To Tame a Renegade by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online

gaze seeing things Chad had tried hard to bury. “Let your conscience be your guide, son. I’m a pretty good judge of character and I don’t think you’ll disappoint me.”
    “You’re wrong,” Chad charged. “You don’t know me at all.”
    Clayter stared at him. “I know something soured you on life. You’re bitter and disillusioned, but I can see through that tough exterior to your better qualities. You can fool a lot of people, but not me.”
    “You’re wrong, Doc, dead wrong. This is likely to be the last time I’ll see you so I’ll bid you goodbye. Do I owe you anything for Sarah’s care?”
    “You’ve already paid me,” Clayter said gruffly. “Tell Sarah I’ll return in a couple of days to check on her.”
    He climbed into the carriage and slapped the reins against his horse’s rump. Annoyed, Chad watched the carriage disappear down the rutted road. The doctor’s lecture had irritated Chad. Clayter couldn’t possibly know about the vile things he’d seen and done, or been aware of the tragic events that had occurred when he’d involved himself in other people’s lives. Nothing was going to force him to become involved again.
    Nothing!
    Chad returned to the house in a foul mood. He went straight to the bedroom. He found Sarah sitting on the edge of the bed, attempting to rise.
    “I’m leaving,” Chad said, hardening his heart against Sarah’s helplessness. “I’ve already stayed longer than I intended.”
    Chad tried to avoid looking at Sarah but seemed unable to turn his eyes away. Even wrapped in her voluminous nightgown she looked seductive in an innocent sort of way that contradicted everything he’d been told about Sarah Temple. He recalled with clarity her nude body, her womanly curves, and her long, supple legs. She’d felt so damn good in his arms; he could still recall the incredible heat of her lithe body pressed against him. Sweat popped out on his forehead and he felt himself thicken with desire.
    “I’m surprised you remained this long. I’m not ungrateful, you know. You’ve been a great help to me and Abner and I thank you.”
    Despite his resolve to get the hell out of here while he still could, he seemed rooted to the spot. “How will you survive without help?” he heard himself ask. Would he never learn to stay out of other people’s business?
    Sarah’s chin rose fractionally. “I’ll be fine. Abner is a big help to me.”
    Chad nodded curtly, thinking there was only so much a five-year-old could do and biting his tongue to keep from saying it. “Well, it’s certainly been interesting knowing you, Sarah Temple. Take care of yourself.”
    Chad strode out of the room and shut the door quietly behind him. He leaned against the panel for a moment, indecision warring within him, men his expression hardened and he shoved himself away from the door.
    “Chad!” A small body hurtled toward him, Hinging to his leg. “I wondered where you were. I tried to start a fire in the stove but there wasn’t any wood in the firebox.”
    Chad closed his eyes and fought to control his temper. He didn’t know with whom he was angrier, himself or Sarah Temple. Fate was conspiring against him. There could be no other explanation for it.
    “I was just leaving, Abner, but I reckon I can gather enough wood to last you and your mother a spell.”
    Abner’s face fell. “You’re leaving? For good?”
    “That’s right.” God, he couldn’t stand to see Abner’s disappointment but there was no help for it. “I have to make a living and I can’t do it sitting around here playing nursemaid. It’s up to you to take care of your mother.”
    “I can do it,” Abner said with false bravado.
    “I know you can. I’ll go cut that wood.”
    The hillside was covered with trees and fallen branches. Chad didn’t have far to go to find wood for the stove. Dimly he wondered who would be cutting wood for Sarah when winter came. Soon Chad had gathered a huge armload of wood and returned to