The Rancher's First Love Read Online Free

around them. He guessed they both had their memories of that summer. From his point of view, he’d been a kid who’d fallen hard for a pretty girl. They’d been young and they’d gone too far too fast. He’d faced the wrath of Jake and Duke Martin. They’d run him off the ranch and out of her life, letting him know he wasn’t welcome on Martin land, or near their sister. Gus had sent him back home to his folks, and their ranch near Austin, where his mom told him to learn from his mistakes.
    Samantha Martin. Sitting next to her now on the tailgate, he felt the past coming at him like a steam train. Her arm brushed against his, her soft scent tangled with the breeze and attempted to drive him crazy.
    Common sense told him not to go back down that road. He remembered all too well how it had felt to be sent packing. As an adult he doubted her brothers would be his problem. No, if he had any intentions of pursuing her, she’d be the one sending him away.
    â€œ Pastor Jenkins?” she said it with a teasing glint in her eyes.
    â€œYeah, surprise.” He shifted to look at her. “There I was in college studying agriculture and taking a class on the Bible that was meant to be an easy A. Instead I found something I’d been missing. I didn’t mean for it to be a career.”
    â€œI haven’t gone to church in ages.” Her voice was soft, a little bit lost and all kinds of hurt.
    He didn’t know what to say to that. He knew she probably had her reasons for not going to church and he didn’t want to push for answers. He’d learned a hard lesson a few years ago about dating, and found out that if two people lived on opposite sides of the faith fence, it was difficult to make a relationship work.
    They sat there a few more minutes. “Parker is your cousin?” she asked.
    â€œYeah. I guess you know his parents died in a car accident?”
    â€œYes, I knew. I’m sorry.”
    â€œMe, too. It’s going to be tough on him. And on his grandmother, my aunt Lee.”
    â€œBut they have you. And Gus.”
    Yes, they had him. He hadn’t really planned this, coming back to Martin’s Crossing. Life was funny that way. It never really went according to plan. At least not his. At seventeen he’d planned on marrying the woman sitting next to him.
    â€œHow is your granddad?” she asked, dragging him back to the present.
    â€œSlowing down, but he’s good. He’s recovered from his stroke and thinks he can still outwork me. My mom worries about him.”
    â€œIt’s good that you can be here to help him. To help them.” Meaning his aunt and Parker.
    Her fingers momentarily closed over his, then let go.
    He hadn’t expected that. He also didn’t expect her to hop down from the tailgate and take off. He watched her go. She didn’t head for her truck. Instead she headed down the street, walking slow and easy.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” he called out to her.
    She glanced back, a finger pressed to her lips. Okay, silence, he got that. He followed her. Suddenly she was on all fours, peeking under the truck parked in front of Lefty Mueller’s woodworking shop.
    â€œCome here, sweetheart. Come on,” she said in a sweet tone that would have had him crawling through hot coals to get to her.
    â€œWhat...”
    She shot him a look and shook her head. Right. No talking.
    He saw what had drawn her attention. A pregnant hound dog, skin and bones but about to whelp any day. The dog whimpered, then crawled out from under the truck. Sam sat back on her heels and the dog nuzzled into her lap, all big brown eyes and long ears.
    â€œWhat are you going to do with her?”
    Sam held the hound’s soulful face in her hands. “Take her home.”
    â€œDuke and Jake will love that.”
    â€œDuke and Jake don’t have a say in the matter. I’m not going to ask their opinion on every decision I