Read Online Forever Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Book 7) by Verna Clay - Free Book Online Page A

silent the ticking of the clock on the mantle sounded loud. Roxy's eyes got big and then she shrugged and said, "Whatever."
    Rather than pursue additional conflict with the teenager, Dovie returned to her own story and shared how kind and giving her mother had been and how she'd sacrificed so Dovie would always have the best medical care. She said, "Now I know that some of you don't have the same support I was given, but if you look around, you'll see that you really do have support and all you have to do is ask. You can ask your fellow dude or dudette," she grinned, "or you can ask your counselor, or me, or anyone working at the ranch. There isn't a person here who wouldn't help you to the best of his or her ability."
    Dovie finished her presentation by opening herself up to questions. Some were about her disability, some were about her prostheses, and some were about her personal life.
    Ten year old Luce asked, "Do you have a husband?"
    Dovie was startled by the question, but didn't hedge her response. "No. I don't. The right man hasn't come along."
    "Is it because you don't have a leg and arm?"
    "It may be. But I wouldn't want to be married to a man who was bothered by my physical condition. I want someone who loves me as I am. And isn't that what we all want? To be accepted for who we are, not by how we look."
    There was a murmur of agreement and a nodding of heads and a man walked from the shadows of the hallway into the room. He said, "I think we should give Dovie a hand for sharing with us." He started clapping and everyone joined in. Even Roxy half-heartedly clapped.
    Dovie felt her face flame. Again, Toby had witnessed her speaking without her awareness of his presence.
    He said with a grin, "I think I remember the cook mentioning something about homemade ice cream for everyone!"
    The children responded with a variety of replies:
    "Yay!"
    "Oh, yeah!"
    "I love ice cream!"
    "I want strawberry."
    "Can we have seconds?"
    Toby laughed and said to Sage and Sarah, "They're all yours."
    Sage pointed toward the dining area. "How about everyone find a place at one of the tables? And that includes grownups."
    The response was immediate and funny as the children rushed forward followed by smiling adults. Dovie became aware of Toby walking toward her and the erratic pounding of her heart was unwelcome. She didn't want to have feelings other than friendship for him.
    "That was a wonderful talk you gave the kids," he said.
    "Thank you."
    "I've never met anyone with your intensity and drive. You're one amazing woman, Dovie Juniper."
    Dovie willed the blush creeping from the roots of her hair to go away.

Chapter 15: Flashbacks
     
    From her kitchen window, Sally watched Flatfoot pound the post-hole digger into the ground and scoop rich brown soil into it, adding the dirt to the growing mound beside him. He'd removed his denim shirt and sweat glistened on his bronzed back. Although he was a foot shorter than she, and two feet shorter than Howard, he was one fine man to look upon.
    As if he felt her gaze upon him, he turned around and lifted a bandana to his forehead, wiping perspiration on it and settling his eyes on the kitchen window. She quickly stepped to the side so he couldn't see her watching him.
    In the three weeks since their marriage, he had fulfilled his word by making long neglected repairs to her house and property, and he hadn't once acted inappropriately toward her.
    They had decided to keep their marriage secret and answer any questions about his staying at her place by saying it was easier for making repairs to her property. During the day, he worked at Dirk Branigan's ranch until around four and then returned to her home. At six, she was headed out the door for Boot Bustin' Barn. Occasionally, Flatfoot came into the tavern for a beer and a game of pool, but he always left by ten. When she got home around one, he was in bed. Of course they'd received many speculative glances, especially after it was discovered Howard