Read Online Wild Texas Rose by Martha Hix - Free Book Online

explained, swallowing the bad taste in her mouth.
    â€œYou don’t speak English like the Irish I’ve met. You sound more like Big Dan Dodson. Well, sorta like his accent, anyway, but yours is kind of Frenchified. He’s a Texas Ranger now but was originally from England.”
    â€œThe Guernesiais accent resembles our Anglo cousins.” Mariah stopped her explanations to furrow her brows. Since Gail Strickland lived in Trick’em, why didn’t she mention Joseph’s accent? Surely she was acquainted with him. “Do you know my fiancé?” she asked.
    â€œOh, no.”
    â€œHow strange. I know everyone in my hometown.”
    Gail dimpled. “Listen, Coleman County isn’t Guernsey. I’ve seen your country in an atlas–geography’s always interested me. I know that island of yours isn’t big enough to swing a cat in.” She picked up another potato. “Mr. Jaye lives on the opposite side of Trick’em from my place.”
    â€œBut don’t the people get together on market days?»
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAnd you’ve never seen Joseph Jaye?” Mariah asked.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œBut you’ve heard of him. You know where he lives.”
    Gail grabbed a chicken gizzard, then bent at the waist. “Looky, Fancy. Look what Auntie Gillie has for you.”
    â€œMeooow ... !” The cat swiped the morsel, taking a clawful of her benefactress’s finger and drawing a yelp.
    â€œDamn cat!” The annoyed woman flapped her injured hand and shoved Fancy aside with the toe of her slipper. “Whit should’ve put you out of your misery months ago!”
    Mariah laughed as the cat hissed and batted a paw at Gail’s hem. “Fancy does seem a bit forceful of spirit, but doesn’t she belong to Lois?”
    â€œNope. She’s Whit’s. He adopted her as a kitten, but never had a way to carry her over to Crosswind.”
    Thinking of Gus, Mariah cringed. “You don’t suppose he’ll take her with us, do you?”
    â€œI wouldn’t put it past him.”
    â€œSacrebleu.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” Gail asked.
    â€œIt’s . . . uh ... not very nice for a lady to utter.”
    â€œA cuss word, huh?”
    â€œYes.”
    The lovely brunette cackled. “You’re all right, Mariah McGuire. I think you and I will get along just fine.”
    â€œThat would be nice, especially if you’ll be honest with me. I think you’re holding something back.”
    Gail laid the knife aside and straightened. “All right. You want the truth, I’ll give it to you. Yes, I know Joe Jaye. He’s a trouble-making cuss who’s stringing barbed wire across the Western Trail. None of us approve. Coleman County is cattle country, not farmland.”
    â€œGuernsey has cattle and farmland. The two are harmonious.”
    â€œDon’t be naive, Mariah. We don’t graze dairy cows. Our beeves feed the East, as well as provide tallow and hides for the nation. I’m talking thousands upon thousands of beeves, and they’ve got to be driven to the railhead ... a thousand miles north in Kansas.” Gail took a breath before starting again. “Devil’s rope keeps our cattle from grasslands and from water. We ranchers won’t stand for it. We’ll do whatever it takes to protect our interests.”
    Mariah’s hackles raised. “This country was based on individual freedoms, am I right?” Not giving Gail a chance to answer, she went on. “Farmers, Joseph included, have a right to protect their property.”
    â€œEveryone’s entitled to his own opinion, but if I were you, I’d keep those sympathies to myself. You’re outnumbered around here.”
    â€œDoes Whit share your beliefs?”
    â€œYou’ll have to ask him.”
    Bracing her palms against the drainboard, Mariah said, “He told me they’re close–he and