Outlaw's Bride by Maureen McKade Read Free Book Online Page B

here,” Andy replied. Mattie leaned closer to hear the rest of his quiet words. “As soon as you’re feeling better, she’s going to throw you out.”
    She drew back and pressed her spine against the wall, tipping her head back to stare at the ceiling. She was the villain in her son’s eyes, and by the sound of it, Clint Beaudry had become the hero. How could she explain to Andy why Beaudry had to leave?
    â€œYour ma’s a smart woman.”
    Startled, Mattie peeked into the room and saw Andy sitting on the edge of the bed. Beaudry had a hand on his shoulder in a fatherly gesture that brought a lump to Mattie’s throat. He didn’t look or sound like a killer.
    â€œShe loves you and wants to make sure you aren’t hurt,” Beaudry continued. “That’s what mothers are for.”
    â€œThen what are fathers for?”
    Pain flashed across the man’s angular features. “They provide for their families and build something to leave to their children.” He smiled, and Mattie could tell he’d forced the gesture for her son’s sake. “And they take their sons fishing.”
    Mattie backed away from the door and slipped into her own bedroom. She set the folded laundry down on her bed and sank to the mattress. She had done her best to compensate for Andy’s loss, giving him all the love and affection she had inside of her. But was it enough to make up for not having a father? She had so many dreams for her son but hadn’t come any closer to them.
    She stood, her fingers curled into fists of determination. She would succeed; she didn’t need a man to waltz with during the lonely nights.
    â€œMa.”
    Andy’s voice startled her and she turned to see her son in the doorway. “Yes?”
    â€œIs it okay if I go fishing?”
    There were numerous chores to be done and her son was old enough to do many of them. But she was determined to give her son a happier childhood than the one she’d endured. She would weed and water the vegetable patch herself after she got supper started. “All right.”
    His face lit up and she basked in the happiness of his smile. “Thanks.”
    â€œBe home by suppertime.”
    He nodded, then scampered away. Mattie remained by the window to watch her son race across the yard to the barn where Herman lived in a small room. A few minutes later the two walked down the road toward their favorite fishing hole, poles in hand.
    As she watched them, Herman blurred and was replaced by the tall, lean figure of Clint Beaudry. Would it be so bad to allow Andy to visit with Beaudry?
    She recalled Sheriff Atwater’s assurances that Beaudry wouldn’t harm her son. Maybe it was time Mattie began to trust him a little, especially after overhearing his conversation with her son.
    She put the clean clothes away and resolutely walked into her patient’s room. Beaudry’s unreadable gaze settled on her immediately.
    â€œAfternoon, Mrs. St. Clair,” he said.
    Mattie suppressed a sensual shiver at the exaggerated drawl in his voice and inclined her head in acknowledgment. “How’re you feeling, Mr. Beaudry?”
    â€œYou don’t want to know,” he grumbled.
    She couldn’t help but smile, and the tension in her muscles eased. “Let me guess. You’re restless, but if you move around, your wound hurts like the devil. So you just lie there, getting angrier by the minute until some innocent bystander like myself walks in and you take out your short temper on her.”
    Surprise lit his handsome face, then a boyish grin captured his lips and sent Mattie’s heart racing. “Either you’re a mind reader or you made a lucky guess.”
    â€œAn educated guess. I’ve helped Dr. Murphy take care of other patients.” She moved to his bedside, all too aware of his masculine interest in her. “And everybody I’ve dealt with, except Herman, who