Read Online The Cowboy's Reluctant Bride by Debra Cowan - Free Book Online
Authors: Debra Cowan
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and across the slate floor, opening the front door for her.
She patted his bony arm. “Thank you again, Titus.”
He lifted a hand in farewell as she stepped outside. Feeling more optimistic than she had since all the trouble at the farm had begun, she joined Gideon at the bottom of the stone steps.
The slow smile he gave her sent a tingle to her toes and made her skin prickle with awareness.
“You look like you got good news,” he said.
“Not yet, but I think I will.” As they started to the livery for the wagon, she explained what had happened with Titus.
“Sounds promising.”
“Yes, I’m encouraged. Thank you again for that idea about contracting with the stage company on my own. Titus seemed impressed.”
“I’m glad if I helped.”
He had, she realized. In more ways than just this.
He did chores for no wages, protected her. Not only had he made sure her wire to the stage company was correct, he’d also managed to keep Conrad from bothering her. For that alone, she could kiss the man.
The thought jolted her, and she immediately pushed it away. She didn’t want that with him. Well, maybe she did, just a tad, but she knew better than to let herself be tempted by the idea. It might lead to being trapped in another situation that would be difficult to escape.
After finding Tug, it had been easy to lean on Gideon. Too easy. She appreciated all that her brother’s friend had done since arriving, but she wouldn’t—couldn’t—depend on a man ever again. She’d learned that the hard way from her late husband.
Chapter Four
S mith’s sister had grit. That had been impressed upon Gideon again yesterday in town. Ivy had lost a horse, her beloved dog and possibly her contract with the mayor. Rather than bellyaching, she had faced those problems head-on and tried to find a solution to what she could.
Had she become that tough and independent after the death of her husband? Or had she always been that way? Gideon didn’t find a lot to admire in most women. Of course, that could be because he refused to share space with them longer than it took to learn their names. Ivy was different. Because of his promise to her brother, Gideon had already spent more time with her than he ever had spent with a woman, and that was only going to continue.
By midmorning the next day, both he and Ivy were busy with chores. Gideon had replaced two rotten slats on the back side of the corral. Now he stood at the chicken house, testing the sturdy latch he had just installed.
The pup chased a bit of fuzz blowing from a dandelion, running in a dizzying circle before plopping down in the grass and looking up at Gideon with dazed eyes. He grinned. This afternoon, he planned to whitewash the fence that encircled the house, but right now he wanted to check the woods in front of the place. He hadn’t been out there since yesterday morning.
He rounded the barn, the pup trotting in his footsteps. She stopped every foot or so to sniff another piece of grass or bat at a cricket. Suddenly, Thunder’s ears pricked up. She gave an excited yelp and changed direction, racing toward the barn.
Curious, Gideon angled that way, too. The pup yipped again, and Gideon stopped in the barn doorway just as Ivy bent to scoop up the animal.
With a soft laugh, she managed to keep Thunder from licking her face.
Now that Gideon’s eyes had adjusted to the dimmer light, he could see a large basket of laundry sitting on his bunk. Ivy spotted him then.
“Hello.” She didn’t quite meet his eyes. Putting the pup down, she reached back and gripped the edge of the basket. “Today is laundry day. Is there anything you want washed?”
“I can do it.”
“It’s no trouble, Mr. Black. You’re not causing me extra work.”
That was only one reason he wasn’t interested.
She laid a hand on the mound of clothes swelling over the basket’s top. “A pair of your trousers are in here and two of your shirts. If you give me the one you have on,
She patted his bony arm. “Thank you again, Titus.”
He lifted a hand in farewell as she stepped outside. Feeling more optimistic than she had since all the trouble at the farm had begun, she joined Gideon at the bottom of the stone steps.
The slow smile he gave her sent a tingle to her toes and made her skin prickle with awareness.
“You look like you got good news,” he said.
“Not yet, but I think I will.” As they started to the livery for the wagon, she explained what had happened with Titus.
“Sounds promising.”
“Yes, I’m encouraged. Thank you again for that idea about contracting with the stage company on my own. Titus seemed impressed.”
“I’m glad if I helped.”
He had, she realized. In more ways than just this.
He did chores for no wages, protected her. Not only had he made sure her wire to the stage company was correct, he’d also managed to keep Conrad from bothering her. For that alone, she could kiss the man.
The thought jolted her, and she immediately pushed it away. She didn’t want that with him. Well, maybe she did, just a tad, but she knew better than to let herself be tempted by the idea. It might lead to being trapped in another situation that would be difficult to escape.
After finding Tug, it had been easy to lean on Gideon. Too easy. She appreciated all that her brother’s friend had done since arriving, but she wouldn’t—couldn’t—depend on a man ever again. She’d learned that the hard way from her late husband.
Chapter Four
S mith’s sister had grit. That had been impressed upon Gideon again yesterday in town. Ivy had lost a horse, her beloved dog and possibly her contract with the mayor. Rather than bellyaching, she had faced those problems head-on and tried to find a solution to what she could.
Had she become that tough and independent after the death of her husband? Or had she always been that way? Gideon didn’t find a lot to admire in most women. Of course, that could be because he refused to share space with them longer than it took to learn their names. Ivy was different. Because of his promise to her brother, Gideon had already spent more time with her than he ever had spent with a woman, and that was only going to continue.
By midmorning the next day, both he and Ivy were busy with chores. Gideon had replaced two rotten slats on the back side of the corral. Now he stood at the chicken house, testing the sturdy latch he had just installed.
The pup chased a bit of fuzz blowing from a dandelion, running in a dizzying circle before plopping down in the grass and looking up at Gideon with dazed eyes. He grinned. This afternoon, he planned to whitewash the fence that encircled the house, but right now he wanted to check the woods in front of the place. He hadn’t been out there since yesterday morning.
He rounded the barn, the pup trotting in his footsteps. She stopped every foot or so to sniff another piece of grass or bat at a cricket. Suddenly, Thunder’s ears pricked up. She gave an excited yelp and changed direction, racing toward the barn.
Curious, Gideon angled that way, too. The pup yipped again, and Gideon stopped in the barn doorway just as Ivy bent to scoop up the animal.
With a soft laugh, she managed to keep Thunder from licking her face.
Now that Gideon’s eyes had adjusted to the dimmer light, he could see a large basket of laundry sitting on his bunk. Ivy spotted him then.
“Hello.” She didn’t quite meet his eyes. Putting the pup down, she reached back and gripped the edge of the basket. “Today is laundry day. Is there anything you want washed?”
“I can do it.”
“It’s no trouble, Mr. Black. You’re not causing me extra work.”
That was only one reason he wasn’t interested.
She laid a hand on the mound of clothes swelling over the basket’s top. “A pair of your trousers are in here and two of your shirts. If you give me the one you have on,
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