Free By the Book Bride: Ryder (A BBW Western Romance) (Matchmaking A Marriage 1) by Patricia Mason, Joann Baker Page B

family is my damn business. And if you wind up hurting my brother, there will be hell to pay. And don’t think for a moment I won’t collect.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.
    “Well,” Georgia thought, “who knew?” It was great to know that Ryder’s brothers had his back, but not so much that she was the object of all that protective fury. Anyway, it wasn’t likely that she was going to be the one doing any heartbreaking. Deciding she wouldn’t allow Gabe’s attitude to steal her joy from the day, she pulled the tray back in place and ate her breakfast.
 
    ˜**˜
    Ryder was putting a two-year-old through its paces when Gabe came striding back into the barn, whistling. Must have gotten laid last night, he thought to himself. After the board game had ended with Cal as the victor, Gabe had left the house and, as far as Ryder knew, hadn’t returned until this morning.
    “Must be nice,” he muttered out loud. Tension still raced through his body as he remembered the heavy petting session he and Georgia had engaged in last night. Tonight… he planned for tonight to go a whole lot differently.
    “How’s it going?” Gabe leaned against the white fence surrounding the training arena.
    “Almost done,” Ryder answered in a soft voice, not wanting to distract the horse. Knowing the progress he’d already made with the horse, a deep sense of satisfaction came over him. He really did love his job. Being part owner of the ranch allowed him some freedom which made what he did all the more appealing.
    “Cal still in the office?” He shuddered mentally. He’d hate to be the one stuck in the office for hours on end trying to make sense of all the numbers and reports. Poor Cal. He hadn’t wanted the job either but had been the obvious choice since he was a lot more controlled than his brothers.
    “Yeah.” Gabe swiped at a fly buzzing around his ear. “I think he likes that damned computer more than he likes us.”
    Ryder chuckled. “Not likely. Just yesterday I heard him talking about it like it could understand his threats to throw it out the window if it didn’t work properly.”
    “Machinery and women,” Gabe muttered, “two things you should use lightly and never take too seriously.” He straightened from his leaning position against the fence. “I’d better get to those other two-year-olds.”
    Ryder watched his brother walk away, the usual swagger missing from his step. Somehow he had the distinct impression that the words Gabe had uttered were meant as a warning to him. The older Anderson brother was a walking contradiction. He chased women like he could never get enough of them, but wouldn’t keep one around long enough know any more about her than her bra size. He shook his head, turning his attention back to the horse that was, for once, following instructions perfectly. If all continued to go well, he’d be done early. Which would give him more time with Georgia.
    ˜**˜
    Georgia stared at the food spread out on the blanket beneath the big River Birch at the end of the back yard. Even though Ryder had wanted to have the picnic on her bed, she’d insisted on getting outside. The walls were closing in on her. She’d said as much earlier to Pops so he’d set out on a mission to find a set of crutches that Ryder had used when he’d broken a leg in a high school playing football. After a short stint in the attic, he’d come back downstairs with cobwebs in his white hair and the much-needed crutches clutched triumphantly in hand.
    “This is a lot of food.”
    “I wasn’t sure what you liked.” Ryder held the crutches in one hand and eased her into a sitting position on the blanket with the other. Leaning the crutches against the base of the big tree that, thankfully, shielded them from the prying eyes of his family, he dropped down opposite her.
    Georgia stared at him, gauging his words. At first, she’d been afraid he’d provided so much food because of her