The Horseman's Son by Delores Fossen Page A

in her eyes. “Adam’s tired,” she repeated. “It’s time for me to get him ready for bed.”
    Collena got up again, as well. “I want to go with him so I can say good-night.”
    Ruth took off the high-chair tray, picked up Adam and turned around to face Collena. “Give the baby some time. You can’t force motherhood on him.”
    With that, Ruth took Adam out of the room.
    Dylan considered going after her, to remind Ruth that while she was a member of the family, she couldn’t shut out Collena, but he decided they could all use a little breathing space. Besides, with their late start on the Thanksgiving dinner, it really was Adam’s bedtime.
    “I’ll have to excuse myself from the table, too,” Millie said. “I’m not feeling well.”
    Jonah smiled at Collena. “You sure know how to clear a table.”
    That brought Dylan to his feet. He was about to give Jonah a piece of his mind, but Collena stopped him. “Don’t,” she whispered. “It’s not worth it.” She stood and placed her napkin beside her plate. “If you don’t mind, I need to get some rest. It’s been a long day.”
    Dylan shot Jonah a nasty glare and headed after her. Collena was in the corridor, and she was already practically running in the direction of her guest room.
    “Wait,” he called out to her.
    She didn’t exactly wait, but she did slow down so he could catch up with her. “I really am tired,” she told him.
    “I don’t doubt that.” Dylan caught her arm and turned her around to face him.
    He’d had some good ideas in his life, but that wasn’t one of them. When he whirled her around, she practically landed against him. So close they were nearly touching. He saw the stark fatigue in her eyes. The worry lines on her forehead. The too-pale skin.
    But he also took in her scent. Not warm, exactly. But inviting. He was attracted to her in the most basic way that a man could be attracted to a woman.
    Collena was beautiful. And she had both a toughness and a fragileness about her. The kind of woman who could take care of herself but was still vulnerable beneath. He was a sucker for a strong woman, but his attraction went up a significant notch when there was vulnerability involved.
    “Well?” Collena prompted. She took a step back. It didn’t help. She was still close enough that her scent was playing havoc with his senses.
    “I apologize for Ruth’s comment,” Dylan said, forcing himself to speak.
    “No need. I didn’t think for one minute that fitting into your life would be easy. And the truth is, I’ll try to stay out of their way—and yours—as much as possible.”
    He studied her, specifically her defensive posture. She’d folded her arms over her chest and was leaning away from him. Definitely defensive.
    “Okay, what’s this all about?” he asked. He motioned toward her folded arms.
    To her credit, she didn’t say, What do you mean? Nor did she deny that something was wrong. “Earlier today someone left a newspaper outside my door.”
    Though that didn’t seem serious, Dylan wasn’t ready to shrug just yet. A lot of crazy things had happened. “What newspaper?”
    Collena opened the door to her room and, without turning on the light, went inside. Several moments later, she returned with the article in question. One glance at it, and Dylan didn’t have to ask any more questions about what it was. He knew. It was the story that had implicated him in the deaths of his sister and fiancée.
    “I didn’t kill them,” Dylan said simply.
    Collena looked him straight in the eyes. “I believe you.”
    He was so surprised by her adamant vote of confidence that it took him a moment to respond. “Then why did that article upset you?”
    “Because first of all, I don’t know who left it for me. Or why. Maybe the person was trying to make me run in the other direction. But I won’t run,” she insisted.
    No, he didn’t think she would. But Dylan did want to know the answer to her questions. Who had left it?