Free Texas Bride by Carol Finch Page A

attached to him. The simple, undeniable fact was that she was attracted to him, fascinated with him, no matter how much she wished otherwise.
    Maddie sighed heavily and shifted restlessly in the saddle. There was something to be said for having a pretend husband, she mused. You could lose one as quickly as you acquired one. It was a pity that Jonah was in more of a rush to get her off his hands than she was to part company from him. She was starting to like the man—a lot. It would have soothed her feminine pride considerably if Jonah felt the same way about her.
    No such luck, she mused dejectedly. At this very moment he was scouring the saloon, looking for someone to take her off his hands so he could hightail it out of town—pronto.

Chapter Five
     
    W ithout asking around, Jonah singled out Kiowa Boone at a single glance. The man looked to be three or four years younger than Jonah and exactly what he’d expected—a half-breed who offered his scouting services to the army, to freight companies and wagon trains. For a price, Kiowa Boone led the way through the frontier—and avoided confinement on the reservation. Boone was a kindred spirit with whom Jonah could easily identify.
    Boone glanced up from the table where he sat with his back to the wall—a technique Jonah always observed so he could see trouble coming before it pounced on him. Unspoken recognition and connection passed between Jonah and the scout, who tossed down his poker hand and came agilely to his feet.
    “You’re looking for me.” It wasn’t a question but rather a statement of fact.
    Jonah sized up the rugged-looking scout, who stood a few inches shorter than himself. Other than a difference in height, Jonah saw the same dark, angular features that he encountered when he looked in themirror. Two of a kind, he mused as a faint smile pursed his lips.
    “Got a problem,” Jonah declared.
    “Our kind usually do,” Boone remarked as he glanced around the gaming hall. “We have to deal with palefaces.”
    Jonah chuckled as he led the way to the door. It had been a while since he’d had the chance to associate with someone who understood what he felt. He liked the dark-eyed, raven-haired half-breed immediately.
    Pausing outside the gaming hall, Jonah gestured toward Maddie, who waited impatiently. “My wife,” he announced. Strange how that lie tumbled so easily from his lips these days.
    Boone’s brow shot up like exclamation marks as his appraising gaze bounced from Maddie to Jonah. “You, my brother, are one very lucky man.”
    Jonah didn’t bother to debate that issue. “She is heading west and I have to return to Coyote Springs. The name’s Jonah Danhill. I’m a Texas Ranger,” he added.
    The scout nodded pensively. “I considered that option myself, but I’d want a guarantee that I wouldn’t have to go up against one of my own kind.”
    “I asked for the same guarantee. My commander respects my wishes. I can make the necessary contacts if you’re interested.”
    “Might be,” he murmured as he stared appraisingly at Maddie.
    “What is taking so long?” Maddie asked as she gave Kiowa Boone a quick once-over. “He’ll suit me just fine. Now let’s go eat. I’m starved.”
    “Your woman has a sassy mouth.” Boone smiled wryly. “I like that in a woman.”
    “You wouldn’t if you had to deal with it repeatedly,” Jonah countered as Maddie stared irritably at him. “Regardless, I will pay you to escort her to the ranch located northwest of Yellow House Canyon.”
    The light evaporated from Boone’s dark eyes and his expression hardened. Jonah realized that the man experienced the same resentment that tormented him. “Not interested,” the scout said with absolute finality.
    Jonah nodded in understanding. “Figured you’d feel that way. Not that I blame you. I’ll find someone else,” he said as motioned to Maddie.
    After Jonah mounted his gelding, he met Boone’s penetrating stare, then reined away from the