Free The Rancher's Bride by Stella Bagwell Page B

spiteof her dusty clothes and boots, sank wearily onto the bed. “Losing a spouse would be more than sad.”
    “I wonder why he’s never married again? I’m sure there’re plenty of women out there who’d jump at the chance to be his wife.”
    Rose shot her sister an annoyed look. “What makes you say that? You don’t even know the man.”
    “I’ve seen him around before. He’s quite a man.”
    “You know that just by looking at him?” Rose asked dryly.
    “I talked to the man once when he was visiting Daddy. He’s mighty easy on the eyes and he has one of those drawls that give you goose bumps on the inside.”
    So Rose wasn’t by herself when it came to being affected by Harlan Hamilton’s charms, she thought. “So why didn’t you flirt with him? He might have decided to change his single status.”
    Chloe’s mouth fell open. “Rose! I can’t believe you said that to me!”
    Rose couldn’t believe it, either. But she hadn’t been herself these past two days. Maybe the drought and heat and work had all finally gotten to her. She had to think that’s all it was.
    Lying back against the pillows, Rose closed her eyes. “Why? You just said the man was very attractive. And you’re young and beautiful and single.”
    Groaning, Chloe sat down on the edge of the bed. “My horses don’t allow me any time for romance. And even if I wasn’t busy with them, I’m not so sure I could get interested in any man. Not after the things Daddy did to mother and us. Anyway,” she added with a dismissive wave of her hand, “Mr. Hamilton is probably ten years my senior.”
    Rose opened her eyes. “I told Harlan about Daddy and the twins.”
    For a second time Chloe’s jaw dropped with shock. “You told him! All of it?”
    Rose nodded. “I felt we owed it to him. He lent Daddy all that money. And you and I both know what he did with it. Every cent was given to Belinda Waller.”
    “That’s true enough,” Chloe agreed with a grimace. “But I can’t imagine you sharing such a private thing with Harlan Hamilton.”
    “Whether we like it or not, the man is a part of our lives now, Chloe. At least until we’re able to pay him back. But aside from all that, his daughter Emily is going to be coming over here to the ranch from time to time. She needed to know and understand how the twins came to be here with us.”
    Chloe’s brows shot up. “His daughter is going to be coming here? Why?”
    “She plans on helping me with whatever I need to get done.”
    “You can’t pay her!”
    A wan little smile curved Rose’s lips. “She doesn’t want pay. She wants companionship. I hope you’ll be nice to her.”
    Chloe appeared properly offended by her sister’s remark. “I’m nice to everyone.”
    Rose gave her younger sister a skeptical glance.
    “Okay, almost everyone,” Chloe conceded, then pressed her hand over Rose’s. “It’s getting late and you look beat. Would you like me to run you a bath?”
    “I don’t know that I have enough strength for a bath. I think I’ll do well just to get these clothes off.”
    “Oh Rose,” Chloe scolded, “you can’t keep this up. You can’t do the work of five or six men. It’s killing you!”
    Rose gave her sister a weary, lopsided smile. “Look who’s talking.”
    Chloe shook her head. “My work is confined to the stable. You’re trying to oversee thousands of acres!”
    “And you’re trying to help Aunt Kitty with the twins. Believe me, Chloe, it all equals out. Besides, today was out of the ordinary.”
    “Yeah, thanks to Mr. Hamilton.” She got up from the bed and reached for Rose’s boots. As she tugged them off she said, “I hope this keeps the man satisfied for a while. But I’m afraid he’s eventually going to want more from us Murdocks than just water for his cattle.”
    Rose sighed and wiggled her bare toes. “If he does, we’ll just have to try to give it to him. I don’t know what else we could do.”
    Chloe snorted. “I’ll tell you