Read Online Wyoming Tough by Diana Palmer - Free Book Online

react to it. She felt nothing. Nothing at all.
    He noticed that. They were too different to settle in together. But she was cute and he liked company on a night out.
    â€œWe’ll do it again soon,” he said.
    She smiled. “Sure.”
    She turned around and went into the bunkhouse. Darby was sitting by the door, his eyebrows arching as she walked in and closed the door behind her.
    â€œHave fun?” he asked in a hushed tone, so he didn’t wake the cowboys down the hall.
    â€œYes. I guess.”
    He tilted his head. “You guess?”
    â€œBoss showed up at the restaurant,” she said, and looked puzzled. “I didn’t know he liked Chinese food.”
    Darby’s eyes almost popped. “He hates it.”
    She hesitated. “Well, he had Ms. Bruner with him. Maybe she likes it.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œYou sleep good, Darby.”
    â€œYou, too,” he said gently.
    â€œThe heifers doing okay?” she asked.
    â€œDoing fine. We’ll just hope and pray that that the weatherman’s wrong on that snow forecast.”
    â€œI’ll agree with that. Good night.”
    â€œâ€™Nite.”
    She went into her room and closed the door. Darby had seemed shocked that the boss went to the restaurant where Morie was eating. She was shocked, too, but also pleased and flattered and thrilled to death.
    She slept, finally. And her dreams were sweet.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T HE LAST THING M ORIE EXPECTED the next day was to find a seething Gelly Bruner on her doorstep. Well, at the bunkhouse when she went in for lunch.
    â€œI hate Chinese food,” Gelly said without a greeting.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Morie said. “In that case, perhaps you should avoid Chinese restaurants.” She smiled.
    â€œHe went there because of you, didn’t he?” she demanded. “To make sure your date knew he was watching out for you.”
    Morie looked innocent. “Why would he do that? He’s not my dad.”
    Gelly frowned. “He’s not your boyfriend, either, and you’d better not make eyes at him,” she added coldly. “You won’t last long here if you do.”
    â€œI work here,” Morie pointed out. “That’s all.”
    â€œYou see how they live and you like it,” the blonde said, giving Morie’s clothing an evencolder look. “You’re poor and you’d like to have nice things and mingle with the right people.”
    â€œI do mingle with the right people,” Morie said, offended.
    â€œCowboys” came the disparaging reply. “Smelly and stupid.”
    â€œThey’re neither.”
    â€œIf you do anything to make Mallory notice you, I’ll make sure it never happens again,” she added, lowering her voice. “You won’t be the first person I’ve helped off this ranch. It isn’t wise to make an enemy of me.”
    â€œI work here,” Morie said, growing angry. She had her mother’s looks, but her father’s fiery temper. “And nobody threatens me.”
    Gelly shifted. She wasn’t used to people who fought back. “My people are well-to-do,” she said stiffly. “And you won’t like how I get even.”
    Morie raised an eyebrow. “Ditto.”
    â€œWell, you just stay away from Mallory,” she said bluntly. “He’s mine and I don’t share!”
    â€œDoes he know?”
    Gelly blinked. “Know what?”
    â€œThat he belongs to you? Perhaps I should ask him….”
    â€œYou shut up!” The blonde woman’s fists balled at her sides and her face grew flushed with temper. “I’ll get you!”
    â€œWind and water,” Morie said philosophically. “Words.”
    Gelly drew back her hand and started to slap the younger woman, but Morie threw up her forearm instinctively and blocked the move.
    â€œI have a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do,” she told Gelly in a soft voice. Her