Read Online The Reluctant Bride by Leigh Greenwood - Free Book Online

in Stocker’s demeanor comical. She knew Stocker hated Russ, but she hadn’t guessed until now that he was also afraid of him.
    “It’s nice to know you’re a man of your word.”
    Russ’s brow creased. “How so?”
    “You told me not to worry if you were late. I just didn’t expect later to be three days.”
    Russ’s inquiring gaze swung from Tanzy to Stocker and back. “I had some unwelcome visitors. That’s a hazard of having something other people want.” He appeared finally to focus on her and her new dress. “You look pretty.”
    “She looks damned beautiful,” Stocker said, “too beautiful to be wasting her time on the likes of you.”
    “Are you ready to go in to dinner?” she asked Russ. She was anxious to get away from Stocker.
    “More than ready.” Russ stepped back to allow her to pass in front of him.
    Stocker looked thunderous, but he said nothing. The waiter seated them in the back, as before.
    “Are you sure you don’t mind sitting back here?” Russ asked.
    “I prefer it,” Tanzy said. “Since everybody in this town seems to be angry at you, it’s probably the only place where we can have a reasonably quiet dinner.”
    “I expect half the people wouldn’t know I existed if it weren’t for Stocker. He wants to run me out of the Territory, so he’s convinced everybody I’m dangerous.”
    “Doesn’t that bother you?”
    “Not much. I can go a whole year without coming into town.”
    “You shouldn’t have to stay away if you don’t want to.”
    “There’s nothing here I want. Now, what would you like to eat?”
    “I don’t care. Order two of whatever you’re having. I want to know where you’ve been for the last three days.”
    By the time Russ finished telling her about the gunman guarding the pass, she was angry. “Do you think Stocker is behind it?”
    “I don’t know. Most of the ranchers have been hit by the rustlers, even Stocker. The only reason they haven’t hit me is that there’s only one way into my ranch and it’s through that pass.”
    “So you think the rustlers are just mad and trying to keep you locked up for revenge?”
    “I believe they’ve got something else in mind, but I don’t know what it is.”
    “What will you do?”
    “It depends on what they do, but let’s forget about them for a while. Do you need more money?”
    “I’m not taking another penny from you.”
    “You can’t stay here with no money.”
    “I could if I hadn’t been weak enough to buy this dress.”
    “It looks very nice on you.”
    “You look very nice, too.”
    “You think I’m good-looking?”
    “Don’t pretend ignorance with me, Russ Tibbolt. You know half the women in Boulder Gap get heart palpitations every time they see you.”
    “I know they dislike me so much they can hardly stand the sight of me.”
    “I don’t know what they feel about you as a person, but they sure do like the way you look.”
    Tanzy thought Russ might have blushed. His deep tan made it difficult to judge, but she’d never met a man who was modest. Even her opossum-faced cousin thought he was a matrimonial prize.
    “What was Stocker talking to you about?” Russ asked. His tan did nothing to hide the tension in his expression.
    “He wanted me to have dinner with him. I told him I had to wait for you.”
    “Even though I hadn’t come back for three days?”
    “I don’t know anything about your ranch or any difficulties you might be having, but I figured you expected something to hold you up or you wouldn’t have warned me.”
    “How long were you going to wait?”
    “Until the end of the week.”
    “What would you have done then?”
    “I hadn’t decided, but I was sure you’d be back before then. You strike me as a man who doesn’t let much get in his way.”
    His expression sobered to the point of being almost angry. “A great number of things have gotten in my way over the years. I was too young to have any sense.”
    “Is that why you got into the gunfight