Read Online Bran (Prairie Grooms, Book Six) by Kit Morgan - Free Book Online Page B

him to her like no other woman ever had. He had to fight it when he found her in the woods last week, and only his anger masked it, but he wasn't angry now. Now he was able to fully sense it, and it made him want to keep her tucked behind him, as if she were some treasure he wanted to hide and keep for himself.
    Bran let go a low whistle. “Watch it me boy, or ye'll catch yerself falling for the lass.” But she is pretty…
    Bran returned to town with nothing to report after his rounds. He filled out some paperwork for Sheriff Hughes, laid it out where he could find it in the morning, and decided to head across the street to Mulligans for supper. “I hear she can't cook anyway,” he muttered to himself as he entered the saloon. “Not like Mary here can.”
    Speaking of which, Mrs. Mulligan looked up from behind the counter and smiled. “There you are! Come here lad, I've made your favorite sandwich!”
    “Thank you, I'm much obliged. Where's that husband of yers? Why isn't he minding the counter?”
    “He's upstairs pouting because he lost this week to Harlan and Wilfred at checkers. But he'll get over it and be down soon enough.”
    Bran laughed. “I've never seen a town so serious about checkers before. I'm glad I don't play. It keeps me out of trouble.”
    “Oh, let the men have their fun. Besides, we women keep them out of trouble.”
    “Including Sheriff Hughes?”
    “Harlan is like part of the family, so of course we look after the man.”
    Bran eyed the sandwich she placed in front of him, and his stomach growled. “Then it's a good thing I don't play checkers, there's no one to keep me out of trouble. He looked at her. “At least I have you to cook for me now and then, and the Upton woman at the hotel.”
    “And don’t forget Irene,” she pointed out. She leaned against the counter and studied him as he picked up the sandwich and began to eat. “Why don't you think about getting married, Bran? You're a fine, brawny lad, and deserve a good wife.”
    He chewed and swallowed. “There are no women around, how am I to get married?”
    “Don't give me that! You know there's one, and she's had a hard week because of you.”
    “She's had a hard week?” he said and put the sandwich down. “What about me? I'm the one that almost died!”
    “Aye, and she’s the one having to carry the guilt of it, not you. Have you forgiven her yet?”
    He swallowed the last bite he took and stared at her.
    “You haven't, have you?” she asked, hands on hips.
    “I'll get around to it,” he told her and picked up the sandwich.
    Mrs. Mulligan snatched it out of his hand before he could open his mouth. “You'll tell her first thing tomorrow!”
    “My… my sandwich!”
    “Aye, and it's the last sandwich I’ll ever make you until you tell that poor wee lass that you forgive her for what happened!”
    Bran sighed in defeat. “Fine, I’ll ride out to the Triple C tomorrow and tell her.”
    “Promise?”
    “Aye,” he said with a grimace. “I promise. Now can I have my sandwich back?”
    She handed it back. “There, see that you do. Then maybe the two of you can court.”
    “Court!”
    “Why not? She's a pretty wee thing, don't you think?”
    “Aye, but so does every other man in town.”
    “All the more reason you should be first in line to court her. After all, you two have something in common.”
    “What?”
    “Banking,” she said with a wink.
    Bran groaned. “That was awful,” he commented.
    “I could have said safes,” she pointed out. “Now finish your sandwich, you'll feel better after you do. And you'll feel much better after tomorrow.”
    He stared at the food in front of him, then looked at Mrs. Mulligan. “Aye, I suppose so. They say forgiveness cleanses the soul. I’m just not sure if mine is clean enough for the likes of her.”
     

 
     
    Seven
     
    The next morning, as Bran rode out to the Triple C, he thought about what Mary Mulligan had put into his head the night before. Should he