Free Second Chance Brides by Vickie Mcdonough Page B

hauling wood and building supplies for the new store and a few smaller crates for local ranchers, but you never knew when someone with a gun would show up. Even if he couldn’t shoot, having two men together might steer away some thieves.
    Mark listened to the jingle of the harnesses and the peaceful plodding of the horses’ hooves. A light breeze stirred the hot air, cooling him a bit. He thought about the book he’d been reading. For years, he’d consumed law books. He felt ready to set up shop as an attorney, but somehow he had to find a way to tell his brother. And he had to consider leaving Lookout again. He could only hope and pray this time would turn out far better than the last.
    A buzzing intruded into Mark’s dreams, and he jumped, swatting a fly away from his ear. His blurry gaze sharpened, and he saw Garrett standing on Flip Anderson’s porch.
    “It’s like I said, both those women thought they’d marry the marshal, but we all know that didn’t happen.”
    Flip yanked off his hat and rolled the brim. The tall, thin rancher sported a moustache nearly as wide as his face. “Yeah, I kinda felt sorry for them gals. So ya think they’re willing to marry someone else?”
    Mark narrowed his eyes and glared at his brother. What was Garrett doing? He climbed off the wagon and stretched the kinks from his body, then ambled toward the porch. A dipper of cool water would taste good about now.
    Flip nodded. “Mark, good to see ya.”
    “You, too. Mind if I grab a drink from your well?” Mark smiled at Flip, then cast a warning glance at Garrett.
    “Help yerself. I just hauled up a fresh bucketful.” He pointed across the yard to the well, as if Mark hadn’t already spotted it.
    The screen door creaked, and Flip’s mother, Lucy Anderson, walked out carrying a tray covered in cookies, cups, and a coffeepot. Mark swung around and headed back to the porch.
    “Mornin’, boys. Come have a sit-down and take some refreshment.” Mrs. Anderson set the tray on the porch table and started pouring coffee. After serving the men, she poured herself a cup and sat down. “I heard you talkin’ about them gals. I sure wish that my Flip could marry one of ’em.”
    Flip turned beet red and seemed to be studying the porch floor as if something was wrong with it.
    Garrett chuckled. “Well, maybe we need to figure out a way to get him together with them so they can meet face-to-face.”
    Lucy stared out toward the pasture, where several dozen head of short horn cattle grazed. “Hmm…I could invite them leftover brides out here for dinner. Maybe one of ’em would take a shinin’ to my Flip.”
    “Ma, that don’t hardly seem proper, inviting two unmarried women clear out here.”
    “And one of them has a twisted ankle. She hurt it during the storm.” Mark wasn’t sure why he’d come to the boardinghouse brides’ defense, but it didn’t seem right that everyone was talking about them.
    “Yeah, it’d be better if you went to town, Flip. Maybe what you boys need is to have a shindig of some kind so’s the local bachelors could meet them gals.” Lucy helped herself to another sugar cookie. The older woman’s faded blue eyes twinkled. “I’d sure like to see my Flip married before my foot’s in the grave.”
    Flip’s head jerked toward his mother. “Don’t talk like that, Ma.”
    “I’d just like to know someone was taking care of you after I’m gone, that’s all. And I’d sure like to see my grandkids.”
    Flip jumped up so fast the coffee cups rattled. “I reckon I ought to head back to the barn. Got a horse with the colic. Need to keep my eye on her.”
    Mark held back a chuckle. Seems like he wasn’t the only man who didn’t want folks matchmaking him.
    They said their good-byes and returned to the wagon. Mark climbed up beside his brother, well aware that the wheels were churning in Garrett’s mind. “What are you thinking?”
    Garrett slapped the reins down on the horses’ backs and yelled,