Read Online Second Chance Brides by Vickie Mcdonough - Free Book Online

only it had a kitchen and stove. But she had no means of making money to pay rent. She shook her head. No sense dreaming such foolish dreams as living on her own.
    She crossed Bluebonnet Lane and stared at the pile of rubbish that had been the mercantile. People had been working to clean up the mess since the storm, but there was still a ways to go. How would the town survive without it? What a shame.
    Two men she didn’t recognize, who were working on the edge of the property closest to her, straightened and then tipped their hats. She nodded and smiled but continued walking. As she walked down Oak Street, she noticed that the Foster home, which had sat right behind the destroyed mercantile, was also severely damaged. A tent had been set up behind in the back yard behind where the house had sat. Were the Fosters living there? Or maybe they were keeping the stock they’d salvaged in it. Those poor people. How would they ever manage to rebuild after this devastating loss?
    She shifted the basket to her other arm and counted houses until she found the Howards’ home. The house looked well maintained, with a fresh coat of pale yellow paint and white trim on the woodwork. The lace curtains were closed, though. Could Mrs. Howard be resting, even though it was midmorning? What if she was asleep?
    Leah hated bothering the woman if that was the case. She looked past the house to the livery and nibbled her lower lip. Perhaps she should ask Mr. Howard if it was all right to visit his mother. Besides, it would give her a chance to see him in his workplace.
    She continued walking and stopped at the side entrance of the livery. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the dim interior. The placed smelled of hay and horses and reminded her of her pa’s barn. Six stalls ran down one side of the gray, weathered building, three of which contained horses.
    She found Dan at the front of the building unloading a wagon filled with large burlap bags with another man’s help. Dust motes drifted lazily on fingers of sunlight that stretched into the livery, attempting to drive back the shadows. Dan hoisted a heavy-looking bag over one shoulder and toted it to an empty stall, where he dropped it. The other man did the same but seemed to have a harder time lifting and carrying the large sacks. As Dan reached for another bag, the back of his shirt pulled tight across his shoulders, making Leah’s mouth dry. Muscles flexed in his tanned forearms, made visible by his rolled-up sleeves. Dan was the tallest man in town, so far as she knew, and though he was wide-shouldered, he didn’t look to have an ounce of fat on him. Perhaps she shouldn’t be too hasty in ruling out Dan Howard as husband material. He had come to her rescue, after all.
    She stepped farther into the livery, and when Dan’s gaze landed on her, he stopped suddenly without acknowledging her. He stared for a moment, then turned and dropped the bag he’d been carrying. He strode across the livery to a bucket and tossed water on his face, arms, and hands, then dried off on a towel. He ran his hand through his brown hair and turned to face her as he rolled down one sleeve.
    “What can I help you with, ma’am?” His gaze ran down her length, then back up, not in a leering way like Mr. Abernathy’s but as if she was someone he cherished. She swallowed hard.
    “I…uh…Mrs. Hamil—I mean Mrs. Davis sent over some soup and other things for you and your ma’s dinner. I noticed her curtains were closed and wondered if I should knock on the door or just leave the food out on the porch. Of course, I’d hate for a stray dog to get into it, so I came over here to see if you thought your ma would be awake.” Leah clamped her mouth shut. She was rambling more than the ivy running up the side of the town’s only bank.
    “It’s near lunchtime. Give me a few minutes to tally up with Stephen, and I can walk over to the house with you.”
    Leah nodded. She wasn’t sure if she wanted his