Read Online The Unlikely Wife by Cassandra Austin - Free Book Online

what they want?”
    “They want Kansas, ma’am. And Nebraska, Colorado, the whole of the western plains. It may be theirs by rights, but they’ve already lost it.”
    Clark wondered what she was thinking as she returned her attention to her plate. Next he wondered why he cared. Her only interest would be for her own comfort.
    His suspicion was confirmed a moment later. She raised her head, her sparkling smile back in place. “Inoticed some beautiful horses in your corral, Mr. Kolchek. Do they belong to you or the stage line?”
    “Some of both out there, though the best ones are mine.”
    Clark stood, excused himself and promised to send the wagon in half an hour. Getting the ladies’ assurances that they would be ready, he thanked the Kolcheks and left.
    Out in the sunlight again, he wondered why he gave Miss Huntington more than passing notice. Why was he curious about her opinions? She probably didn’t have any beyond what she had been told. Why was he fascinated by the slightest change in her expressive lips?
    He swung into the saddle and turned to gaze for a moment at the station. He had tasted those lips once and wanted to again. His attraction was purely physical. He only pretended there was something more to excuse his reaction.
    Even that realization filled him with some alarm. Since when had physical attraction left him searching for excuses? And this woman had already threatened his career. He should keep an eye on her the same way he was watching a distant storm cloud. And for precisely the same reasons.
    The door opened, and Miss Huntington stepped out. Kolchek was right behind her. Clark turned his horse away, but the flash of red against the gray, drab building stayed in his mind.
    * * *
    Rebecca brushed her hand over the neck of her newly acquired horse. While the others sat on the porch and chatted, she led the gelding around the dusty yard, stroked him, talked to him, everything but rode him. Not in this dress. At least not with this saddle.
    Finally, Brooks drove the ambulance into the yard. While he helped Belle and Alicia into the wagon, Rebecca tied her horse on behind.
    As soon as she was inside, Rebecca enlisted Alicia’s help in getting out of the dress. She was slipping into the pants when the wagon stopped. “Find out what’s going on,” she said.
    Alicia pulled the canvas aside a fraction. “Why are we stopped?” she asked. She turned back to Rebecca. “We’re waiting for the rest to start moving.”
    “How much time does it look like I’ll have?” Rebecca asked, hastily buttoning the uniform blouse.
    “I don’t know.” With a resigned sigh, Alicia returned to the crack in the canvas. “Just a few minutes.”
    “Minutes is fine,” Rebecca said, pulling on her socks. “I was afraid I only had seconds.”
    “I think this is positively disgraceful,” Aunt Belle said. “I for one, intend to continue wearing my dress until evening. I can’t believe you’re not eager to do the same.”
    Rebecca tossed her a quick smile as she hastilytied the boy’s work shoes she had bought at Fort Riley and grabbed her hat. “If you have any problems, let Brooks know. If he has to pull out of line, have him send one of the soldiers to find me.”
    “You’ll be in front flirting shamelessly with that officer. Honestly, Rebecca—”
    But Rebecca scrambled out the back of the ambulance before her aunt could finish. “I don’t know what’s to become of you,” she mimicked under her breath. She untied the gelding and led him away from the wagon, wanting to take a little time to get reacquainted before she tried to mount him.
    The ambulance rolled forward just as she sprang into the saddle. The gelding tossed his head and circled once before giving in to her lead. She put him at a canter and soon joined the lieutenant at the front of the column.
    “Afternoon, Miss Huntington,” he said, barely giving her a glance.
    She smiled at him, not revealing her disappointment. She had hoped to