Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? by Abigail Sharpe Read Free Book Online

as she slid into an empty seat, moving with the grace of a figure skater gliding on ice.
    “Hello, Jewel,” Molly greeted her. “You’re just in time for the introductions. Why don’t we start with you?”
    “Me?” Jewel tossed off a nervous laugh. Something about her made Ainsley’s skin prickle like a cactus. “Well, I’m from Michigan, I’m studying to be a nurse, and I’m very excited to be here and meet all of you.”
    “Meeting all of you is nice, but I’m excited about meeting Riley. He’s so hot he can melt my ice cream anytime,” giggled the blonde from the car. “I’m Daisy, I’m a dance instructor, and I just love cowboys! Seeing them ride around on horses all day, and all those muscles from working the ranch.” She nudged the woman next to her. “And they sure know how to treat women, if you know what I mean.”
    Molly cleared her throat and gave Jeanne a quick glance. “What about you?” she asked, shifting her gaze to the next woman.
    Her curly orange-red hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She wore no makeup and she talked to her plate more than to the other women. “I’m Jessica, and coming here gave me a chance to see another part of the country. I’ve lived all my life in a city, so this will be a new thing for me. Plus my life is so busy that I thought this might be an interesting way to meet a guy.”
    Ainsley took a deep breath when it was her turn. She planned to say something about the mountains and horses. “I took my sister’s place in order to get away from my matchmaking mother,” she blurted instead. There was a stunned silence, and then more laughter from the others as her face heated up.
    “Right. You’re the replacement sister,” Molly said. “Your sister’s email said she was going on a cruise with the love of her life. No way are we going to stand in the way of that. And besides, we don’t want someone here whose heart is somewhere else.”
    Imagine, Cecelia getting more support from a family she’d never met than she did from her own mother. An older woman in a crisp gray apron served dinner after the introductions, and Ainsley’s stomach growled as a thick steak sizzled in front of her. Meagan frowned at her plate and stabbed some broccoli with a fork, then remained silent throughout most of the meal.
    Conversation around the table ranged from mountain climbing to ranches, with Molly and Jeanne explaining more and answering questions about the dating game. “After a few days, some women will be asked to leave. It won’t be personal. Riley might think that you’d have a better chance of finding your happily ever after with another man,” Molly said.
    “Then how do we get to know him on a more personal level?” Jessica asked.
    Molly smiled. “We can’t give away the secrets to his heart. That you have to discover for yourselves.”
    Ainsley could see the affection they had for their brother and her curiosity piqued when she thought about finally meeting the man. Her thoughts drifted back to the glimpse of the greenhouse she saw before dinner and she leaned toward Molly. “It seems so odd to have a greenhouse in the middle of such dry country. How did that happen?”
    “The Pommer family history is really fascinating. They raised flowers and immigrated to the U.S. in the mid-eighteen hundreds. They kept their plants alive through sheer determination during the transatlantic crossing.” Molly’s eyes grew brighter and pride filled her voice. “They landed on Ellis Island and eventually ended up here in the early nineteen hundreds.”
    “What an amazing journey.” Her stomach fluttered like petals swirling around in the wind. “I can’t wait to see the greenhouse. I’m a florist,” she said to the questioning looks of the other women.
    “Each generation tended the greenhouse with love and expanded it to include hundreds of flowers. My dad…” she paused for a moment and cleared her throat. “I’ll have to make sure you see the greenhouse