The Cowboy's Reluctant Bride Read Online Free PDF

one.
    It was enough to stop the other man. Conrad blinked then turned to Ivy. “I’m only thinking of you. You need a man around here to help you.”
    She certainly did not.
    “She has one,” Gideon said.
    Surprised, Ivy shot him a look.
    The stage driver’s lip curled. “I meant someone she can depend on regularly.”
    With the exception of her brother and father, there were no men she would depend on. If she needed a man on the farm, she would hire one.
    She walked out to the porch, hoping the stage driver would take the hint. “Everything is fine, Conrad. Thanks for checking on me.”
    After another slit-eyed look at Gideon, the man gave her a quick hug, moving away before she could remove his arm. He touched her often, never with permission, although he’d never tried more than a hug. Which was good, because Ivy wouldn’t hesitate to use the pistol in her skirt pocket.
    “Is your stock all right?” Conrad asked. “All accounted for?”
    “Yes.” She wasn’t telling him about the dead mare.
    “I’ll check the horses. If any of them need shoes, I brought some.”
    “That’s not necessary, Conrad.”
    “It’ll just take a minute.”
    “Only one of them needed to be shod, and Gideon did it this morning.”
    “That’s really not your—” He broke off, glowering at Gideon before giving Ivy a sideways look. “That’s nice, but I usually take care of that for you.”
    “And I appreciate it, even though I can take care of it on my own,” she said sharply. She was sick to death of Conrad acting as if she were helpless. At least Gideon hadn’t acted that way. Yet.
    Wanting to hurry the stage driver along, she moved down the steps to his horse. “I’ll see you on your next stage run.”
    “Yes, all right.” Coming to stand beside his mount, he looked over her head at Gideon, but spoke to her. “I’ll see you soon.”
    She made a noncommittal noise as he mounted up and finally rode off.
    Ivy exhaled, glad to be rid of him.
    “Is he always like that?” Gideon asked in a low voice.
    “Yes.” She turned, in no mood for him to start any of that silly man-take-care-of-woman business. “And I can handle him just fine.”
    “You sure can. He must not know about that pistol in your skirt pocket. Why do you put up with the way he treats you?”
    “He could discourage passengers from staying for a meal.”
    “And that would cost you money.”
    “Yes.” She moved past him and back into the house to clean up the dishes. Gideon followed, but stopped in the doorway. Sunlight haloed his giant frame.
    “Besides, he leaves a lot quicker if he thinks he’s getting what he wants.”
    A half smile tugged at Gideon’s mouth, and it made her smile in return.
    She carried the plates and cups across the room and past the stove.
    “You say he was here yesterday?” Gideon asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Before that, when was his most recent visit?”
    “Four days ago.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Why?”
    “That means he was here the day before—”
    “The day before I found my horse killed,” she breathed, hastily putting the dishes in the dry sink. “Do you think Conrad had something to do with that?”
    “Can you remember if he was around just before the other incidents?”
    “I can’t remember about the chickens, but...he wasn’t here the day Tug went missing.”
    Gideon frowned. “That you know of.”
    “That’s right.” Did he take anyone’s word for anything? She bet not. Was that because he’d been in prison, or was there more to it? “He could’ve been in the woods, and I wouldn’t have known. He could’ve come across Tug. If he did something to my dog—”
    “Hey, we don’t know anything yet. What motive would he have for causing you trouble?”
    “To make me decide I need a man around here,” she muttered. “That I need him. I know it sounds ridiculous.”
    “How long have you known him?”
    “Since Tom and I married, almost ten years.” She appreciated that Gideon