Read Online Night Hawk'S Bride (Tyler) (Harlequin Historical Series, No 558) by Jillian Hart - Free Book Online

she’d taken it from her pocket.
    â€œSpoiling her already?”
    â€œI’m trying my best.” Marie laughed as the sugar cookie disappeared in one quick bite. “Lucky I have more. Have you worked with her already today?”
    â€œNo, I train the horses in the afternoon.” He said nothing more as he turned, leaving her alone with Kammeo.
    The horse nudged Marie’s pocket, wise to its contents, and made an affectionate nickering sound. How could Marie resist? She withdrew another cookie and loved the feel of Kammeo’s soft lips on her palm.
    Was she really here and not dreaming? Marie marveled at this exceptional moment in time. The warm sun kissed her with a welcome heat, and the shivering grasses and wildflowers sent dazzling fragrances into the clean air. Birds chirped and butterflies glided. Kammeo leaned her nose against Marie, pressing from her breastbone to her stomach, and contentment filled her, warm and sweet.
    She knew the instant Night Hawk returned. The sun felt brighter and the wind sweeter. Harmony flooded her, like a melody finding harmony. All the pieces of her life fell into place. A beautiful sense of rightness filled her as Night Hawk shouldered past her, the bridle in hand.
    She resisted the urge to lay her hand against the high plane of his cheek. But she knew.
    Everything in her life had happened for a reason—and it was to bring her here—to this meadow, to this man.
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    â€œShe’s still afraid of my weight.” The colonel’s daughter spun toward him in the shaded circle of the corral. “I’m doing this wrong.”
    â€œNo, she needs time to learn to trust you.” Night Hawk fought to keep his feelings for the woman neutral. “She’s getting tired, aren’t you, girl? Don’t worry, Marie. She’ll let you know when she’s ready.”
    â€œI’ll trust you on that.”
    â€œYou seem to like working with her.”
    â€œSure, but I remember you saying that you would train her.”
    He laughed because he saw the teasing sparkles in her eyes. “You said you wanted to ride like I do. That is something only you and Kammeo can do together.”
    â€œI knew you were going to say that.” Marie laid one slender hand against the fence. Exhaustion marked her delicate skin, but her face was flushed with pleasure.
    He ought to send her home. Every instinct he had roared at him to keep his distance. But his heart overruled. He told himself he had a fondness for a fellow horse lover, that was all. But he was only lying to himself and he knew it.
    â€œI’m out of cookies.” The gentle trill of her laughter drew him. Kammeo was nosing at Marie’s skirt pocket again, determined to find the treat she deserved for putting up with that scary experience of having a little weight on her back. “Night Hawk, what do I do?”
    â€œI’ll get some grain.” He liked rescuing Marie, if only from her overly affectionate mare.
    When he returned with a small pail of grain and a currycomb, he found Kammeo chewing contentedly and Marie rubbing her nose. The picnic basket was in the grass just outside the fence, evidence that Marie hadn’t waited for the grain.
    â€œGave in, did you?” He set the pail on the ground in front of the mare as she stole another cookie from Marie’s hand.
    â€œI couldn’t resist.”
    â€œHow do you keep discipline in a classroom with that soft heart of yours?”
    â€œI use the same method I do with Kammeo. I win them over with cookies.”
    â€œThe children in this settlement are lucky that you came to teach them. Is that what you brought me in your basket? Cookies?”
    â€œYes. You should have seen the outrage on Mrs. Olstad’s face when she came in from shopping to find me making a mess in her kitchen. She must think I’m some sort of pampered, spoiled little girl. She didn’t believe me when I promised I