Montana Mavericks Weddings by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

if he was doing the right thing by turning his back on the love Abby wanted to give him. If only there were some way that he could be sure of her feelings for him!
    But all he could do was step back and let her decide for herself what she wanted to do with her life. His part in all this was something he didn’t dare think about. He should never have touched her in the first place. He’d had no right! If he’d left her alone, none of this would have happened.
    With a rough sigh, he followed her toward thehouse. He was going to pack a suitcase and do what was best for everyone. He wouldn’t permit himself to think of the consequences.

Chapter Four
    I t didn’t surprise Abby one bit to find Chayce gone when she came back downstairs an hour later. It only surprised her that he’d waited three days to go. He wasn’t going to give her a chance to change his mind about things. He wanted her to marry Troy and he’d gone away to make sure she didn’t back out.
    But after the way he’d been in the boutique that morning, she could no longer bear the thought of spending her life with Troy. It might be the best thing, but she hadn’t the nerve for it. To cold-bloodedly marry a man she didn’t love seemed the worst sort of betrayal of everything those vows meant.
    Becky glanced up from the magazine she was reading out in the kitchen when Abby came in.
    â€œI’m baking some cookies,” she said with a smile. “Want some iced tea?”
    Abby shook her head. “How’s your sister?” she asked.
    â€œShe sprained her ankle. She’s at home propped up in bed with five new romance novels and a box of chocolates,” she said with a chuckle. “I’m thinking about spraining my own ankle…”
    â€œYou wicked thing!” Abby teased. She went to the coffeepot and poured herself a cup.
    â€œYou don’t like coffee,” Becky said.
    â€œI wish it was arsenic,” Abby replied miserably, sitting down at the kitchen table with the older woman.
    â€œDon’t tell me Chayce is gone again.”
    â€œHow did you know?”
    â€œSaw the Mercedes backing out of the garage about an hour ago,” she replied. “He left a fire trail behind him. You two have a fight?”
    â€œNo, we didn’t. That’s why he left.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œHe got funny after he saw the wedding gown,” she replied sadly. “He said I had to have it, despite how expensive it was, and then he started talking about how good Troy was going to be for me. That was just after he’d said that Troy was trying to make me into Eve Payne and I shouldn’t let him change me.”
    â€œWhew,” Becky whistled. “Sounds like a midlife crisis for sure.”
    Abby glowered at her. “He isn’t middle-aged!”
    Becky’s eyebrows lifted. She grinned.
    Abby sighed and sipped her coffee. “I want to run away, too. You can come with me.”
    â€œYou could turn another bull loose.”
    Abby glowered at her. “That’s not a lot of help.”
    Becky crossed her arms on the table and stared at Abby with affection and worry. “Do you love Troy?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDo you really want to marry him?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen why do it?”
    Abby ran a hand through her short hair. “Because Chayce says he’s too old for me and I have to marry somebody younger. Troy’s the only person who wants to marry me.”
    â€œThat’s a shameful reason to put on an engagement ring.”
    Abby actually blushed. “It didn’t seem like a bad reason at the time. I hadn’t seen Chayce for four years and he’d already made it clear that he…that he…” She hesitated.
    Becky smiled. “I may be old, but I’m not blind,” she murmured dryly. “I know how you feel about Chayce, Abby. I’ve always known.”
    Abby shrugged.