s work.”
“Tait, buddy, a man’s work is to help out whenever he can.” Joshua glanced at her through his lashes. “Don’t you agree, Abby?”
Abby didn’t answer but lifted her hands again. “Thank you for your offer, but I’ll take her.”
Thanks for reading!