A Wife in Wyoming Read Online Free PDF Page A

us thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars, maybe cost us the ranch itself. More important, our reputations are vulnerable in this situation. One of those kids could claim they were molested on the ranch, and all of us would become suspect. Frankly, I’ve come too far in my professional and personal life to take that risk lightly. My brothers are good men—I would hate for them to deal with that kind of public harassment. You wouldn’t be immune, either. Your job—your whole life—could be ruined because of a teenager’s whim.”
    She didn’t flinch. “I think it’s worth taking the chance.”
    â€œI disagree.”
    â€œYou’re saying no.” Her face was pale, her big eyes wider than ever and, as he watched, they started to shine with unshed tears.
    He let his arms relax, resting his fingertips on the table. “I’m really sorry, Caroline. I understand what this means to you, what you hope it might mean to the kids. But I’m saying—”
    Angie slid a saucer laden with pie and a huge scoop of ice cream across the table in front of him. “Jerk,” she said before walking away.
    He used his index finger to move the scoop of ice cream from the table back on top of the pie. “What I’m saying is that I’ll vote no when the time comes.”
    Caroline frowned. “Vote?”
    â€œThat’s how the Marshalls make decisions.” Ford pushed the plate away. He’d lost his appetite. “Everybody gets a vote on something that affects the ranch as a whole. Like this program of yours.”
    â€œWhat do you do if there’s a tie?”
    â€œWyatt’s the boss, so he gets an extra vote if he wants one.”
    Hope replaced despair in Caroline’s pretty face. “So even if your vote is against me, there’s still a chance that the Marshalls as a family would agree?”
    Ford sat forward, resting his arms on the table. “My vote isn’t against you.”
    There wasn’t anything about Caroline to vote against, that he could see. The tousled mahogany hair, the rosy cheeks and shining eyes, the way a lightweight yellow dress set off her curvy figure and slender legs... No, not a single thing to object to, in his opinion. “I don’t consider your plan to be in our best interest. That’s all.”
    â€œWyatt may think differently. Garrett certainly does. What happens then?”
    â€œI guess you go forward with your project.”
    â€œBut you’d still oppose me?”
    â€œIf the family votes yes, I’ll cooperate.”
    She shook her head. “Spoken like a lawyer. I’ll just have to hope that Wyatt and Dylan are willing to take a chance on my kids.”
    â€œWe’ll talk it over and let you know as soon as we’ve reached a decision.”
    She gave him a bright smile. “Then I guess the faster I get you home, the faster I’ll hear the answer.”
    Which gave him a fair idea of where he stood as far as Caroline Donnelly was concerned.
    * * *
    T HOUGH SHE ’ D GROWN UP practically next door to the Marshall brothers, Caroline had never been to the Circle M Ranch. Yet here she was on a Sunday afternoon, driving Ford Marshall home. He looked relaxed enough in the passenger seat, but he seemed to fill up the space around her, which made getting a decent breath difficult. When she tried, his scent teased her nose with hints of pine and grass edged with an exotic tang she couldn’t name.
    His silence was getting on her nerves, so she spoke the thought at the front of her mind. “You and your brothers didn’t grow up at the Circle M, did you?”
    â€œNo.” The hand lying on his thigh fisted and then relaxed. “My folks had a house in town. When Dad died—” he paused and drew a deep breath “—Wyatt went to work for Henry MacPherson at the ranch. After a couple of years, the old man had us move out here.