Stacey Kayne - Maverick Wild

“Well…no. But I don’t intend to wear out my welcome.”

“So,” said Duce, “if you was to take a shine—”

“I won’t marry.”

Chance admired the firmness in her tone, and had to refrain from kicking his temporary foreman.

“I don’t intend any insult,” she said, clearly noting the glum expressions around the table, “I just…”

“She’s not interested,” Chance interjected. “And we won’t tolerate any pestering.” His gaze pinned every man at the table. “Duce, did you finish bringing in the mustangs on the north side?”

“Not by half. We spent our morning tearing down the last of the Lazy J dam.”

The rest of the conversation was a hum in Cora’s ears as Chance’s protective words played over in her mind. He’d been her strength for so long. Even as children, he’d taken the sting out of her mother’s endless insults.

Your mama’s stupid. I like your orange hair .

She stole another glance at him. Perhaps he hadn’t changed so much. The blond hair reaching his collar and flipping up around his ears was darker than she remembered, his strong masculine features far more handsome than she could have imagined. Could the Chance she’d known as a child be buried somewhere beneath that rugged exterior?

His gaze caught hers. Flutters erupted low in her belly.

His brow furrowed as he looked away. Anger darkened his eyes. “Salina said what? ”

Cora glanced at the shocked expressions around the table and realized there’d been a drastic shift in the conversation.

“That you’re courting her,” said Skylar. “Her words. And she was rude to Cora while making her announcement.”

Chance’s questioning gaze whipped toward her.

“It was nothing,” Cora quickly put in. “She was obviously staking her claim on you, which is none of my business or my concern.”

“Bu-shit!” Joshua slapped the tray of his high chair, capturing everyone’s attention. He shoved a soggy crust of bread back into his mouth and continued to babble incoherently.

Skylar glared across the table at Chance.

“Thanks a lot, partner,” he said to his nephew. “Mumble everything but the swear word.”

“Much like his uncle,” said Skylar.

Cora laughed into her napkin.

“You know,” said Mitch, “courting Widow Jameson ain’t a bad idea. You take over the Lazy J and maybe we can actually get some work done around here instead of just repairing the fencing.”

“I think I’d rather take my chances with Mad Mag,” said Duce, initiating a roar of laughter.

Cora leaned close to Garret. “Who’s Mad Mag?”

His hazel eye winked at her. “Crazy trapper woman who lives up on the mountain.”

Chance’s chair scuffed across the floor as he shoved away from the table. “Excuse me,” he said, tossing his napkin onto his plate. “I’ve lost my appetite.”

Cora couldn’t blame him. The thought of suffering through a forced marriage turned her stomach as well. At least Chance was aware of his situation and had his brute strength to fight off such unwanted advances.

She’d had neither the warning nor the strength.

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