Matt (The Cowboys) Read Online Free Page A

got one thing on their minds.”
    “He’ll be your husband,” the sheriff said. “He’s supposed to have it on his mind.”
    “If you don’t mind, Sheriff, I’d like to do my own talking,” Matt said.
    “Then don’t be so dad-blasted slow.”
    “This is one of those times when it’s better to take it slow. We’re talking about getting married. There’s no going back once the preacher’s had his say.”
    “I’m not going to be pawed or grabbed,” Ellen said. “I’ve had enough of that in the saloon.”
    “I will never paw or grab you,” Matt said. “Isabelle taught all of us to respect women.”
    “I’d like to meet her.”
    “You will. Despite teaching us how to do everything for ourselves, she doesn’t think we can get along without her.”
    The dangerous light had gone from Ellen’s eyes. Matt had heard she once broke a whiskey bottle over the head of a man who didn’t heed her warning to keep his hands to himself. Matt didn’t blame her. He couldn’t stand to be touched.
    “Since I’ll be giving up working in the saloon, I’ll need to do something to support myself.”
    “That’s Matt’s job,” the sheriff said.
    “I refuse to depend on any man,” Ellen said. “I make hats to sell to rich ladies. Don’t either of you breathe a word,” she said, looking from Matt to the sheriff. “If Mabel Jackson knew I made the hats she likes so much, she’d never buy another one.”
    “Neither of us will say anything,” Matt said. The sheriff shook his head.
    “I need time to make them. I refuse to spend all my time as a slave for you and your boys.”
    “You can have all the time you want.”
    “I keep everything I earn.”
    “That’s fine with me.”
    “Are you two going to get married, or are you going to jabber all day?” the sheriff asked, fidgeting in his chair.
    “We’ve got a lot to discuss,” Matt said.
    “Well, you’d better discuss it in a hurry. Reverend Sears is getting back tonight. You know he’s dead set against you keeping Orin. If he finds out what you mean to do before you’re bitched, he’ll start preaching so much hellfire and damnation the justice of the peace won’t be able to hold his hand steady enough to sign the marriage certificate.”
    “I want separate bedrooms,” Ellen said.
    “You can’t have that,” the sheriff declared.
    “Why not?” Ellen asked, immediately suspicious.
    “Because Reverend Sears is going to be as mad as hell when he finds out what you’ve done. He’ll look for any reason he can find to prove this is a put-up job, and separate bedrooms will be all he’ll need. He’ll create such a hullabaloo you’ll never be able to adopt those kids.”
    “What you mean is, lots of people will try to keep Matt from getting his hands on Orin’s money,” Ellen said.
    “I don’t want Orin’s money,” Matt said. “Let someone else keep it.”
    “They’ll steal every cent and produce records to prove it was all spent on the boy,” Ellen said.
    “Forget about the money,” the sheriff said. “Get all this nonsense worked out between you and get over to the courthouse.”
    “I’ll agree to sleep in the same bed with you,” Ellen said, “but I’m warning you right now I’m taking a gun to bed.”
    “Holy hell, woman!” the sheriff exclaimed. “You’re liable to roll over on it and shoot yourself.”
    “You won’t need a gun,” Matt said. “You have my word I won’t touch you.”
    “Why the hell would you agree to that?” the sheriff asked.
    “Because Ellen asked me to.”
    “But she’ll be your wife. A husband has a right to expect—”
    “This is different,” Matt said.
    “If you two can sleep in the same bed and not touch each other, it sure as hell will be different.”
    “I think we ought to finish this discussion alone,” Matt said.
    “I’m not letting you agree to anything stupid,” the sheriff said. “If anything goes wrong, Sears will come gunning for me.” He heaved his bulk from the