Free Amon by Kit Morgan Page A

my own, I suppose.”
    “Oh, don’t be pert.”
    He looked past her to the door. “I don’t know yet. But I’m sure I’ll find out when the time comes.”
     
    * * *
     
    Amon rode toward the Triple-C at a slow canter. He figured he had to tell Colin and Harrison that he’d changed his mind and spoken with Nettie Whitman’s brother. Soon they’d see if they'd suit, and within weeks, perhaps even days, he could be married. A tiny spark of excitement ignited within him, overlaying his usual calm.
    The anger he’d experienced earlier was gone, as was the overwhelming need to protect her. Maybe it was because he wasn’t in her immediate vicinity, or because he knew her brother was perfectly capable of doing the job. And Clinton Moresy had been nowhere to be seen when he’d left the hotel. Clinton’s horse was gone, so Amon’s guess was he’d either ridden back to the men’s camp or scurried off to Mulligan’s for a whiskey or six.
    He didn’t care where Clinton was, only that he stayed away from Nettie. She looked like she wouldn’t know what to do if Clinton tried anything foolish, or worse. He had to consider the possibility, and what he would do if he got locked up in a jail cell for killing the reprobate. Thankfully, today hadn’t called for it. Tomorrow … was another matter.
    When he reached the Cookes’, Jefferson and his wife Edith were sitting on the porch swing of the main house, each with a cup of coffee in their hands. “Hello, Mr. Cooke,” Amon called as he rode up to the house’s hitching post. “Your boys wouldn’t happen to be around, would they?”
    “Nah, they went to check on the stock down by the creek. They’ll be back come suppertime. You’re welcome to wait with us if ya want.”
    “Speaking of which,” Edith said as she got up from the swing. “I’d best go help Belle and Sadie get it ready.” She turned to Amon. “Would you like some coffee?”
    Amon dismounted. “Thank you, ma’am, that’s very kind of you.”
    She nodded with a smile and went into the house.
    “So the boys tell me you’re not the marryin’ kind,” Jefferson said as Amon tethered his horse then stepped onto the porch.
    “That’s why I’m here, sir. Apparently I am.”
    Jefferson smiled and sat a little straighter on the swing. “Are ya, now? Well, don’t that beat all? Changed your mind about the little lady?”
    “Yes sir, I did. I’ve come to tell Colin and Harrison.”
    “It’ll make them mighty happy. Poor Sadie and Belle were beside themselves when they came home after the sewing circle yesterday. I don’t mind telling ya, you were their first pick.”
    Amon chuckled. “So I heard. It’s nice to know I made the top of the list, though I’m not sure what their requirements were for it.”
    Jefferson motioned Amon to sit next to him. “It all comes down to a few simple things, really,” he explained. “A man’s got to have good character, which of course means ya don’t go out drinkin’ and gamblin’ every night, that sort of thing. And he’s got to have a heart.”
    “How would your two daughters-in-law know about my heart? I might be the type to pull the wings off butterflies.”
    Jefferson laughed. “They know you by your actions, son. They’ve seen the care you put into building Honoria’s cradle, how you helped out with the hotel, the things you do for folks around town. Why, everybody knows ya’ve made things for the Whites and not charged them, and everybody respects you enough not to take advantage of your generosity. If they got the money to pay ya, they’re gonna.”
    Amon nodded slowly. “I just try to do what’s right, sir, that’s all.”
    “That goes a long way with this family. Why, look at Duncan – he took his new wife and traveled halfway across the world just to do the right thing. We sure do miss him, though, and Cozette too. Heck, I even miss Mr. Berg.”
    Amon smiled. “Oh yes, Mr. Berg. He was a presence, wasn’t he?”
    “At his size,