Read Online Tried and True (Wild at Heart Book #1) by Mary Connealy - Free Book Online Page A

strength. Bailey pouring coffee and generally taking care of all of them like she usually did.
    Shannon lifted a steaming cup of coffee to her lips, her hands mostly steady, and took a sip. “Did either of you see if my sheep made it to shore?”
    Bailey snorted. “You and those stupid sheep.”
    “That sheep saved my life. I love them now more than ever.” Shannon didn’t take offense—she’d heard it all before—but neither would she ever part with her fluffy friends.
    Bailey noticed what Kylie was wearing. “What are you doing in that dress?”
    “Here’s something you’re not going to like.” Kylie saw no way out of warning them, although she wasn’t one to face trouble if she could possibly sneak her way out of it.

    “He found out you aren’t a man?” Bailey erupted from her chair. “How many times have I told you to keep your men’s clothes on, no matter what?”
    Kylie didn’t share how she’d met Aaron the first time, the leaky roof, the soaking wet dress, the tears.
    “I saw him sitting on my porch when I came in. I hung back in the woods until it was dusk. I was dressed right and proper in my britches. He figured it out anyway.”
    Of course he’d been looking for a woman, so that might have helped him along on his way to pulling off her hat.
    “And I haven’t told you about Gage Coulter yet.” Kylie was surprised to find she was enjoying outraging her bossy big sister.
    “Heard of him,” Shannon said. She did very little talking; probably a near drowning had worn her clean out. “King of the cattlemen out here, it’s said.”
    Bailey snorted. “For now.”
    Kylie arched a brow at her sister. “You planning on taking over that title, Bailey?”
    “I might.” Bailey pulled her cup closer, and a look of ruthless ambition crossed her face.
    Kylie shook her head. “You worry me. Back to . . .” Kylie stumbled when she almost said Aaron. She didn’t want her sisters getting the wrong idea about her andAaron Masterson. “Back to the land agent. He’s changing my homestead claim over to one not claiming the exemption.”
    Saying it out loud made Kylie nearly sick when she thought of spending five whole years out here. She’d already done six months. They’d come out before winter had fallen last year. She’d ticked off six months and seen two and a half more years stretching before her. It had been a length of time she’d been determined to endure. She could do it. Stay in this place for thirty more months, then sell the land to Pa, give him his wish, her part in building his empire in honor of Jimmy, and in exchange for enough money to move away. But now to add two more years?
    She couldn’t stand for it.
    But how to make a life for herself elsewhere? She’d made no secret of the fact that she intended to sell her land the moment she had clear title. And besides, she’d earned that exemption. She’d served her time honorably.
    “What about us?” Bailey asked. “Did you tell him that Shannon and I are women?”
    “Kylie wouldn’t do that,” Shannon said in her motherly chiding voice.
    “No I didn’t.” Then Kylie felt like she had to add one more worry. “Gage Coulter knows I’m a woman, too.”
    Both her sisters narrowed their eyes at her.
    “He called me a nester. He’ll think the same of you, whether you’re men or women. And he hinted that he might be willing to . . . to marry me to get my claim.”
    Both her sisters slammed their cups down with a loud click.
    “Marry you?” Bailey said. “How’re you going to keephim from finding out we’re women if you ask us to be bridesmaids in your wedding?”
    “You, married to a rancher.” Shannon started laughing. Her blue eyes flashed, and pretty dimples popped out on her cheeks. How could anyone believe she was a man? “A big old land baron who’s never leaving his land. You’d be trapped out here for good.”
    Shannon laughed so hard, Kylie wanted to smack her.
    “Better than you being married to a