To the Edge of the Stars

Dorchester Publishing ISBN: 0-8439-5996-7, ISBN-13: 978-8439-5996-3

hile removing her gloves and stuffing them in her back pocket, Kalen spoke quietly. "Please, Uncle Jed, let me handle this." To her relief, he stayed put, gazing about at the half-dozen buildings, especially the long, low barn some distance from the house.

The Savages dismounted and carelessly tossed reins over a hitch rail. Before Kalen took a step, Blair clasped her hand and practically dragged her toward the porch steps. Kalen noticed how much dirtier her hand was, creases of her damp palms encrusted with dirt.

"Mother," Blair said.

Kalen grimaced, self-conscious about her grubby appearance.

Looking in their direction, Miz Savage smiled. "You almost missed supper, Blair. Who's with you?"

"Folks looking for work," Cameron offered as he came abreast of Kalen and his sister. Though Blair stood a couple inches taller than Kalen's own five-feet-five, Cameron must have been near six feet.

Kalen reluctantly trotted between them as they climbed the three steps to the lovely lady seated in a rocker. Though her silver-shot, dark hair was swept back in a bun encircled by a blue ribbon, the style didn't render her face severe. On the contrary, like Blair, she was breathtakingly stunning and regal.

"Ma'am." She extended her hand, dirt and all.

The lady smiled again as her blue-eyed gaze wandered in the general direction of Kalen's face. Then it hit her.

Miz Savage was blind.

Kalen stuck her hand in a back pocket as a blush crept over her cheeks. She mentally scrambled to cover her embarrassment. Though Miz Savage hadn't seen her, her children had. "Sorry to intrude at this hour, ma'am."

"Not at all, my dear. I'm Lael. Welcome to our home." Her head cocked as if listening for something no one else could hear. "You have a distinctive voice. I suspect you are a lovely girl."

"You suspect wrong, ma'am," she retorted without thinking.

Blair's laughter drew her mother's attention. "More like a travel-stained ragamuffin, Mother. But she probably cleans up well." She grinned at Kalen.

Rather than taking offense, Kalen felt a warm glow inside. She had enjoyed the banter between the siblings, and now Blair teased her as if she were a longtime acquaintance.

"Blair?" a deep voice questioned. The screened door opened to a tall man with a glass in his hand.

"Just the man Kalen and her uncle need to see." Blair gestured. "My brother Taylor."

Kalen's breath caught. Butterflies took off helter-skelter in her stomach. Unconsciously, she rubbed her stomach and licked dry lips. A handsome man by anyone's measure, and taller than Cameron. Taylor Savage's sable hair slicked back from a broad brow. He had his mother's gorgeous blue eyes, but his were alert and deeply unsettling. A half-smile flashed pearly white teeth against skin darker than that of the other Savage children.

"Miss Barrett," he acknowledged absently.

She had the distinct impression his fleeting smile was insincere. Too bad. He was very handsome when he smiled. She felt deserted when his attention focused on her uncle still seated in the wagon.

"I think Kalen saved Starduster's foal." Cameron took a seat beside his mother.

Taylor Savage's glance landed on her again, scattering her wits. "Uh, no. Uncle Jed. I just do what he tells me."

"You lifted the foal by yourself. I saw you," Blair said.

Kalen took a step back when Taylor's gaze traveled over her. Clearly, he didn't believe she was capable of such a feat. When he directed his skepticism toward Uncle Jed, her hackles rose, and she said flatly, "He's prob'ly forgotten more about horse care than you know."

Expression patronizing, he lifted a brow and strode past her and welcomed her uncle. "Mr. Barrett."

Kalen grimaced at her own audacious manners and prayed between herself and Uncle Jed, they wouldn't lose the job before they'd secured it. After a short time, Taylor Savage walked back to the porch, ignoring her as he passed.

"Cameron, is the room in the back of the cook shack habitable?"

"Well, the window needs a wash, and the floor hasn't seen a broom in a long time."

"See to it, then. And find a cot. The kid can sleep there." He assisted his mother to her feet, a clear dismissal of Kalen and her uncle.

"Till later," Miz Savage said graciously as she tucked her hand around her son's arm.

Without looking back, Taylor ordered, "Get moving. Supper's on the table."

Kalen's mouth gaped. She looked down at herself and stilled, hands unconsciously twisting her battered hat. At twenty-six she was no kid, but he had dismissed her as he might a troublesome child.

Keeping her reactions in check might prove a greater challenge than controlling her temper when dealing with the gorgeous, arrogant son of a so-'n-so.