Read Online California Romance by Colleen L. Reece - Free Book Online Page B

position as head of the family after his father’s death, he became Senor Mateo to Solita, and she became his confidante and guiding light. Matt loved her dearly and was never too proud to seek and heed her advice.
    The second spring after Seth Anderson came to the Diamond S meant that Matt, Seth, and the rest of the hands spent every waking moment outdoors as the ranch swung into full operation. This particular year, the amount of work was heavier than ever. A deep frown creased foreman Brett Owen’s leathery face when he approached Matt and Seth, who were leaning on the corral fence, watching a frisky colt.
    “This spring is fixin’ to be the driest in years,” Brett predicted. “How about drivin’ the herd up to the high country early this year?”
    “Good idea,” Matt agreed. “The grazing down here is already getting mighty poor.”
    “Yippee-ki-ay. Up to the high country!” Seth leaped into the air, clicked his heels together, then reddened and looked sheepish. “Sorry, Boss. Sometimes I forget I’m not still a kid.”
    Brett shook his finger at Seth. “You ain’t so all-fired old,” he admonished. “And you’ll live to be a lot older if you don’t tangle with rustlers or all the other confounded trouble a feller meets while herdin’ ornery cows.” He turned on his heel and stomped off, but a loud
haw haw
floated back to the corral.
    “He’s right,” Matt said quietly. “A man mean enough to steal another man’s stock is either a coward or crazy. Either can be dangerous in the right circumstances.” He lightly punched Seth’s shoulder. “Let’s go tell Solita we’re going on a roundup.” He grinned, knowing it was all Seth could do to restrain himself from yippee-ki-yaying again. For the hundredth—no, the thousandth—time, Matt thanked God for sending the young man so like Robbie to fill the empty spot in his life. Seth was totally absorbed in what he considered the best profession on earth: ranching. He was also loyal and true, a boy after Matt’s own heart.
    Seth had only one fault: the desire to draw Matt into the social doings of Madera. Although Matt enjoyed socializing with the townsfolk, he drew the line at getting involved with the fairer sex. He steadfastly declined Seth’s invitations to any entertainment that would force him into their presence and compromise his stance.
    “Why?” Seth wanted to know.
    One day, Matt, in a fit of exasperation, blurted out, “When I was about your age, I met a girl I thought was an angel straight from heaven. She wasn’t.”
    “Oh?” Seth cocked an eyebrow, obviously waiting for Matt to continue.
    He didn’t. Instead he walked off, feeling Seth’s gaze bore into his back. But those few words opened a floodgate of memories that began five years earlier, memories Matt had thought were banished forever….
    Lydia Hensley was the daughter of the supervisor for the California Lumber Company from Chicago, sent out west to prepare for laying out the new town of Madera and the sale of the lots. Lydia was lonely, so far from home, so Matt received permission from her father to escort her to social engagements in Fresno—twenty-two miles south.
    Lydia hit the San Joaquin Valley like a tornado. She created havoc among the young men and heartburn among the girls. Matt fell head over heels for the young miss the first time he saw her—a vision in a soft pink gown, white skin shaded by a ruffled pink parasol. She was the prettiest and brightest girl Matt had ever met. Time after time he wondered why he had been so fortunate to be chosen as her escort from the dozens of swains who flocked to her doorstep. Lydia’s green eyes flashed with mischief or softened into languishing glances, depending on her mood. Not a single ash-blond hair ever seemed to be out of place.
    The smitten Matt escorted Lydia to parties and dances all spring and summer. He sat by her in church. He took her on picnics, little realizing he’d been chosen to be the favored