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

horse’s nose. The muzzle was as soft as satin, the horse’s breath warm and moist on her palm as he blew out. She moved back, but Abe was behind her, holding her in place even though he only touched her hand.
    “He won’t hurt you,” Abe crooned.
    And just like that Abe the wood crafter became a different man, and Esther felt herself fall a little more in love with him.
    She tried not to relax into him when she wanted nothing more than to melt into his embrace. She fought the urge to snuggle close to him and tell him exactly how much he meant to her. But that was the pinnacle of impropriety.
    Besides that, he had never once indicated that they would ever be anything more than friends.
    She stiffened. He dropped her hand and stepped away, giving the horse one last pat on his neck before gesturing back toward the house. “Are you ready to call it done?”
    What else could she do but nod? With a dip of her chin she led the way up the path to the house.

    Once outside, Caroline lowered Emma onto the grass, keeping a tight hold on her tiny hand. “Lead the way,” she said and the trio started off down the thin path of dirt that led toward the stables.
    Caroline tried her best not to notice how Andrew slowed his long stride to accommodate Emma’s chubby little legs, or how he showed her a bunny nervously nibbling on a patch of clover just this side of the fence. Tried not to notice how nice he was.
    How nice it was being with him.
    “Look, Emma.” He swung the toddler into his arms and pointed toward the approaching horse.
    The black gelding advanced slowly, sorting out a greeting with a shake of his mighty head. He was easily the biggest horse Caroline had ever seen, but Emma was not afraid.
    She clapped her hands together and squealed when the horse shook his mane and snorted again.
    “Here.” Andrew took one of her tiny hands into his much larger one and stretched it out until it was almost touching the velvet nose of the beast.
    Caroline held her breath. She wasn’t afraid of horses, but this one was just so huge.
    The gelding snorted again, then nuzzled Emma’s hand like a cat.
    “He wants a treat.” Andrew let go of Emma’s hand to reach into his pocket. Out came a sugar cube, which he allowed the horse to eat off his palm.
    Emma was enthralled, clapping her hands and bouncing in Andrew’s arms.
    Caroline exhaled, not realizing until that very moment that she had been holding her breath. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Andrew; she was just so accustomed to doing things herself, taking care of Emma and not having to share her with others. It was more than strange to hand Emma over to Andrew and allow him to teach her and guide her in any matter.
    “Does the horse bother you?”
    Caroline turned toward Andrew, an answer not readily forming in her mind. “I guess I had forgotten how big they are.”
    Andrew smiled, a grin Caroline was sure could melt butter in January. “Or how small she is?”
    “ Jah , that too.”
    “Follow me.” He gave a small gesture with his head. With Emma still cradled high in his strong arms, he led Caroline into the dim interior of the barn. She heard them before she saw them, their whines and grunts unmistakable.
    “They were born sometime last night.” He opened the door to the stall just off to the side of the tack room.
    There nestled in the clean fresh hay was a black-and-white border collie nursing a litter of pups. At first count there were six, but a seventh, smaller one pushed its way from the bottom of the pile back to the top in order to get a better spot.
    Andrew set Emma on her feet, supporting her until she was steady.
    “They are so sweet.” Caroline dropped to her knees on the hay, stretching out her hand for the mother to sniff. Once she had passed the test, Caroline stroked the dog’s silky head.
    Emma squealed and started forward, only to be caught by Andrew before she could reach her goal.
    “Oh, no, wee one. They are much too small for even your