Read Silver River Romeo (Western Cowboy Romance) (Rancher Romance Series #1) for Free Online Page B

in.
     
                  While he mused, Marshall had ushered Emma into the farmhouse and given Cole a quizzical look.
     
                  “I’m coming,” Cole said quickly, stepping into the house just as Marshall moved to let go of the door.
     
                  “How are you, Emma?” Marshall asked.
     
                  “Overwhelmed,” Emma admitted after a brief inner struggle. “I’ve figured some things out this week, but...” she took a deep breath and sat down in the chair Cole pulled out for her. “I’ve got some stock coming in tomorrow and I could really use some help figuring out the routine. I’m not sure what the best way is to do things.”
     
                  “We’d be happy to come out and show you,” Marshall said. “When do you think it’ll arrive?”
     
                  “They said around noon,” Emma said. “Really? You don’t mind helping?”
     
                  “Not at all,” Marshall assured her. “We’ll get there a little bit before noon then. We could also help you with hay, if you need us to.”
     
                  “Hay?” Emma asked blankly.
                  Cole couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. He wasn’t laughing at her. It was just so close to what he’d been wondering about that it surprised him into smiling. Emma clearly didn’t find it so amusing.
     
                  “I’m sorry,” she said icily. “I’m afraid I’m not quite as brilliant a rancher as you are.”
     
                  “Take it easy,” Marshall said, placating her. “I know Cole wasn’t trying to make you feel bad.”
     
                  Cole sighed. Now his big brother was trying to smooth things over for him. It was nice, but it wasn’t exactly going to help his image.
     
                  “Anyway,” Marshall said, trying to keep his tone calm and civil and his face perfectly straight so she wouldn’t think he was mocking her. “You need to get that hay cut and baled so you have food for the animals in the winter. You can sell it, too. You probably won’t need much because you don’t have a lot of stock.”
     
                  Emma nodded slowly; her cheeks red with embarrassment that she hadn’t thought about the hay. The truth was, she hadn't even been over every acre of the land she now owned. She’d only been in for a week and there was so much settling into the house to be done! She wasn’t about to tell Cole McKenna that though. He probably already thought that the woman’s place was the home. She took a quick breath and made her voice steady as she said, “So, it’s settled then. I’ll see you all tomorrow around lunchtime.”
     
                  “Do you want to stay and have some supper with us?” Marshall offered. “We’d be happy to have you.”
     
                  “No, thanks,” she answered, feeling a little flustered at the invitation. “I’ve got something cooking at home, I just...I just...”
     
                  “Maybe next time,” Cole offered.
     
                  When his dark eyes met hers, Emma felt a jolt in her stomach. It was so strong that it propelled her out of the kitchen chair.
     
                  “Maybe,” she said, trying not to stutter. “Maybe I will. I’ve got to go now though, so goodbye.”
     
                  She hurried toward the front door and then turned around. Leaning her head back into the kitchen she said, “And thanks again.” She didn’t give them time to answer before she practically ran out the front door again.
     
                  “You interested in her?” Cole demanded once the door slammed behind her.
     
                  “What?” Marshall asked in surprise as he opened a few cans of beef stew and dumped them into