Read Online Twice Promised (The Blue Willow Brides Book #2): A Novel by Maggie Brendan - Free Book Online

was just as well because he had no intention of talking about it further.
    How dare those two decide how he wanted things placed! Even now he felt hot under the collar. He was happy with things just as they were. He felt sure the rearranging had all been Greta’s idea. There was no need for that when he knew down to the last nail where supplies were. Zach . . . well . . . that was another thing. He could never find a thing without asking Jess of its whereabouts.
    He’d caught sight of the tops of Greta’s and Cora’s shiny heads beneath his window as they’d stood talking with Zach. Whatever was said, neither of them looked pleased. Then he watched as Greta strutted down the walk fast and furious when Zach went back inside. Good! He didn’t care if Greta was angry. It was his store. But he couldn’t help noticing the sway of her hips beneath her serviceable work dress and how proudly she held her shoulders. Her braids had all but fallen down her slender back. He wondered how they didn’t give her a headache when bound tightly against her scalp.
    Women! Who could begin to understand them? He wasn’t going to waste any more time contemplating them. Yet he’d continued to watch until she and Cora crossed over to Eureka Street, disappearing into the folks on their way home as the sun began to slide behind Bald Mountain. Now a sudden weariness overcame him, and he leaned back to rest his eyes.

    Jess took a long, deep breath, trying to see through the thickets, squinting against the sun’s rays. In the bright light, a gold locket flashed brilliantly in view and just as quickly disappeared. Was he hallucinating? If only he could just reach his brother . . . Why wouldn’t his legs move? He extended his arms to pull his brother to safety and thought he was in reach of him just a few feet ahead, but he couldn’t grasp him. He felt himself slipping, slipping, and the image of his brother became fuzzy until it faded away behind the boulders . . .
    The door snapped open, and Zach strode in, waking Jess. Sitting up quickly, he ran his hand through his thick hair, smoothing it. “I must’ve dozed off for a moment.”
    Zach plopped in the chair opposite him and picked up the half-full mug. “I don’t know how you sleep drinking that awful, thick stuff! Why didn’t you make some up fresh? That pot’s been simmering for a while.” He wrinkled his nose in disgust, then set the cup down. “We need to talk.”
    Jess started to rise. “I have nothing I want to say, so if you’ve come to plead the ladies’ case and—”
    Zach’s hand stayed him. “Can you hold on just a minute without getting all het up about it?”
    Jess breathed deeply. “Okay. Spit it out, little brother.”
    “I told them not to return everything as it was. I think they did a great job of sprucing up the place, and that was just one day!” He paused, then continued on when Jess didn’t interrupt. “Be honest with yourself. You’re madder by the fact that they did everything without asking for your approval than what you think the store looks like. Am I right?”
    Jess waved his hand, swishing away a fly. What had he thought? Zach was right, but Jess didn’t want to admit it. “Truth is . . . I guess it’s an improvement, but I do have my own system and ways I intend to run the store. Now I’ll never find a thing.”
    “You couldn’t ever find or keep up with anything in the first place, Jess. This will make it easier on you. In fact, it was one of the two reasons that I placed the ad in the first place.” Zach leaned back in his chair, looking more relaxed now.
    Jess shot him a look. “And the other reason?”
    “I told you—you need a wife,” he answered calmly. “Someone to look after you, ’cause you’re not doing such a great job yourself. Especially now that . . .” His voice trailed off.
    Jess stared back at his brother’s deep brown eyes, which crinkled at the corners when he was serious. “Little