Free Rancher Wants a Wife by Kate Bridges Page A

she’d become his wife was irrelevant. “There were some women. I haven’t been an angel here on my own, but I didn’t expect that I’d be getting married anytime soon.”
    Cassandra’s eyes widened. She looked hurt, and now he felt guilty all over again.
    “Come now, Cassandra, you know what I mean. It has nothing to do with you. I’m happy we got married.” His anger flared at being judged and assessed and ranked and rated, and he spoke recklessly. “I’m damn ecstatic.”
    “Well, me too,” she retorted. “I couldn’t be more elated. I’m so filled with joy, I feel like shouting it from the rooftops!” With that, she grabbed the covers and turned away from him, slamming her shoulder into the mattress.
    He flipped onto his side, too, and stared at the moonlit window, perturbed as hell.
    Well, wasn’t this just great? He and his new wife falling asleep on their first night together with their backs turned.

Chapter Six
    T he silence continued the next morning at breakfast. Jack had slept in past his usual time on Cassandra’s account, not wanting to rush her out of bed the day after their wedding.
    Sunlight poured into the kitchen from the terrace, and one would think, looking in the French doors, that things were almost normal inside this house.
    Jack knew better.
    He looked up from his plate of eggs to Cassandra, who was poking at her sliced fruit and biscuits.
    Stubborn, the both of them, he thought.
    Today she wore a peach-colored blouse and long gray skirt, soft colors that brought out the freshness in her cheeks. But for some reason, today the ragged scar was a barrier between them, and accentuated how out of reach she seemed, and what a failure he’d been by leaving Chicago when she and her family needed him most. He averted his gaze, but perhaps not before she saw his slight withdrawal.
    Mrs. Dunleigh chirped around them as if they were newly hatched chicks and she’d done all the work of delivering them.
    “My dear, it’s simply wonderful to have another woman in the house. If there’s anything you should need, please don’t hesitate to inquire.”
    “I better run.” Jack rose from the table, in leather vest and denim jeans. “My schedule’s hectic today.”
    “You scheduled today?” Mrs. Dunleigh glanced from his face to Cassandra’s, then seemed to catch herself. “Why, of course, I—I’ve forgotten how busy the only veterinarian in the valley can be. There’s always someone who needs your services.”
    “I’d like to show you around the stables, Cassandra, when you’re done here,” Jack told her.
    “Indeed, you must go have a peek, Mrs. McColton.” Mrs. Dunleigh wiped her hands on her apron and peered with concern at the new mistress of the house. “Sunshine and fresh air will do you good.”
    Cassandra attempted a smile. “Sounds promising. I’ll be right along.”
    “I’d like that,” he said with sincerity. He hoped to make her comfortable here, to ease her transition to ranch living. “You didn’t get much sleep, did you?”
    Mrs. Dunleigh’s eyes opened wide, as if she’d overheard them talking about something very intimate. He hadn’t meant it that way. The housekeeper rushed away to the counter, where she fussed over the leftover fruit.
    “I guess the long train ride is catching up to me.” Cassandra gave him a pleasant look that indicated a truce. “I’ll be out shortly.”
    He put on his black Stetson. “Good. See you then.”
    * * *
    The truth was Cassandra could hardly move after the strain of last night. Losing her virginity had made her sore. That was one reason for her sluggishness. The other was that, quite frankly, she was still troubled by their argument. She had every right to have been forewarned about Elise Beacon and the possibility of brewing trouble.
    Cassandra rose. Moving helped her physical discomfort. After spending a pleasant hour with Mrs. Dunleigh, cleaning the kitchen, airing out the bedroom and being marched through the house