The Legacy of Copper Creek Read Online Free PDF Page B

this once. And only because you’re making the game a real challenge.”
    An hour later, Whit pushed away from the table. His tone was more than a little grumpy. “Since I’m cooking tonight, what’s your pleasure?”
    “Why don’t you surprise me?”
    “You surprise me, Goldilocks. You’re good.”
    “Thanks. You’re not bad yourself. A few more lessons, and you might even manage to be a challenge.”
    A challenge? While she took her time putting away the board and letters, Whit studied her backside as she reached into the cupboard.
    He didn’t even mind losing. He’d just spent the most enjoyable hour sparring with a woman who continued to intrigue him.
    Who the hell are you, Cara Walton? And what delicious mystery are you hiding?

Chapter Four
    C ara pulled a wooden rocker in front of the fireplace and lifted her feet to the raised hearth, basking in the warmth of the fire. It had been fun beating Whit MacKenzie at his own game. He’d been so smug. So sure that she would be an easy mark.
    Of course, she’d had to work really hard to keep her mind on the game. Having an opponent who was rugged, gorgeous, and smart was a real distraction. She’d never met a man who could come up with so many suggestive words. She actually liked the fact that he’d been such a surprise. Not at all what she’d thought he would be.
    Even though his presence here was forcing her to change her plans, she had to admit she felt a lot safer having him around. He might not believe her story, but in a duel with Suit-and-Tie, she’d put her money on Whit MacKenzie.
    Anybody who could spend hours in the snow chopping wood, listen to an unbelievable story about a mysterious villain with evil eyes, and then calmly start a board game was either as cool a cowboy as they came or an empty-headed fool. And though she’d like to believe she was dealing with someone she could outthink, she knew better. She’d already detected a sharp mind underneath that spill of shaggy dark hair.
    Which is why, while he’d been outside chopping firewood earlier, she’d made a rash decision.
    What did Gram love to say? Truth was stranger than fiction.
    Even though she’d known her story would be tough to swallow, she’d decided to forget about the lie she’d spent the night concocting and had instead told him the truth. Or at least as much of it as she could. In truth, she was already beginning to doubt what she’d seen and heard. She’d been in such a state of anxiety when she’d fled Ghost Mountain that she was sure every stranger she encountered was out to harm her. Maybe, with her life in such turmoil, the whole thing had been blown completely out of proportion. But she’d really tried to tell this cowboy as much as she could.
    So much for honesty. Now he thought she was some crazy, half-baked lunatic who deserved to be locked up for her own good.
    And there was no one to blame but herself.
    She’d stumbled into a hornet’s nest, and with every turn she was bound to get stung again and again. But hey, she’d been stung before. Too many times to count. Gram used to say adversity made you stronger. Cara wasn’t so sure of that. With each stumble, she was finding it harder and harder to get up.
    Still, she had to try if she were to ever reach her dream.
    Maybe it was time to put childhood dreams aside and get real. Look where all her dreaming had taken her.
    Whit MacKenzie had asked her what her Plan B was. She needed to have one, and she needed it soon.
    It was her last coherent thought before the warmth of the fire defeated her, and she let her head fall back as she drifted off to sleep.
      
    Whit rummaged through the cupboards. There were cans of ham, tuna, and corned beef, as well as boxes of rice, noodles, and freeze-dried potatoes. Enough staples to feed an army of starving wranglers.
    His fingers encountered paper, and he retrieved an envelope. On the front of it was written the words: I hope this covers the food and shelter I took