Read Online A Valentine's Choice: A Montana Sky Series Holiday Novella (The Montana Sky Series) by Debra Holland - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Debra Holland
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enclosure and followed her inside. “Just be careful. Reggie will try to eat your skirt.”
Several curious goats approached. But the two mothers glowered and kept their kids tucked away in the corner.
“What are the rest of them called?”
“The twins are particularly fond of names beginning with R. Reggie, Rufus, Rocky, Roland, Ruff.” As James said each name, he pointed to the animal. “Then there’s Scruff, Bessie, Dessie, and Chessie.” He patted one on the head. “And here is Jack’s original Nanny.”
Nanny butted Bridget’s leg, and at the same time, one of the other goats bumped her from behind, collapsing her knee. She took a faltering step sideways and caught her foot in the hem of her dress, further unbalancing her stance.
James grabbed her before she could fall.
Bridget ended up pressed against him, one hand on his shoulder. She glanced into his eyes, and their gazes locked, their mouths only inches apart.
James couldn’t resist the temptation to kiss her. He lowered his lips to touch hers just as Nanny banged into him, making him jerk and straighten, and bringing an awareness of their circumstances. Anyone could have come in and seen us. He wouldn’t for the world want to sully her reputation or make her feel forced into marriage.
Although he wanted to pull her close to him again, James held Bridget away from his body until he was sure she was steady on her feet.
Her color was high, making her eyes vivid, and she gave him a shy smile. “I think I’d best be getting back to Sally.”
Reluctantly, James released her, but as they walked out of the enclosure, a new awareness shimmered between them. He escorted Bridget out of the barn and watched her walk to the cabin, wondering what the future would bring.
CHAPTER FIVE
The next day, when Bridget first awoke to silence, she lay disoriented in the dim light. The dark slant of the roof over her head gradually brought her the realization she was in the loft of her cousin’s Montana cabin.
She listened for sounds of Sally stirring but didn’t hear anything. Well, Sally has no cow to feed and milk at first light. She thought of Bo, the soft-eyed Guernsey she’d left behind, and felt a pang of homesickness.
Thinking of Bo reminded her of playing with the Falabellas and the goats…and of her very first kiss, the lightest brush of their lips before the goat’s head butting interrupted them. She wondered what a real kiss would feel like. I hope I find out soon.
Bridget pulled the coverings closer around her shoulders, grateful for their warmth in the frigid air. She didn’t look forward to crawling out from her warm cocoon to dress. Until her hostess arose, she’d not venture from her bed.
Last night she’d been so exhausted, she’d dropped right into a deep sleep, barely noting the lack of her sister’s presence on the pallet beside her.
But now, Alana’s absence hit her, tightening her throat. For the first time in her life, Bridget had slept alone. Even in the third-class cabin on the ship, they’d squeezed together on the same bunk. She slid her hand over to where Alana should be and ached for the presence of her twin.
Bridget tried not to think of the empty place on her other side that had always belonged to Catriona. She’d had months to get used to the fact their older sister had abandoned them, and she supposed eventually she’d get used to Alana’s absence, as well. Then she chided herself for being so fatalistic. Alana will be back. Soon we’ll be reunited.
But an awareness of future changes hit her in a way that she’d never thought of before. Someday, maybe soon, we’ll be married and no longer living together. Someone else will sleep next to me and to Alana.
Bridget had always had a vague awareness of that fact. After all, marriage is what happened when one grew up and became an adult. But no man in their small village was suitable—for the sisters’ ages and station in life anyway.
Unfortunately beautiful
Several curious goats approached. But the two mothers glowered and kept their kids tucked away in the corner.
“What are the rest of them called?”
“The twins are particularly fond of names beginning with R. Reggie, Rufus, Rocky, Roland, Ruff.” As James said each name, he pointed to the animal. “Then there’s Scruff, Bessie, Dessie, and Chessie.” He patted one on the head. “And here is Jack’s original Nanny.”
Nanny butted Bridget’s leg, and at the same time, one of the other goats bumped her from behind, collapsing her knee. She took a faltering step sideways and caught her foot in the hem of her dress, further unbalancing her stance.
James grabbed her before she could fall.
Bridget ended up pressed against him, one hand on his shoulder. She glanced into his eyes, and their gazes locked, their mouths only inches apart.
James couldn’t resist the temptation to kiss her. He lowered his lips to touch hers just as Nanny banged into him, making him jerk and straighten, and bringing an awareness of their circumstances. Anyone could have come in and seen us. He wouldn’t for the world want to sully her reputation or make her feel forced into marriage.
Although he wanted to pull her close to him again, James held Bridget away from his body until he was sure she was steady on her feet.
Her color was high, making her eyes vivid, and she gave him a shy smile. “I think I’d best be getting back to Sally.”
Reluctantly, James released her, but as they walked out of the enclosure, a new awareness shimmered between them. He escorted Bridget out of the barn and watched her walk to the cabin, wondering what the future would bring.
CHAPTER FIVE
The next day, when Bridget first awoke to silence, she lay disoriented in the dim light. The dark slant of the roof over her head gradually brought her the realization she was in the loft of her cousin’s Montana cabin.
She listened for sounds of Sally stirring but didn’t hear anything. Well, Sally has no cow to feed and milk at first light. She thought of Bo, the soft-eyed Guernsey she’d left behind, and felt a pang of homesickness.
Thinking of Bo reminded her of playing with the Falabellas and the goats…and of her very first kiss, the lightest brush of their lips before the goat’s head butting interrupted them. She wondered what a real kiss would feel like. I hope I find out soon.
Bridget pulled the coverings closer around her shoulders, grateful for their warmth in the frigid air. She didn’t look forward to crawling out from her warm cocoon to dress. Until her hostess arose, she’d not venture from her bed.
Last night she’d been so exhausted, she’d dropped right into a deep sleep, barely noting the lack of her sister’s presence on the pallet beside her.
But now, Alana’s absence hit her, tightening her throat. For the first time in her life, Bridget had slept alone. Even in the third-class cabin on the ship, they’d squeezed together on the same bunk. She slid her hand over to where Alana should be and ached for the presence of her twin.
Bridget tried not to think of the empty place on her other side that had always belonged to Catriona. She’d had months to get used to the fact their older sister had abandoned them, and she supposed eventually she’d get used to Alana’s absence, as well. Then she chided herself for being so fatalistic. Alana will be back. Soon we’ll be reunited.
But an awareness of future changes hit her in a way that she’d never thought of before. Someday, maybe soon, we’ll be married and no longer living together. Someone else will sleep next to me and to Alana.
Bridget had always had a vague awareness of that fact. After all, marriage is what happened when one grew up and became an adult. But no man in their small village was suitable—for the sisters’ ages and station in life anyway.
Unfortunately beautiful
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