Mary Connealy Read Online Free PDF Page B

horse, telling her what to do—that was something familiar. Her objecting—that was rude.
    She clamped her mouth shut, determined to be as good a wife to Red as she’d been to Griff. But they really did have to take the horse.
    “The horse belongs to the bank.” Red held his hand out, waiting for her to come to him.
    Cassie shook her head, trying to rattle the words around inside her head so they made sense. “B–Belongs to the bank? I don’t understand.”
    “They’re mortgaged, Cassie. Your place has a lien on it for the property, the livestock, and the contents of your home.”
    “Griff mentioned a loan. But surely the horses…we brought them west with us. They were from my parents’ stable. I know they were paid for.”
    “They were paid for then…maybe.”
    Red’s tone made Cassie wonder how much was known publicly about her finances. Obviously far more than Griff had ever told her. Griff had always told her a woman shouldn’t concern her weak mind with money matters.
    Red went on. “Now they’re mortgaged. I can’t afford to pay off your loans. I’d end up owning horses I don’t need, a house miles away from my place, and fancy furniture that won’t fit in my soddy. The bank can take ’em.”
    “How did you know about the loan?” Cassie struggled to keep up. Every word he spoke was news to her.
    “It’s a small town.” Red shrugged. “And I work at the bank some, washing windows and such. I hear talk. Besides, it’s no secret. Everyone knows.” He reached for her, pulling back as he studied her stomach. He ran one finger over his puffy lip, glanced at her for a second, and then said, “I’ll have to…to lift you onto Buck. Excuse my…my
familiar
…uh…touch.” He very carefully, looking alarmed, put his hands under her arms and lifted her so she sat facing sideways on his saddle. He settled her gently.
    “Uh…try hooking your leg over the horn.”
    Cassie shook her head, confused at what he was asking her to do. “I…I don’t ride …”
    “I don’t have a sidesaddle. You’ll just have to learn to ride Buck like this or straddle the horse. Except, if you do that, your skirts’ll…um…they’ll…well …” Red’s face turned a color that matched his hair. “You’d best just figure on sittin’ sideways.”
    With another nervous glance that met her eyes, he gingerly took hold of her right leg and swung it around the saddle horn. Again he was gentle and Cassie thought of the sharp scrape of Wade Sawyer’s saddle horn when he’d slammed her onto it. She grabbed at the saddle horn through the layers of her gown.
    Red untied Buck and swung himself up behind the saddle with a single graceful leap. He pressed against her back as he shifted the reins from one hand to the other. He brushed her arms and sides. He looked around her and his chin nudged her hair.
    When he got so close, touching her, close enough to smell the earthy scent of dirt and sweat, Cassie realized what she’d done by marrying him. She thought of a husband’s manly needs. Her stomach quivered at the humiliation that lay ahead of her. If only he wasn’t as demanding as Griff had been. He’d left her alone at first, because he said she was too young. But for the last year, scarcely a season had gone by that Griff hadn’t come to her bed. Griff had explained that it was her duty so she’d endured it.
    Then she remembered what else Griff had said. A woman was unclean when she was with child and he wouldn’t be with her until after the child was born. She barely suppressed a sigh of relief. Surely she had time before Red claimed his rights. Maybe by the time the baby was born he’d forget what his rights were.
    Red shifted his weight and made a clucking sound to start his horse moving. She shifted forward so he wouldn’t be so close, but he caught her. “Hold still. I can’t see when you lean that way.”
    Cassie obeyed quickly, hoping she hadn’t annoyed him.
    “It might be a good idea to stop