Duncan's Bride by Linda Howard Read Free Book Online Page B

now. But out of bed—no. You won’t do at all.”
    â€œPlease explain. I like to understand my rejections.”
    Suddenly he moved away from the post and sat next to her on the swing, setting it to dipping and swaying with his weight. One firmly planted boot took control of the motion and began the gentle rocking movement again.
    â€œI was married before, for two years. You’re like my first wife in a lot of ways. She was a city person. She liked the entertainment and variety of a big city. She’d never been on a ranch before, and thought it was romantic, just like a movie—until she realized that most of a rancher’s time is spent working, instead of having a good time. She was already restless before winter came, and that just put the frosting on the cake. Our second year was pure hell.”
    â€œDon’t judge me by someone else, Reese Duncan. Just because one woman didn’t like it, doesn’t mean another won’t.”
    â€œA man who doesn’t learn from his mistakes is a damn fool. When I marry again, it’ll be to a woman who knows what ranch life is like, who’ll be able to work with me. I won’t risk the ranch again.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œThis ranch was once one of the biggest and best. You can tell by looking around you that it used to be a lot more than what it is now. I had the two best breeding bulls in four states, a good insemination program going, over four thousand head of beef, and fifty people working for me. Then I got divorced.” He lifted his arm and rested it along the back of the swing. She could see only his profile, but even in the darkness she could make out the bitter line of his mouth, hear his bitterness in his voice. “April’s family had a lot of influence with the judge. He agreed that two years as my wife entitled her to half of my assets, but she sweetly decided that a lump sum settlement would do just fine, thank you. I nearly went bankrupt. I had to liquidate almost everything to buy her off. I sold land that had been in my family for over a hundred years. That was seven years ago. I’ve been working my ass off since then just trying to keep this place going, and this year it looks like I’ll finally make a profit again. I want kids, someone to leave the ranch to, but this time I’ll make a better choice of woman.”
    She was appalled at the cause of his circumstances, but still said tartly, “What about love? How does that fit into your plans?”
    â€œIt doesn’t,” he replied in a flat tone.
    â€œWhat if your wife wants more?”
    â€œI don’t plan to spin her a pretty story. She’ll know where I stand from the first. But I’ll be a good husband. I don’t stray, or mistreat women. All I ask from a wife is loyalty and competence and the same values I have.”
    â€œAnd to be ready to stand as a broodmare.”
    â€œThat, too,” he agreed.
    Disappointment so sharp that it felt like a knife stabbed into her midsection. He was going to marry someone else. She looked away from him and reached deep for the control she needed. “Then I wish you luck.I hope you have a happy marriage this time. Do you have any more applicants?”
    â€œTwo more. If either of them is interested in ranch life, I’ll probably ask her to marry me.”
    He had it as cut-and-dried as any business deal, which was all it was to him, even though he would be sleeping with his business partner. Madelyn could have cried at such a waste of passion, but she held on to her control. All she could do now was cut her losses and try to forget him, so she wouldn’t measure every man she met against him for the rest of her life.
    The darkness hid the desolation in her eyes as she said, “A jackrabbit can run as fast as a racehorse—for a short distance, of course.”
    He didn’t miss a beat. “A group of bears is called a