A Love of Her Own Read Online Free

up.” Mark directed his attention back to Willard. “Stop in and see me anytime. My office is right on Main Street.
    ” May twisted abruptly in her seat, disturbing the baby, who woke up with a loud whimper. “Then I’ll come with him too, so you can relieve me of my terrible headaches.”
    April saw Willard’s face twist into a frown. “By golly, you’re going to give me a headache with all your aches and pains!”
    April had never heard so many complaints from two people before, and she wished they would stop yakking about it. Maybe she could try to change the subject, but who could be heard above the baby’s crying? She couldn’t believe that Beth never stirred. All the more reason to just have horses. She could put them in a stall, corral, or pasture and go on about her business. They certainly never complained.
    Mark caught her eye. Her disdain must have shown in her face because he smiled at her. “We’ll be stopping soon to water the horses and take a fifteen-minute break.”
    April pursed her lips together to keep from complaining. The break couldn’t come soon enough for her. She sat facing the back of the stage and leaned out, gazing at the fast-moving landscape. The stagecoach left a cloud of dust some twenty feet behind them from the twenty-four hooves of the horses as they tore across the trail.
    “Those horses can really kick up some dust!” April idly commented to no one in particular. There was a big difference between the Montana and Colorado landscape, but both were equally beautiful. The wind lifted a few strands of her hair from their pins, and April pushed them back into place, but the breeze was a welcome breath of fresh air after the stifling smells of May’s heavy perfume mingled with the odor of Anne’s soiled diaper.

2
    Wes Owen adjusted his brown Stetson and stared at his reflection in the old cracked dresser mirror. His straight, sandy brown hair fell past his collar. Should have gotten my hair trimmed , he thought. But he was trying to be careful with the little money he had, and just because he was going to a wedding, he didn’t think it was necessary to spend another fifty cents. It didn’t look too bad, as long as he had his hat on. His eyes were clear and bright as he examined the light stubble of growth along his jawline, and he was satisfied that he’d finally shaved off his mustache last week. He thought it made him look younger. He never had been one to shave every day, and he wasn’t about to start.
    He knew that he wasn’t exactly handsome but was rugged-looking from his deep tan and lines that crinkled around his eyes, a result of the sun. It’d have to do—it was the face God had given him. If it was God in the first place. He had his doubts, though his friend Josh had tried to convince him otherwise.
    Frowning at his reflection, he pulled on his shirt and faded jeans, thinking how flattered he was to be invited to Josh and Juliana’s wedding. He ran his fingers over the hand-tooled leather belt that matched his brown boots, loving the feel of the smooth leather and the rich smell of it. He’d spent more than he’d intended to on the boots and belt. He’d ordered it straight from Texas through a friend of his, and he knew that both pieces would last a long time. They’d have to, just like his saddle. Besides breaking horses, he’d always wanted to own a store where men who appreciated fine leather saddles and implements could be outfitted in the very best. But that was merely a dream.
    Wes glanced at the clock. He’d have just enough time to check out Lars’s wild mare before scooting on over to the wedding. He threw on his deep brown duster to ward off the September cold that had suddenly descended the last few days, and hurried out to get his horse. He saddled Dakota and slipped the bit into the horse’s mouth, then quickly mounted and jerked the reins in the direction of Lewistown.

    When the stage stopped, Leon instructed the passengers to get out