Read Online Engaging the Competition by Melissa Jagears - Free Book Online Page A

tempted to do something so distasteful, I know—but Royal doesn’t.” She waved her hand angrily and went back to the awful chalk scratching. “But if he thought our kissing would work in his favor, he would’ve told August.” She stomped back to the other side of the board. “He only figured he’d found another way to try to bully me into giving him my property. Didn’t work.”
    â€œHe’s trying to bully you into giving him your property?” The man deserved someone to flatten his nose—again. He’d have thought Royal would’ve quit harassing Charlie years ago after she’d broken his nose the second time. Too bad he’d not gone ahead and broken his nose a third time a minute ago.
    â€œYes, he has and still is. That’s why I’ve got to marry. I can’t keep the place running much longer with him stealing my animals, ranch hands, equipment, and keeping anybody new from working for me. Once a bully, always a bully.”
    He’d forced himself not to shove Royal out of his room earlier to keep from starting a fight.
    He shouldn’t have been so nice.
    â€œBut why marry August? Can’t you turn Royal in to the authorities?”
    â€œIt’s my word against his. The only other people who know what he’s doing is his family, and no Whitaker turns in another Whitaker. Besides, offering my ranch hands better pay to work for him isn’t exactly illegal.”
    She seemed too blasé about this. Reverend McCabe had wondered why she was marrying. A week ago he’d have said her reasons for marrying didn’t matter to him as long as shewasn’t being pushed . . . but maybe she was being pushed, just in a different way than he’d expected. “So why August?”
    â€œAs I said, the Whitakers look out for themselves. The family ain’t going to let Royal ruin August’s livelihood. And since he knows for certain what his brother’s been doing to me, if Royal continues, he can turn him in.”
    â€œWhy not marry some other man?”
    She grumbled at her chalk, which had broken in her hand again. “Who’d have me?”
    He wiped his hands against his trousers. “Surely someone other than August and Royal.”
    â€œI’m twenty-five, Harrison. No man’s ever been interested besides Royal. I had to ask August myself.”
    She was wrong about no man ever being interested. He hadn’t been the only one slightly enamored with her back in school. “I’m sure someone else—”
    â€œDon’t bother trying to make me feel better about myself. I’ve accepted my lot. Besides, Royal wouldn’t stop harassing me if I married any other ol’ Joe. He’d keep bullying until he put us both under.” She threw down her chalk stub and searched for a larger piece. “No, I have to marry a Whitaker, but it sure won’t be Royal.”
    He snatched away the only big piece of chalk she’d yet to break. “Listen. I’m sure there are other men who’d consider you, Charlie. You’re strong, courageous, clearly love your mother, and are goodwith children. I’ve seen you.” If he had his glasses, he could’ve seen whether or not she believed him by the expression on her face.
    Of course, if he hadn’t broken them she wouldn’t be with him right now. Maybe this was why God and the reverend wanted him to visit her earlier—to explain that she wasn’t as undesirableas she thought, that she had options beyond marrying into the Whitakers. Taking her by the wrist, he pulled her away from the board. “It’s just . . . you’re a little intimidating.”
    She tugged back. “I still have a paragraph to write.”
    â€œYou can finish after everyone arrives. They won’t have to copy it until later in the period anyway.”
    â€œPlease.”
    Why did she sound like she was about to cry?