Read Online Montana Hearts by Charlotte Carter - Free Book Online

anxious to get close and personal with any creature that large. “I’ll just watch.”
    â€œCome on. Peaches is as gentle as a baby. She won’t hurt you. Will you, girl?” The fawn-colored mare nodded in the affirmative and he rubbed the white blaze on her face.
    A quiver of unease made her stomach flip. “You go ahead.”
    Kurt eyed her in a way that made her stomach flip again. “I thought you said you never backed down from a challenge.”
    She said that? In the future she’d have to choose her words more carefully.
    Drawing a steadying breath, she took a step forward. Peaches snorted and shook her head. Sarah retreated in haste.
    Kurt laughed. “Coward,” he teased in a low, seductive voice.
    Her cheeks flamed. “I am not a coward.” Well, she might be when it came to horses. But that didn’t count.
    Squaring her shoulders, she marched over to Kurt’s side and snatched the apple quarters from him. “If Peaches bites me, I’ll…get back at you.”
    Her hand shook as she held the apple pieces in her palm and stretched her hand toward the horse.
    The soft caress of Peaches’s lips on the sensitive skinof her palm amazed Sarah. It was the lightest of kisses. As tender a touch as a mother stroking her baby.
    Withdrawing her hand, Sara closed her fingers over her palm in an effort to hold on to that sweet sensation.
    â€œThere. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
    â€œI had no idea.” She gazed into Peaches’s soft brown eyes, wondering if the horse was as stunned by the experience as she had been.
    â€œI’m thinking by the end of the summer you’ll be an old hand at riding a horse.”
    Her head snapped around and her jaw went slack. Riding? A horse? Not in this lifetime.

Chapter Five
    T he following morning, Sarah drove into Sweet Grass Valley and discovered Main Street Grocery was a world apart from any supermarket she’d shopped at in Seattle.
    Still, despite the limited selection in every department, the produce was fresh and locally grown, and the meat well trimmed. Sarah loaded up her cart, including a good-looking apple pie from the bakery and some freshly baked whole-wheat rolls.
    As she wheeled her cart toward the cash register, she heard a familiar voice.
    â€œHey, hon. I didn’t expect you to still be in town.”
    It took Sarah a moment to recognize Bonnie Sue from the diner without her name tag on.
    â€œI’m working for Kurt Ryder this summer. Housekeeper.”
    â€œIs that a fact? My, my…” The woman’s blue eyes gleamed with curiosity, and Sarah feared Bonnie Sue would spread the news around town as fast as a YouTube video going viral.
    â€œIt’s just temporary,” Sarah assured her.
    â€œWell, I’m glad Kurt found somebody to help out.” Bonnie Sue turned her cart toward the cash register. “Last time I saw Grace Livingston, she looked exhausted.”
    The last time Sarah had seen Kurt’s mother-in-law, she’d looked angry. She sincerely hoped Grace would get over her temper soon.
    Bonnie Sue reached the store’s one cashier first. “Hey, Angus, I want you to meet a new gal in town. She’s workin’ this summer for Kurt Ryder.” She turned to Sarah to make the introduction. “Well, sakes, I don’t even know your name, hon.”
    â€œSarah. Sarah Barkley.” She produced a smile for the middle-aged gentleman. She didn’t like being the center of attention.
    â€œWelcome to Sweet Grass, Miz Barkley.” Without missing a beat, he scanned the two gallons of milk Bonnie Sue had purchased.
    â€œAngus’s daddy opened Main Street Grocery way back when. He still comes in a time or two a week to make sure Angus is doing his job right.”
    Angus punched in the price for a head of lettuce. “His back’s been bothering him somethin’ fierce lately so he’s been leaving me alone.” He