Read Online The Cowboy's Ready-Made Family by Linda Ford - Free Book Online Page A

themselves out and got into place at the end of the first two rows. Susanne and her team beside Tanner and his team.
    He tried not to be aware of her. Not to feel her elbow bump him. Not to want to close his eyes and breathe in her presence. He cleared his throat. “Ready?”
    â€œYes!” they chorused.
    He secretly smiled at Susanne’s eager participation.
    â€œOn your mark. Get set. Go.” He dug a hole, one of the children dropped in an eye. He scooped the dirt over it. He dug another hole. The other child dropped in an eye and Tanner covered it. Beside him, Susanne did the same thing. He kept himself to a slow, steady pace so they worked side by side.
    They reached the end and turned about. Liz and Frank traded places and they planted two more rows. At the end, Janie and Robbie traded places.
    All too soon they were done and the six of them stood back and admired their work. He wouldn’t mind staying there the rest of the afternoon, but that was impossible.
    â€œWhat’s next?” he asked.
    â€œJust lettuce and small stuff. I’ll finish up. I want to plant some flowers, too.” Her voice grew dreamy.
    He stole a look at her. She looked at the garden, a slight smile on her lips as if she saw it in full bloom.
    She held out her hands to draw the children close. “Let’s thank God for the garden and ask Him to bless it.” She raised her eyebrows as she looked at Tanner.
    He shook his head and backed up. “This is your garden.”
    She seemed to understand and, with the children clustered about her, she bowed her head. The children followed her example.
    He snatched his hat off, at the same time smiling at how Janie held her hands together in prayer.
    â€œDear Heavenly Father,” Susanne said in a reverent yet trusting tone. “Thank You that our garden is planted. Bless it with rain and sunshine. Provide us with food from the ground. Thank You that You hear our prayers and always, always meet our needs and take care of us. Amen.”
    For a moment they remained huddled together, then the children ran to play.
    He didn’t put his hat back on, feeling as if he stood on holy ground.
    She faced him, a gentle smile on her lips. “Thank you,” she said. “I’ve been worried about the garden since the snow melted. I know God will take care of me, provide for our needs, but it’s easier to trust when I see things happening.”
    He nodded, not knowing how to respond. Then words escaped him. “It’s difficult to trust when you can’t see God or know if He’s listening.”
    Her eyes widened. “He’s always listening. He’s always near. We have His promise and I have but to look about to see His presence in all that He’s created.”
    Tanner needed proof in this aspect of his life as he did in every aspect. When he didn’t respond she smiled though her eyes remained guarded.
    â€œAnyway, thanks again for your help. You made it fun for the children.”
    â€œIt’s the way I was raised. Maisie always says there’s no point in looking at work as drudgery when it can as easily be joyful.” He had to clear up something that lingered at the back of his mind. “I hope you weren’t upset because the children all wanted to be on my team.” He had no desire to earn her disfavor. On the heels of that thought came another so foreign it was surely a mistake. He’d enjoyed working with her and had allowed himself to believe she didn’t mind working with him. He knew it couldn’t be so. He’d known most of his life both on the ranch and off that he was neither white nor Indian. Some of the cowboys called him injun and tormented him. Or at least they had until Tanner got strong enough they feared crossing him.
    In town—well, he wasn’t going to dwell on the many times he’d been shunned at a social event or young ladies refused to sit by him or even crossed