I think maybe it would be better if we took turns on the lessons. Since I usually work with the beginners, I’ll take tomorrow with her. You can take over the next day.”
Although Mark’s comment seemed innocuous, Matt suspected there was more behind the words than appeared. He could see the sense of his brother’s suggestion. There was no way the two of them could be alone with Bridget and not start up the rivalry for her attentions again. They’d always been too competitive for their own good. By dividing the time, they’d kill two birds with one stone. They’d prevent World War III from erupting between them, while they each would have a few precious hours alone with Miss Carson to press their suits. “What about the third day?”
Mark shrugged. “I guess we let her choose her teacher for that day.”
“To the victor goes the spoils?”
“Something like that. Listen, Matt. Regardless of who she chooses, we have to agree not to let it come between us. I know we’re brothers, but we’re best friends too. I don’t want to lose you over a woman, no matter how great she is. Deal?”
Matt accepted his brother’s outstretched hand and shook it, adding just a touch of force to the squeeze. “Deal. May the best man win.”
Mark returned the pressure, adding to it. “Don’t worry. I will.”
Matt tightened his grip even more, before releasing his brother’s hand. “Going to be fun watching you fall on your ass.”
“Cocky ’til the end. Just remember I warned you. Race you to the barn?”
Matt had already set off at a run when he yelled the word “Go!”
Of course, Mark was too wise to him, and he’d taken off at exactly the same time. They both slapped their hands on the barn wall at the same second.
A tie. Matt couldn’t help but wonder who would come out ahead in their next race. It struck him that he liked the feel of the tie, of no one coming out ahead, of sharing the win with his brother.
Maybe a draw wasn’t such a bad thing.
Crap. What the fuck did that mean?
Chapter Four
Bridget had been surprised when Matt and Mark informed her they were taking turns with her riding lessons on her first day at the ranch. She’d been disappointed by the prospect of not getting to spend time with both of them, but she could hardly argue with their logic. Regardless of the wager, someone still had to run the ranch.
During her first day of riding lessons, she and Mark had begun a battle of cultures that carried over to her second day spent with Matt. While Bridget insisted there was nothing like a big city existence, Matt and Mark claimed the best way of life was found in the country. They continued to press their case with lots of little examples and, though it hurt her to admit, she could definitely see the appeal of their lifestyle. The first two days had flown by in a flurry of fun and laughter.
However, this morning, she’d woken up with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was her last day of lessons. Her excuse to see the twins would end this afternoon. She hadn’t expected that knowledge to depress her so much. The past few days had felt like a welcome respite from the endless, horrifying months since Lyle’s murder. She’d been able to close her eyes to the ugly terror that surrounded her at every turn and wallow in the warmth, humor and beauty of James Ranch. She wasn’t sure she’d ever been anywhere nicer in her life. It was going to be much harder to leave than she’d realized.
Unfortunately, time was not her friend and she had to go. She and Rodney hadn’t had much luck in tracking down the godmother Ellen, though if she was being truthful, Bridget could admit neither of them was trying very hard.
Rodney accompanied her to the ranch each day for her lessons, but once she was in the care of either Matt or Mark, he’d disappear into the house to visit with Jacob. She knew he was still watching over her, still anxious about her safety, but she suspected this break from
Although Mark’s comment seemed innocuous, Matt suspected there was more behind the words than appeared. He could see the sense of his brother’s suggestion. There was no way the two of them could be alone with Bridget and not start up the rivalry for her attentions again. They’d always been too competitive for their own good. By dividing the time, they’d kill two birds with one stone. They’d prevent World War III from erupting between them, while they each would have a few precious hours alone with Miss Carson to press their suits. “What about the third day?”
Mark shrugged. “I guess we let her choose her teacher for that day.”
“To the victor goes the spoils?”
“Something like that. Listen, Matt. Regardless of who she chooses, we have to agree not to let it come between us. I know we’re brothers, but we’re best friends too. I don’t want to lose you over a woman, no matter how great she is. Deal?”
Matt accepted his brother’s outstretched hand and shook it, adding just a touch of force to the squeeze. “Deal. May the best man win.”
Mark returned the pressure, adding to it. “Don’t worry. I will.”
Matt tightened his grip even more, before releasing his brother’s hand. “Going to be fun watching you fall on your ass.”
“Cocky ’til the end. Just remember I warned you. Race you to the barn?”
Matt had already set off at a run when he yelled the word “Go!”
Of course, Mark was too wise to him, and he’d taken off at exactly the same time. They both slapped their hands on the barn wall at the same second.
A tie. Matt couldn’t help but wonder who would come out ahead in their next race. It struck him that he liked the feel of the tie, of no one coming out ahead, of sharing the win with his brother.
Maybe a draw wasn’t such a bad thing.
Crap. What the fuck did that mean?
Chapter Four
Bridget had been surprised when Matt and Mark informed her they were taking turns with her riding lessons on her first day at the ranch. She’d been disappointed by the prospect of not getting to spend time with both of them, but she could hardly argue with their logic. Regardless of the wager, someone still had to run the ranch.
During her first day of riding lessons, she and Mark had begun a battle of cultures that carried over to her second day spent with Matt. While Bridget insisted there was nothing like a big city existence, Matt and Mark claimed the best way of life was found in the country. They continued to press their case with lots of little examples and, though it hurt her to admit, she could definitely see the appeal of their lifestyle. The first two days had flown by in a flurry of fun and laughter.
However, this morning, she’d woken up with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was her last day of lessons. Her excuse to see the twins would end this afternoon. She hadn’t expected that knowledge to depress her so much. The past few days had felt like a welcome respite from the endless, horrifying months since Lyle’s murder. She’d been able to close her eyes to the ugly terror that surrounded her at every turn and wallow in the warmth, humor and beauty of James Ranch. She wasn’t sure she’d ever been anywhere nicer in her life. It was going to be much harder to leave than she’d realized.
Unfortunately, time was not her friend and she had to go. She and Rodney hadn’t had much luck in tracking down the godmother Ellen, though if she was being truthful, Bridget could admit neither of them was trying very hard.
Rodney accompanied her to the ranch each day for her lessons, but once she was in the care of either Matt or Mark, he’d disappear into the house to visit with Jacob. She knew he was still watching over her, still anxious about her safety, but she suspected this break from
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