Page 44 of Falling for the Cowgirl
Even if marriage hadn’t been in her short-term plans with buying Steele’s land and raising sheep, she wouldn’t complain about starting a life with Jericho. Maybe they could eventually buy up more land. But until then, they could make use of the spread together.
Jericho pulled a neckerchief from his pocket and held it against his bloody nose. “You told me at the bog you didn’t want Ivy even courting, that she’s too young. Now you’re wanting to marry her off?”
“Ivy is too young,” Flynn said. Ivy started to protest, but he talked over her. “But you’re responsible, and you’ll keep her safe and out of trouble.”
“Reckon Flynn’s got a real good idea.” Wyatt held Flynn’s gaze as an unspoken message passed between them. “Best thing for you to do is accept blame for this here incident and do the right thing by Ivy and marry her.”
“I’d do the right thing by Ivy if I’d wronged her—”
“Taking off her clothes is wronging her.” Flynn pulled himself up as though he might take another swing at Jericho.
Ivy tensed. So Jericho didn’t want to marry her? Why didn’t that surprise her?
“You’ve sullied her reputation,” Wyatt said. “The least you can do is give her your name.”
“I can’t.” Jericho glanced at the door as if gauging how far he had to go before he could escape.
“You need to consider it,” Flynn insisted.
Jericho shook his head. “It’s not possible.”
Shards of disappointment pricked at Ivy’s heart. After sharing such a passionate kiss, why wouldn’t he consider marriage—if not now, then maybe down the road? But he was flat-out rejecting her. Same as always.
“I’m sorry.” Jericho didn’t look at her, but she had the feeling his words were more for her than Wyatt and Flynn. “It has nothing to do with Ivy. It’s me. I’m not planning to get married.”
“Well, that’s just fine with me.” Ivy had the sudden need to storm away, but she couldn’t go anywhere without first putting on her bodice. “I don’t wanna marry you either. Not now or anytime.”
“Hey there, Ivy.” Wyatt took off his hat and wiped the perspiration gathering on his forehead. His eyes were gentle and understanding but only made her heart pinch tighter. “We ain’t blind to the fact that you’ve been sweet on Jericho.”
“You might not be blind, but you sure do got your head stuck in a gopher hole if you think I’d consider marrying Jericho.” They could string her up and whup her hide, and she still wouldn’t admit to liking Jericho, not after he’d refused to consider marrying her.
Flynn’s lips pursed like he was chewing on chokecherries.
Wyatt spoke again before Flynn could. “Jericho can’t keep his eyes off you since he got back to town, and it’s clear he’s got a big hankering for you.”
The anger marching around inside her paused its steps. Was Wyatt right?
Jericho looped his thumbs through his belt buckle and stared at his boots.
He wasn’t denying Wyatt’s statement. But his face gavenothing away and was harder to read than bleeding ink on a wet letter. Was it possible he’d taken a liking to her? Why else would he kiss her?
Flynn cocked his head at Jericho. “If you’re half the man you used to be, you’d put a ring on Ivy’s finger today.”
Jericho readjusted the rag against his nose and met Flynn’s gaze.
Was he considering the option of marriage after all? If he said yes, she didn’t know how she’d say no, or if she’d even want to.
“What do you say?” Wyatt stood next to Flynn in the aisle, both imposing men who had protected and loved her for years, but whose care had been overbearing at times. Like now.
“Stop with the badgering.” She glared at her brothers.
“I’d do it if I could.” Jericho’s voice rose over hers.
Flynn studied Jericho’s face. “Then why won’t you?”
“Like I said before, I can’t.” When Jericho met her gaze, the apology in his eyes did nothing but regroup the pain and anger and send it rampaging back through her heart.
“Like I said before”—she fisted her hands on her hips—“I don’t wanna marry you. In fact, I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man alive.”
