To Love and Cherish by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

countryside, the shadows of trees on the long horizon. “It’s so peaceful here.”
    â€œIt’s that, all right. And there’s plenty of elbow room. I like walking around without running into things,” he said.
    â€œBut you do occasionally spend time in the city,” she reminded him.
    â€œI have to. This ranch is a corporation, not an empire. And we have other holdings as well—oil, real estate…I’m a business executive more than a cattleman.”
    â€œYou just prefer cattle.”
    â€œThat’s a fact, honey. I like them better than people most of the time,” he added with a taunting smile.
    â€œYou don’t have to rub it in,” she said quietly, nudging her mount into a canter.
    He grabbed the bridle and brought her up short, his eyes boring into hers. “I didn’t mean you. Stop bristling at me, Shelby, I wasn’t making fun of you.”
    She flushed. “You do most of the time.”
    He scowled. “Do I?” he asked, and there was genuine curiosity in his tone.
    â€œI know you don’t like me,” she replied, clutching the leather-coveredpommel for dear life, “and you don’t think I’m good enough for Danny, but couldn’t you just…”
    â€œHold it right there,” he said grimly. “Who the hell said I don’t think you’re good enough for my brother?”
    â€œIt’s the way you treat me, as if…”
    â€œI don’t want you to marry him, that’s so,” he admitted. “But your background doesn’t have a damned thing to do with it. You’re a world away from Danny. You don’t even like the same things. My God, he wouldn’t go near a river, and you like to shoot the white water. He only looks reckless, but you are. You like bucking the odds. I can see it now. Danny would be home watching television while you were out hang-gliding down some mountain. You’ve got nothing in common except that you like each other. Hell, Shelby,Danny doesn’t even like children, had you thought about that?”
    â€œNo,” she said honestly, not bothering to tell him she hadn’t because it didn’t matter since she wasn’t really marrying Danny.
    â€œDo you want children?” he asked.
    She stared at him, and the words came out without volition. “Oh, yes,” she said softly. There was an intensity in King’s eyes that she couldn’t understand. “Do you?” she asked without knowing why.
    He nodded, his face somber. His eyes swept over her slowly, appraisingly. “You’re not built for babies.”
    â€œThat doesn’t mean I couldn’t have them.”
    â€œNo,” he agreed. “A woman who isn’t afraid of white water wouldn’t be afraid of childbirth. But would you take to life on a cattle ranch? It’sdamned lonely here. There aren’t any nightclubs or boutiques.”
    â€œDo I need them?” she asked wistfully.
    â€œYou tell me. You’re a model.”
    â€œYes, I am,” she agreed dully. “A walking, talking eight by ten glossy.”
    He scowled at her, but he didn’t pursue it. “Let’s get moving, honey, I’ve got a long day ahead.”
    He hurried her around the corrals where the branding and vetting of cattle was being done, as if he was suddenly anxious to get rid of her. It all became a maze of dust and heat and bawling cattle and burning hide. He took her back to the ranch house after a whirlwind tour of the cattle operation and left her with barely a word.
    She spent the rest of the afternoon with the elder Brannts, trying her best not to appear concerned that Danny had gone off with Mary Kate Culhanefor the day. Strange, she thought, how Danny was pointedly calling attention to his attraction for Mary Kate and his lack of real interest in Shelby. Especially since the fake engagement had been his idea. Shelby couldn’t begin to