A Texan's Honor

A Texan's Honor Read Free Page B

Book: A Texan's Honor Read Free
Author: Leigh Greenwood
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cowhand who was supposed to be there. Women had a lot of freedom in Texas, but expensively dressed women seldom went out alone, certainly not to meet strange men.
    â€œExcuse me,” he said when he reached her. When she turned, he was almost too stunned to speak. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. “I’m Bret Nolan,” he managed to say. “A cowhand from the Sam Abercrombie ranch was supposed to meet me. This kid said he saw you riding a horse wearing the Abercrombie brand. Can you tell me where to find the man?”
    The woman appeared to be nearly as surprised as he was. “No, I can’t.”
    â€œI’m sorry to have bothered you.”
    â€œI didn’t say I couldn’t help you. I’m Emily Abercrombie. I’m not a man, but I’ve come to meet you.”

Chapter Two
    Emily hoped she didn’t look as shocked as she felt. It wasn’t his citified clothing that surprised her, she had expected to see a man dressed liked a tenderfoot. She wasn’t even surprised he was tall and good-looking. What she
didn’t
expect, and what stunned her, was that she felt an immediate attraction to this man. A tenderfoot. A dude. A man who probably didn’t know one end of a horse from another. What could possibly possess her to be attracted to him? Okay, so he was better looking than anybody she knew, but he was still just a man.
    â€œI expected one of your hands,” Bret said. “I never thought your father would let you travel this far unescorted.”
    He dropped a notch in her estimation. “I don’t need an escort, but I came with two—our foreman and one of the hands.”
    â€œI wouldn’t have let you come at all.”
    His stock was plummeting so rapidly she’d be immuneto him in less than thirty minutes. She raised her chin. “It’s a good thing you aren’t my father.”
    â€œOr your husband.”
    If he was trying to make her angry at him, he was succeeding. “I came because I wanted to tell you I have no intention of going to Boston.”
    â€œAnd I’ve been told I won’t have a job if I return without you.”
    â€œThen it looks like you have a problem.”
    â€œI certainly do. And her name is Emily Abercrombie.”
    It would be foolish to hate somebody she knew so little about, but she didn’t like what she knew about Bret Nolan.
    â€œHey, mister,” said one of the dirty urchins who’d followed him, “you gotta pick a hotel. We can’t hold this trunk forever.”
    â€œIf you’ll take my advice, you’ll get back on the train,” Emily said to Bret.
    â€œAs much as I’d like to do just that, I can’t,” Bret said. “Have you picked out a hotel for me, or am I on my own?”
    â€œFollow me.” Emily turned and started down Commerce Street. She was tempted to look over her shoulder to see if Mr. Nolan was following, but when she heard the three boys carrying his luggage grumbling that they hoped the hotel wasn’t in the next county, she figured he was. She couldn’t decide if she was disappointed that he hadn’t taken her advice to get back on the train. In general, she’d scorn any man who was spineless, but she didn’t know this man and didn’t care if he had a spine or not. She only wanted to be left alone.
    On the other hand, she hated to see anybody so gutless they wouldn’t struggle at least a little bit forwhat they wanted. Texas wasn’t an easy place to live in, and defending cows from disease, wolves, and rustlers just made it harder. If people weren’t ready to fight for what they wanted, they didn’t survive.
    Then there was the puzzling conundrum of her attraction to him. She laid that entirely to the fact that he was tall, handsome, and looked strong enough to handle a longhorn steer by himself. Of course, his looks had to be deceiving. How could any man living in

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