Read Online A Valentine's Choice: A Montana Sky Series Holiday Novella (The Montana Sky Series) by Debra Holland - Free Book Online
Authors: Debra Holland
Ads: Link
Bridget.
“Oh, thank ye for helping me keep my promise to him.”
Her grateful smile warmed James all the way to his toes. Who needs hot bricks when Bridget O’Donnell is around?
She held out the carrot, petting Dusty’s nose as the gelding happily crunched away.
James envied the horse her touch.
She tilted her head, closely examining the gelding, then stepped sideways to view one of the extra mounts, before sliding back to his side. “They’re different from our horses back home. I’m not talking about the Thoroughbreds, but our draught horses. Fine creatures, indeed. They’re short-legged and powerful. Deep of girth and strong of back and quarters. Light and fast on their feet for such heavy horses and—” she held up a finger and flicked it upward “—good jumpers.”
James liked the way Bridget’s eyes lit as she waxed eloquent. “What about their temperament?”
“Intelligent and gentle natured, reliable,” she said in a proud tone. “They’re bred for multiple jobs—to plow, sow, mow and reap, hunt, ride, and drive the family to church.”
He chuckled. “I guess that’s more than chasing and cutting cattle or riding into town.” He patted Dusty’s neck. “Although, as you saw, this one proved quite good at pulling the sleigh.”
She stroked the gelding’s head. “Ye did a fine job, Dusty, me boyo,” she said thickening her accent.
They moved on to meet Samantha’s mare, Bianca, a wedding present from her husband. The black beauty had four white stockings and a blaze down her nose. The mare nickered and snuffled Bridget’s arm.
“Oh, my.” She rubbed Bianca’s nose. “What a lovely lady ye are.”
“She’s a sweet goer, a perfect mount for the missus.”
He gestured to a chestnut mare in the next stall. “And this is our speed demon, Miss Midnight, although we call her Missy unless we’re trying to intimidate or impress people.”
“I would love to see her race.”
“She is something.” James placed a hand on her arm to guide her toward the back door. “Let’s go see the old barn.” He took her out and through a covered breezeway built last fall. Amazing the changes the boss had made around the place for the pleasure and comfort of his bride.
This barn was constructed when the previous ranch owner lived in a log cabin. The structure was smaller than the first and housed the goats, pigs, and milk cows.
Half of the space was taken up by a fenced-in area spread with thick straw where the small herd of goats milled around. Some were black and others dun-colored.
Holding on to the top rail, she leaned over the enclosure. “Somehow, I never thought to find goats on a cattle ranch.”
“They’re relatively new. A lot of things changed around here when the boss got married.”
She chuckled and nodded.
The musical tone of her laughter caused a flutter in his belly.
“I imagine so.”
He wrenched his thoughts back to the topic. “Mrs. Toffels has the knack for making cheese, and we learned to like the taste.”
“I love goat cheese.”
“Jack and Tim had a goat when Samantha adopted them. Actually, the story is that they didn’t have the goat anymore. They’d been staying with Widow Murphy, and she kept the goat—claimed it was in payment for the boys’ care.”
She turned and stared with a wide-eyed look. “How mean!”
His mouth turned up. “The twins stole back Nanny, and Samantha paid off the widow. After their marriage, Wyatt bought the boys another pair, one of which came with her two babies. He also acquired a billy goat. Now two of the dams have given birth. Twins each. We’re practically overrun. We’ll soon have more goats than cattle.”
Again, she laughed. “I’m sure ye are a long way from that.”
“Well, you know goats can breed twice a year and have two, and sometimes three babies…”
She shook her head at him, a smile pulling at her lips. “Can I go into the pen?” She waved toward the center.
He unlatched the gate of the
“Oh, thank ye for helping me keep my promise to him.”
Her grateful smile warmed James all the way to his toes. Who needs hot bricks when Bridget O’Donnell is around?
She held out the carrot, petting Dusty’s nose as the gelding happily crunched away.
James envied the horse her touch.
She tilted her head, closely examining the gelding, then stepped sideways to view one of the extra mounts, before sliding back to his side. “They’re different from our horses back home. I’m not talking about the Thoroughbreds, but our draught horses. Fine creatures, indeed. They’re short-legged and powerful. Deep of girth and strong of back and quarters. Light and fast on their feet for such heavy horses and—” she held up a finger and flicked it upward “—good jumpers.”
James liked the way Bridget’s eyes lit as she waxed eloquent. “What about their temperament?”
“Intelligent and gentle natured, reliable,” she said in a proud tone. “They’re bred for multiple jobs—to plow, sow, mow and reap, hunt, ride, and drive the family to church.”
He chuckled. “I guess that’s more than chasing and cutting cattle or riding into town.” He patted Dusty’s neck. “Although, as you saw, this one proved quite good at pulling the sleigh.”
She stroked the gelding’s head. “Ye did a fine job, Dusty, me boyo,” she said thickening her accent.
They moved on to meet Samantha’s mare, Bianca, a wedding present from her husband. The black beauty had four white stockings and a blaze down her nose. The mare nickered and snuffled Bridget’s arm.
“Oh, my.” She rubbed Bianca’s nose. “What a lovely lady ye are.”
“She’s a sweet goer, a perfect mount for the missus.”
He gestured to a chestnut mare in the next stall. “And this is our speed demon, Miss Midnight, although we call her Missy unless we’re trying to intimidate or impress people.”
“I would love to see her race.”
“She is something.” James placed a hand on her arm to guide her toward the back door. “Let’s go see the old barn.” He took her out and through a covered breezeway built last fall. Amazing the changes the boss had made around the place for the pleasure and comfort of his bride.
This barn was constructed when the previous ranch owner lived in a log cabin. The structure was smaller than the first and housed the goats, pigs, and milk cows.
Half of the space was taken up by a fenced-in area spread with thick straw where the small herd of goats milled around. Some were black and others dun-colored.
Holding on to the top rail, she leaned over the enclosure. “Somehow, I never thought to find goats on a cattle ranch.”
“They’re relatively new. A lot of things changed around here when the boss got married.”
She chuckled and nodded.
The musical tone of her laughter caused a flutter in his belly.
“I imagine so.”
He wrenched his thoughts back to the topic. “Mrs. Toffels has the knack for making cheese, and we learned to like the taste.”
“I love goat cheese.”
“Jack and Tim had a goat when Samantha adopted them. Actually, the story is that they didn’t have the goat anymore. They’d been staying with Widow Murphy, and she kept the goat—claimed it was in payment for the boys’ care.”
She turned and stared with a wide-eyed look. “How mean!”
His mouth turned up. “The twins stole back Nanny, and Samantha paid off the widow. After their marriage, Wyatt bought the boys another pair, one of which came with her two babies. He also acquired a billy goat. Now two of the dams have given birth. Twins each. We’re practically overrun. We’ll soon have more goats than cattle.”
Again, she laughed. “I’m sure ye are a long way from that.”
“Well, you know goats can breed twice a year and have two, and sometimes three babies…”
She shook her head at him, a smile pulling at her lips. “Can I go into the pen?” She waved toward the center.
He unlatched the gate of the
Similar Books
