The Rancher and the Runaway Bride Part 1 by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online

you.”
    “Oh, I don’t know. I learn quickly.”
    “Have any plans to move on?” he asked, repeating the same question she’d asked him.
    Their answers were going to be different. “Yes,” she said simply, then waited for him to ask her when.
    He didn’t. He puffed on the cigar for a few minutes, then said, “You might want to think about staying around long enough to meet Brady’s folks. They’re good people. You’ll like ‘em. They’re a close family with big hearts. They make all of us feel like part of the group, especially at the holidays. Vi cooks up a big turkey. Won’t let me help with anything. I make a few pies the day before, but that’s it.”
    “They sound nice.” Different from her own family, she thought. Her mother would never invite the help to the table. She never even thought to give them the day off. Holidays were a time to entertain, to be seen at the correct parties, to give the correct gifts. That was somewhere else Randi had always fallen short. She refused to let go of the belief that gifts should come from the heart instead of from a certain store or catalog.
    Princess strolled over and sat next to the stairs. Randi bent over and let the Australian shepherd sniff her fingers. When Princess gave her a quick lick of approval, she began stroking the dog’s head and rubbing her ears. In the shade of the trees, stretched out in the sun or sitting in flower beds, the cats all groomed.

    Randi pointed to a gray-and-black tabby. “Either that one’s really fat or you’re going to have a litter of kittens pretty soon.”
    “She’s pregnant. Brady tries to get them spayed or neutered as soon as Princess rounds them up, but sometimes we miss one.”
    “He said you try to give them away in town.”
    “It’s time to make more of an effort. Costs money to feed this many cats.”
    “Maybe the next time I go to town I’ll ask around,” she volunteered. It was the least she could do after Brady had been willing to give her a chance.
    “You do that. I’ve never had much luck at it, but maybe you’ll have better.”
    She chuckled. “Why do I think you ordered people to take cats and were shocked when they refused?”
    Instead of answering, he puffed on his cigar. Still, she could have sworn she saw the corner of his mouth turn up in a smile. Tex was all gruff talk, but underneath he was a marshmallow. However, she must remember never to tell him that. Not if she didn’t want her head chewed off.
    They sat in companionable silence. A couple of the cats got up and stretched, but none of them moved out of the area. Then, without warning, Princess barked. One by one the cats stood up and started for the barn. When the pregnant tabby fell behind, the shepherd moved next to her and yipped. The cat hissed. Princess swiped at her with her tongue. The tabby rubbed her face against the dog’s front left leg, then trotted to the barn.
    “Amazing,” Randi said. “They really listen to her.”
    “Too bad women don’t listen to men the same way.”
    “If men were as sensible as Princess, they just might.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    She laughed. “I like it here, Tex, and I like you.”
    He blew a smoke ring. “Brady’s a good man.”
    She stared at him. Had she missed a transition in the conversation? “He seems to be.”
    “He’s had his share of trouble, but he’s gotten through it. Things are going well for him. Would be a shame if that changed.”
    “I’m sure—” She clamped her lips together. Okay, she got it. He was warning her off. Brady didn’t need trouble and that’s how Tex had pegged her. Surprisingly, his assessment hurt. She wanted to tell him he was wrong about her, that she wasn’t the type to make trouble, but was that true? She’d shown up with little luggage, no past, and was obviously on the run from something. People didn’t usually run away from good stuff in their lives.
    She stood up. “I have my reasons for being here,” she said. “I’m not going to