Finally Home by Dawn Michele Werner Page A

antique bed was so comfortable; she didn’t think she ever wanted to leave it. But the dim morning light was flooding into the picture window beside the bed, coaxing her to rise and start her day. She rolled onto her side and blinked, trying to focus on the clock hanging on the wall over the dresser. Nine . It was nine a.m. already! Yawning loudly, she looked around the bedroom for Webster. She found him sleeping on a plush rug beneath an old red lounge chair.
    A knock on the door caused her to sit upright. “Y-yes, who is it?”
    “ Noah.”
    “ I just woke up,” she informed him.
    “ Just wanted to let you know that Maria made some breakfast if you want any. And the electricity is working again.”
    “ Thanks,” she felt a little flustered at hearing his voice so early in the morning. Almost liked it.
    When he didn’t respond, she guessed he had left the door. Her mind thought back to last night. The way he kissed her. When he said he cared about her. Oh why couldn’t they make things work? Why couldn’t he love the ranch as much as she did? There were so many why’s in her head this morning! Why couldn’t Noah believe she saw Mr. Ellinger last night?
    Touching her aching head, she fell back into the fluffy pillows.
    She woke two hours later. Clutching the sheets in her fists, she groaned. Forcing her legs over the bed, she sat on the edge. She wondered where Noah was and if he waited for her to join him for breakfast.
    Groggy from too much sleep, she shuffled across the bedroom and to the spacious bathroom, blowing Webster a kiss along the way.
    Thirty minutes later, Amanda was descending the circular staircase, her eyes searching for Noah. But the house was quiet. She didn’t even hear sounds from the kitchen. Walking into the dining room, she found one place setting on the table. Assuming it was left for her, she grabbed the goblet and headed to the kitchen. Peeking inside before entering, she couldn’t find a sign of Maria.
    “ Hmmm, looks like I’ve been abandoned,” she murmured to herself and went to the refrigerator.
    After a light breakfast of orange juice and one of Maria’s delicious blueberry muffins, Amanda jogged upstairs to retrieve her coat. Before heading back to her house, she wanted to walk around the ranch. Maybe she’d find a clue that would prove Mr. Ellinger was sneaking around Moonlight Ranch last night!
    Cool breezes stung her face when she stepped outside onto the front porch. At least the rain had stopped. But puddles of rainwater were scattered everywhere, glittering from bits of sunlight that fought to escape from still-lingering clouds. Amanda stretched her arms over her head and then wrapped them around her waist as she walked down the porch steps.
    Her head turned toward the stable when she heard voices. Dodging muddy puddles, she walked along the empty corral and stopped at the large open doorway of the stable. Noah’s voice was obvious, then she distinguished Maria’s high-pitched laughter. She poked her head inside, noticing three other men standing beside Noah and Maria. Her eyes rounded in surprise when she spotted the object of everyone’s conversation.
    A fuzzy brown foal lay huddled against Angel. Amanda moved into the stable. “She gave birth!”
    Five heads turned in her direction, but only Noah spoke. “Very early this morning.”
    “ Ain’t she a beauty, Miss Brookfield?”
    Amanda nodded at the cowpoke, who she now recognized as Luke. “Yes, she is.”
    Maria rubbed her hands together. “Oh, what a delightful morning! Think I will go bake a special cake to celebrate the new birth.”
    Noah rubbed his hands through his hair and moved to where Amanda was kneeling a few feet from Angel and the foal. “She’s shaking, Noah. Is she ok?”
    He squatted beside her. “Yep. She’s a healthy foal. It’s normal that she’s a little shaky.”
    Amanda glanced at him. He looked tired. There were dark shadows under his eyes and his usually tan face looked pale.