To Love and to Cherish by Leigh Greenwood Read Free Book Online Page A

Norman will be the same.”
    â€œDo you know anything about ranching?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œHow do you know I won’t try to cheat you?”
    â€œYou are an honorable man.”
    â€œYou can’t know that.”
    â€œI know you’ve been staring at me in a manner that indicates you have some very improper thoughts in your head. Yet you’ve done your best to make sure it doesn’t show.”
    Jared was disgusted that he’d been so transparent, but he was impressed Laurie was so forthright. “You’re a very attractive woman. No, you’re a beautiful and voluptuous woman. Surely you’re so used to men staring at you that you no longer take offense.”
    It appeared that he’d upended her calm. She blushed in a shy manner that made him fear he could fall head over heels in love in a single moment. She wasn’t nearly as worldly as she tried to pretend if a mild compliment could cause her to blush so brilliantly.
    â€œI have two cousins who are more attractive than I am. We’ve known the same people all our lives. I’m related to half of them. No one thinks of any one of us as beautiful, and certainly not voluptuous.” She regained enough composure to laugh. “They don’t hesitate to remind us of the years when we were straggly and boney with uneven teeth and unsightly bumps.” She leaned a little toward him. “I appreciate your compliment, but you mustn’t say anything like that again.”
    â€œIf I agreed to do that, I won’t be talking very much. How about the men who work for me? Are they equally forbidden to express their admiration for your beauty?”
    â€œI’m sure they’re all gentlemen. Otherwise, you would not have hired them.”
    â€œI don’t know what kind of men you’ve been around, but they must have been like your banker—bloodless and full of conceit. I have a fifteen-year-old nephew. If you think you can muzzle him, you’re welcome to try. I’ve never succeeded. My men are as hot-blooded as any men who’ve gone a long time without enjoying the company of a beautiful woman. They’re likely to stare and be unable to speak without stuttering, but they’re gentlemen.” Laurie looked uncomfortable, but if she wanted to go into a partnership with him, she had to know the kind of reception she could expect. Dumbfounded amazement would just be the beginning.
    â€œI’m sure you exaggerate,” Laurie said self-consciously. “Now we ought to talk about the terms of the contract.”
    â€œNaturally, the terms of the contract won’t come into play until I have the money, but they can be straightforward. Depending on how much of the purchase cost you provide, you will own that percentage of the herd.”
    â€œDo you mean I will own so many animals and you will own the rest?”
    â€œNo. We will each own the same percentage of each cow. When we sell one, we both make a profit. When one dies, we both lose.”
    â€œWhen would you plan to sell?”
    â€œThat’s hard to say. I would like to build the herd, select the best bulls, and sell the rest. I would do the same with the cows.”
    â€œSo you don’t anticipate a major sale for up to a year?”
    â€œNot of Herefords, though I’ll be gradually selling off the longhorns. Is that a problem?”
    â€œNo. Since we’re going to be partners, I want to know your plans for the future of the ranch.”
    â€œYou didn’t say anything about being a partner, only investing in my herd.”
    â€œI said I wanted to invest in your ranch . That encompasses more than the cows. It includes the house, the land, even the equipment.”
    This little lady didn’t know what she was asking. No man took a woman as a partner, not even a silent one. “I can’t do that.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œIt would require more money.”
    â€œAnd if I have