Randall Pride by Judy Christenberry Read Free Book Online Page B

to trust me.”
    “Of course I trust you, darling. Did Toby’s talk help you decide—”
    “No! Mr. Arrogance himself called the kettle black, but I couldn’t tell much difference between the two of them.”
    “Oh. Then how did you—”
    “Mom, I can’t discuss anything with you. I haven’t talked to Cleve yet. Don’t you think I should discuss everything with him first?”
    “I guess so. But if I could just hint to your father, I could be sure of him staying out of your business.” Megan stared at Elizabeth, hope in her gaze.
    “Mom! Oh, okay, tell Daddy everything will be settled this weekend. But nothing else. Promise?”
    “Of course, dear. And I’m so pleased.” Megankissed her daughter good-night and slipped from the room.
    Elizabeth felt she’d gone a ten-rounder with all her problems this evening. With a sigh, she prepared for bed, hoping tomorrow would be a better day.
     
    M EGAN RETURNED to the den less unobtrusively than she’d left.
    “What did she want?” Chad immediately asked. “Did he convince her?”
    “She didn’t say that. She complained about you not trusting her,” Megan told him.
    B.J. immediately turned off the television. “Did Toby make her mad?”
    “She didn’t say that either, but that would be my guess,” Megan said, a grin on her face.
    “Hell! Why would Toby make her mad?” Jake wanted to know. “He was only trying to help her.”
    Anna shook her head slowly, a big smile on her face. “All these years living with you, B.J., and he still doesn’t understand women.” All four women laughed.
    “What’s so funny?” Chad demanded. “My daughter is still engaged to that idiot.”
    “Your daughter sent you a message,” Megan said. “Trust her and everything will be taken care of in a few days.”
    “She’s going to elope?” Chad demanded, leaping to his feet, his fists clenched.

Chapter Five
    Toby expected some fallout the next morning from Chad over his discussion with Elizabeth. Instead, his uncle patted him on the shoulder and thanked him for trying. Then he asked everyone to keep an eye on his only daughter.
    “An eye out for what?” Rich asked as he swung into the saddle.
    Chad looked at his brothers, then shrugged. “I think she may be planning on eloping.”
    Several of her cousins protested his suggestion.
    Toby cleared his throat. “What makes you think that, Uncle Chad? I know I upset her, but—” He couldn’t go on. He wanted Elizabeth married so he could come home, but he didn’t want her unhappy. And she would be if she married that jerk.
    “She wants me to trust her. Says everything will be settled this weekend!” Chad growled. “What else could she mean?”
    “Maybe,” Russ said hopefully, “she intends to dump him.”
    “If she were going to do that, why wait?” Chad asked. “She could pick up the phone and do it in five minutes. She’s waiting because he won’t be back here until the weekend, and it’s hard to elope without a groom.”
    Toby couldn’t argue with Chad’s logic. He’d like to. He’d like to think Elizabeth wouldn’t do that, but her dad was right. In this age of communication, it wouldn’t take long to tell someone to get lost.
    Jake, settled in his saddle, said, “B.J. says wait. And she’s usually right.”
    “All the ladies say wait,” Pete added. “Even Janie, and she’s a rancher, even if she isn’t a man. You know they’re all smart. Give Lizzie a chance, Chad. She might surprise you.”
    “I hope you, and they, are right,” Chad growled. Then he gathered the men working with him, and rode off.
    Toby followed Pete and the twins. They were cutting steers out of a herd for the fall market. But his mind remained fixed on Elizabeth.
     
    “Y OU’VE SET UP a bachelor auction?” Abby Gaylord screamed.
    Elizabeth shushed her. She didn’t think anyone could hear, since the door was closed, but they were in school, after all. “Is that all right? I had to include the twins. Then the