Devils on Horseback: Gideon, Book 5 Read Online Free

don’t she?” Granny grinned at Chloe. “She ain’t much to look at it, but Chloe has skills a husband would be pleased to have.”
    The bite of food almost turned to dust in his mouth. Was he not safe anywhere? He left home to get away from the matchmakers and found one in the middle of nowhere with a busted wagon wheel.
    “Granny! Leave the man alone. I don’t want a husband, and I know he don’t want me as a wife.” Chloe’s scowl could have scared a pack of wolves away. “Don’t be meddling in his life for no good reason but to give yourself a chuckle.”
    Granny did exactly that, chuckled until it became a guffaw, then a bite of beans snuck out the side of her mouth. As she wiped it away with her fingers, Gideon wondered if some higher power had put these folks in his path for a reason. He’d be damned if he could figure out why, since he was more uncomfortable than he’d felt in a long time.
    “He’s handsome. He ain’t married—wait, you ain’t hitched, are ya?” Granny peered at him as if she could tell by counting his eyebrow hairs whether or not he had a wife.
    They all stared at him, the only sounds the popping of the fire and Granny’s gumming.
    “Nope.” The word was dragged from the depths of his guts.
    The old woman cackled merrily. “See, there you go. If you have a mind to, I’m sure Chloe would be a good one to take to wife.”
    Chloe stood and dropped her plate on the ground. “That’s enough nonsense. I don’t want to marry him, or any man for that matter. I don’t need a man in my life.”
    She kissed the girls on the tops of their heads and walked toward where the mules were tethered.
    “No matter what she says, that girl needs a man in her life. Life ain’t enough if you don’t find someone to share it with.” Granny continued smacking her food.
    Gideon’s thoughts returned again to why he’d crossed paths with the Ruskins. Did it mean something? Did he want to know the answer to that question? Probably not, since the conversation had turned to marriage within ten minutes, and that was something he was currently running from. He just needed to get the job done and be on his way.
    They finished the meal in silence, the chatter and the suggestions of husband material tucked away, thank God. He didn’t blame them for looking to him to take care of them. No doubt there’d been plenty of strangers in their path as they made their journey, and likely he was one of few people who helped them. In fact, he was sure some of them had not-so-honorable intentions. The Ruskins would be fools if they trusted him enough to marry Chloe off to him after a twelve-hour acquaintance.
    The rabbit was more than delicious. It was exactly what he’d needed after hours of moving freight off the wagon. The cornpone was slightly sweet and melted in his mouth. After living above the restaurant for two years, he’d eaten everything imaginable. This simple meal was the tastiest and most satisfying one he’d had in quite some time. He refused to believe it was because of the company.
    Chloe Ruskin was just a girl, a woman who would be gone from his life by this time tomorrow night.
    * * * * *
    “If’n you feel that strongly about him, you need to follow your heart,” Granny whispered. “There ain’t many opportunities for a gal to find a strong man, one who stirs her inside.”
    Chloe’s heart lodged in her throat, beating madly as she stared at her grandmother. She had done many things in her life she wished she could undo. There had been no time to consider the consequences. That excuse wouldn’t work, because now it was her deliberate choice and she was scared witless.
    She liked Gideon, although she’d not admit it to him. He was a handsome man who made her body feel things she’d not known existed. She’d been carrying around her virginity, and it had become a damn burden, especially for a woman without a man to protect her. Many times she’d been threatened by men on the trail,