By the Book Bride: Ryder (A BBW Western Romance) (Matchmaking A Marriage 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the orneriest stallions the Ace in the Hole had seen in a while and had gotten thrown more than once for his troubles. His oldest brother had been his idol since Ryder had gotten big enough to toddle around after him. For him, the bond had only deepened after the death of their parents. Gabe, however, a normal fourteen-year-old at the time, had grown steadily more sullen and belligerent. Fights in school and with his grandparents at home had led to individual and family counseling.
    After several months, all had seemed to be getting better. Until Gabe had entered the dating scene. At first, his choice of romantic partners had been chalked down to finding his individuality. Over the years, as he continued to seek out the hardest drinking, good-time girls—even the married ones—concern for him had once again grown. He’d settled into a routine of working his ass off for weeks at a time, keeping his nose clean and to the grindstone, and then going off on a bender and wreaking havoc, usually spurred on by a less than savory female acquaintance. The last one, known for sticky fingers and a long rap sheet, had managed to avail herself of several pieces of their late mother’s jewelry. Gabe had refused to press charges once the pieces had been returned.
    Why? Because for all of his bad choices female-wise, Gabe was still one of the most kind-hearted individuals Ryder had ever met. Without making a big deal out of it, he managed to anonymously provide food for hungry families in the area, jobs for men down on their luck and made significant donations to the local children’s home and animal shelter. He was a walking contradiction, and Ryder had long ago learned to stop trying to figure him out. He was, no matter what, the best brother a guy could ever have. Him and Cal.
    “Yeah, you’re a real legend in your own mind.”
    Ryder’s middle brother entered the kitchen, a grin animating his normally somber expression.
    “Don’t be jealous, bro, just because I got the looks and the personality.”
    “It’d be nice if you had a brain to go along with those.”
    “Hey, are you still harping because the books are a little behind?”
    “A little?”
    Realizing that the conversation was about to take a turn for the worse, Ryder intervened quickly. “Don’t you think we should get to those horses? I have to be at Pop’s place before five.”
    Instead of having the effect he desired, Gabe turned an interested gaze his way.
    “Word around town is that Miss Georgia Stevens is a curvy little number with breasts that could fill a man’s…” He made a gesture that all men recognized.
    “Shut up, Gabe.” Ryder jumped up, coffee sloshing from the sides of his cup as he dumped the remainder into the white porcelain sink. Taking a minute to calm his jumping pulse, he stared out the window that overlooked the back paddocks, letting his gaze go up the mountain, past the line of pine trees that seemed to reach right up to the bright blue sky. “I don’t think she’s your type.”
    Gabe, unperturbed by his brother’s response, laughed deeply. “She has a pulse, doesn’t she?”
    In spite of his best efforts, anger simmered inside of Ryder. Not the kind of brotherly annoyance he normally felt when he and one of his siblings were having a quarrel, but a righteous anger that demanded he protect Georgia’s honor from his brother’s crude comments. He pushed away from the sink. “I’m warning you, Gabe, leave Georgie alone.”
    “ Georgie?” Gabe’s black brow rose. “Nice work, little brother.” He brought his empty cup to the sink, placing it beside Ryder’s. “And since you are my brother, I’ll wait till you’re done with her before—”
    Without thought, Ryder’s clenched fist pulled back. Before he could swing at the brother he idolized, Cal was there, pushing his way between them. “The horses are waiting, Ry, and the morning’s getting away from us.”
    Cal watched his little brother until the door closed