Noah by Kelli Ann Morgan Page A

at
her.
    “Go!” Kate told him. “I’ll be fine from here.
Just set me on the stairs.”
    Noah did as instructed and placed her down
gently on the top step where she could hold onto the railing, then turned back
to his chores. He led the horses and the wagon toward the barn. When he and Levi
finally emerged from their tasks, they headed out toward the bunkhouse. Noah
stole a glance at the veranda, biting back the disappointment that crept in at Kate’s
absence.
    “Aaaaaaaa!” The shriek ended with a loud thud
and a horse’s whinny.
    Noah and Levi scrambled in the direction from
which the scream had come. There, lying in a heap in front of one of the larger
corrals, was Clifford, his horse running amuck, saddle straps and reins
whipping about like lashes as the animal reared, pawing at the air, his eyes
wide, and his ears pinned back against his head.
    “Something’s gotten under that horse’s saddle,”
Noah said, looking for something that may have angered or spooked the gelding.
It was the Arabian he’d met right after he’d arrived, only it was not acting
like the same horse.
    There was no sign of a skunk or raccoon, and it
was too cold for a snake to be about. Nothing that would have spooked him.
    Levi knelt down next to the man who’d been
thrown from his mount.
    “He all right?” Noah asked.
    “Hey, Thomas,” Levi called the man’s name as he
turned him over onto his back. His eyes were open, but there was no response.
    “He’s dead.”
    Noah looked down at the man whose neck was
twisted at an awkward angle and unexpectedly Henry’s face flashed through his
mind as did the events of that horrible day just eight years ago—his big
brother lying lifeless on the ground, his eyes open, blood oozing from his
head.
    No!
    His gut contracted tightly as if he’d been
punched hard, his heart wrenched in agony as he relived that life-altering moment,
dropping to his knees, tears blurring his vision. He squeezed his eyes shut,
gasping for air to fill his lungs.
    Breathe , he coaxed, forcing the memories of his
brother’s death back into the locked chest where he’d hidden them a long time ago.
With several deep, cleansing breaths, clarity returned and he bowed his head in
thanks.
    “Look, Noah, if this is going to be too hard
for you…” Levi’s hand clutched his shoulder in understanding.
    Noah swallowed, wiped away wet streaks from his
face, and pulled himself to his feet.
    “I’m all right,” he assured his cousin and then
turned to the horse.
    “I’ll go get Doc Fulgrum,” Cal called out.
    “There’s no need,” Noah told him quietly.
    Cal’s eyes grew wide and his head jerked toward
the dead man.
    Noah exchanged glances with Levi, who heaved
the dead man up into his arms and carried him to the house.
    “We need to calm this horse before anyone else
gets hurt,” Noah said firmly. “Do you understand?”
    The hired hand swallowed, then nodded.
    “Good.” He nodded too, then turned to the
beautiful light-colored steed. “Whoa,” Noah called softly as he held up his
hands, stepping toward the distraught horse.
    The Arabian tossed his head back and forth, bucking
and twisting awkwardly, snorting a warning at Noah to not get any closer.
    The front door clacked against the frame as it
shut. A gentleman with broad shoulders and graying hair stepped out onto the
porch with Kate tucked under his arm, her hand covering her mouth. Their eyes
locked for a brief moment, but when the gentleman started down the stairs with
her, Noah held up his palm to stop them. He needed to focus and he couldn’t do
that if he was worried about Kate.
    “Stay back,” he cautioned.
    The older gentlemen set Kate down on the steps
and it took everything Noah had inside of him to ignore how the soft blue dress
she wore clung to her very feminine curves, and her newly brushed hair cascaded
down her shoulders and across her chest.
    Focus, Deardon!
    The Arabian bucked again.
    It had been a long time since he’d seen