Free Forever and Always by Leigh Greenwood Page B

we can.”
    Logan watched the children head off, all three talking at once. Why had he never known children could be like that? He would have given anything to have had two or three of his own. Why was he learning everything when it was too late?
    * * *
    The next morning, Logan stared at his saddled horse and cursed himself for a fool. Why had he offered to help Sibyl? She was related to half the people in Cactus Corner. Any one of a dozen people could probably do everything he could. The dog rose from where he’d been resting at the edge of Logan’s camp. He’d come a little closer each day.
    â€œYou’ve had a rotten turn of luck, too,” Logan said to the dog. “What do you think I should do?”
    The dog whined softly.
    â€œTell me to unsaddle the horse, take my rifle, and go hunting.”
    The dog inched closer, then paused.
    â€œYou’re no help. Some bastard practically beat you to death, and you’re willing to trust me because I feed you. You’re as foolish as I am.”
    Logan had argued with himself ever since he got back to his camp. He had as many reasons to stay away from Sibyl as he had to help her. He didn’t really know anything about her, but he found himself attracted to her. She was a lovely woman. Beautiful in fact. Any man would be attracted to her. She was a young widow with a small daughter to provide for and a business she knew nothing about. Everything about her situation was bound to arouse the protective instincts of any man. He wouldn’t be surprised if, before the end of the week, half the men in Cactus Corner had offered to help her. The fact that she was a rich and beautiful widow was guaranteed to bring her to the attention of men—some handsome and charming—who would try to take advantage of her. Was that why he offered to help, to protect her? She had family to do that. She didn’t need some stranger who would live for only a few more months.
    He felt a genuine desire to help, but was that all? Last night he’d dreamed of her. And there was nothing altruistic about those dreams. If he hadn’t already felt so rotten, he’d feel embarrassed. How could he say he had a selfless desire to help, that nothing more than that had prompted his offer, when he had erotic dreams? He’d never dreamed about Bridgette like that. He wasn’t sure he’d ever dreamed about Bridgette at all.
    â€œIt’s a rotten piece of luck,” he said to the dog. “I finally meet a woman who makes me have dreams I’d be embarrassed to share with anyone, and I’m a dead man walking. You ever met a female who made you dream like that?” Logan struck his forehead with the base of his palm. “What the hell’s wrong with me? Not only am I asking a dog for advice, I’m asking him about his dreams. If I were back in Chicago, they’d lock me away in an asylum for the permanently insane.”
    The dog whined and crept closer.
    â€œIf you had any idea what I’ve been saying, you’d turn tail and head for the woods. I must be crazy. Whatever has made my face look like it’s about to bust must have invaded my brain. Maybe I’ll soon be running through the woods barking like you.” He laughed, then sobered. “Only you don’t bark. Are you afraid that man will find you? I ought to be hiding, too, yet I’m going into town to teach Sibyl Spencer how to run her bank. After that…well, we know what comes after that. You’d better look around for someone else to feed you. Maybe that boy who came by a few days ago. He seems like the kind of young man who’d take real good care of a dog like you. You think about it. You can’t depend on me forever.”
    The dog’s eyes never left Logan.
    â€œIf you insist on staying, you can crawl inside the tent. It gets right hot in the afternoon.”
    With a sigh signifying the acceptance of the inevitable, Logan mounted