The Other Side Of Paradise. Laurie Paige

on a nearby branch, hesitated, then loosened her hair. She’d been wanting to scrub it since Jonah had found the tick on her the day before.

      Sliding into the pool, she heaved a sigh of contentment. Ah, bliss…

      Jonah found the herd resting peacefully when he arrived Wednesday afternoon, but the new wrangler wasn’t anywhere in sight. His horse greeted the other two in the meadow. From the trees, he heard an answering whicker. He dismounted, tied up and walked toward the woods bordering the creek.

      Stopping in the deep shade, Jonah spotted Mary’s horse munching some mossy plants to one side. He circled around and walked beside the tiny creek that flowed into the main one that ran through the meadow.

      Wisps of steam rose from the pool. At first he didn’t see anything unusual, then a vision rose from the depths, showering water like crystal gems all around.

      He froze as Mary stood in the hip-deep water, black hair cascading down her back as she swept it from her face. He got a glimpse of smooth shoulders and the delicate indentation of her spine, of slender hips and nice curves.