Rancher's Refuge (Whisper Falls) by Linda Goodnight Page B

you. You’ve done enough.”
    “I forgot you didn’t have a car.” He frowned, his breath puffing from the exertion. “I should have stuck around.”
    She reached out, started to touch his arm, but changed her mind and let her hand fall to her side. “Don’t look so guilty. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
    He looked as if he didn’t believe her, and for good reason. From the moment they’d met, she’d leaned on his good nature and done anything except take care of herself. But no more. Even though the snack shop pay was small, the job was a start. Somehow she’d get back on her feet and never have to depend on anyone, especially a man, again. She never wanted to be as vulnerable as she’d been that day at the waterfall.
    “How did things go at the Iron Horse?”
    His question surprised her. She hadn’t expected him to care one way or the other. “Very well. The work is easy, and I have no problem as long as I don’t have to lift anything.”
    “Uncle Digger can do the lifting.”
    “That’s what he said.” She smiled, relaxed a little. “Cassie was right. They’re nice people. So are Davis Turner and his kids. She says they all attend the same church.”
    “Whisper Falls is kind of churchy, if that’s a word.” He ran the back of one arm over his damp forehead.
    “I used to be like that.” And she wanted to be again. Since that bizarre incident at the waterfall when Austin had showed up after she’d prayed, Annalisa had tried to refocus on God. Praying eased her anxiety and helped her sleep. Talking to Cassie, who had the faith of Abraham, eased her self-recriminations. Life was too hard without God to lean on. “Cassie invited me to church. Do you attend?”
    “Nope.” Abruptly, he jerked the pitchfork from the straw and jabbed a forkful, spreading the scent as well as the substance around the stall. She saw the stiffness in his body, heard the tension in his voice. Instinctively she knew. Like her, he’d stumbled somewhere along the muddy path of life.
    She didn’t ask, couldn’t. But she wondered what had happened.
    A wooden-handled rake leaned against one wall of the stall. She took it in hand much as she had the broom and began smoothing the straw.
    “You don’t have to do that.”
    “I know. I want to.”
    “Suit yourself.” With a shrug he went back to work.
    His wasn’t the friendliest invitation she’d ever had, but it would do. At some point this morning, he’d lifted the three-day injunction. At least, she thought he had, and she wanted to pull her weight.
    “I’ll get an apartment as soon as I have the money saved.”
    Austin peered at her over his shoulder. “You’re safer here.”
    Apparently, that was as much of a commitment as she was going to get. She’d take it. Gladly.
    One of the horses, this one a tall buckskin with black mane, tail and stockings and an eggshell-colored body, ambled to the stall door and stuck her head inside.
    “We have company.”
    Austin’s head turned toward the fancy-looking mare. “Dixie’s a pest. Thinks she’s a dog.” He stepped to the animal, wrapped an arm around her head and stroked her long face. “How you doing, pretty girl?”
    The mare blew softly and licked her lips.
    “She trusts you.” Animals instinctively know, she thought.
    Austin gave her a curious look. “You familiar with horses?”
    “A little. Enough to know a horse is comfortable when she licks her lips.”
    He backed the mare into the open area of the barn. Annalisa set the rake aside to follow, watching his gentle way with the animal. He went to a fifty-gallon barrel, dipped in a hand and came out with a handful of cubes. The horse snuffled. Her ears flickered and she bobbed her big head until he offered the treat.
    Yes, there was a lot of good in Austin Blackwell. At least, his animals thought so.
    “I took you for a city girl,” he said.
    Annalisa ran her hand down the mare’s sleek, warm neck. “I grew up in Wichita but spent