Read Online Because I Love You by Jeannie Moon - Free Book Online

traded her high heels for her favorite pair of jeans, Leah thought she might actually be a little bit envious of her brother. He was getting off the crazy hamster wheel that had become his business, and opting for a slower lifestyle. He had a wife. He had a baby on the way. Nate pretty much had everything.
    The choice, however, had always been hers. The law fascinated Leah. It was orderly, but required creative thinking to make sense of it. But she was tired. Her brother was making his family his priority, and Leah figured if she ever had the same chance, she might do the same.
    Which made it even more important to continue to mend fences with her sister-in-law. Jenna showed her incredible kindness and support at brunch last week, and Leah had no intention of letting it go to waste. The women had turned the corner, now it was time for her big brother to start acting like an adult. Because, dammit, she was going to act like an adult even if it killed her. She and Nate had to make things right between them.
    The barn was crowded, as it usually was after school. Kids were gathering for their riding lessons, some were tacking their horses and ponies, cleaning equipment, or goofing around with friends. This was Leah’s life growing up and she missed the camaraderie she had with her barn friends.
    When she rounded the corner, she spied a girl who was having trouble picking her mount’s feet. “Is Joey being difficult?” she asked.
    â€œHe’s being a pain,” the little redhead responded.
    Leah felt the smile break across her face. The girl could have been her at that age. She guessed the child was about ten, maybe eleven. “What’s your name?”
    â€œElizabeth.”
    â€œThat’s my mom’s name. I’m Leah.” Pulling a hair tie from the pocket of her jeans, Leah got the tangled mess of curls out of her face. “Now, I agree, Joey is a pain in the neck, but he jumps like a dream, so we put up with him. Try this.”
    Leah crouched down, positioning herself so her shoulder was braced against the horse. “As you slide your hand down the inside of his leg, put a little pressure against him with your shoulder.” She leaned in a bit, and Joey lifted his foot.
    Elizabeth’s big blue eyes went wide. “He never does that! Can I try?”
    Leah stood, happy Elizabeth wanted to try managing Joey herself. The little girl set herself up the same way Leah had, ran her hand down the inside of the gelding’s leg, and leaned in with her shoulder. Joey’s foot popped right up.
    The look on Elizabeth’s face was triumphant. She happily picked the horse’s hoof, and then moved around to the other side. Leah stayed close by just in case she needed a hand, but it seemed once Elizabeth got the hang of something, she owned it.
    Leah had been like that. She still was. Her mistakes, her missteps, and her accomplishments were hers and hers alone. No one got blamed, but she was also pretty stingy giving out credit. If Leah worked for something, she was happy to take the pat on the back.
    Without any warning, there was a commotion at the end of the aisle. Moving to see what was going on, and to make sure no one got hurt, she made her way toward the noise. She wasn’t surprised when she saw what had piqued everyone’s interest.
    The clutch of teenage girls standing near the main doors of the barn, mouths hanging open, watched as Nate and Tristan, both filthy, walked their horses in from the field. Leah had no idea what they had been up to, but based on the amount of dirt they were wearing, and the sheen of sweat on each of their horses, she guessed it had been a hard ride.
    Of course, based on her experience with Tristan last weekend, a hard ride with him could be quite . . . exhilarating. She focused on the two men again, she knew her brother turned heads, he always had. But now, riding in with Tristan, every female in the barn with a pair of working