Read Unconventional Series Collection for Free Online Page A

children would have a mother. He'd even gone so far
as to kiss her with a passion he didn't feel. He might as well have kissed a
fish. The thought of marrying Lola was worse than the idea of advertising for a
bride.
    His thoughts turned to Abby and he smiled when
he remembered the chicken poop incident. She was starting to grow on him. He
also liked the way she'd handled Luke; not overwhelming him, and saying just
the right thing.
    The fact that she was a teacher was also a plus
and one of the reasons he'd selected her over the others. Unlike some of his
neighbors, he was a strong believer in education. If Abby was the right mother
for his children, and if he could make a profit selling his herd next year,
then Ty would have the care he needed and he could hire a ranch hand. That way,
Jenny and Luke could go back to school.
    At one time, Luke had even talked about becoming
an attorney. God knows they needed honest ones. His neighbors, the Joneses, had
lost their home to the bank when they couldn't make their payments. If there'd
been an upstanding lawyer in town to fight the bank's out-of-town one, maybe
something could have been worked out or a loophole discovered that would have
bought the family more time.
    He stared at the moon . Molly, I miss you so
much. What do you think about Abby? Is she the one you want mothering our
children? A shooting star streaked across the sky.
    * * *
    Abigail smiled as she watched Jenny twirl in the
dress she'd altered to fit her by loosening the seams and sewing on a ruffle at
the bottom. The girl needed new dresses and already Abigail was planning on
using the remainder of the fabric from the dress she'd used for the ruffle to
make another dress for her. She even had some dresses with fabric suitable for
sewing shirts for males. She may not be much of a cook, but she could sew very
well. She wondered if Brant had money for more cloth. It would be fun helping
the children make selections for new clothing.
    "You're gonna be the prettiest girl at the
party," said Brant. He looked at Abigail and mouthed, "Thank
you."
    She felt her ever ready blush suffuse her face
and turned to Ty to straighten the shirt she'd sewn from one of her cotton
slips. She'd wanted to make something for Luke, but he'd ignored her hints.
Even now, he sat sulkily at the table reading his novel, but she'd seen him
glance up more than once.
    "Everyone ready?" asked Brant.
    Shouts of "Yes, yes," came from Jenny
and "Yeth, yeth," from Ty.
    Abigail joined the gaiety, "Yes!"
    Brant held the door open and Abigail appraised
him from lowered lashes. My, but he was a handsome man, and so young looking.
She really needed to ask him how old he was without embarrassing herself.
    "Doesn't Miz Abby look pretty?" Jenny
said as Abigail walked past him.
    He looked down and met Abigail's eyes. Ty,
holding her hand, reached to hug her legs, which made her pause. "Pretty
Mama." To cover the awkward moment, she reached and lifted the toddler
into her arms.
    Brant said softly, "Very pretty."
    Abigail hastened to the buckboard.
    Luke hopped onto the back of the wagon and Brant
lifted Jenny beside him before reaching to take Ty from Abigail's arms and hand
him over to his daughter. Abigail's heart pounded when he encircled her waist
with his strong hands and lifted her onto the front bench as if she were as
light as a feather. She'd lost weight since beginning her trek west, but she
was still a far cry from being a tiny woman. Images of petite and beautiful
Lola popped into her mind and she pushed them aside. Obviously, Brant had not
wanted to marry her. A smug smile lifted the corners of her mouth.
    Brant jumped onto the buckboard and laughed,
"Now, Miz Abby, what's that smile about?"
    Mortified, Abigail placed her hand over her
mouth, but couldn't make the smile go away. Looking at him with laughing eyes,
she said, "Something I can't share."
    He laughed and flicked the reins, sending
everyone into a backward sway.
    Abigail grabbed the edge of