Read Online Caroline's Secret by Amy Lillard - Free Book Online Page A

.”
    She tried not to be self-conscious of his lingering gaze as she finished up feeding them both. She rinsed the bowl in the sink and sat Emma on the counter. Quick as a wink, Andrew was there holding out a clean rag for her to use to wash Emma’s face and hands.
    Is this what it’s like to have a father, a husband, a life mate to help with all the little parts of living? It was nice to know there was someone she could depend on.
    She shook away the thought lest it become too comfortable and decide to stay. Emma was her responsibility and hers alone. It’d do neither any good a’tall to become accustomed to others doing for them.
    “Are you ready?” Andrew plucked his hat from the peg on the wall and held open the door for them.
    Caroline hid her sad thoughts behind her smile and swung Emma to her hip. “Lead the way,” she said and stepped out into the warm Oklahoma afternoon.
     
     
    Esther walked alongside Abe, enjoying being out in the fresh farm air and sunshine. She just wished that he would talk to her.
    It had been a long time since she had been interested in someone, romantically speaking, but she couldn’t nail down what there was about Abe that drew her in. He was a little strubbly ; his shirt stayed partially untucked and one of the straps on his suspenders was turned wrong. And he was adorable.
    His hands were strong and long-fingered, even if they were perpetually stained. He was an artist. It fascinated Esther that he could take something as simple as wood and make useful, beautiful furniture.
    Abe walked up to the wooden fence and propped one foot on the bottom rung. “What do you think?”
    She opened her mouth to respond, closing it again as she realized that he was talking about the horses. “Th-they’re beautiful.”
    He hooked one arm toward her. “How can you tell from way over there?”
    Esther hesitantly approached. Well, she inched forward a couple of feet.
    Abe turned those blue eyes so like his nephew’s on her, a frown of confusion wrinkling his brow. “I thought you wanted to see the horses?”
    “ Jah . Of course I do.”
    “ Ach , then get over here and do it.”
    She heaved a big breath. “I’m a little afraid of horses.” There, she said it.
    Abe looked at her as if she had said she was turning English. “How can this be?”
    She shrugged. “They’re just so . . . big.”
    He continued to study her. “Earlier you drove the team through the gates.”
    “That’s different.”
    “Jah?” Abe asked, but she could tell he was still confused.
    She tried again. “They were . . . contained.”
    “With bridles and such?”
    Esther nodded.
    “Here they are behind a fence.”
    “But they are still all over the place.” And could knock her to the ground in a heartbeat. “My brother . . . A horse killed my brother.”
    Abe cocked his head to one side in that thoughtful manner she found so charming. “I remember that. Well, that was nigh on fifty years ago.”
    It was, but when she saw horses like these, running around in a pasture, those memories appeared as clear as if they had happened the day before.
    Abe stroked his beard. “What did you do when you and John had your place?”
    “He took care of the horses for me, and as long as they were contained . . .” She shrugged.
    “This will never do, never do.” He reached his hand out to her.
    Esther stared at it a moment, then placed her hand inside his.
    His palm was rough from all the years of working with wood, but his grasp was gentle as he drew her closer to him, closer to the fence that separated her from the large beasts.
    She took a shuddering breath. It had been a long time since she had trusted a man. A very long time. She allowed him to pull her closer to him, closer to the shiny rusty-colored horse.
    The animal had an earthy smell that mixed with the faint scent of leather and the woody blend of the man beside her.
    He continued to hold her hand in his as he reached out and ran her fingers down the