Brides of the West Read Online Free PDF Page B

best to care for
them.” She sounded almost angry.
    “Do you have children?” Lord A’mighty, she
didn’t look strong enough to bear a child.
    “No. Sadly not.”
    Regret filled those whispered short words.
The ache of sympathy in his chest surprised him. But women from the
East were notoriously fickle. For all that Bill’s wife protested
her love, she’d hated the way child-bearing changed her life.
    “So what did make you decide to come all the
way out here, instead of marryin’ one of those fine London
gentlemen?” he asked.
    She drew her feet up onto the seat, cradling
her shins with her arms, resting her chin on her knees. He
visualized the slim legs and firm round bottom he’d seen moments
before through the cotton fabric of her gown outlined by the
lamplight spilling from her room.
    “I thought it would make a change.”
    The slight hesitation told him she was lying.
That saddened him. It weren’t none of his business, and she could
just have said that. For some reason, against all logic, he
felt...disappointed. Left out.
    He drew on his cigar. It no longer tasted
good. Hell. Surely by now he was used to the sensation of
exclusion. He’d lived with it all his life.
    “I’m sorry I was not the wife you were
seeking,” she said, sounding crisp and practical and yet he thought
he heard a note of regret in those husky tones. Or was it merely
politeness?
    “You sure seemed relieved when I said so,” he
replied.
    She raised her head a fraction. Wisps of hair
that the moonlight painted black instead of russet, haloed her tiny
face. He sensed her full soft kissable lips curving into a smile,
even though he couldn’t see them.
    “To be honest, I wondered what sort of man
needed to buy a wife.”
    He winced. The curiosity went both ways it
seemed.
    “The Bride for All folks surely
mentioned the shortage of women in the West. Suitable women,” he
amended, mentally discarding the kind of women available to
him.
    “Do none of the other ranchers around here
have daughters?”
    “Some. Their kind set their sights a good bit
higher.” They all knew. His father had made sure the moment he
found out. They’d been looking down their noses at him ever since.
“And there ain’t one of them I’d offer for.” She didn’t need to
know the cold hard facts. She was leaving. Let someone in town tell
her, then he wouldn’t have to see her scorn.
    “You are a choosy man.” The small catch in
her voice seemed to express an acre of hurt. It was wishful
thinking putting thoughts in his head, he decided. She was far too
calm to be upset and she’d definitely been pleased when he’d said
it wouldn’t work.
    And yet something didn’t feel right under his
skin. He’d been too blunt, maybe. “It ain’t got nothin’ to do with
you personally. My rejection.” Shit. That sounded bad. “I mean a
woman like you ain’t cut out for this life. I expected someone
stronger, more...” Hell the stiffness of her body indicated he was
digging himself a hole as deep as the Grand Canyon. “Substantial.”
God. That sounded as if he was only interested in tits. And she had
lovely breasts, palm sized, like peaches. “Older. To take care of
the boys. They are a couple of scallywags at the best of times. Old
Tom Wilkins knew my needs.”
    Her chin dropped back on her knees and her
long loose hair fell around her shoulders, veiling her face. “You
are a good uncle to them.”
    “Family comes first.” It always had. And he
wasn’t about to risk it for a bad case of lust.
    “I understand,” she whispered.
    And strangely he sensed that she did. Tension
oozed out of his shoulders.
    “I am used to boys, though,” she went on. “My
father had a gaggle of apprentices in his workshop and I have a
younger brother.”
    He swallowed. “Are you suggestin’ you want to
stay?”
    “Oh, no. Not at all. The sooner I get to San
Antonio the better.”
    The evidence of her desire to leave was
undeniable and cutting. He curled his lip.