Read Online Chance For Love (Colorado Blues) by Ann B Harrison - Free Book Online
Authors: Ann B Harrison
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leveled out and the picture of the whole house was
in front of them.
“It’s a log house.” She stared at the picture book
home with its view over the valley below. The building had a wide open porch in
front that stepped down onto the grass front lawn. The porch was set out with
wooden loungers and side tables to take in the view. Tubs of flowers broke the
starkness of the timber giving it a homely feel.
Wide French wooden doors led into the main rooms
either side of the heavy front door. She pointed to the bell she’d seen
earlier. “What’s that for?”
“It’s more for decoration than anything. It’s an old
mission bell I found on my travels. They used to have them at every mission
along the west coast to warn of intruders.”
“I like it. Chance, it’s just beautiful.”
He pulled up beside the house at a wooden hitching
rail and let go of her hand. “Come on, let me show you around.”
Callie slid across the seat and climbed out, doing a
full circle spin to try and take in her surroundings. The property was
breathtakingly beautiful. She wouldn’t want to leave either if she owned it.
Chance came around and took her hand. “Let’s go and
have a quick look before it gets dark. I’ll give you a guided tour tomorrow.”
He pulled her toward a large barn on the other side of the driveway. “Stables
and covered yards are this way.”
She could hear the snorting of horses before he opened
the barn door. Along one side of the wall, Callie could make out stalls and
smell the horses. Once Chance flicked on overhead lighting she could see where
the noises were coming from. The two end stalls were occupied and the animals
tossed their heads as they approached.
“This here is Sultan and Tiny. Neither of them would
hurt you, but be careful with Tiny. He has a temper, even with me.” The horse
hung his head over the door and stamped his feet. Chance held out his hand for
him to smell before scratching the forelock. “You can ride Sultan anytime. He’s
as gentle as a lamb.” He checked the horses feed bins. “Looks like Tyson has
been up and fed the animals anyway. That will save us a job tonight and
probably a visit from my nosy brother.”
Callie reached out a hand and stroked the horse’s
ears, the heat racing up her cheeks as she thought of the possibilities of a
night alone with Chance in his own bed. She turned and looked around the barn.
There were stalls on the other side under a mezzanine floor. Bales of hay were
piled high to the roof.
Chance followed her gaze. “We keep a bit of feed in
here and there’s another feed barn out the back. Stalls over there”—he pointed
to the ones on the opposite wall—“just in case we need to bring in any stock
in. Late calves or whatever in the bad weather.” A couple of chickens walked
out of a stall and scratched at the floor. “I keep meaning to check in that
stall. I bet there’s a nest in there full of eggs.”
“I’ll do it.” Callie hurried over and opened the door,
scattering the hens. In the far corner she found a nest of eggs. “There must be
a couple of dozen here. Fancy eggs for dinner?”
“If you’re cooking I’ll have whatever you want to
make. Bound to be a basket to collect them somewhere. Let me show you around a
bit more and we can come back and get them before we go inside.”
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Together they walked out of the barn and turned toward
the driveway that ambled away from the house. Paddocks were fenced with split
posts and whitewashed wooden rails. Cattle grazed lazily and only one bull
reared its head to look up as they approached. “This is Terror.”
“Terror? You mean the bull that broke your hip?”
Callie leaned on the fence and watched the grey and white Brahman amble toward
them.
“Yeah, that one. He’s a mean old bastard. Don’t let
that cool casual look deceive you. He’ll turn on you in an instant and because
of that, any paddock he’s in is out of bounds, understand?”
She glanced up
in front of them.
“It’s a log house.” She stared at the picture book
home with its view over the valley below. The building had a wide open porch in
front that stepped down onto the grass front lawn. The porch was set out with
wooden loungers and side tables to take in the view. Tubs of flowers broke the
starkness of the timber giving it a homely feel.
Wide French wooden doors led into the main rooms
either side of the heavy front door. She pointed to the bell she’d seen
earlier. “What’s that for?”
“It’s more for decoration than anything. It’s an old
mission bell I found on my travels. They used to have them at every mission
along the west coast to warn of intruders.”
“I like it. Chance, it’s just beautiful.”
He pulled up beside the house at a wooden hitching
rail and let go of her hand. “Come on, let me show you around.”
Callie slid across the seat and climbed out, doing a
full circle spin to try and take in her surroundings. The property was
breathtakingly beautiful. She wouldn’t want to leave either if she owned it.
Chance came around and took her hand. “Let’s go and
have a quick look before it gets dark. I’ll give you a guided tour tomorrow.”
He pulled her toward a large barn on the other side of the driveway. “Stables
and covered yards are this way.”
She could hear the snorting of horses before he opened
the barn door. Along one side of the wall, Callie could make out stalls and
smell the horses. Once Chance flicked on overhead lighting she could see where
the noises were coming from. The two end stalls were occupied and the animals
tossed their heads as they approached.
“This here is Sultan and Tiny. Neither of them would
hurt you, but be careful with Tiny. He has a temper, even with me.” The horse
hung his head over the door and stamped his feet. Chance held out his hand for
him to smell before scratching the forelock. “You can ride Sultan anytime. He’s
as gentle as a lamb.” He checked the horses feed bins. “Looks like Tyson has
been up and fed the animals anyway. That will save us a job tonight and
probably a visit from my nosy brother.”
Callie reached out a hand and stroked the horse’s
ears, the heat racing up her cheeks as she thought of the possibilities of a
night alone with Chance in his own bed. She turned and looked around the barn.
There were stalls on the other side under a mezzanine floor. Bales of hay were
piled high to the roof.
Chance followed her gaze. “We keep a bit of feed in
here and there’s another feed barn out the back. Stalls over there”—he pointed
to the ones on the opposite wall—“just in case we need to bring in any stock
in. Late calves or whatever in the bad weather.” A couple of chickens walked
out of a stall and scratched at the floor. “I keep meaning to check in that
stall. I bet there’s a nest in there full of eggs.”
“I’ll do it.” Callie hurried over and opened the door,
scattering the hens. In the far corner she found a nest of eggs. “There must be
a couple of dozen here. Fancy eggs for dinner?”
“If you’re cooking I’ll have whatever you want to
make. Bound to be a basket to collect them somewhere. Let me show you around a
bit more and we can come back and get them before we go inside.”
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Together they walked out of the barn and turned toward
the driveway that ambled away from the house. Paddocks were fenced with split
posts and whitewashed wooden rails. Cattle grazed lazily and only one bull
reared its head to look up as they approached. “This is Terror.”
“Terror? You mean the bull that broke your hip?”
Callie leaned on the fence and watched the grey and white Brahman amble toward
them.
“Yeah, that one. He’s a mean old bastard. Don’t let
that cool casual look deceive you. He’ll turn on you in an instant and because
of that, any paddock he’s in is out of bounds, understand?”
She glanced up
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