The Cowboy Who Came Calling by Linda Broday

Author:Linda Broday [Broday, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2017-11-29T05:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

Beware Greeks bearing gifts. Or strangers in this case.

Whoever said that must’ve known McClain, Glory decided. He’d no more than stepped through the door when he presented a bag of licorice to Patience.

“For me?” Squirt giggled, dancing in a circle.

Didn’t the dopey girl know how silly she acted? All the more reason for her and Hope to refuse should he try to give them gifts as well.

“Miss Hope, for you a silk ribbon for your hair.”

“Blue is my favorite color.” Hope betrayed her by reaching greedily for the adornment.

“Mrs. Day, I have something here.” He rummaged in the worn leather bag he carried.

Ruth put her hands up to her cheeks. “Oh my goodness, I feel like a young girl at Christmas.”

“And look just as pretty.” He pulled out a lovely tortoiseshell comb. “Something to help you stay that way.”

“Young man, I don’t quite know what to say.”

A mist blurred Glory’s vision worse than it already was. She didn’t know when she’d seen Mama so happy.

In fact, she couldn’t remember this much excitement in the Day household since Papa left. The miracle almost washed away the fact that McClain probably purchased the gifts with stolen money.

Still, she’d not accept anything for herself. He’d not sway her with mere tokens of friendship, even if he came by the money honestly. He seemed hell-bent on stealing what she worked her fingers to the bone to maintain.

She turned her back to the scene, anticipating her name any second. Just let him try to win her over with a present. He could hornswoggle the rest. Not her. She had her pride. Didn’t matter. What she so desired he’d never give.

The seconds ticked by and nothing.

Did he possibly think to slight her? She frowned. Only the most despicable, high-handed man would ask for her hand, then trample on the feelings he’d stirred.

A sharp sting pricked her dignity. He considered her less worthy than Mama and her sisters.

The grandfather clock on the mantel, the wedding portrait of her parents on the wall became mere specks. Darn this sudden wrenching in her breast anyway!

A light touch on her shoulder gave her a start.

The hand surely belonged to Luke, for only he could loose this flurry inside. She blinked several times, cursing the inability to see what he held. At last the item came into view.

A toothbrush. A real one.

Glory whirled. Every well-planned, scathing remark vanished, not the mere footprint of one remained in her head. She cradled the treasure with wonder.

“You hankered for one of these the first time I saw you in the emporium. I also recall how you had to bite your tongue to keep from giving those girls their comeuppance.” Quiet challenge lay beneath Luke’s words. He dared her to refuse something she so desired. If she could.

Moral indignation that had burned so hotly before deserted her. “I thought you didn’t notice me that day. You appeared quite taken with the…other patrons.” She gave the turmoil inside a stern shake.

“Oh, I noticed all right.”

In a

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