Read Online The Rancher's First Love by Brenda Minton - Free Book Online

key in the ignition. A few clicks, then nothing. He tried again. The stereo made a crazy noise, and then the CD changer started clicking through tracks. He pulled the key from the ignition and got out.
    When he got back to the porch Sam offered him a glass of iced tea, heavy on the ice. “Well?”
    â€œI’m guessing you need a new battery.”
    â€œThat truck is only a year old,” she protested.
    â€œThe battery could be defective. I’m just giving you my opinion. I can get cables and jump it for you, then follow you home.”
    â€œThank you.”
    That’s how he ended up at her place thirty minutes later. He’d followed her home, down her long driveway and to the little cottage that had been on the Martins’ property for years. He remembered this place. At one time an older couple had lived there, helping to work the ranch. Now it was Samantha’s place.
    There were flowers in planters bordering the sidewalks, the small front stoop and the stone patio toward the back of the house. Bird feeders hung from the front stoop roof. She parked at the back of the house. He pulled in behind her and killed the engine to his truck. It took him a minute to decide if he would just roll down the window, make his excuses and head home, or get out. He got out.
    Sam was standing in the yard waiting, twisting the bracelet on her arm. It was a sign that she wanted to say something or get something over with.
    Funny how memories collided, like a kid’s coloring book with connect the dots, making it all a complete picture.
    â€œI thought you might like to see those puppies,” she said, heading for the barn without asking if he wanted to follow.
    He followed. His twenty-seven-year-old self wasn’t much better at resisting her than his seventeen-year-old self had been.
    Fortunately he had a little more experience doing the right thing.
    â€œYou’re quiet,” she said as they walked into the barn that had probably been on the property a good hundred years. It was wood sided, weathered and smelled of hay, animals and age.
    â€œGuess I am.”
    The only real talking was going on in his mind. That conversation was all about Sam, her obvious aversion to church, his ministry and the solid truth that he wouldn’t give up doing what he’d been called to do. So going down this path with her again could only lead them both back to pain.
    Samantha stopped at a stall and looked over. Inside was the hound dog and her nine puppies. The door was open so that the mama could go in and out. She looked up at them with soulful eyes, her long ears hanging to the ground as she covered her puppies with her big head. The puppies squirmed and whined and fought to get close to her belly.
    â€œWhat are you going to do with all of those puppies?” Remington asked.
    She rested her chin on her hands that held the top rail of the stall. “I guess find them homes.”
    â€œNo one has claimed the momma dog?”
    â€œNo. I named her Lady.”
    â€œOf course you did,” he said, smiling and leaning closer to get a better look at the puppies, and to be a little closer to Sam.
    She surprised him by leaning into him, their shoulders brushing. She rested against him for a moment before clearing her throat and stepping away.
    â€œI should let you go. They’ll be waiting for you at Duke’s,” she said.
    â€œThey’ll know to start without me. I’m not in a hurry. Why don’t you tell me what was going on today? When you got to the ranch, you looked like you’d had a bad day.”
    She left the barn without answering. He followed, knowing she’d talk when she was good and ready. He remembered that about her. He realized there were a lot of things he remembered from that summer.
    Her destination was a glider bench on the stone patio. There were flowers everywhere, climbing up the posts where bird feeders were mounted, hanging from hooks and growing in