Free Yellow Rose Bride by Lori Copeland

concern.”
    When she looked up, she saw compassion reflected in his eyes. A subdued understanding. “I’m sorry aboutyour father, Vonnie. I didn’t know him, but I’m sorry for you and your mother’s loss.”
    Pulling her wrap closer against the night air, she studied him. It was the child in her that needed his acceptance, or perhaps it was the woman in her that needed his love.
    â€œI don’t know what Momma will do.”
    â€œIt won’t be easy for her.”
    Maybe if he was less kind it would be easier. Resentment flared anew.
    â€œI think you’re here because your father is concerned about propriety, not because you have any real concern for me.”
    â€œNo,” he corrected her. “P.K. doesn’t know I’m here, and he doesn’t care about propriety.”
    She bit her lower lip, wanting to believe that he was there for no other reason than he cared for her. Cared deeply.
    His voice dropped to a low timbre. “I’m here because I want to be here, and I thought you might need me. That’s the only reason.”
    Her eyes welled with unshed tears when she finally looked up again. “Well, go home. I don’t need you, Adam.”
    Shaking his head slowly, his eyes met hers in the moonlight. For a moment, time faded, and they were young and in love. “I’d hoped you wouldn’t make it necessary for me to remind you.”
    â€œOf what,” she whispered. But she knew. Oh, she knew.
    â€œI wanted to fight for us, Vonnie. You didn’t.”
    Closing her eyes against the truth, she looked away. “I was young, Adam.”
    â€œYou’ve had seven years to reconsider.” Grasping the reins of his horse, he prepared to mount. “We’d appreciate if you’d let us know when you sell the birds. P.K. knows someone who might be interested in buying a pair.”
    â€œSell the birds? What do you mean, when I sell them?”
    He looked down on her from his perch in the saddle. “When you sell out. You can’t raise those birds by yourself.”
    Her chin lifted a notch. “I don’t intend to sell my birds. I still have Roel and Genaro and the other hands, in case you haven’t noticed.”
    She saw the muscles tighten in his jaw.
    â€œWith Teague gone, I didn’t think you’d be keeping the place.”
    â€œMother and I are staying right here. My seamstress work is good. Daddy had some money put away, and with the bridal-gown orders coming in, we’ll do fine.”
    His look was cold and dismissing.
    â€œThe birds were Daddy’s pride and joy,” she added, compelled to defend her decision and stand her ground.
    In the past, maybe she hadn’t taken a personal interest in them, but now they had taken on new significance. The birds had been special to her father, and he’d seen a future in raising them. She would feel guilty if she sold out after all the hard work he’d put into building the herd. Besides, Adam Baldwin would be the last person on earth she’d let buy the birds.
    â€œI’m keeping the birds.”
    Stubborn, Adam’s expression said. As stubborn as your father, if not more.
    You are as bullheaded as P.K., hers implied right back.
    â€œWell, the offer holds. When you want to sell out, we’ll buy.”
    â€œIn a pig’s eye,” she murmured.
    Ignoring the less-than-charitable refusal, he wheeled his horse and rode into the darkness.
    Vonnie watched him go, listening to the fading hoofbeats. She felt very alone and hated the fact that he could still make her feel that way.
    Â 
    Vonnie rapped lightly on her mother’s door before pushing it partially open.
    â€œMomma, dinner’s on the table.”
    â€œI’m not hungry, dear. You go ahead and eat. I want to rest a little longer.”
    â€œYou can’t stay up here in this room forever.” Vonnie moved to the window to lift the shade.
    Two weeks had