Free Desperate by Sylvia McDaniel Page B

Zach wouldn’t be bad. She wouldn’t mind spending time in his arms, his lips moving over hers. And the marriage bed…just the thought sent warmth spiraling through her body and giddiness filling her stomach. If kissing were that nice, what would marriage be like?
    ***
    While Meg’s body plowed the garden and took care of the necessary physical chores, her mind fantasized about the dress shop she’d own someday and the clothes she’d design. Doing the spring planting gave her plenty of time to dream. The ideas that flitted through her mind gave her hope and strength and helped her get the arduous chores done.
    She would have a different future someday. Someday her dreams would be a reality. Someday .
    The sun was sinking ever closer to the horizon, and her body ached from the day’s labor. A cold wind blew from the north, a not-so-gentle reminder that winter was not finished.
    She stopped, giving the horse a rest and her arms and her back a break. Almost done, she was ready to change out of these dirty clothes and spend the night working on the never-ending pile of mending.
    She glanced off toward the south and saw a man riding in her direction. Squinting her eyes, she realized it was Deke. He’d come back, and her sisters would be falling all over each other in their haste to attach themselves to the handsome bounty hunter. She had to beat him to the house to stop the carnage and protect him from her wayward sisters.
    Why was he returning so soon? Did he have news of Papa’s killer? Anxious to learn the reason for his visit, she slapped the reins on the back of the horse, and the plow moved at a fast clip.
    Quickly, she finished the last row and took the till and the horse to the barn. As she walked to the house, Deke rode into the yard.
    Ruby threw open the door and danced out onto the porch. “Deke! You came back.”
    “Hello, Miss Ruby,” he said, his voice a low, deep drawl as he tipped his hat. “Annabelle. Meg.”
    Throwing his leg over his horse, he slid to the ground. “How are you?”
    Annabelle and Ruby were smiling at Deke like he was Santa Claus in the flesh.
    “We’re great,” Annabelle said, her voice a sultry mix of sweet Texas twang and southern comfort.
    Ruby twisted her hands behind her back, pushing her breasts out toward the man. “Perfect as sweet peaches and cool lemonade.”
    Meg resisted the urge to give them both a good swift kick in the skirt. They couldn’t have been more obvious with their eyes all dreamy, their voices dripping with honey, and their faces lit up like he was delivering presents. “Okay, ladies, why don’t we invite the gentleman into the house.”
    “Come in, Deke. We were just about to sit down to supper,” Ruby invited.
    “There are still a couple of pieces of buttermilk pie left that I fixed for dinner last night,” Annabelle promised, her smile gracing her face, her hazel eyes all warm and soft, like she would melt in a puddle at his feet.
    “Thanks, ladies, I’m famished.” He unstrapped his saddlebags, removed them from his horse, and carried them in his right hand.
    Ruby stood back and waited for him to reach her side, where she promptly threaded her arm through his. He looked down at her, startled.
    Oh, this was going to be an interesting night. One poor helpless man and two women chasing after him like they were cats in heat.
    Annabelle opened the door and frowned at Ruby.
    Meg followed them, shaking her head at her sisters’ antics. This poor man had no chance around these women. It was a wonder they didn’t smother him with their sultry looks and sweet as molasses voices.
    “Did you catch James Rivera, the man who hurt our Papa?” Annabelle asked no sooner than the door closed behind him.
    Deke smiled and sat his bags on the floor, letting his arm go limp. Ruby had to remove her hand. He opened the flap and pulled out several bundles of cash. Meg stared in disbelief as he raised and handed them to her.
    “Your papa’s part of the bounty.