brides for brothers 03 - cowboy groom

by Christenberry, Judy

  “I’m safe. Sylvia won’t be up for hours. I know her well.”

  He’d probably spent a few of those morning hours with Sylvia, Anna reminded herself. All the more reason to keep her own response to the cowboy under control. “Isn’t Jake waiting for you?”

  “You trying to get rid of me?”

  “I’m trying to keep you out of trouble.”

  His hand came up to cup her chin. “Then we have a little problem, Anna, because I don’t think about behavin’ when I’m around you.”

  Her breathing sped up, and she scowled at him. “You’re a terrible flirt, Brett Randall. Someone should warn Sylvia.”

  He stared at her, a wry look on his face. Finally he turned her loose and straightened. “Yeah. See you this evening.”

  Before she could steady her heart, he was on his way to the barn. Thank goodness he hadn’t hung around. She’d have melted at his feet in no time.

  She returned to the kitchen, trying to focus on the reason she was there, not on Brett Randall.

  “Pete’s hovering again, isn’t he?” Janie asked.

  “He’s being a good husband.” With that remark, she turned her attention to the breakfast she’d abandoned when Pete had summoned her.

  “Little lady, you haven’t eaten your eggs this morning,” Red noted a few minutes later. “Are you feelin’ poorly?”

  Anna jerked her head up at Red’s comment. “Oh. No, not at all, Red. I was just…thinking about my day.”

  “Got a busy one?”

  “Well, I have a couple of calls to make. Not too bad, actually.” She seemed to be going through a light caseload, with only five patients right now. Which left her too much time to stew about Brett and his fiancée.

  “Well, whatever is ruining your appetite must be affectin’ Janie, too,” Red commented with a frown.

  Anna whipped her head around to stare at Janie, sitting down the table from her. How could she have gotten so distracted by Brett that she hadn’t noticed Janie’s pale face?

  It didn’t take long to determine that Janie should spend the morning in bed. Anna felt guilty for having left her alone the day before to go into Casper with Brett.

  The fact that Janie wasn’t protesting going to bed told Anna that she was in need of rest. Janie usually fought any pampering.

  When Anna got back to the kitchen, Megan asked the question she’d been holding back, afraid Janie might hear.

  “Is she all right? Is it time?”

  “Her blood pressure is a little high, that’s all. I’ll check in with Doc, but I don’t think she’ll deliver yet.” Anna crossed her fingers that she was right. The babies weren’t due for another four weeks. The longer Janie could carry them, the healthier they would be.

  She crossed to the phone and dialed Doc Jacoby’s home. Though he held office hours every other Saturday, it was too early for either him or the nurse, Mrs. Priddy, to be there.

  After a brief conversation, Anna hung up the phone. “Doc agrees with me. She probably just needs rest. We’ll keep her in bed all day today.”

  “Will you be making your calls?” Megan asked.

  “No, Doc will make them. I’ll stay here with Janie.”

  “Does that mean she’s in more trouble than you’re telling me?” Megan sounded anxious.

  Anna smiled. “No. It means that neither Doc nor I want to take any chances with Janie. Or any of our patients. We’re just playing it safe.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here.” Megan hugged her.

  “Me too, Anna,” Red added. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

  Anna patted Megan on the back before releasing her and turning to Red. “You’d cope, Red, like you do with everything. Now, since I’m not going out, I believe I’ll have a second cup of coffee.”

  “And finish your eggs. You’ll need your strength to deal with Pete when you tell him about Janie.” Red’s worried expression disappeared as he anticipated that scene.

  Anna groaned and sat down to pick up her fork. Red was right.

  JANIE HAD FALLEN asleep at once, confirming Anna’s belief that her friend had gotten too concerned about Sylvia’s visit. Anna made several trips up the stairs to check on her patient.

  Megan and Toby were watching a video in the television room. Mildred, after checking to be sure the noise wouldn’t bother Janie, was vacuuming the downstairs while Red prepared lunch. No one seemed concerned about disturbing Sylvia.

  Knowing the men would be in for lunch soon, Anna made another trip upstairs to check on Janie about eleven-thirty. She wanted to be able to present the best picture for Pete when he came in. Nothing would keep him from rushing to Janie’s side, but the less alarmed he was, the better it would be for Janie.

  Before going to Janie’s room, Anna stopped off in her own room. She wanted to take her journal—in which she recorded the details of Janie’s condition— with her.

  The door that connected to the bathroom between her room and the one given to Sylvia was closed, but Anna heard movement on the other side.

  Good. Sylvia needed to get up before noon. Anna sighed. She was being spiteful. It was none of her business if Sylvia slept until dinner.

  How many times did she need to remind herself that Brett’s engagement had nothing to do with her? Often, she guessed, since her heart beat faster when he was in the room. It was a good thing she knew he wasn’t for her. But she didn’t want him to be miserable.

  The Randall men were wealthy and powerful, things she’d always feared. But she’d also discovered that wealth and power didn’t necessarily exclude niceness, despite her experiences in the past.

  In fact, it was Anna’s theory that it was the niceness that had already cost the Randalls. While she’d scoffed at Brett’s words about Chloe, Jake’s ex-wife, she thought the Randall men were easy targets for any kind of scheming woman. Chad and Pete had gotten lucky with their wives, but Brett, even more easygoing than his brothers, was a disaster waiting to happen.

  The urge to come to his rescue had to be squashed. He was a big boy and could take care of himself. Sure, he could.

  She reached the hall just as the door to the room next to her own room opened. Sylvia, exquisitely made-up, dressed in a silk shirtwaist and heels, a cloud of expensive perfume around her, nodded at Anna and walked toward the stairs. “Would you tidy up the room before this afternoon? I may want to take a nap later.”

  She strolled down the stairs without waiting for Anna’s response. Good thing. Because Anna, in spite of all her warnings to herself, was about ready to don a white hat, mount a white horse and ride to Brett’s rescue.

  Chapter Seven

  Brett discovered a curious tug-of-war within him as he approached the house for the noon meal. He’d even offered to remain with the herd at lunchtime.

  Jake, however, had insisted he come back to the house to spend time with Sylvia. And that was the problem. He didn’t want to join Sylvia. He called himself all kinds of a jerk. After all, he’d agreed to marry her. He loved her. Didn’t he?

  “Ah, Brett?” Jake called to him as he was leaving the barn.

  “Yeah?”

  “I think I owe you an apology.”

  “What for?” Brett asked, frowning at his big brother.

  “I’m afraid you spent the night alone last night because of me.” Jake clapped him on the shoulder. “Or because of your poor directions, one of the two.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Sylvia came to my room last night, thinking it was yours. She’s, uh, a beautiful woman.”

  “Yeah.”

  When he said nothing else, Jake added, “I guess I upset her, ’cause she stormed back to her room.”

  “No problem.” No, no problem at all. The only problem he had was that he was glad she hadn’t found his room. Man, what was wrong with him?

  Pete caught up with them. “I’m glad we’re working close to the house so I can check on Janie. I had no idea having babies would be this hard.”<
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  Jake laughed. “Janie might beg to differ with you. I think she’s doing the hard part.”

  “I know, but I worry all the time.”

  “Anna’s with her,” Brett assured his brother. “She’ll take care of Janie.”

  “You’ve sure changed your tune,” Pete challenged. “When you first met her, I didn’t even think you liked Anna.”

  “What’s not to like? She took me by surprise that first night, that’s all.”

  “Yeah, she threw you to the floor,” Jake teased with a laugh, “like that old bull of Pete’s that no cowboy can ride.”

  Their teasing had no sting now. The longer he knew Anna, the more amazed he was that the kind, gentle young woman had handled him as she had. The memory of her hands on him as she’d straddled his back brought a smile to his face and a warmth that surprised him.

  Must be overheated from the branding.

  They had reached the house by this time, and Pete was the first in the door, with Brett and Jake right after him.

  “Where’s Janie?” Pete asked.

  Brett surveyed the room, suddenly noting that the table wasn’t set for lunch. “Where’s Red? What’s wrong?”

  Even Jake frowned.

  Anna stepped forward. “Nothing’s wrong. Sylvia requested that we eat in the dining room for lunch. Red’s getting the table ready.”

  The men all looked at each other. Jake was the first to speak. “Of course. Guys, I guess we’d better—”

  “No!” Brett felt as if the word had been ripped from his throat. “No, it’s ndiculous. We’d have to shower and change clothes just to go back out this afternoon and get dirty all over again.”

  “We can clean up for lunch, Brett. It won’t be that much more if that’s what Sylvia—”

  The kitchen door swung open, and Sylvia entered. “Oh, Brett, darling, you’re back.” She ran to him, her arms extended.

  He should’ve stopped her.

  After all, there were things on his jeans she’d never encountered in polite society. Cow poop wasn’t acceptable at cocktail parties in D.C. But then, he wasn’t at a cocktail party.

  “Hi, darlin’,” he said, and welcomed her into a close embrace.

  “Ooh!” she protested, backing from him, pushing his arms away. “You smell.” Then she looked at the front of her dress. “You got me dirty! This is silk, Brett, and you’ve ruined it!”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t ask for a hug, Sylvia. You’re the one who insisted.”

  Red entered the kitchen as Sylvia stomped out of it. “What’s gotten into Miss High and Mighty this time?” he growled. Then he saw the men standing across the room. “Uh, sorry, Brett.”

  Megan and Anna watched Brett, as well as his brothers. He grinned at all of them. “Hey, Red calls ‘em as he sees ’em. I’m not taking offense. Do you think you girls could move lunch back to the kitchen while we clean up?”

  Before they could answer, Pete repeated his question. “Where’s Janie?”

  “I’ll set the table in here,” Megan hastily said, and left the kitchen to collect the dishes from the dining room.

  “Janie’s in bed, Pete.” Anna made a quick move and blocked the kitchen door as Pete started running. “Wait a minute. She’s all right. I want you to be calm and upbeat. Her blood pressure was a little high, and she’s been resting. The last thing I want is for her to worry.”

  Pete stared at Anna. “She’s okay? The babies are okay?”

  “They’re all fine. And we want to keep them that way. You go up to Janie, and I’ll bring a tray for both of you.”

  “You can stay in this afternoon, Pete,” Jake added as Pete headed out the door.

  “You sure you’ll manage?”

  “We made it all right yesterday with Brett gone. Now that he’s back, we can do without you, brother,” Jake assured him with a grin.

  Once Pete had left the kitchen, Anna said, “Janie’s fine. It’s not necessary for Pete to stay here this afternoon.”

  “Yeah, it is,” Jake replied firmly.

  Both men followed in their brother’s footsteps, but Anna stopped them before they could leave. “Uh, Brett, there’s one other problem.”

  “What’s that, sugar?” He grinned at her, then realized she wasn’t smiling. “What’s wrong?”

  She seemed to be struggling with an answer and he grew more concerned. “Anna?”

  “It’s Sylvia. She seems to think I should straighten up her room. With Janie not doing well, I don’t have time to—”

  Unexpected anger filled him. “She was out of line. I’ll take care of it.”

  “I don’t mind working around the house, Brett, but Janie is my first—”

  Jake helped him out by putting an arm around Anna’s shoulders. “We all know you’d pitch in, Anna. Sylvia is used to servants. She didn’t think.”

  In Brett’s mind, Sylvia hadn’t been doing much thinking at all lately. Unfortunately he was beginning to believe he hadn’t, either. After all, it was his fault the woman was here.

  ANNA WATCHED Jake and Brett leave the kitchen with a guilty feeling in her heart. She’d just launched her first effort to rescue Brett. It didn’t matter that Sylvia had handed her the bullets. She could’ve kept Sylvia’s order to herself, simply ignored the woman.

  But she hadn’t. Because Janie and Megan were right. Sylvia was wrong for Brett. He deserved better.

  “Did that female really ask you to clean up after her?” Red asked.

  She’d forgotten he was there. “Yes, she did.”

  “Lord have mercy if Brett marries her,” the old man muttered.

  Megan entered the kitchen with plates and cutlery piled in her arms. “Everything okay?”

  “Sure. I broke the news to Pete about Janie. He’s with her. I need to take a tray up to them,” Anna added. She’d almost forgotten her patient again, thinking instead about Brett.

  Red helped her assemble a meal for Pete and Janie. She tread the stairs slowly, hoping to avoid spilling anything. When she reached the top and turned down the hall, Brett came out of his room.

  “Anna?”

  “Yes, Brett?” She drew a deep breath, hoping he’d think the jiggling of the dishes on the tray was from its heaviness, not his closeness.

  “I want to apologize again for Sylvia.”

  “Please, Brett, it’s all right. I just thought if you explained the situation, she’d offer to help out.” She felt such a hypocrite. She knew Sylvia wasn’t going to make any such offer. In fact, the woman would be furious with Anna for saying anything.

  “I’m sure she will. And, Anna, thanks for all you’re doing for my family.”

  “It’s my job, Brett,” she assured him, backing away. Heaping praise on her was only making her feel worse. At least she could assure herself that her motives were altruistic. She wasn’t after Brett herself. She knew better.

  He rested a big hand on the wall beside her. “I think you give a little extra. I just want you to know we appreciate it.”

  The man had no clue about women, Anna thought with a sigh. He believed Sylvia would apologize. And he believed Anna had told him about Sylvia’s behavior because she didn’t know what to do about it. “Thanks,” she murmured.

  “Where are you taking the tray? To Pete and Janie?”

  “Yes, and I’d better hurry or everything will be cold.” While she was getting hot just standing near him.

  “I’ll carry it for you. You come open the door.”

  When he took hold of the tray, Anna released it. After all, if she’d struggled with him, they’d have food all over the hallway.

  “Is Sylvia coming down to lunch?” Thinking about Sylvia didn’t reduce Anna’s attraction to Brett, but it helped her remember how ridiculous she was being.

  “Yeah. After she changes. Why would a woman wear silk for lunch on a ranch?”

  “Brett, she was trying to look attractive for you,” Anna said in exasperation. Not that she was on Sylvia’s side, but Brett o
ught to appreciate his fiancée’s effort.

  “Knowing Sylvia, she was more intent on impressing you ladies with her wardrobe. She knows I’m more interested in what’s underneath the wrapping.” He stopped and gave her an up-and-down look. “You sure don’t need silk.”

  “Brett! Stop that!” She hurried on to open the door to Pete and Janie’s room, after a brief knock. Then she left Brett to carry in the tray, escaping down the stairs.

  The man was a terrible flirt! And she didn’t want to risk her heart on a man who wouldn’t want anything permanent with her. She knew from past experience that money married money. Besides, he already had Sylvia.

  Her only concern, she assured herself, was to make sure Brett wouldn’t end up married to Chloe number two.

  AT LEAST BRETT KNEW his instincts were good. He should’ve remained with the cows at lunch. It would’ve been more peaceful.

  He’d gone to Sylvia’s bedroom after he’d cleaned up for lunch and explained the difference between life in her father’s house and life on the Randall ranch. In fact, he’d been brutally honest about them. Guiltily he admitted to himself that he’d been hoping Sylvia would choose to leave, ultimately freeing him from the engagement.

  After all, a gentleman wasn’t supposed to withdraw from an engagement. Was he? But the thought of being permanently attached to Sylvia was beginning to turn his stomach.

  Especially when he contrasted the time with Sylvia with the few minutes spent in the hallway with Anna. She was a sweetheart.

  “Could someone please pass the potatoes…if it’s not too much trouble?” Sylvia cooed, a beseeching look on her face, as if she was sure everyone was out to starve her.

  Silently Anna lifted the bowl of mashed potatoes and passed it across the table to Brett so he could hand it to Sylvia.

  “Thank you so much, Anna. I hope I’m not being too much trouble.”

  He couldn’t see his fiancée’s eyes, but Brett guessed she was staring daggers at Anna. To his amusement, the midwife appeared more than able to hold her own.