Wildflower Read Online Free Page A

quivered low in her belly as he escorted her away.
    Halfway toward the cookhouse, his arm slid from her shoulders. Matt missed the warmth almost immediately and despised herself for the weakness. She glanced at the former foreman stomping toward the bunkhouse then at Logan. “You think it was smart to fire Roscoe? He’s good with cattle and we’re shorthanded right now.”
    Logan grunted. “We’ll be just fine without him.” He stopped at the bottom of the cookhouse. “You sure you don’t want to wait a few days to get married?”
    Anxiety pinched her stomach. “Are you having second thoughts?”
    “No. I just thought a woman would want her wedding day to be special and not a rushed affair.”
    Her heavy heart lifted for a moment, until she realized she wasn’t a normal woman. She shook her head. “It’s stupid to go to that kind of trouble.” She walked up the steps. “Besides, once the ceremony’s done, I’ll be leaving.”
    Logan’s hand gripped her arm and pulled her back. “What do you mean, you’re leaving?”
    Matt jerked from his grasp. “I said I’d marry you. Never said anything about staying.”
    “It isn’t safe for you to be wandering the prairie alone.”
    Her eyes tapered. “Safe or not, it’s not your concern.”
    “As your husband, it will be my concern.”
    Her heart caught at the sincerity of his voice. She ignored the sensation. “Like I said, you needn’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
    “Like I said, as your husband, I damn sure will worry.”
    The steely edge to his voice had her almost believing he was concerned for her. Almost. But how could he be when the only thing he wanted was the ranch? She turned toward the door.
    Without warning, Logan scooped her into his arms and pivoted from the steps. She wiggled and fought, slapping at any part of him she could hit. The rigidness of his chest and back did her more damage than she did to him. “Put me down!”
    Around the side of the cookhouse, he set her on the ground, her arms pinned to her sides by his large hands. She glared at him. “What the hell are you thinking?”
    “I’m thinking this conversation should be private and not shared with everyone inside.”
    She kicked his legs, but he easily sidestepped the attempt. He gave her a small shake, frustration mingling with compassion in his eyes. “Before you get more riled than a town drunk without a whiskey, listen to what I have to say.”
    The last thing she wanted to do was listen, but she couldn’t break free of his hold. She sucked in a breath and lowered her gaze. “I’m listening.”
    He slowly released her like he expected her to boltthencrossed his arms. “You can just take off, not when the snow’s still thick on the prairie. You know it’s not safe. And then there’s the question of money and the fact you don’t have any.”
    She stared at the ground, not responding.
    “If you agree to stay until after the cattle drive in June, I’ll give you a share of the stockyard sale. Wasn’t that the deal you made with Gene?”
    She looked up then. “Yes, but I don’t want to stay.”
    “I know you don’t want to, but it’s the smart thing to do.”
    “But—”
    His finger on her lips silenced any more words. The rough feel of his finger on her lips sent a waterfall of shivers down her spine. “You said you’d listen.” He tucked his arm back across his chest. “In addition, I promise to deliver you safely to wherever it is you want to go. I also need you to stay, Matt.”
    In spite of herself, joy flickered in her chest. “You need me to stay? Why?”
    “Because we’re still shorthanded and because…” Logan turned his gaze to the horizon with a heavy sigh. “Because rustling’s gotten bad. Real bad.” He looked at her again. “We’ve lost almost two dozen head in the past month alone.”
    “ What ?” Any joyful thought vanished. “Why the hell is this the first I’ve heard about it?”
    “It wasn’t my place to say. Roscoe’s the