The Lone Cowboy of River Bend. Lori Connelly

smile, she paused at his side briefly, then continued on, heading to the barn.

      Nate’s long stride brought him even with her in a matter of seconds. Their arms brushed. Startled, she stumbled on a tuft of grass. Her companion reached out, grabbing her arm to steady her.

      Hannah pulled free almost immediately. “Thank you.”

      “You all right?”

      “I’m fine, just fine, thank you.”

      Flustered by the unexpected contact, Hannah moved on at an even faster pace. They crossed the yard, scattering chickens as they came upon them. She was vividly aware of him every step of the way, feeling uncomfortable yet intrigued.

       Like it’d been with Michael.

      The memory of how swiftly she’d fallen for Jemma’s father rose like a specter in her mind. Hannah had given him her heart in a matter of days. But this isn’t the same.

      Hannah reasoned away the disturbing thoughts. It had been a troubled day. Circumstances stirred up her emotions. Naturally, doubts and worries were haunting her. That’s why Michael had been on her mind. That’s all it was.

      And although she’d just met Nate, Hannah could tell the two men were nothing alike. In fact, she remembered Alice saying the Rolfes had adopted their eldest son. He and Michael didn’t even share blood. It was impossible she felt the same kind of instant attraction.

      True, the man was handsome. Hannah glanced sideways. Nate was striking in a much different way than Jemma’s father. His rugged good looks would have an effect on any woman. Besides, she was older and far wiser now. Nothing would happen. She knew better than to repeat history.

      At the barn, Nate handed her his reins, then pulled open one of the heavy doors. A headache pulsed to life, pounding behind her eyes while Hannah watched him stare into the building. The sad shape of the interior appeared a hundred times worse to her now than it had this morning. The improvements Bessie dreamed of doing never became reality. She and Alice, with the children’s help, had done the best they could, which wasn’t much. Everything needed time, attention, and money and those were in short supply.

      Hannah walked forward, leading the horse. After several steps, she paused to return the reins. The sight of Nate’s grim expression gave her pause. As she stood with him in the shadowy structure, it suddenly occurred to her she had no proof the man was indeed who he claimed to be.

      Unease slid through her veins. Why had she made it clear that, essentially, she was on her own? Why hadn’t she insisted Jed come out to greet him? Hannah shifted, putting some space between them. At least if something happened, Jed could hear her scream then rouse himself to help.

      No. A sick feeling gathered in her gut as certainty settled over her. He wouldn’t. Jed would ignore her as he had earlier, as he did everyone. Hannah stiffened her spine. She would be okay. Her nerves were likely getting the best of her. The man with her had to be Nate Rolfe, a good person, according to Alice.

      “Something wrong?”

      Nate moved closer, and even in the low light, there was no mistaking the concern in his eyes. Hannah slowly released the breath she’d held and a calming bit of logic came to mind. He had asked after Jed and Alice. A drifter wouldn’t have known about them. She needed to rein in her imagination. There were enough legitimate concerns to worry about without creating more out of thin air.

      “No.”

      “You’re pale.”

      “I’m fine.” She gestured to his horse, wanting to get his attention off her. “You’re welcome to put Jack in any stall but the one next to Meadowlark and her baby. She is very protective of Tanager and wouldn’t enjoy close company.”

      “She isn’t used to other horses?”

      The note of surprise in Nate’s observation caught her on the raw. Many people thought her friends were crazy when they’d invested every dime they could borrow into buying this run-down farm and two quality broodmares. They’d worked hard to prove the naysayers wrong, adding horses over time. Meadowlark had once been used to a barn filled with other animals.

      Now, the mare and her foal were remnants of a dream. Months of neglect had unraveled those years of hard work. After Bessie died, everything changed.

      “She’s gotten used to being alone.” Without giving him a chance to respond, Hannah moved away, heading deeper into the building.

       Chapter 3

      Enough light streamed through cracks on the far wall and the open door that she didn’t bother with a lantern. She stopped by a stall that put almost the length of the barn between the gelding and the mare. After Nate nodded his approval, she showed him where to hang his tack and get clean straw for bedding. While he set to work making Jack comfortable, she fetched the horse a bucket of water, some grain, and hay.

      Nate thanked her for the meager offerings. Still intensely aware of her companion, however, Hannah noted his first reaction was a critical tightening of his lips. Certain the poor animal deserved more, she felt bad but there was no help for it. They had limited feed.

      Hannah worried for a moment he’d ask about having more and she’d have to explain, but Nate didn’t say a word, carrying on with his task in silence. Relieved, she stepped over to stand near the open doorway while he finished. Her gaze wandered over the interior to the yard outside as she waited. Neglect was clear in every direction. She could only imagine how it might appear to fresh eyes. The man had to see how run-down the place was and that there was a shortage of many animals besides horses.

      Tears welled up, threatening to spill. It wasn’t all Jed’s fault. The farm had sat abandoned for years before he and Bessie bought it. Hannah couldn’t honestly say she’d seen any potential in it. She glanced back at Nate, finding him still brushing his horse. According to Alice, the Rolfes’ ranch covered over three hundred acres. The meager forty of Redwing Farm, a vast stretch of land to her friends, probably seemed insignificant to him.

      A burst of cold air moved over Hannah. For a second, she could’ve sworn it carried the sweet scent of lilacs, even though it was the wrong season for Bessie’s favorite flower. She turned her attention outside. Ramshackle buildings dotted the area, the chicken coop, sheds, house, a second small barn, and the lean-to against this barn where hired help would’ve slept, sadly looking much the same as the first time she’d seen them. The memory of her friend’s excitement as she’d shown her around the farm then, pulling her from one falling-down structure to another, bursting with plans, filled her mind. She closed her eyes, trying to shut out reality.

      “Done.”

       Did the man ever say more than a word or two at a time?

      Hannah opened her eyes and turned to face Nate. “Are you hungry?”

      “A little.”

      “Why don’t you come up to the house?” She stepped out of the barn. “I’ll fix you something.”

      “I can wait.” Nate pushed the door shut.

      “If you do, Alice will wonder at my manners.”

      “I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”

      His full sentence tempted her to smile. “It’s no trouble.”

      “But-”

      “Alice and the children will be here soon.” Hannah headed off toward the house without giving him the chance to respond.

      Undecided, Nate remained near the barn a moment, then, with a shake of his head, he followed her. He would’ve preferred to wait for Alice outside. Although intrigued by Hannah, she made him uncomfortable. Besides, he wanted a look around. Jed had to be here somewhere and he wanted