Free When Love Comes by Leigh Greenwood Page A

Despite the dusty streets, his shoes were freshly polished. What could Amanda see in this understuffed straw man?
    “I’ll leave Cactus Bend as soon as I complete my business.”
    “What kind of business can a man like you have here?”
    What about that scar said he was anything but an honest, upstanding citizen with the right to be treated the way every other citizen was treated? “I’m a cowhand, and this is cow country.”
    “You obviously don’t have any money of your own, and I don’t see anyone trusting you with more than your month’s wages. What can you do with that?”
    “Appearances can be deceiving,” he said. “After all, your clothes make you look like a popinjay.”
    From the blank expression on Corby’s face, it was obvious he didn’t know whether Broc had complimented or insulted him, but his look of irritation indicated he thought an insult was more likely.
    “Sandoval and Carruthers are the biggest cattlemen around here,” Corby said. “If your business isn’t with them, you don’t have any.”
    “Then I guess I’d better talk to them. Where can I find the gentlemen?”
    “They come to my saloon several times a week,” Corby stated with a touch of pride. “You can see them there if they’ll talk to you.”
    “Thanks for the information. I’ll let you get on your way. I don’t want to keep you from any important business.”
    Corby was still frowning when Broc walked away. Broc thought it must be hard worrying that every comment might carry a hidden insult. Once again he found himself wondering what Amanda could see in that man
    Amanda had little appetite for the meal before her. Her mother picked at her food as usual, but Eddie and Gary ate like field hands despite their mother’s efforts to instill proper table manners. Amanda had endured a difficult morning. It didn’t help that she’d gotten very little sleep the night before. It helped even less that her mother couldn’t stop talking about Broc’s visit. The easiest part of the morning had been spent in the saddle with Leo. They weren’t doing very well because they were short a cowhand, and they’d never had enough help in the first place.
    “A guy can’t work on a full stomach,” Gary said when he pushed back from the table. “So I might as well go to the saloon and get paid for a few extra hours.”
    “I have a remedy for that,” Amanda snapped. “Go without dinner.”
    “I’m surprised at you, Amanda,” her mother scolded. “Gary works hard.”
    “So do the rest of us,” Amanda pointed out, “but we’re not going into town to waste the rest of the afternoon.”
    “Gary told you he would get paid for the extra hours. You’re always telling me we need to watch our expenses because we don’t have enough money.”
    “Things wouldn’t be so tight if Gary worked more around here.”
    “You said we wouldn’t have any noticeable increase in our income until the calves were old enough to sell.”
    Her mother could always find a reason for Gary to do exactly what he wanted, but she never extended the same privilege to her or Eddie. “Andy can’t work with his injured shoulder. We need Gary to stay here all day so we won’t get any further behind.”
    “I don’t understand,” her mother said. “Your father told me cows take care of themselves. We only have to sell them when they’re big enough.”
    Amanda was relieved when a knock on the front door prevented her from having to explain to her mother again that cows really didn’t take care of themselves.
    Eddie was off like a flash and back a moment later ahead of their unexpected guest. “It’s Corby.” He didn’t look any more pleased than Amanda at the interruption, but Gary welcomed Corby. Her mother’s face was unreadable, but Amanda knew her mother didn’t approve of Corby. Amanda wondered whether she disapproved more of the way he dressed or that he owned a saloon.
    “I came as soon as I heard,” he said. “I told the sheriff he