Page 2 of The Hunted Wife

“That’s true. We’d have to clean it up before we hired anyone and since we can’t seem to do that, a wife, who can’t leave, is the most practical solution,” insisted Adam.

“Are we voting?” asked Frederick, as he flicked his golden brown hair from his eyes.

“No,” said Adam. “I’ve decided.”

“So, you’re going to find a wife. Have you forgotten your vow to never love another woman, after Cally?” asked Benjamin.

“I haven’t forgotten. I have no intention of falling in love. This will be a business arrangement. Nothing more. No feelings will be involved. We just get married and procreate, then go our separate ways until it’s time to procreate again.”

“I can’t believe you called it procreation,” said Daniel, who was now sitting at the table and refolding the t-shirts Gabriel had balled up. They ended up folded though not well, but at least they were flat and would fit in the drawers.

Adam rolled his eyes and shook his head. “We can’t even fold laundry correctly. We can’t cook. Do you know we had beans for dinner four nights in a row? We have to do something and a wife is the way to go. I’ll go to town and find one.”

“You figure you’ll just be able to find a woman who will marry you, one who is single and wants to have children—with you?”

“I’m not unattractive and my bank account is very attractive as is all of yours. I’ll be able to find a wife. Just watch me.

An hour later, Adam drove into town for supplies and groceries he hoped someone competent would eventually prepare.

Adam stood beside a cart so full as to being overloaded with food. He held a twenty-five pound sack of flour and a three pound can of coffee. He was currently calculating how many winters a reasonably sane man could go without a woman’s influence before going completely feral.

That was when she walked into him.

“Oh,” she gazed up, her deep emerald eyes wide. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

He looked down at her. Blonde hair. About five feet four inches in tennis shoes. Clean jeans, soft, pink sweater. She was pretty. “No harm done.” His pulse raced. She would be perfect. He had to make her his.

“You’re from the mountains aren’t you?” she asked.

He nodded. “The Seven Brothers Ranch.”

She cocked her head to one side. “I thought so. You smell of pine and hard work.”

Adam considered that for a moment and then grinned. “Accurate.”

She smiled.

And just like that his world was upended. She had a smile that lit up the entire store. This had to be a sign and in his mind he’d already decided he would ask her to marry him. “I’m Adam Sullivan.”

“Millie Watson.”

Did he detect a slight accent? “Are you married, Millie?”

She blinked and her brows furrowed. “Um. No.”

He smiled. “Would you like to be?”

Her eyes widened.

But she didn’t slap him and more importantly she didn’t laugh.

“I’m hoping to, someday. I’d like marriage and children,” she said slowly. “Eventually.”

Adam frowned. “Eventually is inefficient.”

She stared at him and then laughed. “You’re serious.”

“I am.”