Read Bushedwhacked Bride for Free Online Page A

Amazon. And the last thing she could afford to do was to alienate her one ally here. “No, no, of course not,” she hastily reassured Ma. “They’re wonderful boys, princes among men. It’s just that, well—I’ve no desire to marry at all. You see, I’m working on my dissertation—”
    Ma clucked to Jessica like a mother hen reassuring a nervous chick. “Now, honey. I know my boys gave you a bad scare. But they’re good boys at heart—just a mite frisky, you see.” Playfully, she elbowed Jessica. “And they’re handsome devils, ain’t they? Why, a good, up standing woman like you, you’ll tame ‘em all in no time.”
    “You must be joking.”
    “Now, honey, give it a chance. Like maybe a few weeks here. If one of my boys ain’t persuaded you to the altar by then—heck, I’ll have them escort you back to the Broken Butt.”
    “Oh, Lord,” groaned Jessica.
    “So do we get to court her, then?” asked Billy excitedly.
    Ma shook a finger. “Proper like! Which means you and these other heathens had best put some starch in your shirts and a shine on your boots, and go fetch the lady here some candy and flowers. And while you’re at it, wash all the filth out of your mouths.”
    The four younger men hooted and howled their victory, pounding one another across the shoulders.
    “Yes, ma’am,” agreed a jubilant Billy. “We’ll spark her good and proper.”
    Jessica was left reeling. “Mrs. Reklaw, please. I can’t do this.”
    “Sure you can, honey,” Ma replied with a finality that made Jessica’s stomach sink.
    As the younger men grinned at one another, Gabe turned to Cole. “How ‘bout you, big brother? You gonna compete?”
    Cole sneered at Jessica. “When I want a lady, I don’t play games.”
    His words brought a chill to Jessica’s spine and a hot bloom to her cheeks. How she’d love to throttle the beast!
    “Yippee!” cried Gabe. “Now there’s more of her to go around.”
    As Gabe’s brothers guffawed, Ma charged forward and boxed his ears. “What do you mean, more of her to go around?”
    Gabe cowered. “Ma, I just meant—”
    “I know what you meant, you bangtailed weasel, and I’m warning you for the last time to mind your manners. Now all of you boys get out of here and go do your chores, while I show the lady the house.”
    The boys rushed off, while Cole stood his ground and continued to glower at the women. Leading Jessica away, Ma jerked a thumb back toward her eldest son. “Don’t mind him, honey. He’s the strong, silent type.”
    “I’ve noticed,” Jessica replied ruefully.
    Ma wrapped an arm around Jessica’s waist. “Come on in, and we’ll git you settled. What did you say your name was?”
    “Jessica Garrett.”
    Ma clucked again. “Well, Miss Jessie, my land, are you dusty. What them boys do to you, anyhow? Drag you through the dirt?”
    “Something like that.”
    “I’ll thrash ‘em till they squeal. How ‘bout we fix you up with a nice hot bath?”
    “Yes, that sounds good. But I really can’t stay.”
    “Now, honey, don’t say that. A nice hot bath and some home-cooked vittles, and you’ll be warming up to the idea of sticking ‘round these parts for a spell.”
    “Well, maybe . . .”
    On the front porch, Ma paused to regard Jessica wist fully. “Law, you’re a beauteous ‘un. We’ll put a shine on that curly auburn hair, and some pink in them dainty cheeks.” To Jessica’s astonishment, the woman sniffed and even wiped away a tear with her sleeve. “I’m so glad you’re here. Been right lonesome for me. You see, I ain’t never had me no daughter to rear. Only five boys, and all of ‘em wilder than the devil’s tail. Hell, I can’t wait to sew you up some frilly new duds.”
    Jessica started to protest, but found she didn’t have the heart to. Much as she bristled at her current bizarre plight, she couldn’t help feeling touched by the woman’s obvious emotion and sincerity. “How kind of you,” she murmured.
    As