Read Heart Of Texas (Historical Romance) for Free Online

no need to get dressed,
because there wouldn't be anyone about. She slid
her feet into her slippers, then climbed down
from the wagon as quietly as she could so she
wouldn't disturb Sam and Jenny.
    She noticed a light was still burning in the
cabin. It seemed that Kate couldn't sleep either.
Casey stared up at the stars and wished she knew
what her father would expect them to do. There
was no one she could turn to for help.
    She made her way to the house and seated herself on the top step, unwilling to go inside the
dark interior. She felt the cool breeze on her
cheeks and pushed her hair away from her face.
She had made so many choices since her father's death; suppose she had been wrong in insisting
they come to Texas? If only they could somehow
manage to hold on to this ranch, it would one day
belong to Sam-and she wanted that for him.

    "I see you didn't take my advice."
    Casey jumped to her feet at the sound of the
man's voice. "What... who..." Although she saw
only his shadowy form, she knew who it was. She
would never forget that voice. He was the man
who had helped them with the wagon. "What are
you doing here?"
    "I might ask you the same thing."
    Even if she couldn't see his face, she imagined
the look of disapproval etched there. She suddenly remembered that she was wearing her
nightgown and gathered the shawl tighter about
her. He took a step toward her, and all she could
focus on was the gun in his holster. She thought
about calling for help, but Sam would be no
match for this man.
    "The Spanish Spur belongs to my family, and
you are trespassing." Her legs were trembling with
fear, and she didn't think she had ever been so
frightened. If only she had thought to bring the
rifle-if only she had taken the time to dress-
she wouldn't feel quite so vulnerable and at such
a disadvantage.
    Casey felt his gaze on her, as if he were weighing her words. "How can you say the ranch belongs to you when I know Bob Reynolds would
never sell the Spanish Spur?"

    Although she was afraid of him and she wanted
to run away, she stood her ground. "Bob Reynolds
was my uncle. I would have told you before if you
hadn't been so rude."
    He stepped into the moonlight, and she tried
to pull away when he clamped her chin and raised
her face to his. Refusing to allow him to intimidate her, she met his gaze defiantly. In that moment, she saw a look of puzzlement in his eyes,
and his touch was gentle as he brushed his hand
through her hair.
    "It seems the females in your family have a tendency to wander into danger," he remarked.
    He dropped his hand to his side, and in that
moment Casey knew instinctively that he would
not harm her.
    The young beauty stood before Gabe, the
moonlight washing her pale skin with an ethereal
light. She touched something deep inside him,
and he wanted nothing more than to stand between her and any trouble that might come her
way. How could he have mistakenly thought she
was homely when she had the kind of beauty that
pulled at a man's insides, made him want to touch
her skin to see if it was as soft as it appeared?
    Suddenly he stiffened; he had forgotten she
had a husband. "I see you washed the mud from
your face," he said, trying to distance himself from
her.
    "I... had fallen in the river."
    His gaze strayed across her soft mouth, and he mentally shook himself. "You have a lot to think
about, ma'am." He didn't trust himself to be near
her, so he moved farther away. "I'll be seeing
you.

    She took a guarded breath as he moved past
her and disappeared into the night. With hurried
steps, she ran toward the wagon and climbed inside. Her heart was pounding so fast she could
hardly breathe.
    She lay back beside jenny and took the child's
hand in hers, hoping she could find comfort in
her sister's nearness.
    Something deep and meaningful had happened to her when the stranger had touched her.
    But what?
    He had stirred feelings inside her that she had
never felt