Read Online Journey of the Bride by Mary Fox - Free Book Online Page A

wouldn ’ t.
     
    “ This isn ’ t happening, ” she whispered to herself, pressing a hand to her forehead. “ This is all a bad dream, and soon I ’ ll wake up and realize what ’ s going on with me. I ’ ll wake up and find myself back at the ranch. ”
     
    That sounded like a pleasant idea actually. “ Yes, ” she whispered in a dreamy voice. “ This is a premonition of what ’ s to come if I don ’ t convince Brandon he needs me to stay there with him. He needs a cook anyway. I ’ m sure I can convince him to keep me around, even if it means I ’ m no longer his wife. I just have to wake up. ”
     
    She glared at the dress again. It really was beautiful, but it was a reminder of the man she was supposed to marry, which didn ’ t please her. She repressed a shudder of disgust and began pacing again, her thoughts turning instead to Brandon.
     
    Brandon. Her cowboy. Her tall, broad-shouldered, rugged cowboy. He was tall. He was gruff. He was everything Courtney had never experienced before. She remembered his heated gaze, the way he seemed to bare her soul with a single glance. She remembered the touch of his hand on her skin, the way he made her yearn for more with a single brush of his fingers. He remembered his taste, the way he ’ d kissed her until her breath was gone and she never wanted it to return if it meant he didn ’ t leave her.
     
    A low, throaty moan escaped her throat at the memory of the way he ’ d taken her that first night. It was the one and only time a man had touched her in such a way, and while she ’ d never really thought of it before that moment, when it had happened, she had felt no shame, no guilt, nothing but need and desire. She ’ d enjoyed every minute of their tryst together, and if she could have had her way, it would have continued until the moment Paul picked her up to take her back to town.
     
    That hadn ’ t been meant to be though. From the moment they ’ d finished, Brandon had closed himself off and made it clear he didn ’ t wish her anywhere near him. She ’ d become a plague, a reminder of the woman who he had loved and lost.
     
    Curse that woman, whoever she was! She growled into the air and aimed a swift kick at the chair holding the wedding gown.
     
    “ Dammit! ” she snarled, bending over and clutching her foot where she ’ d hit it. Tears stung the corners of her eyes. She didn ’ t know who she felt more anger toward: Talbert for putting her family in this position, Brandon for not being able to work through his past issues, herself for not realizing a lost cause when she saw it, or her father for being so gullible that he fell for Talbert ’ s sleazy ways.
     
    “ Now, my dear Courtney, that ’ s no way for a lady to talk. Where in the world did you pick up such manners? ”
     
    Courtney turned, still snarling about the pain in her foot, to face Talbert. “ We ’ re not married yet, Talbert, and until such, you will call me ‘ Miss le Brush ’ , not ‘ Courtney ’ . ” Her words came out as a hiss between her teeth, and she narrowed her eyes as she spoke, no longer even carrying to hide her dislike for him.
     
    He stepped closer to her, tipping her chin up and glaring at her. “ I will call you what I want, Courtney. You ’ re mind now. ”
     
    Her heart sank in her chest as he turned away, laughing as he left her alone.
     
     
     

Chapter Four
     
     
     
    “ What do you mean, she ’ s getting married? ” Brandon snarled. He moved toward Paul, his hands snaking out of their own accord and snagging the collar of his brother ’ s shirt. He yanked him close, his spittle spraying his face as he snapped, “ Who is she getting married to? ”
     
    Paul reached up and jerked Brandon ’ s hands away from his clothing, straightening up and dusting himself off. He cleared his throat before he started to speak. He opened his mouth, closed it, opened it once more and then put his hand to his chin as he thought about how he was