The Bride Backfire Read Online Free PDF Page B

Why, oh why couldn’t Ben have noticed Amanda Dunstall? Or even Midge. As much as it would mean chaos with Pete, she’d rather deal with that than goading the Grogans!
    Larry stepped in front of his sister. “Not enough changes for you to forget your place, Speck.”
    â€œMy place is in Buttonwood, same as yours.” Level and logical, Ben’s words did nothing to soothe the situation.
    â€œMaybe you should pick another place. I liked it better when you jaunted off for years.”
    â€œYou would!” Pete’s jaw pushed forward as he addressed Larry. “Ben’s the better man, and you wouldn’t want any comparisons.”
    â€œDon’t insult Willa’s brother.” A swift dip of his hat accompanied Ben’s words. “No need for insults. Every man stands on his own merit.”
    â€œTrue.” His sister’s agreement with his enemy pushed Larry’s patience over the edge.
    â€œYou don’t get to stand anywhere near her, Speck!”
    â€œStrong words for a man who breaches boundaries, Grogan.” Pa’s eyes narrowed, making fear flash down Opal’s spine. “Be careful who you insult.”
    â€œSome boundaries carry more weight than others.” Adam’s frown swept away the last of Opal’s hope that further ugliness would be avoided. No matter he was right, and if his brother abided by that, they would all be fine.
    â€œBen’s offered no offense,” she reminded everyone. “Nor does he intend to.”
    â€œKeep it that way,” Lucinda snapped, finding her voice when her husband showed up. “We don’t want any offers from a Speck.”
    â€œBut we’ll make you one,” Diggory added, quick to catch on to the problem. “Stay away from our women, and we won’t try to claim anything of yours.”
    â€œUnderstood.” Pa’s jaw clenched so tight Opal couldn’t see how the words got out. “And here’s the last offer you’ll get from the Specks, so listen and listen good. Keep your Grogan carcasses off our land, and we’ll keep our bullets out of your hides. Otherwise, you’ll be digging graves.”

CHAPTER 5
    â€œShe’s dead.” Larry gave voice to the obvious as Adam looked over Sadie’s remains.
    â€œNot surprising.” He chose his response carefully. “She’d stayed with us longer than we could’ve hoped, and only stopped producing milk this spring. Not bad for an old gal.” Adam patted the cow’s side and stood up.
    â€œWasn’t age that took her.” Excitement colored his brother’s voice now. “Look close—eyes clouded, froth at the mouth, and we both know she hadn’t been eating or drinking again.”
    â€œOld cattle can get finicky.” Noncommittal on the outside, Adam knew all too well what the signs most likely meant—especially given the sporadic losses they’d suffered the past two years.
    â€œSomeone poisoned her, and we both know who’s to blame!” To a casual listener, Larry’s accusation would ring with righteous outrage.
    But Adam heard the current of satisfaction and even glee lurking beneath. He knew his brother’s itch for trouble had grown to an all-out rash lately, and any pretext to attack the Specks wouldn’t be overlooked.
    â€œAssumptions won’t get us anywhere.” Holding up a hand when his brother tried to interrupt, Adam continued, “Sadie’d been on her last legs long before this, and there’s nothing to be served by pointing fingers at our neighbors for what could be a natural death.”
    â€œIt’s not. You know it’s not.”
    â€œYou don’t know anything.”
    Larry flushed, his scar a pale slash against the livid red of his rage. “I know this cow didn’t die from old age, and I know you’re trying to keep it quiet because you don’t want trouble. ”
    â€œWhy do