An Improper Proposal by Spencer Davalynn

Author:Spencer, Davalynn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: storyDspencer
Published: 2017-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

The hail had beaten through a few old shingles on the barn, but they could wait until Cade knew all the stock was healthy. He rode out with his Winchester the next day to check on the horses, make sure none had spooked and broken a leg in a badger hole or been hit by lightning. He didn’t care to put one down, but he wouldn’t let an injured animal suffer either.

Deacon followed the fence lines out, starting with the north end. The storm had driven in from the northwest, but that wouldn’t keep MacGrath from claiming the herd busted through the fence and onto his land while one of his boys with an extra cinch ring ran brands on a few calves.

If it was MacGrath.

Cade couldn’t accuse him outright, not after what Deacon found at Reiker’s. But he hadn’t heard of any MacGrath cattle gone missing. Peculiar coincidence, since Cade had lost a dozen by his last count.

He topped a knoll and found the band of horses grazing in their meadow as if nothing had happened the night before. He leaned on his saddle horn and counted heads. Watched the herd’s movements, his eyes sharp for a limp or stumble. Satisfied they’d fared well in the storm, he turned toward home and circled around to the ponderosa.

It called to him of late, as if reminding him he needed to get his footing when it came to being part of a family. He pulled up near the crosses, but Blue’s low growl turned his attention to the ranch buildings below.

A horse and rider crossed the yard at a slow walk and pulled up by the garden where Mae Ann worked. She clearly didn’t hear the approach, for she stayed low, facing away from the dark horse and its heavy rider.

Blue growled again. His ears pricked toward the scene, his scruff stiff as a porcupine’s. Cade reacted in kind. His neck crawled and a growl rolled through his chest. The man who sat watching Mae Ann had no reason to ride onto Parker land. No peaceable reason.

Cade drew his rifle from the scabbard, turned Cricket down the hill, and skirted the barn. He’d not let the rider know he was coming. His kind needed no warning—only watching.

~

The softened earth let loose its hold, and Mae Ann pulled the weed with little effort. The chore was much easier after yesterday’s storm, but her boots much worse off. The mud stuck like plaster and caked up on the heels until the weight of them sent her to find a stick to scrape off the excess.

She squatted unladylike in the garden, not willing to touch her knees to the wet earth. Cade was trying to sneak up on her, and she probably shouldn’t let him catch her in this position. Her mother would have a fit to see her now, bless her soul. If only she could.

Cricket’s steps were slow, plodding heavily as he approached from behind. Did Cade really think she wouldn’t

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