A Cowboy's Plan by Mary Sullivan

Author:Mary Sullivan
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Home On The Ranch
ISBN: 9780373783762
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-04-12T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

C.J. HAD TO DO SOMETHING. Most folks in town weren’t bad, but Janey seemed to attract the worst of them. Still, C.J. couldn’t let the narrow-minded few define his home, nor could he let them treat Janey so badly, no matter how itchy and unsettled she made him feel.

And he couldn’t let someone like old Harold Hardisty ruin her evening.

Just because she dressed weirdly didn’t mean she deserved this treatment.

“C.J., stop. Don’t get involved.” His father stepped up beside him, but instead of looking angry, he looked sad, regretful.

“Did you hear what Harold said to her?” C.J. asked.

His father nodded.

“Dad, you’re the minister here. What is our responsibility as good Christians. Huh?”

“With that tongue of hers, she can take care of herself.”

C.J. noticed that he’d dodged the question.

“She shouldn’t have to put up with this stuff just because she dresses differently.”

“Last thing you need is trouble.” Dad was right about that.

“I know, but still…”

“You’re so close.” C.J. understood what he meant, so close to the perfect life.

C.J. barked out a laugh that sounded bitter. “Am I, Dad? My son, my own flesh and blood, won’t talk to me. I don’t have a good mother to offer him. I might not even be able to save the ranch if I can’t win the rodeo or sell the store.”

He watched Janey cross the room to lean on the far wall, where she crossed her arms and slammed the sole of one foot against the wall, unladylike for a woman in a long velvet dress.

A nation unto herself. Alone. Separate.

He couldn’t leave her alone. Damned if he knew why. Maybe he was too decent.

Or maybe you want more from her.

In spite of his common sense, in spite of Janey’s crustacean-tough shell, despite her past history, C.J. knew he would help her.

“Dad, what some of the people of this town are doing is wrong.”

The Reverend hissed out a breath. “C.J.—”

“Dad, you should have seen her learning how to make candy. She was like a kid. She isn’t mean-spirited.”

As far as he could tell, her main problem was that she was overly defensive. Was there a crime against that?

“I’m introducing her to my friends.”

He searched the room for buddies who would hang out with her, who would appreciate the quirky woman she was.

Spotting a few of them in a corner of the room, he strode toward Janey and took her hand, pulling her away from the wall.

“Hey, what—”

“You’re meeting some of my friends.”

She surprised him by hanging back.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I don’t want to meet anyone. I’m going home.”

Her cheeks blazed sumac red. Her eyelids hid her eyes, but he thought he detected moisture at the corner of one of them.

He spun her around and stood in front of her, to hide her until she got herself together.

“I hate these people. All of them.” Her tone was caustic, but her fingers worried the soft fabric of her dress as though it was a lifeline to a better place. He’d noticed this about her—that when she was upset, she touched things.

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