Read Online Wife Wanted in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad - Free Book Online

to be there with the blonde.”
    “I don’t see why she needs to know that. It’s not like they need to kiss or anything,” Katrina said in exasperation. “If you watch the boys, I’ll go talk to her.”
    “We’ll all go,” Conrad said as he gathered the boys around. He needed to know what Tracy said, too.
    The café was warm when he opened the door to step back inside. Katrina didn’t stand still long enough to appreciate it, though. She went right over to Tracy.
    “It doesn’t matter who the man is. They’ll be gazing into each other’s eyes. That’s all.”
    Tracy shrugged. “It still matters if the guy has a girlfriend. She won’t want him gazing into any other girl’s eyes. It could cause problems if you have the wrong man.”
    “I haven’t asked any men yet,” Katrina said. “Right or wrong.”
    “Pete could do it,” Tracy offered.
    Conrad heard a strangled sound behind him. Pete had just walked over.
    “Me?” the ranch hand said. “In a picture?”
    “A picture of romance,” Conrad said just so he could see the color leave Pete’s face.
    “I imagine you’ve kissed your share of women,” Tracy said a little tartly as she shot Pete a look that Conrad couldn’t interpret. “It shouldn’t be much of a problem to just gaze into their eyes soulfully.”
    “Well—I—” Pete stammered. “I have a job.”
    “It won’t take long,” Katrina said. “We can forgo the makeup and—”
    “Makeup!” Pete exclaimed. “I’m not wearing any makeup. If word of that got out I’d lose my job.”
    “Nonsense,” Katrina said. “No one could fire you for wearing makeup. It wouldn’t be legal.”
    “Getting fired would be the least of my worries,” the ranch hand said. “I wouldn’t be able to show my facein the bunkhouse. I’d have to sleep out in the barn. I don’t know where I’d eat. Why, I’d starve to death.”
    “Well, we won’t do makeup,” Katrina persisted. “So all you’d need to do would be to have your hair done.”
    “I just trimmed it. It’s ready to go,” Tracy said.
    Conrad noticed his old friend was looking considerably more cheerful now that she could torment the ranch hand.
    “Well, who’s the woman going to be?” Pete demanded belligerently. He looked like he was going to continue with some choice words, but Katrina held up her hand.
    “I don’t think we know yet,” she said. She glanced down at the boys standing beside her, looking on in wide-eyed amazement. “Remember we have children here.”
    The boys looked up, seeming even more curious.
    “If you’d be doing it, I’d agree,” Pete finally said with a sly look at Katrina. “I could throw in a kiss or two if you want.”
    Pete gave a wicked smile and the whole café was absolutely silent.
    “He’s going to kiss you?” Katrina’s oldest nephew finally asked in awe. “Like on television?”
    Conrad felt a kick to his gut that he didn’t dare act on. He had no right to interfere with Katrina kissing anyone. He noticed Tracy had a sour look on her face, too. In all of the years he had known the hairstylist, Conrad had never known her to look wretched. Why, she almost looked like she was in love with Pete.
    “Katrina can’t do it,” Conrad said with as much authority as he could muster. There was no point in tormenting Tracy. “I’m going to ask one of the married women.”
    “For romance?” Pete asked, his jaw dropping in astonishment.
    “Getting married doesn’t kill romance,” Conrad continued. He sure hoped that was true. “At least with their husbands. They still know how to kiss. You should know that, Pete.”
    “Me? I’ve never kissed a married woman. Not that you have, either. What would you know about what marriage does or doesn’t do to women?”
    “Hearsay,” Conrad said and then looked right at Pete. “Just come to town tomorrow morning early. Make it just after dawn. That’ll give us plenty of time before Sunday school. You haven’t been for a while and