The Cowboy Earns a Bride (Cowboys of Chance Creek Book 8) by Cora Seton Read Free Book Online Page B

of a cocky businessman who couldn’t keep it in his pants. Ellis had power, authority and money. How simple it must’ve been for him to turn Mia’s head. What had he told her—that he’d fallen hopelessly in love? That he’d leave his wife and children for her? That he’d show her the world? To a small town girl like Mia—just starting out in life—it must have been too tempting to resist.
    “Forty-five minutes to show time. Here are your boots. I don’t know when Mom found the time to shine them all.” Ned stood in the doorway holding Luke’s dress boots. Luke hadn’t even heard him open the door. Ned frowned as he entered the room. His stride was still unsteady from breaking his leg the previous month, but it was healing well and shouldn’t have any lasting effects. “Something’s got you fired up.”
    Luke tried to get a hold of himself, but by the look on his brother’s face he hadn’t succeeded.
    “What did she do?” Ned asked.
    “Who?”
    His brother chuckled. “Any time a man looks like that, a woman’s involved.”
    “I’ll tell you another time.”
    Ned cocked his head. “Sounds serious. I’m leaving for my honeymoon tonight. Sure you don’t want to tell me now?”
    “Nope.” Luke shoved his hands in his pockets and with an effort changed the subject. “Guess I’ll get changed. What about you? You ready for this?”
    “For marriage? Hell, yeah.” A smile lifted the corner of Ned’s mouth. “You’d better watch out—like Dad said this morning, he’s got his sights on you now. You’re the only one he hasn’t helped marry off.”
    “He can’t help me.”
    Ned misunderstood his meaning. “Don’t underestimate the ability of Holt Matheson to bring about matrimony in the strangest of ways.” He looked at his watch. “Guess I’d better get dressed.” He headed for the door.
    Luke just shrugged. If only their father could help him sort out this mess.
    “Fact is, I thought you’d be halfway to marrying Mia by now.” Ned’s tone turned serious as he hesitated with one hand on the doorknob.
    “Yeah, so did I.”
    “You love her, right?”
    Luke blinked. He and Ned had never discussed love before. “Yeah.”
    “Then get on with it. Don’t let anything get in your way.”
    Get on with it. Ned was right. He should get on with it. Nothing had really changed—except now he knew why Mia was holding back. She liked him all right, maybe even loved him, but was afraid he wouldn’t want her in her current condition.
    Well, he did want her, and he’d have her, too—after he paid Ellis a visit and made it damn clear the man had better stay out of their lives.
    The door burst open again, slamming into Ned hard enough to knock him off balance. Luke jerked forward to steady him with a hand to his bicep before he fell to the ground. Wouldn’t want the groom to break his leg for a second time—on his wedding day.
    “Hey!”
    “Sorry.” Jake came in and shut the door behind him. His shirt was untucked and his hair stuck up every which way. “Shoes. Where the hell are my shoes?”
    “They’re on your feet.” Ned regained his balance and pointed to Jake’s beat-up cowboy boots testily.
    “Not these. My dress boots. Mom would kill me if I wore these in the wedding.”
    “Aren’t they in the hall outside your room? Mom polished them all last night.”
    “I saw them there earlier. Now they’re just—gone!”
    “Luke, help the idiot find his boots. I’m going to get dressed. Fila will clobber me if I’m late to our wedding. Or Camila will do it for her.”
    He left, chuckling. Jake didn’t share his amusement. “Someone took them.”
    “Why the hell would anyone want your boots?”
    “I don’t know! Are they in here?” He commenced searching through the closet and under the bed. Luke helped him, promising himself he’d confront Ellis right after the wedding. When they turned up empty they split up and searched the other rooms on the second floor. Forty-five minutes