A Cowboy Unmatched by Karen Witemeyer Page A

“Do you honestly think you and your child have a better chance of escaping Mack on your own?” he demanded as came up behind her. “Or do you think so little of my character that you lump me into the same category as Matthew?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. I’ll not marry you. So go. You’ve done your good deed. You’ve made your offer. Now you can leave with a clean conscience.”
    â€œI already told you,” he gritted out, “I’m not leaving.” He cupped her shoulder and spun her around to face him, intending to get to the bottom of things once and for all, but the tears streaming down her face stopped him cold.
    She stretched her neck away from him, trying with all her might to hide her misery, but it was too late. He’d seen the truth.
    His hands immediately gentled on her shoulders. “I’m not leaving, Clara.” His voice hardened with resolve even as he snuggled her close to his chest and rubbed soothing circles over her back. “No matter what you say or do to push me away, I’m not leaving. So you might as well get used to the idea and quit fighting me.”
    â€œBut I’ll bring you nothing but trouble.” She struggled against his hold until she was able to tip her head back and meet his gaze. “It’s no good.”
    Neill smiled at her, then tenderly forced her head back down to his chest and covered it with his chin. “Oh, I don’t know,” he murmured, his tone husky. “I think it could be very good.”
    Again she pulled her head free and looked into his face. The stoic mask completely decimated now, her vulnerability became palpable. “I can’t agree to marry you, Neill. Not yet. I’ve only known you four days. It’s too soon.”
    He started to argue, but she shook her head at him. “Please. I know you are a good man. That’s not what I fear. I just don’t want to be forced into marriage again because of hardship. If I marry, I want it to be because we both truly want it, not out of a sense of fear on my part or duty on yours. Just give me some time. Please?”
    Neill peered into her face and swallowed his arguments. “All right. I’ll not pressure you about marriage. But I am going to take you home with me. Home to my brother’s ranch, where the Archers stand together. Where we can protect you and your child. We can leave at first light, and catch the train in Amarillo. My sister-in-law can help you with the birthing. Everything will be perfect. You’ll see.”
    Clara ducked her head against him, but she didn’t relax. No, her entire body tensed, and she curled forward over her belly.
    â€œNeill?” Her voice emerged through gritted teeth.
    â€œYeah?” He started rubbing her back again, his concern growing over her obvious discomfort. She was practically curling in on herself, the muscles across her midsection pulled tighter than the strings on his fiddle.
    â€œI don’t think your sister-in-law is going to help with this birthing.”
    Neill frowned. “Why not?”
    Before she could reply, the answer hit him like a log beam against his thick skull.
    â€œLand’s sake, Clara. You should have told me you were in labor!”

  Chapter 8  
    How long have you been having pains?” Neill scooped Clara into his arms and made for the other room. The crazy woman should be in bed, not feeding him supper.
    Clara pushed at his chest. “Leave me be, Neill. I have work to do.”
    He ignored her protest and kicked open the bedroom door with his foot. “The only work you need to be worrying about is bringing that baby into the world. I’ll take care of everything else. It won’t be the first time I’ve cleaned a kitchen.”
    He moved to lay her on the bed, only then realizing that she’d already stripped most of the bedding away. Evidence of an oilcloth covering the mattress peeked out from