Colorado Dawn Read Online Free PDF Page A

his humiliation at the hands of his family. He swallowed hard and fumed at the high-handed way his family insisted upon running his life. Further proof of his helplessness.
    His father and brother stalked out, their footsteps receding and the front door slamming. Mother pressed her hand on his shoulder as she passed. He refused to acknowledge her, and with a sigh, her touch dropped away. Her light footsteps crossed the parlor and receded. Then he was alone with Karen.
    “I thought you’d left,” he said, keeping his voice expressionless.
    “Your mother invited me to stay as her guest. I accepted.” Her voice cut through him.
    He closed his eyes against a wave of love for her, but he forced himself to harden his heart against it. Though he longed for the comfort and assurance of her arms, to hear her say once again that his blindness didn’t matter, he refused to give in to the need. Whatever declarations she might make now would only make her leaving that much more difficult. “You’re expecting a guest? It seems a bit soon to be entertaining, having just broken off our engagement.”
    She was quiet for a moment then spoke slowly, as if measuring her words. “If you will recall, I am not responsible for our broken engagement.” Her voice turned away from him.
    His nails indented his palms. How he wished he could see her, to look into her eyes once more, to ascertain if she was hurting or if she was relieved the wedding had been cancelled.
    A teacup rattled in a saucer. “David, I wish you’d reconsider your decision.”
    “No. There will be no reconsidering. Who are you expecting?” He could’ve bitten his tongue for asking.
    “Actually, I had need of a lawyer. Sam took a message to town early this morning and brought back word that Mr. Fuller would see me today.”
    “A lawyer? What for?”
    “I don’t think it would be prudent to discuss this subject with you before speaking to my lawyer.”
    The knocker banged on the front door. Deliberate, slow footsteps—Buckford’s—crossed the foyer. The door swung open.
    “I have an appointment with Miss Worth, Buckford. Something about filing a lawsuit?” Fuller’s voice boomed, as big and rotund as he.
    “This way, sir.”
    A gust of chilly air swirled into the room.
    “Hello, David. Ah, Karen, my dear.”
    David staggered to his feet. “What’s this about a lawsuit?” He turned back toward Karen. “Who’s getting sued?”
    “Why,
you
, David. I’m suing you for breach of promise for breaking our engagement.” Her voice hitched, then steadied. “If you will excuse me, I have things to discuss with my lawyer in private.” Her gardenia perfume wafted toward him, contrasted by the steel in her voice.
    David stood rooted to the spot as their footsteps faded down the hall. Suing him? Breach of promise? The hammer and anvil in his head pounded out a beat in time with his heart, and weakness crept over him. He groped behind himself to find the chair once more and sank into it.
    She wasn’t serious, was she?

Chapter 4
    K aren bit her lip and led Mr. Fuller to the dining room. David’s vulnerability made her want to give in, to assure him she didn’t mean it, that it was all a hoax. He must’ve felt as if everyone had turned their backs on him, but what else could she do? David’s parents thought it would shake him up, and they knew him well. She would go along with it for a while, and they had assured her she could back down any time.
    Karen seated herself at the dining room table and poured Mr. Fuller a cup of coffee. She’d always liked him from her days as a clerk in the land office. Those halcyon days when she had been new in town and on the cusp of falling in love with the handsomest man she’d ever met.
    “A terrible thing.” The lawyer bent his round frame and hung over the chair for a moment before he dropped onto the needlepoint seat covering with a sigh. “I wish there was something I could do for him.” He opened his case, took out