Read Online Angel Creek by Linda Howard - Free Book Online

her as she strode swiftly to the barn, her skirts kicking up with each step. She wore only one petticoat, he decided, eyeing the brisk sway of that blue skirt. And a thin one at that.
    He ducked his head down to enter the barn, automatically closing his eyes for a second so they could adjust to the dimness, and watched as she efficiently ladled feed to the single horse and two cows.
    She was damn good at ignoring him, he saw, and he began to get a little irate at her manner. Then he remembered that it was her farm, and she hadn’t invited him. His horse stamped a hoof restively as she fetched a stool and positioned a milk bucket under one of the cows. Lucas sighed and dismounted, looping his reins over a rail. The other cow needed milking, too. “Got another bucket?” he asked.
    Streams of milk were already hissing into the bucket in time with the motions of her hands as she turned her head to him. Those green eyes had a dangerous look to them now. “I don’t need any help.”
    â€œI can see that.” His irritation was growing, and it echoed in his voice. “But did you ever think about accepting an offer of help, not because you couldn’t handle it just fine yourself but because the chore would get done faster with two people working at it instead of just one?”
    She considered that, then gave a brief nod. “All right. There’s another clean bucket in the tack room there, to the right. But I don’t have another stool. You’ll have to squat.”
    He fetched the bucket and patted the cow on her fat sides, letting her know he was there before he slid the bucket under her. He squatted down and wrapped his strong fingers around the long teats, then pulled with the rhythmic motion that, once learned, was never forgotten. Hot milk splashed into the bucket. His mouth moved in a wry grin as he thought how glad he was none of his men could see him now.
    â€œHave you always been such a hedgehog?” he asked in a tone of casual interest.
    â€œI reckon,” she replied in the same manner, and he grinned again.
    â€œAny particular reason for it?”
    â€œMen.”
    He snorted. “Yeah, we can be real bastards.”
    He wasn’t certain, but he thought he heard a chuckle. “I wouldn’t dream of disagreeing.”
    â€œThose lovesick swains of yours must have been persistent,” he said, hazarding a guess.
    â€œSome of them. But it wasn’t love they had on their minds, and we both know it. It seems like men just naturally see a woman alone as fair game.”
    There wasn’t another woman in town who would have said that to him, but then he had already realized at their first meeting that Dee was blunt in her speech and frank in her opinions. He felt a slow burn of anger at the thought of other men trying to seduce her, or maybe even just catch her alone when they wouldn’t bother with pretense of seduction. The knowledge that he was determined to seduce her himself didn’t moderate his temper. For one thing, he didn’t intend to dishonor her; no one but the two of them would ever know what went on between them. He wasn’t a raw kid who felt the need to boast about his women in order to impress others with his masculinity. For another thing, damn if he didn’t respect her for what she had accomplished out there. It had taken a lot of hard work, but she hadn’t flinched from it, rather had risen to the challenge and gloried in it. The pristine condition of the farm was a true measure of her fierce spirit.
    His voice was tight with that possessive anger when he said, “If anyone else bothers you, let me know.”
    â€œI appreciate the offer, but it’s something I have to take care of for myself. You might not always be around; they have to know I can defend myself, that I don’t need to rely on anyone else.”
    Her logic was unassailable, but he didn’t like it. “I can make certain they never