Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? Read Online Free

shows.”
    Seth grunted and shoveled a huge chunk of biscuit into his mouth. “It could be worse. We could’ve hired a camera crew for publicity. Just think, Riley. Eight women. All for you.”
    He’d rather deal with eight coyotes. At least then he’d know their endgame.
    “Cookie and Steve said they’d teach the women who don’t ride, and Linda said she’d help set everything up in the house,” Molly said. Their housekeeper nodded and placed the sausages on the table. Molly neatly speared one with her fork. “The other hands will have the same jobs as they do when the ranch has regular patrons.”
    “There’s too much to do around here.” Moving back home and away from his life as a forestry ranger was an easy decision, even knowing the hard work involved with running a ranch. He wasn’t going to abandon his family.
    “It’s not like the women will be lounging around and going on picnics. They’ll be working the ranch just like any of our normal guests,” Molly said. “And we can ask them their opinions on how to make the ranch more couples-friendly.”
    “Because you know nothing screams love like electric shears.” He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest to keep his annoyance in check. “So let me make sure I have this all straight. You’ve invited eight women to the ranch but no men.”
    “Right.”
    “To show me that the ranch is a great place to find romance or love.”
    “Yes.”
    “What about you, Mol? If you’re so in love with love, why aren’t you putting yourself out there instead? Maybe it will help you move on.”
    He’d meant the suggestion to be helpful, but regret hit him as soon as tears welled in her eyes and color drained from her face. Okay. One subject to stay far away from. He cleared his throat and ignored the heaviness taking over his chest. He was really stepping in it this morning. “So all I have to do is pick one to prove the market research on creating a singles ranch in the middle of Wyoming is correct.”
    “Not even that!” Molly interjected, wiping a quick hand across her face. “We’ll take care of the research. All you have to do is show up. But if you do fall in love, that would be great.”
    Like that would happen. After watching his dad trying to hold it together after their mom left, he wasn’t about to expose himself to a situation where he could have his heart crushed. “You can’t use me to determine the future of the ranch. Fences need mending, we have a mare about to foal, and some of the cabins need fixing. I can’t spend my time with women looking to hook up who won’t have enough horse sense to stay out of my way!”
    “Molly’ll handle the mare,” Seth said. “I can handle the fences and Jeannie can organize the cabins after school.”
    He fixed them with a hard stare. “How the hell did you put this together? And without me knowing?”
    “We didn’t want to give you a chance to back out. You’ve sacrificed so much to help us, Riley. You rarely leave the ranch, and I know it’s been lonely for you,” Molly said.
    Riley shoved a forkful of food in his mouth so he didn’t have to answer, especially not in front of his younger siblings. He’d lacked female companionship the past four months, sure. But his bed was the only thing that was lonely.
    Okay, so maybe that small ache in his chest meant he longed for someone who could make him feel the rush of love, someone who wanted to make him happy. Someone that made him feel that as long as they were together, he was home.
    It wasn’t ever going to happen.
    “Jeanne helped me create a web page about you and the ranch and the interest started flowing in,” Molly continued. “From those who inquired, we whittled it down, exchanged some emails and selected the eight we thought would best suit you.”
    “You said you were researching new additions for the ranch,” Riley said.
    “We were,” she countered. “We had to find the right women.”
    Riley rolled