Never Marry a Cowboy Read Online Free PDF

empty stomach.”
    â€œWell, then you eat up. All of you, eat up!” She hurried from the room.
    Out of the corner of his eye, Kit watched Ashton place a small portion of eggs and one piece of bacon on her plate. He remembered how little Clarisse had eaten at the end. His throat constricted, and he wondered if he’d be able to swallow.
    â€œI was surprised to hear you’d taken on the job of marshal,” David said as he scooped up a large serving of eggs.
    Kit shrugged. “It was something to do.”
    â€œRisking your life for others is a bit more than that, Mr. Montgomery,” Ashton said softly.
    He stilled, wondering how he could explain that everything he did was an attempt at retribution for the one life he had been unable to save. He couldn’t. “You make too much of it, Miss Robertson. My main duty involves carting drunks to the jail so they can sleep off indulging in too much whiskey.”
    She met his gaze. “I believe Mrs. Gurney is right. You’re too modest.”
    â€œI assure you that modesty has never been one of my character flaws.”
    â€œDavid told me you have no flaws.”
    He darted a quick glance at David, who shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I spoke more of your virtues than your flaws,” David explained.
    â€œThat must have been a short conversation,” Kit said.
    Ashton laughed so sweetly that Kit wanted to capture the sound and hold it deep within himself.
    â€œAre you trying to convince me that I should be grateful you thought David’s idea was as ludicrous as I did?” she asked.
    He met and held her gaze. “I’m attempting to convince myself.”
    Her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her gaze to the small amount of food on her plate.
    Bloody hell! What did he think he was doing? The last thing he needed to do was flirt with her, charm her, or give her cause for hope. He jerked his gaze to David, not surprised to see the man’s eyes narrowed. “When do you leave?” Kit asked.
    â€œThere’s a stagecoach coming through tomorrow afternoon. Since my plans fell through here, I’ll make arrangements today for us to take it.”
    â€œDavid, will you stop these uncalled for subtle rebukes? They grow wearisome,” Ashton chastised, her gaze never wavering from her food.
    Kit scraped his chair across the floor and stood. She lifted her gaze then, so fragile and incredibly innocent. She had yet to learn the ugliness of death. He had no desire to be near when life taught her that lesson. “I wish you both a safe journey.”
    She gave him a charitable smile. “It was a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Montgomery.”
    â€œThe pleasure was mine, Miss Robertson.” He turned to leave, stopped, and knew he would regret the words even before he spoke them. “Miss Robertson, you mentioned earlier that you had a desire to see this part of the state. Will you honor me with the privilege of escorting you through the area this afternoon?”
    â€œYou’re too kind, Mr. Montgomery,” she said softly.
    â€œHardly. But for one afternoon, I can pretend.”
    Â 
    Kit. Kit. Kit. In her mind, Christian Montgomery was and would always be Kit. But the years since she’d first met him had created a chasm and a formality between them that caused her to now address him as “Mr. Montgomery” when she hadn’t before.
    She twirled around the room. Christian Montgomery had asked her on an outing. How many times over the years had she dreamed of him returning to Dallas because he’d been unable to forget her…?
    She came to an abrupt standstill. He had forgotten her. So easily. That knowledge had hurt but not nearly as much as knowing that he had refused David’s offer of Ashton’s hand for marriage. She didn’t hold his decision against him. After all, he was strikingly handsome and cultured. Ashton had not been the only woman to admire him in