Engaging the Competition by Melissa Jagears Read Free Book Online

Obviously today was not one of them.
    A clopping outside compelled Charlie to the window.
    August was stomping across her porch. A small herd of cattle and two of his ranch hands milled about near the east paddock.
    She groaned. Just what she needed to deal with right now. He’d agreed to wait another week to wed, but evidently he didn’t want to wait on taking advantage of her land. Opening the door, she put on a smile she didn’t feel. “Good morning, August.”
    â€œSo this is August.” Her mother came up behind her.
    â€œYes.” She opened the door wider to let him in.
    His big form almost required him to shuffle sideways to get through the door. He took off his hat and mumbled a hello.
    â€œYour father approves of him?” Momma whispered too loudly for August to have missed the question.
    Why did he have to come on a day her mother’s mind was far from right? “Daddy would have , I’m sure.” Or would have if he knew she was doing this to keep her mother halfway sane. She’d been Daddy’s girl, but Momma was his first love. He’d be heartbroken to see how she was dealing with his loss.
    Charlie glanced at August, but he didn’t seem concerned about Momma’s choice of words. Mother’s friend Marie had said most people just figured Momma forgot to change her verb tense when speaking of her late husband—whatever that meant—but August would soon figure out the truth.
    Would August be gentle with Momma once he realized she lived in the year 1900, perhaps permanently? Or would he make things worse?
    â€œYou don’t mind if I put cattle in your pasture, right?”
    The fact that he was asking instead of telling was a good sign. “No, go ahead.”
    He spun his hat in his hands. “I could use your help since I couldn’t ask Royal, considering learning about us would get his dander up. And since we’re not quite married yet, not sure if he’d try something to change your mind.”
    â€œOf course.” She glanced at the clock. Harrison was smart enough to figure out a way to manage without her. And even if he needed help, his students adored him. Though she’d been embarrassed years ago to be in his class, since she was older, she never regretted asking him for help. He’d always explained things better than the teacher, and he had been patient, attentive, warm, and caring. Just as he was now when he wasn’t sparring with her.
    August stood appraising the front room with a critical eye, and then he looked at her. No smile, just a cool assessment before he headed back outside.
    Though August seemed willing to help and had never pushed her around, he didn’t have a personality that drew a person. She’d been avoiding thinking of what marrying him would entail since her reasons were not romantic. But he wasn’t going to consider this arrangement as strictly a business deal. She rubbed her arms at the thought of the wedding night. It couldn’t be that bad, could it?
    August was a man’s man—a rancher, toned and rugged. That kind of man, she’d figured, would be the only type to marry a woman like her—she’d need a man who worked hard and who needed a woman to work harder.
    But what if what she really needed was the opposite—someone who’d smooth her hard edges, not callus them up? She might get to keep the house by marrying August, but if he had no feelings for her or felt no compassion for Momma, would she end up hating herself for marrying him?
    She grabbed her coat and hat and sat to put on her boots, watching Momma wring her hands as she stared at the men outside the window.
    Lord, please help Momma recover her mind and become the woman I once knew. Even when I disappointed her with my unrefined ways, she still loved me, and I feel I owe her.
    â€œMomma?”
    â€œHmmm?” Her mother turned on her way back to the kitchen. Hopefully she’d