To Honor and Cherish Read Free

to make her feel better. That was the only other room available right now as her sister, Lizzy’s old room still held the feel and furnishings of a youthful girl. She was sure Jax would be uncomfortable in a room full of feminine furniture. No one used the upstairs rooms, so they wouldn’t be clean enough for a guest.
    Rose had stayed with her for the first week after the tornado, but Pete and Rose had their own home to tend to. She wished, a bit belatedly, that they lived closer so she could’ve asked Rose to join her once again. The thought of being alone with this man all night sent her thoughts to racing.
    “I trust you will be comfortable here.” Her voice betrayed her nervousness. She opened the door and waited for him to enter. As he walked by, she inhaled his scent: leather, some smoke, sweat, and something else that was unique.
    Looking around the room, Meg was nervous to allow her gaze to rest on anything. There was no way she could leave this man alone in her home and go get Rose, but she didn’t want to be here either. Fear gripped her and she couldn’t look him in the eye or move from her spot. She backed into the door, closing it. Her eyes went wide at her mistake. What if he wasn’t trustworthy? Her color went from robin red to ashen and she felt as if she might faint.
    “Are you going to be all right? You look a bit peaked,” he asked, concern weaving his brows together.
    She looked at the window, anywhere but at him or the bed. “I’m fine. Rose and Pete also work for me. They’ve worked at the ranch for twenty years and they will be here in the morning. Early, in the morning. So, breakfast should be ready whenever you are.” She spun to leave and had to back up when she came within inches of running into the door she’d pushed shut. Knowing she sounded like, and now looked like, a rambling fool, she yanked the door open.
    “Excuse me?” His voice played with her frazzled emotions.
    “Yes?” She looked over her shoulder, her focus darting like a caged rabbit.
    “I don’t know your name. Might be important.” He smiled, encouraging her to do the same.
    “Meghan. Meghan Conner, but ma’am will work just fine.” She left him to his thoughts and whatever else he planned to do that evening.
    Meg rushed to retrieve the shotgun outside. She’d never kept it in her room before, but tonight she certainly would. There would be little sleep to be had, she feared. At least the lumberyard would finish the bunk house soon. It would be a basic rectangular box, one room only, nothing special, with the most difficult aspects being the door and windows. It wouldn’t be done soon enough now. She wouldn’t get any peace with some stranger staying in her home. Oh, if Mother only knew. The thought made her snort, a very unladylike noise.
    What in the world had possessed her to say her name was Meghan? She hated that name. No one ever used it. It had been the name of her mean old grandmother and in order for the family to distinguish the two, they had decided when she was an infant that she’d be Meg. Other than herself and her grandmother, she’d never known any other Meghans.
    “Great, now I’ll be saddled with that name forever.” She slapped the palm of her hand to her forehead and shook her head back and forth, weary to her bones.
    Forcing herself to look in the mirror, she sighed.
    “So, the Lord has provided a handsome man to walk right into my life and I still look as plain as dead grass.” Blowing out the lamp, Meg changed and climbed into bed.

 
    Chapter Four
     
    The next morning, Meg awoke to a shriek. She scrambled from her bed, sure the house must be on fire. Grabbing her dressing gown, she ran toward the kitchen with her hair trailing down her back. Terrified, she searched back and forth into each room for the source of the problem. When she made it to the kitchen, Jax leaned against the table by the stove, pouring himself a cup of cold coffee. Rose stood frozen by the front door,