Never Marry a Cowboy Read Online Free Page B

met. Have you talked with David?”
    Straightening, he released her hand and cleared his throat. “Yes, we spoke late last night. I take it you haven’t seen him this morning.”
    â€œNo, I was exhausted once the stagecoach arrived. I went to bed fairly early. He seems to be sleeping in.” Stepping back, she reached into her pocket and withdrew a handkerchief. She pressed it to her mouth before giving several slight coughs.
    Kit’s stomach tightened at the sight of her curledshoulders and the rasp of a chest that seemingly lacked air. She glanced at him, her eyes less bright. “Excuse me. You were saying?”
    He swallowed hard. Why hadn’t David told him that he had already brought his sister to Fortune, that she was at the boardinghouse, or that their paths might cross before David had a chance to talk with her? Kit preferred never to have set eyes upon her again, much less to have to explain his decision. “I think in spite of your brother’s heartfelt motives and good intentions, our marriage would serve neither of us well in the end.”
    She blinked eyes that seemed too large for a face as delicate as hers. “Our marriage?”
    â€œYes. His notion that you and I should wed.”
    With horror sweeping over her lovely face, she gasped and stepped back until she rammed into the porch post. “He asked you to marry me?”
    Kit felt as though he’d just learned that he was to be drawn and quartered. “You didn’t know?” he asked quietly.
    She shook her head vehemently. “No. He said he needed to talk with you about business. I’d never seen this part of the state, so he let me come along.” She pressed trembling fingers to her lips and tears welled within her eyes. “Did he tell you everything ?”
    A rusty blade gouged into his gut could not have caused more anguish than he experienced at this moment, having to acknowledge the truth with such inadequacy. “Yes, and I am so incredibly sorry.” He held out a hand imploringly. “Words fail me.”
    â€œHow could he ask that of you?”
    â€œHis heart was in the right place.”
    â€œHis head obviously wasn’t. I am sorry, Mr. Montgomery. So sorry. Dear God, I wish I were already dead. Please excuse me.”
    She rushed past him, opened the door to the boardinghouse, and fled inside.
    Her wish for death echoed through his head like a scream released within a cave from which there was no escape.
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    Breathing heavily, Ashton flung open the door to her brother’s room. He shot up in bed, his eyes red, as though he’d had a grueling, sleepless night.
    Too bad. She’d had an awful, embarrassing, mortifying morning. She slammed the door shut, and he jerked.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” he asked groggily.
    She crossed the room and wrapped her hands around the bedpost. She knew she had the advantage because he wouldn’t get out of bed and expose her to his half-clothed—if he were clothed at all—body. Her entire life, everyone had sought to protect her. In death, they were doing the same. “You came here to ask Mr. Montgomery to marry me?”
    He closed his eyes and dropped his head back. “Ah, God.” He squinted at her. “You saw Kit?”
    She nodded, unable to stop the images of Christian Montgomery from seeping into her mind. The sun easing over the horizon had toyed with his hair, turning it a burnished amber. And his eyes. Those pale blue eyes looked almost silver and seemed to pierce her soul.
    When he spoke, his deep voice sent shivers of pleasure rippling through her. Only once had she ever experienced anything like it—the night he’d come to her brother’s house and regaled the guests with tales of his adventures. She’d hung onto every word like a smitten schoolgirl.
    This morning, his touch had been the gentlest she’d ever known, and yet his hand had also possessed strength. So