Free Second Chance Brides by Vickie Mcdonough

have many siblings?” Mrs. Howard broke off a piece of biscuit and stuck it in her mouth.
    Leah peeked at Dan. He shoveled his food in as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks. He caught her watching and winked. Leah yanked her gaze back to Mrs. Howard and realized the woman had seen their exchange. “I come from a big family—eleven children at last count.”
    Dan dropped his spoon, but his mother’s smile widened. “How wonderful. And where do you fit in that lineage?”
    “I’m the oldest.”
    “Ahh…no wonder you came here.”
    Leah hastened eating her stew and stuffed the last bite into her mouth. She needed to leave before this woman had her married off to her son. Leah stood, and Dan hopped up. “Please, keep your seat. I’ll just refill your bowl and then wash the dishes.”
    “Nonsense, Dan can do those.”
    Leah waved her hand at Mrs. Howard. “I don’t mind. In fact, I’d like to help you, and that’s the best thing I know to do.”
    Mrs. Howard leaned toward her son and mumbled something that Leah was certain sounded like, “She’s a keeper, son.”
    Grabbing the bucket sitting by the back door, Leah charged outside. She pumped water as fast as she could. She couldn’t help thinking about Dan. She liked him—a lot. He had a nice home, a healthy business—or so it seemed—and he was fine to look at. Yes, sir, she definitely needed to reconsider him as husband material.

C HAPTER 6
     

     
    M ark slammed his book shut and muttered a frustrated sigh. Reading while riding in the wagon on a good day was difficult, but trying to hold the book steady with one hand just didn’t work. His shoulder banged into his brother’s as the creaking wagon dipped into a deep rut and then careened back out.
    “Is that another one of those law books you’re always reading?” Garrett glanced sideways. “Sure sounds like boring stuff to me.”
    “Yes, it’s a law book, and no, I’m not reading. Can’t hold it steady enough.”
    “What do you find in there that’s so fascinating? I picked up one of those fat books and read a few paragraphs and found it more boring than looking at a wood wall all day.” Garrett shook his head.
    “It’s just interesting to me. I can’t explain it.” Mark studied the rolling hills dotted with wildflowers. The tornado may have torn up the town some, but the heavy rains it brought had caused the grass to green up and wildflowers to bloom again. The sky was a brilliant blue with a few white, puffy clouds drifting by.
    What would Garrett say if Mark told him that he was thinking about quitting the freight business and hanging out his shingle as a lawyer? He’d probably starve to death in Lookout. No, if he were to become a lawyer, he’d need to move to a bigger town like Dallas.
    Mark rubbed his jaw. He’d left Lookout once before, and the situation couldn’t have ended any worse. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
    Mark’s gaze shot back toward his brother. The hair on his nape stood up. A surprise from Garrett could mean anything from sand burrs in your underwear to oiled front-porch steps. He nearly broke his neck the day he stepped on those and his foot flew out from under him. Then there was the time when they were still boys and Garrett hitched the wagon and handed the reins to Mark. When he slapped the reins on the horses’ backs, instead of the wagon moving forward, Mark was yanked to the ground and dragged halfway across the county because Garrett hadn’t hitched the harnesses up right. Narrowing his eyes, he glanced sideways at his brother. “What kind of surprise?”
    Garrett grinned wide. “Guess you’ll just have to wait till we get back home to find out.”
    His curiosity rising, he nudged his brother’s arm with his elbow. “Go on, tell me what it is.”
    “Nope. Not gonna do it.”
    Great. Mark scowled. Now his imagination would run faster than a stampeding herd of cattle in a thunderstorm. What if his brother ordered him a bride, but no, he