Read Online Cooper's Woman by Carol Finch - Free Book Online

outta my way, lass, or you’ll get what she’s got coming. A man has a right to expect fidelity!”
    Alexa, curse her courageous hide, simply crossed her arms over her breasts, lifted her chin belligerently and stood her ground. “Mrs. Fredericks?” she called to the woman behind her.
    â€œYah, ma’am?” the older woman said, panting for breath.
    â€œHave you been faithful to your husband?”
    â€œYah, but the old fool doesn’t believe me.” Her voice carried a distinct Swedish accent.
    Alexa focused intently on Harlan. “There you have it, sir. Your wife has not betrayed you. I plan to hire her so she won’t have to put up with your nonsense all the livelong day.”
    â€œHire her?” Harlan hooted. “Then who’s gonna feed me if she ain’t here to do it?”
    â€œI’ll take the job,” Mrs. Fredericks said enthusiastically.
    â€œYou don’t even know what the job is,” Harlan snapped at her.
    â€œDoesn’t matter. It has to be better than getting chased down the street when you’re having one of your mean streaks.”
    When Harlan raised his stick again, looking as if he intended to whack Alexa for interfering—before he went on his way to thrash his wife—Coop lunged forward. He used his cane to deflect the blow aimed at Alexa. To his surprise, she didn’t need his assistance. She agilely darted sideways and the tree branch collided with the upraised cane.
    In the blink of an eye, her bodyguard pounced on Harlan. Before Harlan could react, the nasty-looking dagger that Miguel Santos kept strapped to his thigh was pricking the older man’s throat. Harlan squealed like a stuck pig and his eyes popped when he noted the size of the knife.
    â€œAlexa, my dear!” Webster cried. “You shouldn’t witness such distasteful goings-on! Why, the old codger isn’t even dressed!”
    Coop muttered under his breath when Webster showed up to fuss over his intended bride. The hypocrite scurried over to latch on to her elbow then shepherd her back to Main Street. He fussed and fawned over Alexa as if she were the light and love of his life. Coop doubted the two-faced bastard had whispered Alexa’s name while lying naked in Lily Brantley’s arms the previous night. Clearly Webster’s devotion was pretentious and calculated.
    When Alexa glanced over her shoulder at Coop, he felt marginally better. Her smile indicated that she wasn’t falling for Webster’s theatrics and that she saw through him, too.
    â€œC’mon, Harlan,” Gil said, grabbing the man by the scruff of his neck. “You can cool down in jail.”
    The Mexican bodyguard tucked away his dagger and stared somberly at Coop while Gil frog-marched his prisoner to jail. “Thank you for your assistance, señor. My employer often acts before she thinks, when it comes to her desire of righting wrongs.”
    â€œObviously.” Coop extended his hand. “And you are—?”
    â€œâ€”Not sure we can be friends, gringo. Not if you can’t offer Alexa the respect she deserves,” he said pointedly.
    â€œI see you are direct. Good. I appreciate that.” Coop smiled dryly. “I hear you were ill last night.”
    The comment earned him a scowl. “ Si. I am Miguel Santos.” He clasped Coop’s outstretched hand. “Harold Quinn pays me handsomely to keep Lexi out of trouble.” A grin spread across his lips. “I am not overpaid, believe me. I earn every cent of my salary.”
    Coop chuckled. “I don’t doubt it. By the way, I’m Wyatt Cooper.”
    â€œI know who you are.” Miguel’s expression sobered. “And you know you are overstepping your bounds. Men like you and I are not allowed to mix and mingle with the Alexa Quinns of the world. It is true that we are off the beaten path here. But if we were in Santa Fe you would have no association