Read Online brides for brothers 03 - cowboy groom by judy christenberry - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: judy christenberry
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can’t leave them all thinking I’m moving to Casper.”
“I know you’d like it there, Brett, if only you’d—”
“No. That’s not going to happen, Sylvia.”
“Whatever you say, lover,” she said, uncommonly docile as she laid her head against his chest.
Brett stared across the room, confusion in his head. Finally he broke free from her. “I’m going downstairs.”
“But you’ll come back later? I want you so!”
He reached the door before she could grab him again and tried to leave with a noncommittal answer.
Sylvia had one last question, however. “I don’t even know where your bedroom is, Brett.”
It struck him as revealing that he didn’t want to tell her. That was stupid. “The second on the left in the other wing.”
Closing the door behind him, he headed down the hall to his bedroom. He needed to do a little thinking before he faced the others.
A N UNEASY SILENCE took over as everyone concentrated on dinner. Finally Chad asked Jake a question about the branding, and others picked up the strand of conversation. Anna, however, said nothing. All she could think about was the conversation taking place upstairs.
After the apple pie had been served, without the appearance of Brett and Sylvia, Megan and Janie offered to clean up. They were immediately joined by B.J. and Anna.
Once the kitchen was cleared of guests and family, Janie turned a triumphant face to the other three. “See? Already we’ve won! I bet Brett takes her back to Casper tomorrow.”
“Do you think so?” B.J. asked in surprise.
“Yes! We didn’t think they’d be compatible. Anna had the idea of asking her to come here so Brett would discover it for himself, and it worked. You’re brilliant, Anna!”
Anna didn’t feel too brilliant. She found herself wanting Brett happy, even if it meant he married Sylvia. He deserved happiness. And it wasn’t as if Brett’s decision affected her, she hastily reminded herself.
“Anna?” Megan questioned, watching her, “Is anything wrong?”
“No, of course not. I’m not sure—maybe they’ll work it out.”
“Could be,” B.J. contributed. “After all, you other two ladies went through some hard patches with Chad and Pete.”
“Surely you’re not hoping they’ll marry?” Janie demanded. “B.J., can’t you see she’s all wrong for us? I mean, look at the way she’s treated Red…and Mildred.”
Anna saw B.J.’s shoulders stiffen. Like the Randalls, B.J. protected her own, and she loved Mildred dearly. “I don’t like Sylvia, Janie, but Brett isn’t going to choose his bride based on my likes or yours.”
Anna carried a high stack of dishes to the sink. The sooner they finished the chore, the sooner she could retreat to her bedroom. She didn’t want to be involved in this discussion.
Megan began rinsing the plates, and Janie started putting away the leftover food. B.J. joined Anna in her job.
“I know he’s not going to choose his wife because of us, but you could see how upset he was.”
“She did apologize,” Anna murmured in spite of herself.
“Anna! You’re not supposed to be on her side.”
With a sigh, Megan turned from the sink. “I don’t like it, but Anna’s right. We shouldn’t be taking sides. This is Brett’s decision. But we’re not doing anything wrong, B.J. All we’re doing is trying to help Brett make an informed decision.”
B.J. nodded. “And if he still chooses to marry her, you’ll welcome her into the family?”
“Of course,” Megan said. Janie nodded, and Anna grabbed another plate.
Just as she turned toward the sink, Anna heard footsteps coming to the kitchen. The door opened, and Brett stood staring at them. “Where are the others? Is dinner over?”
“Yes, but we saved you some apple pie,” Megan assured him, smiling.
“Thanks, but, uh, Sylvia wants me to apologize for her. She didn’t realize how set I was on living here at the ranch. She’s agreed that we’ll start our married life
“I know you’d like it there, Brett, if only you’d—”
“No. That’s not going to happen, Sylvia.”
“Whatever you say, lover,” she said, uncommonly docile as she laid her head against his chest.
Brett stared across the room, confusion in his head. Finally he broke free from her. “I’m going downstairs.”
“But you’ll come back later? I want you so!”
He reached the door before she could grab him again and tried to leave with a noncommittal answer.
Sylvia had one last question, however. “I don’t even know where your bedroom is, Brett.”
It struck him as revealing that he didn’t want to tell her. That was stupid. “The second on the left in the other wing.”
Closing the door behind him, he headed down the hall to his bedroom. He needed to do a little thinking before he faced the others.
A N UNEASY SILENCE took over as everyone concentrated on dinner. Finally Chad asked Jake a question about the branding, and others picked up the strand of conversation. Anna, however, said nothing. All she could think about was the conversation taking place upstairs.
After the apple pie had been served, without the appearance of Brett and Sylvia, Megan and Janie offered to clean up. They were immediately joined by B.J. and Anna.
Once the kitchen was cleared of guests and family, Janie turned a triumphant face to the other three. “See? Already we’ve won! I bet Brett takes her back to Casper tomorrow.”
“Do you think so?” B.J. asked in surprise.
“Yes! We didn’t think they’d be compatible. Anna had the idea of asking her to come here so Brett would discover it for himself, and it worked. You’re brilliant, Anna!”
Anna didn’t feel too brilliant. She found herself wanting Brett happy, even if it meant he married Sylvia. He deserved happiness. And it wasn’t as if Brett’s decision affected her, she hastily reminded herself.
“Anna?” Megan questioned, watching her, “Is anything wrong?”
“No, of course not. I’m not sure—maybe they’ll work it out.”
“Could be,” B.J. contributed. “After all, you other two ladies went through some hard patches with Chad and Pete.”
“Surely you’re not hoping they’ll marry?” Janie demanded. “B.J., can’t you see she’s all wrong for us? I mean, look at the way she’s treated Red…and Mildred.”
Anna saw B.J.’s shoulders stiffen. Like the Randalls, B.J. protected her own, and she loved Mildred dearly. “I don’t like Sylvia, Janie, but Brett isn’t going to choose his bride based on my likes or yours.”
Anna carried a high stack of dishes to the sink. The sooner they finished the chore, the sooner she could retreat to her bedroom. She didn’t want to be involved in this discussion.
Megan began rinsing the plates, and Janie started putting away the leftover food. B.J. joined Anna in her job.
“I know he’s not going to choose his wife because of us, but you could see how upset he was.”
“She did apologize,” Anna murmured in spite of herself.
“Anna! You’re not supposed to be on her side.”
With a sigh, Megan turned from the sink. “I don’t like it, but Anna’s right. We shouldn’t be taking sides. This is Brett’s decision. But we’re not doing anything wrong, B.J. All we’re doing is trying to help Brett make an informed decision.”
B.J. nodded. “And if he still chooses to marry her, you’ll welcome her into the family?”
“Of course,” Megan said. Janie nodded, and Anna grabbed another plate.
Just as she turned toward the sink, Anna heard footsteps coming to the kitchen. The door opened, and Brett stood staring at them. “Where are the others? Is dinner over?”
“Yes, but we saved you some apple pie,” Megan assured him, smiling.
“Thanks, but, uh, Sylvia wants me to apologize for her. She didn’t realize how set I was on living here at the ranch. She’s agreed that we’ll start our married life
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