Free The Christmas Bride - A Western Romance Novella (Book 4, Burnett Brides Series) by Sylvia McDaniel Page A

casserole dish. “Here. I don’t think for a moment that you’re interested in me, but Eugenia told me to bring you this dish. She said you’d know what it meant.”
    He took the ceramic pan from her. “Thank you, Myrtle. Can I invite you in for a cup of tea or coffee?”
    “Oh no. I just wanted to do what Eugenia asked me and bring you the casserole.”
    Myrtle delivering a casserole dish meant Eugenia was back to finding him a woman. Someone she could handpick and make him unavailable. What if he gave her what she wanted? What if he asked Myrtle to help him?
    “Myrtle, I know the men and I will enjoy this very much. Thank you. But when Eugenia asks you how the meeting went, would you do me a favor? Would you tell her that you and I are having lunch Sunday after church? Don’t misunderstand me, you’re a lovely woman, but I think it’s time Eugenia needs to realize that what she’s doing could be hurtful to those of us who care about other people.”
    For a moment he thought he’d gone too far. She considered his words, and then she smiled.
    “Wyatt, you care about Eugenia, don’t you?”
    “Yes, and she refuses to admit she cares about me. I think she does, but she won’t let me close enough to know,” he admitted. “You would be helping me out.”
    She laughed. “Eugenia deserves this. She’s sent me out here twice, and both times I told her you weren’t interested in me.”
    Wyatt held his breath, hoping she’d help him.
    “I’d love to have lunch with you tomorrow, Wyatt. It will be our one and only special date.”
    He breathed a sigh of relief and felt his muscles relax. He was back in the game. He was back in the hunt. He smiled at her. “Thank you, Myrtle.”
    “Well, I better get back. After church tomorrow, I’ll walk out with you, and then we can have lunch together.
    Wyatt laughed. “Thanks, Myrtle, and my men really enjoyed your dish the last time. I’ll bring back the pan tomorrow and hand it to you directly.”
    She smiled. “See you tomorrow, Wyatt.”
    #
    Gus looked at the casserole dish that Wyatt sat in front of him that evening in the house.
    “Oh no, another casserole,” Gus said, throwing his hands up in the air. “Is this Eugenia’s?”
    Wyatt sighed. “No.”
    “Good God almighty, she’s still sending you women, and you’re still pining like a lily-livered sapsucker for her,” his ranch foreman said, gazing at him like he was the biggest fool this side of the Red River. Maybe he was.
    “No, I’m not,” Wyatt said.
    “Then why such a face?”
    “I have a plan.”
    “Another one. It’s not like the last four or five have worked. How is this one going to be different?” Gus asked, leaning back in his chair to look at Wyatt.
    “Myrtle has agreed to be my pretend date at lunch this Sunday at the café,” Wyatt said, not knowing if what he was doing would work or just drive a further wedge between him and Eugenia. Any chance of the two of them being together was running out of time. This was their last opportunity.
     
    “And Myrtle knows you’re just using her to get even with Eugenia?”
    “She agreed.”
    Gus shook his head and laughed. “I think I’ll go to the café on Sunday just so I can witness this touching scene.”
    Wyatt shrugged. “Show up. I have nothing to hide.”
    “When are you going to give up on this woman? If she wanted you, don’t you think the two of you would be finding a preacher man?”
    They weren’t ready for a preacher man. Not until Eugenia made the decision to come to him willing. She had to agree to let him court her before they could ever marry.
    “Sometimes things are complicated, Gus. I know she wants me. I’m certain she will come to love me.”
    But he wasn’t quite as certain as before. There was still this deep, burning passion that seemed to cloak and envelop them, but this was his last attempt. If this didn’t work, he was done.
    Gus shook his head. “What makes you so certain?”
    “Because when we