Read Online Howard Haskell Takes A Bride (The Brides of Paradise Ranch Book 0) by Merry Farmer - Free Book Online
Authors: Merry Farmer
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steeplechase on horseback.”
“Carl.” Mrs. Ayers put a hand on her husband’s arm, brow creased in worry. “That is hardly a fair competition. You know that Jonas is—”
“It was his idea,” Jonas cut her off before Mrs. Ayers could reveal more.
Howard didn’t need her to reveal anything. He could piece the truth together as well as anyone. But however athletic Jonas Armstrong was, he utterly underestimated Howard.
“I welcome any challenge,” Howard answered, feigning ignorance of Jonas’s implied skills. His confidence wasn’t the least bit feigned, though. “You set the date and location, and I will be there.”
“And you will absolutely agree to leave Elizabeth alone and depart from Cincinnati forever when you lose?” Jonas sneered.
“I will do you one better.” Howard smiled at him. “Whether I win or lose, I will leave Cincinnati forever.”
Jonas blinked in confusion. “But—”
“I will leave either way,” Howard confirmed, “but if I win, I leave with Elizabeth.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said. She still appeared anxious, though. There was no way to convince her how fool-proof this plan of his was in present company, but he would find a way.
“Thursday,” Mr. Ayers said. “The race will start at the grove where Mill Creek meets the Whitewater Canal. You’ll race from the woods to Mill Creek Road, dive from the bridge to swim up creek, then emerge at Coleman’s estate, where you will ride across town to Mt. Auburn.”
“Agreed,” Howard answered with a nod.
“Agreed,” Jonas echoed, his grin sly. “I’ll even shake this blackguard’s hand to seal the deal.”
Without hesitation, Howard held out his hand. Jonas took it and squeezed in a grip calculated to impress. Howard squeezed right back, wiping the smirk from Jonas’s lips. He let go at last, giving the man something to think about.
“And now, seeing as my sister, my friend, and I were not invited to this sparkling display of hospitality, we’ll go.” Howard bowed graciously to Mrs. Ayers and nodded with respect to Mr. Ayers. He sent Jonas a warning look before turning, gesturing to Virginia and Cyrus, and starting off.
They made it about ten yards before Elizabeth called, “Wait,” and ran after them.
Howard turned in time to catch her as she flew to him.
“Oh, Howard,” she breathed in a panic. “You cannot lose, you simply cannot lose.” Her eyes were bright with fear, even though they had crossed out of the light cast by torches for the party. “I will not marry Jonas, I would rather die first.”
Howard laughed—a sound that rumbled through his chest with amusement and confidence. “My dear heart, you will not have to. Did I not tell you that I have a plan?”
“Yes, but Jonas is strong. He’s an excellent swimmer and runner,” Elizabeth argued.
“Elizabeth, come back here at once,” Mrs. Ayers called.
Howard’s grin widened. “He may be all that, my darling, but I have one attribute that he does not.”
“Elizabeth,” Mr. Ayers called.
Elizabeth ignored both of her parents to ask Howard, “What is that?”
Howard caressed her face, brushing a thumb across her cheek. “I am in love with the prize” he said. “And I make my own rules as I go along.”
Chapter 7
A s the first fingers of dawn peeked through Elizabeth’s curtains on Thursday morning, her frazzled nerves were busy bouncing back and forth between emotions. Ever since the soiree and Howard’s bold suggestion of a race, her heart had flown wildly between despair and elation, hope and doom, excitement and dread. If anyone could win such a grueling race as the one that had been suggested, Howard could. But Jonas was a tough competitor, and if Howard did manage to lose, she would be forced to marry the blackguard.
There was no way under the heavens that she would marry Jonas Armstrong now. But what could she do to ensure she didn’t have to? Howard was the cleverest man she’d ever met, but in all honesty, she
“Carl.” Mrs. Ayers put a hand on her husband’s arm, brow creased in worry. “That is hardly a fair competition. You know that Jonas is—”
“It was his idea,” Jonas cut her off before Mrs. Ayers could reveal more.
Howard didn’t need her to reveal anything. He could piece the truth together as well as anyone. But however athletic Jonas Armstrong was, he utterly underestimated Howard.
“I welcome any challenge,” Howard answered, feigning ignorance of Jonas’s implied skills. His confidence wasn’t the least bit feigned, though. “You set the date and location, and I will be there.”
“And you will absolutely agree to leave Elizabeth alone and depart from Cincinnati forever when you lose?” Jonas sneered.
“I will do you one better.” Howard smiled at him. “Whether I win or lose, I will leave Cincinnati forever.”
Jonas blinked in confusion. “But—”
“I will leave either way,” Howard confirmed, “but if I win, I leave with Elizabeth.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said. She still appeared anxious, though. There was no way to convince her how fool-proof this plan of his was in present company, but he would find a way.
“Thursday,” Mr. Ayers said. “The race will start at the grove where Mill Creek meets the Whitewater Canal. You’ll race from the woods to Mill Creek Road, dive from the bridge to swim up creek, then emerge at Coleman’s estate, where you will ride across town to Mt. Auburn.”
“Agreed,” Howard answered with a nod.
“Agreed,” Jonas echoed, his grin sly. “I’ll even shake this blackguard’s hand to seal the deal.”
Without hesitation, Howard held out his hand. Jonas took it and squeezed in a grip calculated to impress. Howard squeezed right back, wiping the smirk from Jonas’s lips. He let go at last, giving the man something to think about.
“And now, seeing as my sister, my friend, and I were not invited to this sparkling display of hospitality, we’ll go.” Howard bowed graciously to Mrs. Ayers and nodded with respect to Mr. Ayers. He sent Jonas a warning look before turning, gesturing to Virginia and Cyrus, and starting off.
They made it about ten yards before Elizabeth called, “Wait,” and ran after them.
Howard turned in time to catch her as she flew to him.
“Oh, Howard,” she breathed in a panic. “You cannot lose, you simply cannot lose.” Her eyes were bright with fear, even though they had crossed out of the light cast by torches for the party. “I will not marry Jonas, I would rather die first.”
Howard laughed—a sound that rumbled through his chest with amusement and confidence. “My dear heart, you will not have to. Did I not tell you that I have a plan?”
“Yes, but Jonas is strong. He’s an excellent swimmer and runner,” Elizabeth argued.
“Elizabeth, come back here at once,” Mrs. Ayers called.
Howard’s grin widened. “He may be all that, my darling, but I have one attribute that he does not.”
“Elizabeth,” Mr. Ayers called.
Elizabeth ignored both of her parents to ask Howard, “What is that?”
Howard caressed her face, brushing a thumb across her cheek. “I am in love with the prize” he said. “And I make my own rules as I go along.”
Chapter 7
A s the first fingers of dawn peeked through Elizabeth’s curtains on Thursday morning, her frazzled nerves were busy bouncing back and forth between emotions. Ever since the soiree and Howard’s bold suggestion of a race, her heart had flown wildly between despair and elation, hope and doom, excitement and dread. If anyone could win such a grueling race as the one that had been suggested, Howard could. But Jonas was a tough competitor, and if Howard did manage to lose, she would be forced to marry the blackguard.
There was no way under the heavens that she would marry Jonas Armstrong now. But what could she do to ensure she didn’t have to? Howard was the cleverest man she’d ever met, but in all honesty, she
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