Read Online Her Christmas Protector by Terri Reed - Free Book Online

in her eyes.
    The panic when he’d told her about the P.I.
    The way her eyes had widened when he’d admitted he liked her.
    Frustration ripped through him, leaving an aching wound in its wake. Muttering, he shook his head. “Cut it out. You’re leaving and she has no place in your life.”
    A verse of scripture came to him. Luke closed his eyes. ‘Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.’
    He’d been trying to live that verse through his work in the military. Now he was to take on Faith’s burden, too?
    He couldn’t turn his back on her.
    Not like he’d done with his father. His chest squeezed tight. If he’d cared more for his parents than himself and his career, maybe his father wouldn’t have gotten so sick. And his mother wouldn’t have had a heart attack.
    His shoulders weighted down with guilt and remorse for his selfishness, he led Winter out of the stall. He needed to ride and clear his thoughts, but as he mounted Winter he glanced up and saw Faith at the window.
    Her image was forever branded in his mind.

     
    Faith went to the window in Dottie’s room, again. She scanned the distance for any sign of Luke. It’d been hours since she’d seen him gallop off, kicking up mud and snow. She hoped he wasn’t angry with her, or worse, disappointed. His opinion mattered to her. Though why, didn’t make sense.
    “Is something the matter, Faith?” Dottie asked, pausing in her daily routine of walking around the upstairs to get some exercise.
    The late afternoon sun danced on the glistening snow. “Oh, no. I was just thinking how beautiful it is outside.”
    “It is nice out. I think we should go out and enjoy what’s left of the afternoon while we can.” An eager smile lit Dottie’s features, making her appear healthy and younger than her fifty-eight years. “I heard the weatherman say we’d be seeing more snowfall within a few days.”
    “Then let’s enjoy today while it’s clear.”
    “Sounds good to me. Shall we go outside?”
    “Let’s.”
    It might even help take her mind off her troubles.
    Taking Dottie by the arm, Faith helped her down the stairs. After the first venture outdoors with Luke’s help, Faith had managed to help Dottie herself, thanks to Dottie’s returning strength.
    They could hear Reva in the kitchen and by silent agreement they went out the front door. As they went down the porch stairs, Faith scanned the road in the distance. A pickup truck carrying bales of hay went by. On the left side of the drive, beyond the fence, the llamas stood in small groups, grazing on scattered hay. The corral on the right side of the drive stood empty.
    “I love days like this.” Dottie turned her face up to the sun. “Blake used to say the clean, fresh winter air made the move to Oregon worthwhile.”
    “You didn’t always live here?”
    “Oh, no. Blake and I were originally from Salt Water, Texas. We moved here right after we got married.” Dottie started down the drive toward the llamas. The snow had been shoveled off to the sides to form small mounds.
    Faith fell into step with her. “Do you still have family in Texas?”
    “We do. Both Blake and I have siblings still living there. Sometimes I miss not having family close by and I think Luke missed out, too.” Regret crept into Dottie’s voice. “We weren’t able to have any more children.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Oh, don’t be. God blessed us with Luke, and Blake, bless his heart, thought of Reva as a daughter.”
    “And—you didn’t?”
    “No. No, we never really connected. Not even when she was little.” Dottie sighed. “Her family lived on the next ranch over. She was always coming around, getting into things. Especially after her mama ran off. Then things went from bad to worse. Her dad drank himself to death.”
    “No wonder she turned to you and Blake.”
    Dottie nodded. “That she did. And Blake had always hoped that one day Luke would stop thinking of Reva as a nuisance and