A Cowboy Unmatched by Karen Witemeyer

supper before. In fact, it was one of the things he’d enjoyed most about his time with her. But something was off. She seemed withdrawn, distracted. She had yet to meet his eye, despite numerous attempts on his part to garner her attention. Was she distancing herself because she expected him to leave now that the roof was complete? Hadn’t he vowed to help her? Did she have so little trust in him?
    Neill gave an imperceptible shake of his head at the thoughts running through his head. Why should she trust him? Her husband married her to defy his father, and her father-in-law wanted to take away her child. The woman had no reason to trust men. Especially a man she’d known less than a week. She had no way of knowing that he intended to follow through on his rash promise to help her. For all she knew, he was just a big talker, full of wild schemes and good intentions with nothing to back them up.
    Well, he could at least put her mind to rest on that score.
    Tossing down his napkin, Neill cleared his throat. “Clara, I have a plan. I want you to come with me—”
    â€œYou need to leave, Neill,” she interrupted, her focus still locked on her plate. “Tonight. Before full dark sets in.”
    â€œWhat?” He couldn’t believe he’d heard her right.
    She finally raised her chin and looked at him, her face a stoic mask. “Leave. No good will come of you staying.”
    Neill leaned back in his chair, his focus intent on her face. Something was definitely off. Had their closeness this morning scared her? Dissolved the trust that had been growing between them? But even that made little sense. She’d gone out of her way to do his washing, to bring him refreshment during the day, to bake a fresh batch of his favorite biscuits, even when there were some left over from yesterday’s meal. It made no sense that she would go out of her way to be so kind if she truly wanted him gone. She could have just ordered him off her property this afternoon, when he told her he’d finished with the roof.
    â€œWhy tonight?” he queried, watching her closely. “Why not at first light?”
    Her mouth tightened for a brief second while at the same time, a slight crease marred her brow. At first he attributedit to frustration, but then she swiveled her head aside as if she feared he might have noticed the telling twitch. When she turned back, her face was as smooth and stoic as ever.
    â€œYour job is finished,” she said with matter-of-fact precision. “I appreciate all you’ve done, but it is time for you to go.”
    Neill crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not leaving. Not unless you come with me.” If she thought she could out-stubborn him, she had a lot to learn about Archer men.
    â€œYou’re not my protector, Neill. You’re just a hired hand who’s passing through. I’m not your problem.”
    â€œNo, you’re not.” Neill’s jaw twitched as he sat forward and did his best to glare some sense into her. “You’re my friend. And if you’ll let me, I’d like to be even more than that.” He softened his voice and reached for her hand. “I want to be a husband to you, Clara. A father to your babe.”
    â€œNo!” She snatched her hand away from him and jumped up from the table. She spun toward the stove, turning her back to him, but not before he caught the glimmer of tears in her eyes. In an instant, though, her steel returned, as if she had mentally poured molten metal down her spine and cooled it with icy reserve. Her shoulders straightened and her voice emerged without a single warble.
    â€œMarriage doesn’t solve problems. It creates more. I’ll not make the same mistake twice.”
    â€œNo, you’ll just make a different one.” Neill pushed up from the table so fast his chair tipped over and crashed to the floor. Clara flinched but made no move to turn around.