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Authors: judy christenberry
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one.”
“You’re probably right. If I promise not to leave a trace from now on, will you forgive me?”
She puckered up again, and Brett began to feel trapped. He took her shoulders and moved her away from him. “It’s time to eat. I’ll see you downstairs.”
“But what about our sharing a room? I don’t want to sleep alone, Brett.”
“We’ll see,” he promised as he escaped through the door, leaving her staring after him. As well she might. He’d never been slow to hold her, touch her. Why now?
What was happening?
J AKE SURVEYED THE TABLE with satisfaction. They’d all decided to wait until Brett and the two women arrived to eat. Their first meal should be together.
They’d even invited B.J., Mildred and B.J.’s son, Toby, to eat with them. After all, Mildred had spent the entire day helping Red. It only seemed fair.
Conversation flowed around the table, and Jake watched the interchange. His smile gradually disappeared as he realized Sylvia seemed to be ignoring the women at the table. True, she’d been quite charming to him, and she was working hard at charming his brothers, but she seldom spoke to his sisters-in-law.
Even more troubling, she ignored Red and Mildred.
“Mr. Jake?” a little voice called, intruding on his thoughts.
He turned to the four-year-old he’d insisted sit beside him. “Yes, Toby? Need some more roast beef?”
The boy nodded, and Jake served him, then leaned over to cut the meat for him.
“I can do that,” B.J. insisted. She was sitting beside Toby.
“I’ve got it. Enjoy your meal.” After one swift glance, he avoided her warm smile.
“Brett tells me you’re a veterinarian,” Sylvia said with a small smile to B.J.
“Yes. We moved here around the first of the year.”
“It seems an unusual occupation for a woman. So—so dirty.” Sylvia shivered dramatically.
Jake stiffened, hoping B.J. didn’t take offense. He might avoid the woman himself, because for some unknown reason she made him uncomfortable, but her work was excellent.
“I happen to like animals,” B.J. said calmly, continuing to eat her meal. “Red, your roast is excellent. I hope you gave Mildred the recipe.”
“It’s not as good as that apple pie Mildred made for dessert,” Red said, smiling at Mildred.
“Wait a minute. How do you know it’s good since we haven’t had dessert yet?” Chad demanded.
“‘Cause I had an early sample, boy. Privilege of the cook.”
“I need more iced tea.”
Sylvia’s announcement stopped the good-natured teasing. Everyone turned to stare at her. She was looking pointedly at Red, whose cheeks flushed as he leapt to his feet.
“Sit down, Red,” Jake said, standing up. “You’ve more than done your share. I’ll fetch refills for everyone.”
Sylvia looked surprised. “Oh, I’m sorry. Does Red not serve at dinner? I just assumed…Please forgive me, Red.”
Jake looked at Brett, and his brother didn’t disappoint him.
“Red takes care of us, Sylvia, but he’s not a maid. He’s—he’s more like a mother,” Brett explained. He turned to grin at Red. “Except he doesn’t wear pearls like Beaver’s mom.”
Laughter removed the awkwardness.
“Well, I considered them, but I figured they’d get in the way of all the cookin’ I have to do to feed this bunch.”
“And we’re growing all the time,” Jake chimed in as he moved around the table, refilling iced-tea glasses. “We might even have to add on rooms if Brett and Sylvia are as eager to begin a family as you others.”
“Like you’re complaining,” Chad teased.
Jake grinned. Everyone knew he’d done some matchmaking so they’d have the next generation of Randalls underfoot.
“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Sylvia announced, silencing the laughter. “Brett and I won’t be living here on the ranch.”
Chapter Six
Anna watched Brett from under her lashes. She’d been right when she’d deduced that Sylvia had no intention of living at the ranch. Had
“You’re probably right. If I promise not to leave a trace from now on, will you forgive me?”
She puckered up again, and Brett began to feel trapped. He took her shoulders and moved her away from him. “It’s time to eat. I’ll see you downstairs.”
“But what about our sharing a room? I don’t want to sleep alone, Brett.”
“We’ll see,” he promised as he escaped through the door, leaving her staring after him. As well she might. He’d never been slow to hold her, touch her. Why now?
What was happening?
J AKE SURVEYED THE TABLE with satisfaction. They’d all decided to wait until Brett and the two women arrived to eat. Their first meal should be together.
They’d even invited B.J., Mildred and B.J.’s son, Toby, to eat with them. After all, Mildred had spent the entire day helping Red. It only seemed fair.
Conversation flowed around the table, and Jake watched the interchange. His smile gradually disappeared as he realized Sylvia seemed to be ignoring the women at the table. True, she’d been quite charming to him, and she was working hard at charming his brothers, but she seldom spoke to his sisters-in-law.
Even more troubling, she ignored Red and Mildred.
“Mr. Jake?” a little voice called, intruding on his thoughts.
He turned to the four-year-old he’d insisted sit beside him. “Yes, Toby? Need some more roast beef?”
The boy nodded, and Jake served him, then leaned over to cut the meat for him.
“I can do that,” B.J. insisted. She was sitting beside Toby.
“I’ve got it. Enjoy your meal.” After one swift glance, he avoided her warm smile.
“Brett tells me you’re a veterinarian,” Sylvia said with a small smile to B.J.
“Yes. We moved here around the first of the year.”
“It seems an unusual occupation for a woman. So—so dirty.” Sylvia shivered dramatically.
Jake stiffened, hoping B.J. didn’t take offense. He might avoid the woman himself, because for some unknown reason she made him uncomfortable, but her work was excellent.
“I happen to like animals,” B.J. said calmly, continuing to eat her meal. “Red, your roast is excellent. I hope you gave Mildred the recipe.”
“It’s not as good as that apple pie Mildred made for dessert,” Red said, smiling at Mildred.
“Wait a minute. How do you know it’s good since we haven’t had dessert yet?” Chad demanded.
“‘Cause I had an early sample, boy. Privilege of the cook.”
“I need more iced tea.”
Sylvia’s announcement stopped the good-natured teasing. Everyone turned to stare at her. She was looking pointedly at Red, whose cheeks flushed as he leapt to his feet.
“Sit down, Red,” Jake said, standing up. “You’ve more than done your share. I’ll fetch refills for everyone.”
Sylvia looked surprised. “Oh, I’m sorry. Does Red not serve at dinner? I just assumed…Please forgive me, Red.”
Jake looked at Brett, and his brother didn’t disappoint him.
“Red takes care of us, Sylvia, but he’s not a maid. He’s—he’s more like a mother,” Brett explained. He turned to grin at Red. “Except he doesn’t wear pearls like Beaver’s mom.”
Laughter removed the awkwardness.
“Well, I considered them, but I figured they’d get in the way of all the cookin’ I have to do to feed this bunch.”
“And we’re growing all the time,” Jake chimed in as he moved around the table, refilling iced-tea glasses. “We might even have to add on rooms if Brett and Sylvia are as eager to begin a family as you others.”
“Like you’re complaining,” Chad teased.
Jake grinned. Everyone knew he’d done some matchmaking so they’d have the next generation of Randalls underfoot.
“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Sylvia announced, silencing the laughter. “Brett and I won’t be living here on the ranch.”
Chapter Six
Anna watched Brett from under her lashes. She’d been right when she’d deduced that Sylvia had no intention of living at the ranch. Had
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