A Cowboy to Marry Read Free

family tradition and legacy in Laramie…you also know I’m leading a life I never intended to lead.”
    â€œI thought you liked running the dealership.” She was certainly good at it.
    She peered at him through narrowed lashes. “I like managing things, keeping things running and solving problems. I have no passion for farm and ranch equipment, per se.”
    He flashed her a cryptic smile. “You don’t dream about combines and harvesters?”
    Contrary as ever around him, she replied, “I have the occasional nightmare about a delivery not arriving in time for a rancher to harvest the crop that’s going to feed his cattle all winter.”
    Holden cleared his throat, regarding her steadily. “You’re serious.”
    She wandered back into the living room and plopped down on the sofa with her book. “Oh, yes.”
    He watched her slide her reading glasses back on her nose. “You never said anything.”
    She winced again. “That would have been ungrateful, wouldn’t it?” Libby paused in the act of opening her novel. “Here I am, having inherited a beautiful home, a thriving business and the mantle of the esteemed Lowell name.”
    Holden sat opposite her and studied the elegant contours of her face.
    â€œWhen all I really want, if I’m to be perfectly honest…” Libby raked her teeth across the velvety pink softness of her lower lip.
    He gripped the arms of the chair and rocked forward slightly, guessing, “All you really want is your husband back.”
    A pained silence fell between them. When she spoke again, her defenses were up. “We both wish that were possible.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Libby.”
    â€œPlease.” She lifted a delicate palm. “Don’t apologize. Not again…”
    How could he not? Holden thought with a fresh flood of guilt. “If Percy and I hadn’t gone on that white-water rafting trip in South America right after my marriage busted up…”
    The light faded from her eyes. “He knew you were devastated when you lost the baby and Heidi, all at once.”
    The reminder of his loss had a wealth of undercurrents. “I never should have married her.”
    Libby sighed, perceptive as ever. “That’s true, sinceshotgun weddings have a very low success rate. But,” she continued with laudable understanding, “you’re a noble guy…and you were head over heels in love with her.”
    Holden folded his arms over his chest. “Even if it turns out Heidi didn’t feel the same way.” To his ex-wife, he had been her rebound guy from another relationship.
    â€œYou did what you thought was the right thing, in marrying her,” Libby soothed.
    â€œAnd failed, anyway.”
    She nodded, recalling compassionately, “And Percy wanted to cheer you up.”
    Wearily, Holden shoved his fingers through his hair. “I should have said no.”
    â€œThen Percy would have gone alone.”
    Holden looked at her in disbelief.
    Leaning forward, Libby took off her glasses and confided, “You weren’t the only one unhappy at the time, Holden. Percy was feeling hemmed in. He was tired of running the dealership in the wake of his parents’ death, tired of living the ‘expected, ordinary’ life. He needed that little burst of pure freedom.”
    Holden grimaced in regret. “But he had responsibilities. We both knew the Rio Suarez could be dangerous.” Many of the rapids were a grade four plus…!
    Libby shrugged, clearly not as inclined to rewrite history as Holden was. “If your raft hadn’t started to take on water and collapse the exact moment you hit the rapids,” she said with a resignation that came straight from her soul. “If Percy hadn’t jumped to save you…”
    â€œAnd succeeded,” Holden stated hoarsely.
    â€œHe never would have slammed into those boulders himself, or