Read Online The Iron Horseman by Kelli Ann Morgan - Free Book Online

taught her that she
couldn’t just ignore her mistakes. Her heart beat faster every step Levi took
toward her. How could he look so handsome, even now, with wet hair and a
recently mud-stained shirt?
    The
memory of being tossed in the cold water trough flashed through her mind. She
remembered how he’d commanded her about like a dog, and suddenly, she no longer
wanted to apologize.
    “Yes?”
Levi inquired when he reached her.
    “Are
you ready? I thought you and your strapping brothers might escort me on the
ride out to the Cavanaughs.”
    He
just stared at her for a moment, like he’d expected her to say something
different. Then, with a knowing glean in his eye, the corners of his mouth
turned upward.
    “Ma’am,”
he said, bowing slightly with his hand in front of him. He winked before
turning on his heel and walking toward the stall where Apollo had been housed.
“My brothers don’t bite, you know. You could have said that in front of them.”
He lifted a black Stetson from the post and pushed it down firmly on his head.
“Let’s go,” he said, leading Apollo outside.
    “Aren’t
you going to change your shirt?” she called after him, leading her own mare out
into the street.
    “Yes,
ma’am.” He pulled a white garment from the saddle bags of his horse.
    Cadence
didn’t know what to say. Surely, he was not going to change his shirt right
here. In front of her. And the whole town. She turned away from him.
    He
laughed.
    After
a moment, she dared a glance over her shoulder. There he stood wearing a blue
shirt, almost identical to his brother’s. She looked around for Tag, but didn’t
see him.
    “Looking
for someone,” Levi said in her ear. How had he gotten behind her so quickly?
    Cadence
whipped around. Levi towered over her, adorned in a fine white linen shirt. She
felt her brows crease together in the center of her forehead.
    They
all laughed.
    Tag,
who’d been standing next to Apollo in the blue shirt, handed the reins to Levi.
    “That’s
unnerving,” she said matter-of-factly.
    “That
was nothing compared to their usual antics,” Cole told her, admiration lining
his voice. It wasn’t hard to tell that he looked up to his older brothers.
    Cadence
could only imagine the havoc they would cause if they had a mind to. Levi
quickly hitched his horse and hers to the empty cart that had been leaning on
the ground in front of the stable.
    “We’ll
ride,” Cole said when Levi motioned to the back of the buckboard. He and Tag
pulled out ahead of them astride their horses.
    The
drive to the Cavanaugh’s place was fairly uneventful and filled with conversation.
Cadence wondered if the Redbournes were ever at a loss for words. Although Levi
hadn’t spoken a lot, he seemed to be in good spirits. She was glad. While the
dumped water hadn’t been intentional, it had given Cadence a sweet sense of
satisfaction—retribution at being tossed into the trough.
    “Well,
come on in. Come on in.” Mrs. Cavanaugh met them at the front gate. Even from
here, Cadence could smell the delicious aroma of cooking meat. Beef had only
been allowed as a delicacy more than anything at home, as fresh meat was not as
widely available in Chicago as it was out here. She was grateful for the
invitation to eat with the Redbournes at the Cavanaugh’s table.
    Cadence
wanted to jump down off the wagon, but thought better of it as Levi came around
to offer her his hand. She placed her hands on his shoulders and he lifted her
by the waist and set her on the ground in front of him.
    “Thank
you,” she said with a smile as she turned for the front porch.
    “Lawsy
sakes, child. What on earth happened to your face?” The short woman hovered her
fingers just above the cuts on Cadence’s face.
    “It’s
nothing, Mrs. Cavanaugh. Really.” She hoped the wounds would heal quickly as
she had already grown tired of having to explain.
    As
if sensing her irritation, the older woman dropped her hands into her apron.
“Let’s get you