The Bridal Path: Sara by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

been taken in by that crooked smile of yours. I daresay more than one has come to the conclusion that marriage is in the cards, only to discover they were playing with the wrong deck.”
    Jake flinched at the direct hit. “I can’t help it if some woman gets foolish ideas about the future. My opinion of marriage is no secret. I lay it out at the beginning. Anything that comes after is done at their own, fully informed risk.”
    “Hogwash! A woman who’s interested in a man will say whatever she figures he wants to hear at the beginning,” Annie insisted. “Like it or not, that so-called first-date disclaimer of yours doesn’t absolve you of any responsibility for any hurt that comes after.”
    “That’s not my problem,” he repeated defensively. “Fifteen years of watching my mother and father try to destroy each other under the guise of commitment was more than enough. I’ll take bachelorhood over that any day and anyone who knows me at all is aware of that.”
    Annie’s expression turned momentarily sympathetic. “From everything you’ve said and a lot more you haven’t, I know it wasn’t easy for you growing up around those two, but you shouldn’t let it shape your whole life.”
    “Whose genes are running through my blood?” he countered. “I’ve got a double dose of the worst temperaments this side of hell. I’m not going to inflict myself on some unsuspecting woman so that we can both be miserable.”
    “You might be surprised how your view of life changes with the right woman around,” Annie said. Her expression softened. “Sue Ann wasn’t that woman.”
    “And you just told me to stay away from Sara.”
    “She’s not the right woman, either,” Annie said fiercely. “But there’s one out there for you. I guarantee it. You just have to open your heart and let her in, once she shows up.”
    “You’re nothing but a soft-hearted romantic,” Jake accused affectionately. “Next thing you’ll be saying there’s a woman out there who could put up with Trent Wilde, now that he’s been spoiled all these years by you and his wife.”
    “There probably is,” she countered complacently. “Not that he’s looking for a replacement for his wife. He’s just looking to kick up his heels a bit, to start living again. It’s been lonely for him these past two years.”
    Jake regarded her intently. “You know about his plans, don’t you?”
    Annie promptly looked guilty. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but I figured that didn’t include you, since you’re mixed up in this. If you ask me, he’s acting like an old fool, no disrespect intended.”
    Jake opened his mouth to protest, but Annie waved him off.
    “Not that I don’t want you to have this place,” she said. “I know how hard you’ve worked for it and how badly you want to own it. But Mr. Wilde is going off without a thought in his head about what’s to come of his girls. He’s shirking his responsibilities, if you ask me.”
    “Her father’s trying to get Dani settled down before he goes. Ashley’s already successful doing exactly what she always wanted.”
    “And what about Sara?” Annie demanded. “What does he have planned for her? This ranch is the only thing that girl has ever cared two hoots about. Is she supposed to trail along with him to Arizona? Or maybe go work for some other rancher? He’s just assuming she’ll marry one day, but what if she doesn’t?”
    “She’ll always have a place here,” Jake said impulsively.
    Annie’s eyebrows rose. “Meaning?”
    “Meaning that she knows this ranch inside out. If she wants to stick around, she can work for me.”
    Annie hooted at that. “You expect her to hire on as a hand on the ranch that should have been left to her? Her pride will never let her do that and you know it.”
    Jake shrugged. “I’m just saying the option’s there if she wants it.”
    “Well, if that was supposed to reassure me, it doesn’t. I suppose I’m the one who’s going