Read Online Journey of the Bride by Mary Fox - Free Book Online Page B

going to word everything.
     
    After several silent moments, he looked up at his brother. He looked tired, haggard, older than he really was. He heaved a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging as he released it. “ Will your men be fine on their own? This is going to take some explaining. ”
     
    Brandon wanted to know what was going on. He felt like he was left out of the loop and some information that was vital to his well-being had not been explained to him. He glanced among the men grooming horses and readying for the day ’ s ride. They had cattle to move. In another week or so, they ’ d be looking at driving the cattle three towns away for a local auction, but for now they were still grazing upon the grass shoots coming up in the far fields.
     
    “ Luke, you ’ re in charge until I get back. ” A dark-skinned man with a grizzle face spat at the ground and gave Brandon a curt nod. It wasn ’ t the first time Brandon had left him in charge of the men. He ’ d proven himself the most trustworthy of the men, he knew cattle like he knew the back of his hand, and he listened to Brandon. The others listened to him. It was a good choice.
     
    His command heard and accepted, Brandon pulled off his hat and wiped his brow. “ Now, tell me what in all of Heaven ’ s creation is going on, Paul. ”
     
    “ Let ’ s go inside. I think a good cup of coffee is needed in such a situation. ” Brandon didn ’ t say anything. He just followed Paul inside the house, letting the door slam shut behind him. He wasn ’ t in the mood for any games, and he couldn ’ t shake the feeling he ’ d been played from the start, and by his brother no less. The feeling didn ’ t sit well in his stomach and he thought his last meal might rebel against him in retaliation for the thoughts running through his mind.
     
    As his brother bustled around the kitchen to start a pot of coffee, Brandon ’ s eyes never left him. It was an intimidation thing, he knew. He was trying to scare Paul into talking, but he also knew it wouldn ’ t work. It hadn ’ t worked on Paul growing up. It wouldn ’ t work on him now.
     
    “ Where do I begin? ” Paul asked as he sat down at the kitchen table with two steaming tin cups of coffee in hand. He sat one before Brandon who didn ’ t touch it. He continued to watch Paul and wait.
     
    “ How about at the beginning? ” Brandon snarled, impatient to know what was going on.
     
    Paul held up his hands in surrender. “ Alright. It ’ s just that it ’ s difficult to know who ’ s story to start with — mine or Courtney ’ s. ”
     
    When Brandon growled, Paul only responded with a purse of his lips. He continued to sit in silence, whether drawing the conversation out or attempting to annoy his younger brother more didn ’ t matter.
     
    “ You know why I put the ad in the newspaper. I told you my opinion. I thought you needed a good woman at home with you. One who could cook and clean and share your bed at night. I still think you need a good woman for such. ”
     
    “ Get to the point, Paul, ” Brandon snarled. He wouldn ’ t admit it aloud, but he wanted to know what all this had to do with Courtney getting married. The thought of his wiry woman getting married to another man lit a fire in his soul. Anger burned through his entire body, making him clench and unclench his fists. If Paul didn ’ t start speaking soon, he just might thrash him again.
     
    “ Courtney was the first one to answer the ad — the only one really because once I heard her story about why she was answering the ad in the first place, I didn ’ t wait for anymore replies. ”
     
    “ Talk faster, Paul. Explain. ” There was no denying the growl of frustration in his voice.
     
    A sigh filled the air around them and then Paul continued his explanation. “ Courtney ’ s family isn ’ t as well off as everyone suspects — at least, not at the moment. She suspects they ’ re being blackmailed. ”
     
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