Walker Bride

by Bernadette Marie

  “Lydia is staying. You might as well stay too.”

  He looked toward the field where he’d seen his sister. The thought of going home to where his grandfather waited didn’t appease him. He shouldn’t be a man in his forties and afraid of going home.

  “I think dinner would be nice, thank you.”

  Susan smiled warmly. “I’m glad to hear that. It’ll be ready in about forty minutes. Eric, Russ, and Ben are up in the barn.”

  “I’ll head up that way,” Tyson said, returning the smile.

  He waited until Susan had gone back into the house before starting his walk toward the barn.

  There were three trucks parked outside of the barn. His sister’s, and the trucks of two of Eric’s brothers, Ben and Russell. If he’d been looking for a family bonding moment, it seemed as though he’d certainly chosen one.

  The men were fussing over a foal and its mother in one of the stalls. If Tyson were feeling extremely ornery, he’d have called them out on it, as they looked like three women ogling over a new baby. As it was, he was curious too.

  “Whatcha got there?” he asked as he approached and all three turned to look at him.

  He noted the quick flash of disgust that lit in Russell’s eyes before he must have thought better of it. Ben simply gave him a nod, but Eric turned with a smile.

  “Hey. Come check her out,” he offered.

  As Tyson approached the gate, Russell and Ben shifted to one side, as if, perhaps, not to get too close. Okay, so this family bonding thing hadn't crept over into Eric’s other brothers—not yet anyway.

  He looked into the stall and saw what had captured the men's attention. It was a beautiful new chestnut foal still getting her wobbly legs under her.

  “Now that’s a sight,” he said, his voice cracking under the emotion of seeing them.

  It never changed, this was something he’d appreciated since childhood—new life. He could even remember staring at Lydia when she was newborn with the same enthusiasm. At thirteen years old he was old enough to appreciate what a baby meant to the world. He had no idea then how chaotic and strange the future would become, only that he would vow to protect her for the rest of his life.

  “Dane bought the mare before he knew he was getting the job in Ohio. I promised to take care of her,” Eric said.

  “She’s a beauty alright. What’s her name?”

  Ben chuckled, “Fairy Godmother.”

  Tyson shook his head. “Is there a book on naming horses with funny names?”

  Russell lifted his head. “I left a message for Dane to tell him the foal was here and ask what he wanted to name her.”

  Eric slapped a hand on Russell’s shoulder. “Did you give him a suggestion like Cinderella?”

  “Is she the one with the Fairy Godmother?”

  The four men looked at each other dumbfounded as if they were supposed to know that. Then Tyson supposed, they each wondered how they got to talking about that. They each turned in a different direction and took manly stances as Lydia rode up to the barn.

  “What are ya’ll doing in here looking guilty?” she asked as she dismounted her horse.

  “Talkin’ horses,” Russell quickly answered as he shoved his hands into his front pockets.

  “Could have fooled me.” She looked right at Tyson. “What are you doing out here?”

  “I suppose the same as you. Staying away from home.”

  Eric took off his hat and ran his hand over his hair, then replaced it. “You two are pathetic. You should get homes of your own. I’m going back to the house.”

  Eric walked out, and his brothers followed, but Tyson stayed with his sister as she began to take the bridle off her horse.

  “How was your ride?”

  “Good,” she said as she unfastened the cinch and tossed it up over the saddle. “Why are you staying away from home?”

  “Just not in the mood,” he said as he reached out and took the saddle off the horse for his sister. “You take this with you?”

  “No, I store all my tack here.”

  He nodded and placed the saddle along the wall with the others. “You still could keep him at home.”

  She shook her head as she took the blanket off the horse’s back. “I’m like you. It’s nicer to hide over here.”

  “Eric was right. We are pathetic.”

  “You more so than me. I get out and see people. I go to town all the time. I’m here all the time. I have businesses and properties and…”

  “I get it,” he said picking up a grooming brush. “I went to town today. It wasn’t so bad. And I’m here now, and I’m staying for dinner.”

  He watched her rise from the other side of the horse and look at him though she barely could see over the animal. “You went to town?”

  “Got fitted for the tux.”

  “Good. You saw Pearl then?”

  He shrugged as he brushed the horse. “Yeah, I saw her.”

  “She’s single you know,” she said as she took the bridle from the horse.

  “So what?”

  “Just saying.”

  Tyson lifted the brim of his hat. “We had a drink or two. I think she had three. I took her home after.”

  His sister appeared next to him. “You went out?”

  Tyson held his hands up as if in surrender from her questions. “Just a friendly drink. Thought I needed it after she felt me up with the tape measure and all.”

  Lydia let out a laugh. “She wasn’t feeling you up.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  She planted her hands on her hips and looked up at him. “Did you enjoy it at least?”

  He winced and lowered the brim of his hat. “Let’s just say I was social and leave it at that. She has a reputation that I don’t need a part of.”

  “She had a reputation, and you’re no saint.” Lydia picked up another brush and moved to the other side of the horse. “She’s a very successful business woman, and we're going into business together. She's my new partner.”

  Tyson rested his hands on the top of the horse’s back and looked over to his sister. “How many things are you going to take on?”

  “As many as I can. Why sit around and wait for Grandpa to die and inherit what he’s made? I want my own. Besides, what happens if he loses it all? You know that gamble with Bryon Walker was part of his doing too. Sure the Walkers were the ones thinking they were going to lose all their land, but it could happen to us. I love him, but it doesn’t mean I have to like how he does things.”

  Tyson eased back and brushed the horse.

  His sister was one of the wisest people he knew, and all that wisdom was shoved into a five-foot frame. He chuckled to himself. There was a lot to learn from her.

  Being invited to a caterer’s house for dinner had its perks. Susan was trying out new recipes, and since she was a vegetarian, she’d invited the others to try meat filled dishes.

  Tyson wondered if she’d invited more than Eric’s brothers and his sister. There was enough food to feed a small army. No wonder she’d been quick with the invitation.

  “I’m going to finalize the cake plans Monday,” she said as they all ate and she moved salad around on her plate with her fork. “I like the red icing design, but red icing is nasty.”

  Lydia looked up. “All of your guests will have red lips.”

  “I don’t want that.” She turned to Eric whose head was down as he plowed through his meal. “What do you think?”

  He lifted his head slowly. “Whatever, babe.”

  She chuckled. “That’s what I thought.”

  “I can go with you,” Lydia offered. “I’ll bet Pearl would have a lot to say about it too.”

  Just the mention of her name had Tyson dropping his fork and all heads rising to look at him. “Sorry,” he said as he went back to his meal.

  “She’s been great,” Susan said finally taking a fork full of lettuce and almost making it to her lips. “She knows everything. I wonder what her wedding would look l
ike?”

  “I think simple. She’s used to all the fancy stuff. I just think hers would be simple.”

  Why that made him laugh, he wasn’t sure, but again everyone turned to him. “She’s not simple. I don’t see simple being her wedding design of choice.”

  A grin formed on his sister’s lips. “You know her style now?”

  “I’m just saying. That fancy makeup and those expensive shoes. Her jewelry and her hair. That woman isn’t simple.”

  Russell shrugged. “I think she’s just professional. She’s not too complicated,” he defended his cousin.

  Tyson took another bite of the meat on his plate. He was in the wrong house to make comments about another Walker. But he kept his conviction. Pearl Walker wasn’t simple. She was a whole lot of drama wrapped in a pretty package. He snapped his fork. And he was the man who was thinking way too much about that pretty wrapping.

  Chapter Six

  It was eight-fifty, and Audrey had promised Pearl she’d be there to pick her up. After all, Audrey had to be to work by nine, so where the hell was she?

  The doorbell rang just as she picked up her phone to call her. Throwing her bag over her shoulder and cursing her sister, she pulled open the door.

  “You’re late! And you told me…” She stopped when she saw Tyson Morgan on her doorstep with his dark eyes wide.

  “I’m…sorry?” he said gripping his truck keys in his hand.

  “I thought you were my sister. She’s supposed to pick me up,” Pearl said as her phone rang in her hand. She swiped her finger over the screen and held it to her ear. “Where are you? You said you were picking me up.” She groaned as she heard her sister make excuses for forgetting her. Now she couldn’t pick her up because she was late for work and in some weird way, it was all Pearl’s fault. “Fine. Goodbye.” She disconnected the phone with a grunt.

  “She’s not coming?”

  “How’d ya guess?” Pearl shoved the phone into her purse, collected herself, and looked back up at him. “So why are you here?”

  “Well, from the sounds of it, I suppose I’m here to give you a ride to your shop.”

  She narrowed her gaze on him. “Why are you really here?” The alarm on her phone went off, and she pulled it from her purse again and silenced it quickly. “You know I don’t care why you’re here. I need a ride and if you’d give me one that would be fantastic. I have a bridal showing at nine-thirty, and I haven’t even been to the bakery.”

  Quickly, Pearl pulled the door closed and locked it. She hurried by Tyson and then turned back. “Are you coming?”

  “Yup, right behind you.”

  Pearl was already in the truck when Tyson climbed in and shut the door.

  “This is much nicer,” she said looking around.

  Of course, it was nicer. She’d ridden in the farm truck. That was far from luxurious.

  “Thanks. I don’t drive it much.”

  He started the engine, glad that she’d changed the subject from earlier. When she’d asked what he was doing there, Tyson was glad she hadn’t waited long for an answer. The truth was, he had no idea what the hell he was doing there.

  Something that Lydia had said to him last night seemed to resonate with him. I get out and see people. I go to town all the time.

  His time in town yesterday hadn’t been so bad. A few minutes getting felt up by the grumpy bridal store woman to his right hadn’t been horrible. There was beer involved, and that too was good.

  Tyson pulled away from the curb. “How can I help you out this morning?”

  “You’re here to help me?”

  Giving a shrug, he rolled down his window. It was getting a little stuffy in the cab of the truck.

  “I was in town, thought I’d…” He thought he’d what? Again, he hadn’t planned on showing up at her door at nearly nine in the morning. Then he remembered he’d stopped at 7-11 and gotten coffees. “I brought you a coffee,” he pointed to the cup holder.

  Her eyebrow raised as she studied him. “You came all the way to town to buy me a 7-11 coffee?”

  “If you don’t make it yourself, it’s the best.”

  She reached for it and eased back. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome,” he said as he turned at the stoplight. “So, honestly, what can I do to help you this morning?”

  “Really? You have time to help me? Because I’ll take you up on it. I’m not the kind that…”

  “I mean it,” he said reaching for his cup.

  “Franklin’s Bakery has an order for me. I’d be forever indebted to you if you’d pick up my order and bring it back to the store. I have to pull out the dresses I was going to show the bride. Get the room ready. Set out the strawberries and champagne. And…”

  “I can do that,” he interrupted.

  Pearl let out a long sigh and turned toward him. “You didn’t come just to make sure I was able to get to work did you?”

  Tyson winced. “Maybe. I felt a little guilty that you didn’t have your car.” And you haunted my dreams, he thought to himself. “Needed a few supplies too.”

  “You came to town two days in a row. That’s not normal is it?”

  “Nope. Not at all. But Lydia says I need to get out more.” And after having sat with his grandfather in silence this morning while he listened to the man chew his toast, he was damn sure he’d be in town more.

  Pearl reached over and touched his arm. “Thank you. It means a lot to me.”

  He felt the sizzle in her touch zap every part of him awake. “It’s nothing.”

  “It is to me.”

  Pulling the truck up in front of the store he parked. “I’ll be back with the order. What am I getting?”

  “They have a box of pastries with my name on them. They are already paid for, so you just have to get them. I can call and let them know you’re coming.”

  “Do you need to do that?”

  She pursed her lips. “I’ll call. Not everyone will believe a Walker sent a Morgan to run their errands.”

  He nodded and tried not to act or feel as offended as he was.

  Pearl gathered her bags and hopped out of the truck. “By the way. I like this truck better. I thought you had a little bit of luxury in your life.” She winked and closed the door.

  Tyson looked at the truck’s interior. Yeah, he’d decked it out when he’d bought it. Leather seats. XM radio. The trim was elegant, and so was the black paint on the outside. It had been his splurge, which was why it spent most of the time in the garage. He didn’t want anything to happen to it. The old farm truck was just fine for running around. So why had he pulled this one out this morning?

  He waited until she was inside before pulling away.

  Pearl watched him drive away and then leaned her back against the door. Her heart was racing so fast she couldn’t calm it down to a normal pace.

  He’d come for her. He’d come to the door, bought her coffee, and was running errands. How had this happened?

  Pushing herself away from the door, she walked to the back of the store and set her bags on the small table in the back room.

  She knew how this happened. She’d willed it to happen and then acted on it when she’d measured him for that tux.

  Each muscle of his arms had rippled under her fingertips. The massive expansion of his chest had been wrapped in her arms.

  No matter what, he’d enjoyed her presence near him too. A woman didn’t run her hand down a man’s leg and not notice what it did to him.

  Pearl fought to catch her breath just thinking about him. And then she’d kissed him.

  She had to sit down. What was going to happen? What was going on between them?

  Her father wasn’t going to like it, and she was damn sure his grandfather would reject the thought of the two of them. But she couldn’t think of anything else.

  Then reality hit. He was a gentleman who was making sure she could get to work. He’d taken her home when she shouldn’t be driving. He bought her coffee and was helpi
ng her out. That meant nothing in the realm of falling for her. She’d pawed all over him and then threw herself at him when he’d dropped her off. That hadn’t been fair.

  Sulking was going to ruin the pristine look she’d put together that morning. There was work to do, so she needed to lift her chin and get to it.

  She let the smile form on her lips. Nothing could happen between her and Tyson Morgan. She’d have to deal with that and she would. But it was nice to know that they could be friends, and he’d help her when he could.

  The beating of her heart slowed to normal, and she felt the cloud lift from her head. She stood, took the coffee with her, and headed out to sort through the dresses.

  ***

  Tyson stood in line at the bakery while a young boy and his mother tried to choose twelve donuts. How hard could it be, he wondered.

  When the door opened again, Tyson turned to see his sister walk in. She smiled at him as though she knew something.

  She walked toward him and kissed his cheek. “You’re in town again? I saw your truck outside.”

  “Yeah, so?”

  “You don’t eat donuts.”

  He tousled her hair, which she despised. “I’m not here for donuts.”

  The woman and the boy finally moved, and Tyson approached the counter.

  “I’m here to pick up an order for Pearl Walker.”

  The woman nodded. “She called and said you’d be here. Hey, Lydia.”

  “Good morning,” his sister chirped. Did she know everyone?

  “Usual?”

  “Please.” She turned toward him. “You want anything? My treat?”

  “I have coffee in the truck. I have to get these to Pearl.”

  Her eyes grew wider, and though she wasn’t smiling, he knew it was straining to come to the surface.

  “You’re running errands for her? That’s not like you either.”

  “I’m just helping her out. She got a late start.”

  Lydia bit down on her bottom lip. “Just what time did you get into town? Why did she get a late start?”

  He narrowed his eyes and groaned. “I’m not the reason for her late start. And don’t give me crap about helping her out either.”