Bet You'll Marry Me by Darlene Panzera Read Free Book Online Page A

within a mile to hear.
    Was he right in suspecting Frank? Or could Jenny have been the one to remove the chain off the gate? Was she trying to frame him? Or worse—did she have Frank do it? Did she think if she got him fired she’d win the bet?
    After he unsaddled Satan, he went back up to his room and found she’d left him a gift.
    Centered on the small round table next to his bed was a big white bottle of hand cream.
    J ENNY BRUSHED S TARFIRE and was humming him a soft, rhythmic song when Wayne leaned over the half door of the stall.
    â€œHarry will fire him after what happened today, don’t you think?”
    â€œIt wasn’t Chandler’s fault,” Jenny said, moving around the back of the horse to brush his tail.
    â€œBut he left the gate open,” Wayne insisted.
    â€œNo, he didn’t. I was there. I saw him use the new lock and chain Harry bought at the hardware store.”
    â€œNo one said anything about a chain,” Wayne said. He scratched the blond stubble along the side of his jaw. “Jenny, you’re not defending him because you’re interested in him, are you?”
    â€œCertainly not.” She put the brush away and picked up a comb to untangle the snarls in the horse’s mane.
    â€œDo you think,” he said, his voice strained, “you could ever take an interest in me?”
    Jenny stopped what she was doing to stare at him.
    Wayne had never tried to flirt with her in any way. His wife had been her best friend. Then two years ago, Michelle had taken their two little girls to Florida, never speaking to Wayne or her old friends again. Not even Michelle’s mother, Sarah, who owned the bakery, could contact her.
    The divorce had been hard on Wayne. It was even harder when Michelle cut a deal to sell their ranch to N.L.C. Industries. Left with nothing, Wayne had come to Windy Meadows and Harry had hired him on as a ranch hand in exchange for food and a bed in the bunkhouse next to the barn. Jenny had always thought of Wayne as one of the family, and never imagined he thought of her any different.
    â€œI like you, Wayne,” she said, hoping her words didn’t sound as awkward as she felt, “but more like a brother than . . . anything else.”
    â€œI can live with that,” Wayne said with a slow smile.
    Pushing away from the half door, he strolled down the aisle and lightly knocked Billie sideways as he passed by her.
    â€œOh, sorry,” he said, with a tone of mock concern.
    The small tomboy, who was once again dressed all in black, balled her fists and called him a name Jenny wouldn’t dare repeat.
    Ignoring the insult, Wayne whistled cheerfully as he went out the door.
    â€œThere’s something wrong with that man,” Billie declared, as she walked toward her.
    â€œI think he likes you.”
    â€œThen why did he ask if you had an interest in him?”
    â€œThe same reason I received ten marriage proposals on my voicemail last night. They don’t want me. They only want to win the bet. It’s a game to them.”
    â€œNick likes you,” Billie said, and lifted her chin. “I’ve never seen him go to such extremes to marry a woman.”
    â€œIs that so?” Jenny asked, picking up a hoof pick. “How many women has he tried to marry?”
    â€œHe’s never had to try to marry any. That’s the point. Usually, he’s surrounded by hordes of beautiful women who are all trying to marry him. ”
    â€œSounds like a touch life,” Jenny scoffed. No wonder the man was so arrogant. He’d probably expected her to swoon at his feet like some mindless bimbo.
    â€œWhat would you like for dinner?” Billie asked. “I’ll cook your favorite meal.”
    Jenny couldn’t help rolling her eyes. If Chandler thought he could get his sister to cozy up to her, he was wrong. She wasn’t about to waste any of her precious time on either one of