Courting the Doctor's Daughter Read Online Free PDF

“Sorry to disappoint you, ma’am, but my remedy will be bunking with me.”
    “Not even a reprobate like you could push me into breaking God’s law.”
    He flashed a smile. “Wish I had more time to chat, but my horse needs water and feed.”
    Without a backward glance, he walked to his wagon,scrambled up, released the brake and pulled on the reins, backing onto the street. Then giving her a jaunty wave, he turned in the direction of the livery.
    Mary let out a gust. The man took pleasure in irritating her. Still, Ben remained her chief concern. At the thought of the little boy, Mary only wanted to pick him up at the Foleys’. Talking to her brother-in-law could wait.
    Then she remembered the bottle in her bag. The errand would take her to the livery. She’d prefer to deliver the medicine tomorrow, but her conscience wouldn’t allow her to shirk the responsibility. She despised having to be anywhere near that peddler, but more than likely she’d find Mr. Lemming in his office and wouldn’t have to set eyes on that no-good.
    Or so she hoped.
    Outside the livery, Mary waved to Red, the freckle-faced hired hand, dumping a wheelbarrow of manure he’d mucked from the stalls. As the odor reached her nostrils on the brisk breeze, she wrinkled her nose and hurried inside.
    Mr. Lemming wasn’t in his office. Mary set the bottle on his desk, tempted to leave. But, her father had asked her to stress the importance of taking the medicine. Her heart skipped a beat. Searching for the owner could bring her face-to-face with that peddler. As she hustled past stalls, the horses’ gazes followed her progress with large doleful eyes, probably hoping for a treat or a pat.
    Up ahead, Luke Jacobs filled a bucket from the trough. Mary skidded to a stop, her heart tap-dancing in her chest. The sight of all those muscles rippling beneath his shirt held her transfixed, powerless to move.
    Oh, yes, he most definitely was trouble.
    He raised his head and their eyes met. Butterflies danced low in her belly. Slowly, he straightened. “Checking up on me?”
    A flush crept up Mary’s neck. He had the audacity to imply she’d followed him. “Certainly not. I’m looking for Mr. Lemming, the owner of this livery. Have you seen him?”
    The man had the audacity to smirk, like he didn’t believe her. Well, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of explaining her reason for being here.
    “Nope, only a freckle-faced youth who offered to see to my horse, but I prefer taking care of Rosie here myself.”
    Mary raised a brow.
    “Rosie’s an odd name, I know, but it’s the name she came with when I bought her. I don’t believe in changing a gal’s name unless—”
    “Unless it suits your purposes,” she said, spitting out the words, “like trying to humiliate me in front of my neighbors.”
    “With your overblown interest in the town’s welfare, I’d say Miss Nightingale suits you.” He waved a hand. “Does your husband have a horse stabled here?”
    “I don’t have a husband.” The words popped out of her mouth before her brain could squelch them.
    He carried the bucket into the stall, gave his horse a pat, closed the lower door and then turned back to her. “Are you renting a conveyance?”
    Why the interrogation? “No.”
    He shot her a smug grin. “Hmm, then I’ve got to wonder if you’re following me.”
    She huffed. “I most definitely am not!”
    Chuckling, he headed toward her with a lazy stride. “Then what reason do you have to see Mr. Lemming?”
    Rosie craned her neck, turning a stern eye on Mary. To be censored by the man’s horse was too much. “It’s none of your business.”
    At Mr. Jacobs’s approach, her heart leapt to her throat,but she refused to be bullied and stood her ground. Even though her insides rolled like a ship tossed at sea.
    He stopped in front of her. “Sorry I can’t be more help locating the owner.”
    She harrumphed. “I seriously doubt you care a fig.”
    His eyes sparked. “I