Free Wild At Heart by Vickie Mcdonough Page A

his left hand, trying to hold it correctly. Using a fork was one thing, but eating soup with his left hand was another. He awkwardly fished out a dumpling and brought the spoon to his mouth. He slurped up the dough ball but dribbled broth onto his clean sling. Adam smacked the spoon back on the table, receiving a glare from Anna. Mariah jumped and gawked at him. He snagged up his bread and shoved it into his mouth. How was a man supposed to get his strength back when he couldn’t eat?
    Anna slapped her spoon on the table, making Mariah jump again. “Really, Adam. Stop being such a baby.” His sister took his napkin and covered his chest and the sling with it, making him a bib. Embarrassed, he darted a glance at Mariah, who was studying her soup.
    Leyna tsked and snatched up his bowl, carrying it into the kitchen.
    Great! He wasn’t ready to call it quits, just because he’d bobbled his first spoonful.
    Mariah stared at her food then ladled a spoon of soup like a queen and took a bite with feminine finesse. Had he stooped so low that he was jealous of a woman eating soup?
    Leyna marched back into the room, carrying a large, steaming mug. She set it in front of him, smiling. “I fix it so you can eat my knoephle.”
    He picked up the mug and took a sip then held it up as a thank-you to his cook. Suddenly, shame and embarrassment flooded him as he considered the spectacle he’d just made.
    Yep, he was definitely right. This was no time to be having company.
    This was going to be a long week.

seven
    Anna stormed into the parlor and flopped into a chair. “I can’t believe how grouchy Adam is. He’s never liked being sick, but he’s much grumpier this time.”
    Mariah laid aside the book she’d been reading. “Maybe it’s because he’s not actually sick and thinks he should be out laboring with the other men.” Or perhaps he didn’t like having a stranger witness his difficulties like at lunch.
    Anna leaned her head back against the chair and stroked one of her braids. “You’re probably right. He keeps saying he should be doing something. He’s the hardest worker on the ranch but never seems to think he’s done enough. I don’t understand what drives him.”
    “Perhaps it’s simply a male thing. Most of the men I know are driven to work hard.”
Not Silas.
Even though he had a very nice job in his uncle’s publishing company, he much preferred socializing to working hard. Mariah shook her head. Silas was the last thing she wanted to be thinking about right now.
    “I have a yearling I need to be training, but someone has to watch over Adam and make sure he doesn’t do too much. I have the feeling if I don’t keep an eye on him, he’ll slip out back and chop wood or try to break a mustang or something else just as foolish.”
    “You work with the horses?” Mariah studied the woman, who was close to her in age. Anna’s thick, golden braids hung down clear to her waist. Her brown eyes were so dark that Mariah couldn’t make out her pupils, even from such close range. The girl had a gentle wildness about her, an unabashed freedom to be herself that Mariah envied.
    Suddenly, Anna leaned forward, eyes glistening. She snapped her fingers. “I know, you could watch over Adam. He won’t argue with you like he does me and Quinn.”
    Mariah blinked. “It wouldn’t be proper for me to um… enter a gentleman’s private quarters.”
    Anna brushed her hand through the air. “Oh, pshaw. Adam’s dressed. There’s no reason you can’t sit and talk with him.”
    Mariah considered how much she owed the McFarland family. Surely she could do this one thing—but she wouldn’t dare tell anyone back home about it. “All right. If it will help you, I’ll keep an eye on him.”
    “Oh, thank you.” Anna smiled and leaped to her feet. She hugged Mariah’s shoulders. “I’ve got a few hours before dinner, so I’m going out to the barn. If Adam gives you too much trouble, get Leyna, and tell her to bring her