He set it on the counter beside Emily and glanced up at Candy. “Do you like Lego Star Wars?” he asked.
Candy was at a loss. Maybe Emily noticed, as she said to Trevor, “Not many people know video games, and since when are we talking about video games? I thought you were helping your dad.”
“But, Mom, I want to play Lego Star Wars. Please?” he added with a bright smile, through Candy noticed he didn’t seem too interested in waiting for her response.
“No. Go help your dad and Uncle Neil,” Emily said. Candy couldn’t help watching the boy, who didn’t realize she’d never figured out how to untwist her tongue and respond to him.
He walked away and said, “Okay, Mom.” He sounded so happy.
Emily didn’t say anything, and Candy started to feel bad, because she was pretty sure Neil would have been all over him, talking to him and chatting up a storm. Candy had just heard the word “autism,” and her head was full of expectations for his behavior. She actually really liked the kid.
“I’m sorry. I should have said something to him. I hope you don’t think…” She stopped talking when Emily shrugged.
“It’s okay, Candy. Not everyone is comfortable around autistic children. He gets stuck on videos and TV, and for some reason talking about that comes so easily for him. The real work is having conversations about everyday stuff, in-the-moment stuff. We hope to get there one day, hopefully soon, but at least he doesn’t have behavioral problems. He’s doing really good. I mean, he used to be a handful, but now he’s just a lot of fun. He still has a long way to go,” Emily said, and it sounded as if she was rambling on.
“Emily, it’s not the autism—it’s children. I don’t have a clue what to say to any of them. I’m nervous. What kind of mother am I going to be to this one? I’m terrified of all your children,” she admitted, and her voice squeaked. She pressed a shaky hand to her lips.
“Oh, I see.” Emily stifled a soft laugh and then rubbed her arm, glancing over her shoulder, maybe to make sure they were still alone. Echoes and laughter from the other room carried into the kitchen. The kids, Neil and Brad, whatever they were doing, were having a lot of fun. “Candy, give yourself a break. You’re getting married on Saturday, in two days. Tomorrow the entire family is going to invade us, but don’t worry. They’re wonderful. You’ve just found out you’re pregnant! Honey, you’ve got a lot on your plate, and you know what? There have been days I’m terrified of my children. Well, not really, but there isn’t a parent out there who hasn’t been scared to death around children, especially other people’s.”
Candy forced herself to nod, because she couldn’t clear her throat to get a word out, but it still didn’t make her feel any better. She wasn’t natural at this, and Neil was. That was all there was to it. She was starting to feel a little shaky.
“Candy, are you feeling okay, really? You look a little pale,” Emily asked again.
The fact was that she didn’t feel great, not really. The smell in the kitchen had an odor that should have been pleasant but carried a sharp tang that was bringing a dull ache in her head.
“I think I need some fresh air. Do you think Brad would mind if I went out to the barn? I’d love to see the horses.” Candy had been dying to spend time with the horses since she had gotten there, instead of being dragged around to store after store. She hadn’t so much as touched a horse since leaving her Azteca gelding, Sable, at Neil’s. She needed to touch a horse every day, because they kept her honest, grounded. She also wondered, though, being the basket case she currently was, whether being around a horse might not be the best idea.
“The horses aren’t in the barn,” Emily said. “Brad rarely brings them in, only if one of them is hurt or something. He doesn’t believe in caging them into stalls like that. He’s got five acres fenced off in the north field at the tree line where the horses are, behind the barn. It’s too dark now, but why don’t we go out first thing in the morning? I’m sure Brad will be fine with that.”
Candy nodded. “Do you mind if I go lie down? I’m feeling kind of tired.”
“No, you go,” Emily said, rubbing her back, and Candy strode around the corner and stopped, watching Neil play horsey with two of the kids.
Chapter 14
“Hey, big brother. Where’re Emily and Candy?” Neil asked as he met Brad in the kitchen, pouring a coffee.
“Emily took Candy out to see the horses, said they’ll be back before breakfast.” Brad gestured to the mugs. “We’re supposed to listen for the kids, too, since they’re still asleep.”
Neil glanced toward the back door and the empty table where Emily would generally have laid out breakfast by now. When he had climbed into the shower, wanting Candy to join him, she’d still been in bed and said no, and when he came back to the room, dressed, she had already made the bed and left.
“Everything all right?” Brad asked, giving Neil a shrewd and questioning look.
“Yeah. I think I’ll go see where the girls are,” Neil said. He slipped his leather coat on and opened the back door. One of the kids was giggling from the top of the stairs, and Neil pointed. “Kids are up. I’ll see you later for breakfast.”
He stepped outside into the fresh morning and started toward the barn. One of the ranch hands, in a ratty, beige cowboy hat, worn blue jeans, and cowboy boots, carried a hay bale from the barn and set it on the flatbed attached to the old rusty tractor.
“Can’t believe that thing still runs,” Neil said as the cowboy wiped his forehead and laughed.
“Oh, barely. Brad’s got it held together with duct tape and twine, now,” the cowboy said as he headed back into the barn.
Neil remembered that tractor. He was ten the first time he had driven it, and it had already been a part of this ranch for more than forty years then. “Hey, listen, you seen Emily and Candy?” he called out to the cowboy when he came out of the barn, carrying another bale of hay.
“Yeah, I think they’re taking one of the horses out. Emily’s got a thing for the new Paint. I told them to be careful, as it’s been spooking lately.”
Neil could smell the pungent aroma of manure, the dampness of the morning, but at that moment he had a chill and an unsettling feeling. Candy wouldn’t climb on a horse now, would she, carrying his child? Dammit! He started at a jog behind the barn to the treeline, where Brad kept the horses. The gate was closed, and he ran faster.
He couldn’t see them, and even after he had opened the gate and started inside, he had to really look. He spotted the horses gathered around a big feeder filled with hay, and he heard Emily leading the Paint down the trail. Candy was on its back. He started toward her.
“Hey there, Neil. I was just showing Candy the horses,” Emily said, all smiles until she saw Neil’s face. He was dark and angry, and he couldn’t hide it. Emily appeared nervous and glanced up at Candy, who was holding on to the black mane of the tan and white Paint. Neil stopped just before them and waited before reaching out to take the lead from Emily. She stepped away.
“Get off, now!” he said. The horse tried to move, but Neil set his hand on its neck and then reached up, wrapping his arm around Candy’s waist and setting her on the ground.
“Neil, what are you doing?” she snapped, slapping at his hand. The sparks shooting from her eyes cooled a bit when he stepped closer to her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the horse. “Neil, stop it!”
He didn’t let go. In fact, with one hand, he released the horse from its halter. “Let’s go,” he said. He held on to her, and he was so mad he was tempted to shake her. When she tried to pull away, he tossed her over his shoulder and put his hand on her bottom to stop her from wiggling. He glanced at Emily, who was watching with wide eyes.
“Emily, Candy is pregnant. I don’t know what nonsense would go through both of your heads about getting on a horse, especially one who, from what I understand, spooks and is unpredictable.”
Emily opened her mouth to say something and then closed it.
; “Neil, put me down,” Candy spit out as she pounded her fists into his back.
He smacked her butt a little harder than he meant to.
“Ouch!” She reached back and rubbed her jeans where he had hit her.
“Knock it off! I cannot believe you would get on a horse. You’re pregnant with my child. You will not risk my child! Do you understand?” he said. He couldn’t remember ever being so angry, but Candy had a way of pushing his buttons. At least, she used to. He had thought they were way past this.
“Neil, I’ve been riding since I was a kid. I wouldn’t risk the baby. I’m not stupid, and I was careful. I’ve never been thrown from a horse. Emily―”
He cut her off before he could finish. “Emily, I’m not your husband, I’m your brother-in-law, but maybe Brad needs to keep you a little closer to home. He certainly needs to have a talk with you about letting my wife...” He stopped. “My pregnant fiancée on a horse. She’s obviously not thinking clearly, so why weren’t you?”
Emily blanched as if he’d slapped her. She crossed her arms, and her blue eyes flashed with a fire he’d never seen before. “Neil, I cannot believe you would say that to me. Brad is not my keeper. He respects me. I’m his wife. Don’t you ever talk to me like that again,” she snapped before walking away, opening the gate and latching it behind her.
“Put me down now, Neil,” Candy said, her voice shaking.
He did, and he was immediately sucker punched by the hurt and sheen of tears in her brown eyes. Her jaw quivered, and she stepped back.
“What is wrong with you, taking Emily’s head off like that? She was kind enough to bring me out here, and I asked to get on the horse. She insisted on leading, as she said she didn’t know my experience and I didn’t know this Paint. I felt as if I was two years old, being led around on horseback when I’m probably one of the most confident riders there is. Then you come in here, dictating me, and you hit me! How could you? I’m not your possession! You can’t order me around.” She started to back away, pushing back her long, dark hair, which was a tousled mess from having been tossed over his shoulder.
“Look, I’m sorry. You can’t ride anymore, Candy, not when you’re pregnant. That horse,” Neil pointed to the Paint, who was now racing toward the herd by the feeder, “is unpredictable. You don’t get on a horse unless you know something about it. I know you can ride—I’ve seen you. But you’re not riding anymore, not while you’re carrying my child!” he shouted and stepped closer to her. This time, he noticed her fisted hands, the sharp incline of her head, so he extended his hand and gave her a moment. When she turned and started toward the gate, he didn’t try to touch her, because right now he was fighting the urge to shake her and toss her over his shoulder again, not letting her down until he had her back in bed. Then he’d show her who she belonged to. Get a grip, he told himself, taking a breath as he followed Candy back to the house. She glanced back only once, shooting him a look that said if he touched her, she’d probably deck him.
Neil wiped his jaw. When they approached the house, Brad wandered out the back door, holding the door open for Candy as she stomped inside. He shut the door and gave Neil a look, one of sympathy, but something else, too. He looked around, stepping closer to Neil and putting his hands on his hips, pushing back his tan jacket.
“You upset my wife. I got quite the earful a minute ago. You didn’t really say I needed to keep Emily closer to home, did you?” He was quiet, and Neil regretted now how sharp he’d been with Emily.
“I did,” he admitted. “Look, I may have overreacted a bit with your wife, but she shouldn’t have let Candy get on that horse. Put yourself in my shoes. If that had been Emily, wouldn’t you have reacted the same way?” he asked. The sky was gray today, and it was starting to match his mood.
“Well, it wasn’t my wife on that horse. Just a word of advice, Neil—if you want Candy to be your wife, you need to dial it back a bit. Snapping like that at Emily…” Brad didn’t finish. He shook his head. “Look, I understand. I probably would have reacted the same way if it had been Emily, but you need to be more tactful.” Brad reached out and gripped Neil’s shoulder. “Neil, Neil, my dear brother, you’ve always been a voice of reason for our wives, telling me and Jed we’re cavemen, running around, barking out orders, but here you are, doing the same thing. Ain’t love grand?”
Neil glanced upward. Brad’s words were a splash of icy water, and he didn’t much care for them. He pressed his palms to the side of his head and then put them on his hips, touching his dark leather jacket. “I’ll apologize to Emily,” he said.
“Yeah, well, you’d best let her cool off a bit, first. Tell me, did you really toss Candy over your shoulder and spank her?” Brad had a hint of humor flashing in his eyes.
Neil didn’t answer. He glanced away, and Brad laughed as he patted Neil’s shoulder and started toward the barn. “Wait till I tell Jed! Oh, and be careful when you go inside. I want to have a wife I can still talk to when I come in for lunch.”
Brad was still chuckling as he walked away, and as Neil opened the door, he realized he’d rather face a boardroom of sharks than the two women waiting for him on the other side.
Chapter 15
“How did it go with Candy?” Emily asked, although Neil could still feel the tension between them. He’d apologized to Emily when he first walked through the back door, and she had shot him what he was pretty sure was a “Drop dead” look, though she’d been gracious enough not to make his life a living hell.
“She’s not speaking to me. She locked the bedroom door and won’t open it,” he replied.
Emily continued to chop vegetables. He knew she was getting ready for tonight, as they were expecting his parents, as well as Jed, Diana, and their two kids. Andy and his wife, Laura, were coming as well, but only Diana and Jed were staying at the house. The rest had booked a hotel in town.
Neil pulled a knife from the block on the counter. “You got another cutting board? I’ll give you a hand.”
Emily pulled a second cutting board out and slid it in front of him. “Thanks. Just chop up the carrots and celery. I’ll leave you the onions, too, if you’d like?” she teased.
“Yeah, sure, give me the onions. Look, I’m really sorry, Emily. I took out my frustration with Candy on you. I just reacted and didn’t think. She doesn’t seem to realize sometimes that her actions could get her hurt or even killed, and now that she’s carrying my child, yeah, I’m worried. I always made fun of Brad and Jed, with how they acted like overly possessive men from the Dark Ages with you and Diana, but it’s not so much fun when you’re on the other end of it, either. I didn’t really mean it, by the way, about Brad keeping you closer to home,” he said as he chopped, and he didn’t miss the way Emily brightened and then nudged him.
“Yes, you did mean it. It’s that overprotective alpha-male thing that seems to run rampant in you Friessen men. You’ve just got to laugh that you’re exactly like your brothers now, and you’re not liking the fact that the woman you love is not toeing the line. You and your brothers would prefer if we women didn’t take any chances, and if you could, each of you would keep us under your thumb. I don’t think you’re really sorry; I think you’re sorry you weren’t more diplomatic, and you’re sorry for how it sounded. There’s a difference,” she said. She gazed up at Neil and smiled.
“So does that mean I’m still your favorite brother-in-law?” Neil asked.
She gave him an exasperated look. “Oh, Neil, you’ll always have a special spot in my heart, but, now that you’ve shown your cards, you’re just like your brothers.” Emily cleared her throat and turned serious. “I’ve got to tell you, with Candy…” She glanced up at the ceiling. “Go easy, Neil. I can see how much you love her, but she’s terrified. Being pregnant just adds to that, and the wedding… I understand what she’s going through. You need to find out what she wants to do. Around the horses this morning, that was the first time I’ve seen her relax since she’s been here. Sometimes you’ve g
ot to give a little, Neil. Have you thought about all of this from Candy’s viewpoint?” Emily set down her knife and stared at him, lowering her voice.
He wasn’t sure if he understood what she was saying, but he also knew he’d been hurrying Candy along after years of fighting, of her hating him—or at least he thought she had. He couldn’t help wanting to brand her, to say she was his, that she belonged to him. That was what marriage would mean, with his ring. His child was already growing inside her, and that took his breath away. He couldn’t put those feelings into words or explain them to anyone in a way that would make sense. He met Emily’s steadfast gaze. She was such a petite, soft, loving, strong woman, and she made his brother a better man, the happiest he’d ever seen him.
“Look, Candy is going to be fine,” he said. If he said it, he hoped it would be enough. Even he realized she’d been jittery lately.
“Neil, I’m not so sure about that. If you keep pushing the way you are, taking over everything, telling her how to think, what to do; she’s going to react like a horse would. She’s going to buck or spook or something. Neil, you’ve taken over everything, even with this wedding.”
“Emily, I’ve never told her how to think―”
“Yes, you have, by not asking her opinion or letting her make a decision,” Emily said, interrupting him. “You even picked out her wedding dress, didn’t you?”
Neil’s first response was to deny everything. “Look, she didn’t say what she wanted. She said it didn’t matter. I just wanted to look after her, give her the best wedding.”
“Neil, I’m pretty sure she’s been saying loud and clear with her body language that she’s freaking out. She’s scared of having a child. She doesn’t know us from a hill of beans. She has no family. I figured that much out, since it’s only your family and friends who will be here for the wedding. She’s being told where to stand, when to smile… You need to talk to her. You need to listen to her and make her tell you what she’s thinking.”
The Wedding Page 5
