The Independent Bride Read Online Free Page A

his command. That was where he needed to be if he ever wanted to find a wife who could step into the social and political roles that had been traditional in his family for generations.
    “Thank you for arresting the men who attacked us,” Abby said. “I also appreciate your sharing information about the way people live out here.”
    She spoke as though people in the West were a different breed from those back East, and he had no intention of trying to disabuse her of that notion. The stranger she thought the people and the more uncomfortable their way of life, the sooner she’d go back where she came from.
    In a way it was a shame she couldn’t stay. He hadn’t seen such an attractive woman—single or married—in three years. It would be a relief and a pleasure to spend some time in female company. But even though Abby Pierce was lovely enough to make him wish he could forget his duty, she seemed very prickly, very determined, even aggressive. Her sister looked more amiable. He liked his women soft and pliable, but he did prefer that they speak.
    “If you would ask these two men to bring our trunks in, I’d be grateful,” Abby said.
    Bryce didn’t have to say a word. The request was barely out of Abby’s mouth before the soldiers darted outside and dragged two enormous trunks into the store.
    “Put them through there,” Abby said, indicating the door at the back of the store. The trunks made an unpleasant grating noise as they were dragged over a floor covered with grit. “I think we’ll close the store for the rest of the day,” Abby said to Bryce. “That will give us a little time to get settled and become familiar with the merchandise.”
    “I’d advise you to consider selling. I’ll send some people over who’re interested. At least listen to their offers,” Bryce said when she appeared ready to launch a protest. “If nothing else, you’ll know what your business is worth. That will be important when you decide to go back East to get married.”
    “Neither of us is interested in marriage,” Abby said.
    He’d heard that before from women who’d been treated badly, but they all jumped at the first chance to make a good marriage. He didn’t expect Abby and her sister to be any different. “One can never have too much information,” Bryce said. “Now, if there’s nothing else I can do for you, the men and I will leave you to take stock of your situation.”
    Despite his irrational attraction to Abby, Bryce hoped the Pierce sisters would decide Fort Lookout wasn’t the place for them. As much for his peace of mind as theirs.
    Abby watched Bryce leave the store with mixed emotions. The fact he wanted them to leave as soon as possible didn’t endear him to her, but she was coming to the conclusion he might be the only person who didn’t want to use her and her sister for his own personal advantage. It was very hard not to ask him to stay, not to want to get to know him better. Since he’d saved them, his mere presence was a comfort, but Abby suspected her desire to keep him close had as much to do with being attracted to a handsome man as it did with thankfulness. After Albert, the last thing she needed was to become involved with a man.
    “We ought to take the colonel’s suggestion,” Moriah said. “This isn’t what we expected.”
    So far nothing had been what Abby expected, including the fort commander. She was having a difficult time fighting down the fear that danced wildly in the back of her mind. She’d expected danger from wild animals, not from wild men. She was still shaking from the encounter with those men. She still hadn’t assimilated the reality of how close they’d come to being raped. If Colonel McGregor hadn’t arrived when he did—
    It didn’t bear thinking of.
    “I admit my first inclination is to turn tail and run,” Abby said, “but I can’t go back to St. Louis. The police might arrest me.”
    “They said they had no evidence against you,” her sister