Linda Ford by The Cowboy's Surprise Bride Page A

were going? They seemed like nice gentlemen.”
    “They were very polite but no doubt would expect to rule their home as well.”
    “I’m sure we could throw ourselves on their mercy.”
    Linette grabbed Cassie by the shoulders. “I don’t intend to beg any man to keep me.” She’d prove her worth to Eddie. She’d make him want her to stay. “Wherever I go, whatever happens, I will do my share. In return, I will expect freedom to make a few decisions on my own.”
    Cassie shook Linette’s hands off. “Mr. Gardiner told you he expects obedience.”
    “Surely a woman can please a man and still be allowed to express her opinion and choices.”
    Cassie rocked her head back and forth. “He could make life miserable for us.”
    “I pray it won’t be so.”
    “You were prepared to marry him.”
    “I thought I knew a bit about him from Margaret’s letters.” Now she wasn’t so sure. In fact, nothing seemed so simple anymore.
    Cassie plucked at her sleeve. “He could take advantage of us if he wants. Both of us. Look at how small this place is. We have no hope of escaping him.”
    Linette smiled. “The closeness is our protection. If you feel threatened, you only have to call out. But I think we have nothing to fear from him. Does he not strike you as a man of strong morals?” He seemed intent on doing things the right way. Just how far that went, they would no doubt see in the following weeks as they shared this tiny cabin.
    Eddie strode through the door with a length of lumber and a hammer in hand.
    Cassie watched with undisguised wariness as he fastened a shelf across one side of the room.
    “This should serve as a pantry for now.”
    “Thank you.” Linette truly appreciated his efforts. She hoped it meant he intended to make the best of the situation—a thought that buoyed her heart.
    Now that she’d finished the clean-up, Linette called Grady to her and washed him in preparation for the night. “Cassie, do you want to put Grady to bed?”
    Cassie jerked her gaze away from studying Eddie, relief filling her eyes. “I’ll lie down with him.” Linette understood she was grateful for escape from the close quarters.
    Linette soon had the shelf neatly organized with their kitchen supplies. Cassie and Grady were only a few steps away in the bedroom, but suddenly she was alone with Eddie. Neither of them spoke and the quietness crowded every corner of the room.
    “Tell me about Grady.”
    His question shattered the stillness and made her nerves twitch. Then she drew in a deep breath, grateful he had initiated conversation. “You mean besides the fact he is an orphan?”
    “He has a father, so technically he is not an orphan. No other relatives?”
    Was he hoping he could send the child away? “Apparently not.”
    “And what if the father changes his mind and wants him back?”
    “It would be wonderful if he did. I pray he will.”
    “In the meantime, you have his care, but who is his legal guardian?”
    “I am.”
    “By whose authority?”
    “His father signed the papers naming me such.”
    Eddie quirked an eyebrow, perhaps in disbelief. “It surprises me he cared enough to do so.”
    “He didn’t. I asked him to do it.”
    Both his eyebrows rose and Linette allowed herself a little smugness at having surprised him.
    “You seem to have thought this through.”
    “You might be surprised at how carefully I consider my choices.”
    His pause filled the air with quivering tension. “And yet you still do them.”
    She ignored the slight sarcasm.
    “Cassie has no family she could appeal to?”
    “What is this? Trying to find alternate arrangements for your guests?”
    He looked at her with annoyance. “No need to be rude. I’m only trying to learn as much as I can.”
    For a moment she silently challenged him. But he was right. The man deserved to be treated better. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. To answer your question, Cassie has no family she’s willing to admit to. I know she