“The sun must have baked the man's brain.”

“Don't fall in love with me, Willow. I'm no good for you or any other woman. You and I...Well, let's just say we were never meant to be. I'm a tumbleweed; I go wherever the wings of change blow me. But above all else, I'm a man with a man's needs. And you, my dear, are a very beautiful and desirable woman." His hands cupped her shoulders firmly. "Help me, Willow. Run away. Run as fast as you can, because you deserve so much more than I have to offer.”

“As much as they loved each other, Willow and Gavin had seldom seen eye to eye on anything. And now was obviously no exception. Frustrated, Willow's tongue ran off with her good sense again. "Well," she taunted, "I may be ignorant 'bout some things, but unlike you, my brains are at least where they belond-in my noggin, not in my britches, Daddy!”

“He could visualize his carefully nurtured bad-man image flying right out Mrs. Brigham's parlor window.”

“Willow leaned forward and laid her head next to his on the pillow. "Is it too late to say I'm sorry, and that I love you more than anything else in this world?""Oh God,no,love." With his good arm, he reached for the back of her head and brought her lips to his. They kissed as if they'd never get enough of each other, because they knew they never would.When Rider finally released her mouth, he smiled rakishly and pulled her hand under the covers.Willow smiled when he laid her hand over his throbbing desire. "Hmmm, you are feeling better.""Almost well enough to start Mr. Happy on his baby-making lessons again," he said in a deep sexy baritone."Ah,Rider?""Yes,love?" He was pulling her down for another stirring kiss."About those lessons?""Hmmm, I'm anxious to start practicing again, too,love. But at the moment Mr. Happy is a lot stronger than the rest of me.""Oh,I know,but...Rider, Mr. Happy must have learned his lessons real fast."Rider stilled. "What do you mean?""I mean that I think Mr. Happy cooked something up in the kitchen."Forgetting his shoulder, Willow's husband sat straight up in bed. He winced, then asked, "You mean you're...going to have a baby?""Of course I'm going to have a baby, you beefwit. Did you think I was baking another damn pie?""Yahoooo!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, and hugged her with his good arm.Six men, Juan included, plus two women came pouring into the room."What in the hell is going on in here?" Owen grumbled in mock irritation.Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Rider announced, "Owen, your daughter is about to make me a father and give you a second grandchild.""Oh,hell, I knew that."Nine people echoed, "You did?""Hell, yes, all you gotta do is look at 'er face."Rider cocked his head and studied his wife's face. "She does have an extra glow about her, doesn't she?""She sure does." Owen chuckled. "Her mama got the same glow with all five of her babies.""If I'm glowing, it's because all of you are staring at me like I just grew horns," Willow said, covering her flushed cheeks with her hands."Dammit, I just thought of something," Owen said. "I s'pose this means I'll have to add another room to the house for when you come visiting.""Owen Vaughn," Miriam reprimanded, "stop that cursing. I swear every other word out of your mouth is a curse! I'm going to break you of that before your grandbabies get old enough to repeat that filth.""Break me of it?" Owen laughed and poked Nick in the ribs with his elbow. "Only one way for a woman to break a stallion, that's to ride 'im hard!" The man all guffawed loudly.Miriam's face turned ten shades of red. "Well,I never!" She turned on her heel and made an indignant exit.”

“I'm anxious for you to meet my new boarder," Miriam said as they headed down the street. "He's such a handsome, well-mannered young man. I think you would like each other."Willow stopped short. "Wait a minute . You aren't thinking of doing some matchmaking, are you? Criminey, all I need is another man to take care of. Listen, if I wanted a beau that bad, I could hook one easy all on my own.""Oh? Then why haven't you?""I just told you why. I don't need another man to do for. All a miner wants is a hard-working woman to slave for 'im while he chases dreams of gold and silver. Gamblers ain't much different, 'cept they're smoother talkers. They want a pretty mistress, one who don't mind working on her backside when her man's down on his luck."After a whole afternoon in Willow's company, Miriam was becoming shockproof. She merely raised a disapproving brow at this last statement. "I see your point, Willow, but has a real gentleman ever asked to court you?""I suppose that depends on your definition of a gentleman.""Humph! I thought as much." Miriam sashayed on down the boardwalk."You never did anwer my question," Willow reminded her, hurrying to catch up. "Are you matchmaking?""Oh,look, we're here at the ice-cream parlor already. What flavor are you going to have?”

“If you aren't in love, Willow Vaughn, then my name isn't Miriam Brigham."Willow started out of her daydreaming and glanced up from the laundry tub. Miriam stood before her with her fists planted on her hips. "Now, Miriam, I-""No sense denying it, young lady. You've got that dreamy dazed glow about you. Rider Sinclair isn't much better, the way he hangs around you,like a bee drawn to honey. He's always holding your hand or throwing his arm around you when he thinks I'm not looking.""Well,even if I were in love, it wouldn't change anything. I still don't want another man to look after, and I don't need one looking out for me either. I can take care of myself!""Course, you can!" Miriam agreed, picking the last sheet out of the rinse water and wringing it out. "Most women can. Look at me, I run a boarding house and support myself just fine. But let me tell you something. That lonely bed of mine is mighty cold on winter nights, even here in the territory."Willow blushed and concentrated on her hands where they rested on the edge of the tub."Willow," Miriam continued, "you've been managing your pa just fine since he got home. A husband isn't any more difficult to manage than a father, unless, of course, you're married to a no-good lout."Willow dried her hands on the wide white apron around her middle. "But, Miriam, if I don't marry, then I don't have to bother finagling a man to my way of doing things. Staying single makes a hell of a lot more sense!""Watch the cursing, young lady."Miriam slung the sheet over the line and returned to help Willow with the wash tub. They each grapped a handle and carried it a few feet before setting it down to rest their arms a moment."Willow, use your noggin, will you? Part of the fun of being a woman is wrapping some big, handsome hunk of a man around your little finger. You do have to use your good sense, though, and realize when you're wrong and he's right. Of course"-Miriam chuckled-"that won't be too often."And you have to be careful not to hurt a man's feelings overly much. Men are funny creatures. They seldom let their emotions show because they think it isn't manly. But you can tell when they're upset.They start pouting like a little boy.I've always thought that was rather curious.”