Never Marry a Cowboy by Lorraine Heath

skimming along the nape of her neck.
    Smiling brightly, she swung her head around. “Thank you. I’ve never been so happy.”
    Steadfast and sure, his light blue gaze dropped to her lips. For one insane beat of her heart, she thought he might kiss her.
    Disappointment reeled through her as he shoved off the back of the horse, grabbed the reins, and led her toward the circle of admirers as though she were a princess just rescued from a dragon.

Chapter 4
    â€œI hope you’ll forgive me for barging in, but I couldn’t wait for Harry to come home from the saloon,” Jessye said as she held the portrait of Ashton’s niece, Mary Ellen. “Oh, look how she’s grown.”
    Sitting in Mrs. Gurney’s parlor, Ashton was surprised to see tears shimmering in Jessye’s eyes when she glanced up at David. “She’s quite the young lady, isn’t she?”
    â€œYes, she is,” David replied from where he stood beside the fireplace, one arm resting on the mantel. “She’ll be ten soon, but then, I suppose you know that.”
    Jessye nodded, smiling wistfully. “It’s just hard to believe.”
    â€œMadeline and I thought we’d bring the family down next summer,” David said.
    â€œThat’ll be wonderful. We’ll look forward to your visit. Now, I’d best get to the carriage so Harry and I can get our girls to bed.”
    â€œHe doesn’t have to avoid me just because he lied to me,” David said.
    Jessye angled her chin. “He’s not avoiding you. Getting in and out of the buggy causes him a great deal of pain so I told him to wait. But if you got something that needs to be said, you can say it to me.”
    David straightened and cleared his throat. “I find it strange that Harry didn’t know where I might find Kit this afternoon when I asked, and yet you all apparently spent the afternoon together.”
    â€œWe didn’t know for sure that Kit would be there,” Jessye said, smiling brightly. “A wise man wouldn’t even hint at the possibility that my husband lied.”
    David tilted his head in concession. “Now I know where Mary Ellen got her stubbornness.” He held up a wrapped parcel that Jessye had given him earlier. “I’ll see that she gets your gift.”
    â€œThank you.” Jessye crossed the room and hugged Ashton. “It was good to see you again. Take care of yourself.”
    Ashton watched her walk from the room. She had admired Jessye from the moment she first met her. She’d gone on an adventure, herding cattle with Kit and Harry four years before. To her shame, Ashton had even envied her. To have the courage and health to do anything she wanted.
    She looked up at David. “What did you mean when you said that you know where Mary Ellen gets her stubbornness?”
    David met her gaze. “She’s Mary Ellen’s mother.”
    Ashton felt her eyes widen. David’s revelation certainly explained the similarities she’d noticed earlier between Jessye and Mary Ellen. “How did all that come about?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s a long story. I’ll tell you everything on our journey back to Dallas.”
    â€œI always thought Jessye was a remarkable woman.”
    â€œSo she is, and you’ll find her even more remarkable once you’ve heard the story. I’m grateful she was there to watch over you this afternoon.”
    Ashton rolled her eyes. “David, I did not need a chaperone. Kit has no interest in me.”
    He raised a brow. “Kit? Before you left on the outing, he was Mr. Montgomery.”
    â€œSaying such a long name all day would have worn me out,” she snapped, losing patience with his protectiveness, even though she hadn’t had the courage to call Kit anything other than Mr. Montgomery. Calling him “Kit” seemed so intimate. It hadn’t bothered her when he was in Dallas, but that was