Mail-Order Man Read Online Free PDF Page B

appreciative.” She lifted a shoulder in answer; he asked, “Why did you open your door to a stranger? A ragged stranger who might have been out to slash your throat.”
    â€œIf you’d been all gussied up, I’d’ve found that peculiar. I haven’t seen a man in a nice suit of clothes since before the war.” She patted the area near her hip. Her fingers dug into her pocket, extracting a pearl-handled pistol, which she aimed at his face. “I knew there wouldn’t be any trouble.”
    Brax’s heart slammed against his chest. He wasn’t a coward, but he did have a healthy respect for bullets.
    â€œYour face is white as biscuit dough.” She snickered, then lowered the barrel. The last of the fudge stuffed in her mouth, she made a trip with her tongue around the outside of it. “Got any more candy?”
    â€œNo, ma’am, I don’t.”
    â€œToo bad.”
    Into the lull that followed, Brax said, “I was given to understand you have a stepmother. Where is the good lady?”
    â€œClaudine’s out trying to shoot one of those dumb cows. Makes me sick just to look at those ugly old animals.”
    Plainly the heiress didn’t fuss about eating the result. “Who does the rest of the chores?”
    She opened her mouth, then shut it quickly. “We hired a few stragglers. Stole everything they could get their hands on, even one of Claudine’s many wedding rings. One guy got scared off, once he realized the Injuns are at our back door.”
    â€œI can help there. I know the ways of the Comanche.” No doubt the ones from past years had moved on, but Brax felt confident of his abilities. “I’m fluent in their language.”
    â€œI guess you came by that from your mother.” Before he could ask for an explanation, she screwed up one of those pellet eyes. “I don’t have any use for Injuns.”
    If there were any avenue short of committing as much as an hour to this odd girl, Brax needed to find it. “Miss St. Clair, your uncle passed on owing me a large amount of money. Since you aren’t disposed to accept me as a bridegroom, I’d like to retire the debt. Do you have five thousand dollars, U.S.?”
    â€œI didn’t say I don’t want you for a husband.”
    â€œYou and I aren’t meant to be, if for no other reason than the gap in our ages.” He took a forward step. “I do have a valid claim against your uncle’s estate, though. And I mean to collect. Nevertheless, I might be willing to settle for two thousand dollars.”
    â€œYou’re out of luck.”
    â€œHow about a thousand?”
    â€œNope.”
    Searching for honorable escape, he asked, “How ’bout two hundred? Confederate.”
    â€œAre you trying to renege on the wedding?”
    Patience. Forget exits. Keep your mind on the better life you can get for Geoff and Bella . “I look forward to marriage. But I—”
    â€œYou’d better not expect to sleep with me.”
    A warning sign went through him. If the marriage wasn’t consummated, he’d have no legal hold on the Nickel Dime. “I can only assume you’re jesting.”
    â€œI’ll let you know after you tell me whether you stick your tongue in a girl’s mouth when you kiss.”
    She was a rotten child, worrying a bug to death, and Brax thought about turning the tables on her. Worry her like she’s worrying you . He might be a louse, but he wasn’t a child. “A marriage in name only is for the best. You’re young, you might find true love someday and want to marry the man. I, of course, wouldn’t wish to stand in the way of lovers. And you’d want to give the flower of yourself to him.”
    â€œ Flower of myself?” Her features contorted. “ Flower of myself? What does that mean?”
    God, he would love to choke the girl. He walked to the fireplace and ran his