The Maverick of Copper Creek Read Online Free

She ducked her head, avoiding his eyes. “I got your shirt all wet.”
    â€œIt’s okay, Willow.”
    When she continued staring at her feet he caught her chin and lifted her face until she met his steady look.
    Her voice was choked. “I thought I was alone. Don’t tell Mad or Whit. I never want them to see me like this.”
    â€œIt’s nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve got a right to grieve. We’re all grieving.”
    â€œI know.” She stepped back. “But I need…” Her lips trembled and she fretted that she might break down again. “I need to be strong while we sort things out.”
    He kept his hand on her arm to steady her. “You’re the strongest woman I know, Willow.”
    â€œI’m not feeling strong right now. I feel…” She looked up at him, and tears shimmered on her lashes. “I feel broken, Brady.” She turned away and hugged her arms about herself, as though trying to hold things together by the sheer strength of her will.
    The foreman placed a hand on her shoulder in a gesture of tenderness, before quickly withdrawing it and lowering his hand to his side. His voice was gruff. “You stay strong, Willow. What’s happened has you down on your knees. I know what it feels like to be that low, when your whole world ends. But each day, you’ll find a little more of your strength. And one day, when this is behind you, you’ll realize that no matter what life throws at you, nobody and nothing is going to break you.”
    She turned and pinned him with a look so desolate, it tore at his heart. “What if all my strength really came from Bear? What if I never find any of my own? How do you know it will get better, Brady?”
    His words were laced with pain. “Because I’ve been where you are now. And know this—I’ll be here for you whenever you need to lean on someone until your own strength returns.”
    He turned on his heel and strode from the barn in that loose, purposeful way he had.
    Watching him, Willow thought about what he’d just said. It was the most he’d ever revealed about himself.
    Though Brady had been in Bear’s employ since she first had come here as a bride, she knew little more about him now than she had in the beginning. Whenever she’d asked, Bear had insisted that Brady’s past was nobody’s business. When pressed, Bear had told her that he would trust his life, and the lives of his family, to Brady Storm, and that should be good enough for all of them. He’d explained that he’d found that one-in-a-million cowboy who he believed would put their interests above his own. When she’d asked how he knew, Bear had said only that Brady’d been through more of life’s trials than most men, and he had come out the other side stronger than steel forged in fire.
    And now she had to face a fire of her own. She had her doubts that she would morph into a woman of steel. For now, she would settle for the courage to face one more day.
    She took in a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and wiped her eyes before making her way to the house.

Chapter Two
    W illow. I’m so sorry for your loss.” Mason McMillan, long-time lawyer for the MacKenzie family, paused in the doorway to give the woman an awkward hug while juggling his briefcase in one hand and his wide-brimmed hat in the other.
    â€œThank you, Mason.” She took his dripping hat and draped it on a hook before looking past him to the tall, handsome man standing behind him.
    â€œOh, sorry.” He turned. “Willow, this is my son, Lance. I’ve been easing him into my law practice, and now I’m comfortable leaving all my clients in his capable hands.”
    â€œLance. If you’re half as good as your father, I know you’ll make him proud.” She shook his hand before leading both men into the kitchen.
    â€œThe roads are practically washed out by all