Protecting Bethany

by Honor James

  “Son of a bitch, you still cheat,” Connor bellowed and laid heels to Pattycake. He knew he’d never beat the stallion, that thing had too much pureblood in him, thus why he was a bad cattle horse, to let the little mare even get close. But Connor would make Brendan work for it, especially since he knew where all the little detours were from the last runoff, might gain him a bit of ground and help make up for the lack of pure speed.

  * * * *

  Pulling the roast out of the oven Bethany put it on the large platter and then separated the veggies that she had cooked with it. When the timer on the second oven went off she grinned. Biscuits. She loved this kitchen and its double ovens because that meant she could make her special homemade biscuits.

  Pulling those out she had the table set and went to the back porch with a step stool in hand. It was ridiculous but she couldn’t reach the stupid string for the dinner bell. Putting the stool down she rang the bell and then stepped off and walked back in. Putting the ice bucket on the table she moved back and waited for everyone to come in and get settled for food.

  Blake and Corbin were the first two through the door, laughing about something. It died as soon as they caught sight of her and they stopped dead in the doorway. With others behind them given the complaints she could hear. Corbin lifted a brow but didn’t move. “Uh, what’s this?” he asked, waving a hand at her true self. “I thought you were all for, you know,” he made a face.

  “Mr. Graymont and I had a long talk. Where is Patty?” she asked with a frown. “I didn’t think that the two of you would be here without Patty.” Which was odd, to say the least. “He knows everything,” Bethany added with a shrug. “And it’s more comfortable out of the outfit than in.”

  “You sure?” Blake asked. At her nod he sighed. “Patty was in with her father. Said she needed to talk to him about something so we left her to bend his ear for a while.”

  He and Corbin finally moved and let the other hands into the kitchen, all of whom stopped to stare at her. But she saw little glances to the table and, apparently, food overrode curiosity because not a one of them asked the obvious question. Connor and Brendan were not among them, which meant they were still to come.

  Bethany ensured that there was a plate made up for both Daniel and Patty now that she knew the woman was here and set it off to the side. “Dig in. There are pecan and cream pies for dessert,” she told everyone.

  “Did I hear pecan pie for dessert?” Connor said as he came into the kitchen. He slammed to a halt as he caught sight of her. Brendan nearly sent him flying as he came around the corner right behind him.

  Brendan shot his brother an irritated look and then looked to her before glancing to the table. She knew the instant his brain clicked in because his eyes went wide and his head snapped back around to face her. “Bethany?” he breathed out.

  “Hi,” was all that Bethany could say. Connor had been walking around her for the last little while as if he had not a clue and Brendan did the same thing when he came to the ranch but now the disguise was gone and she was simply her. “How are the two of you? Still causing trouble?” she asked nervously and then shook her head. “Sit, get food or you won’t get any.”

  “Hi,” they both managed to get out.

  Someone pushed Brendan from behind and he moved. Patty came right on in and gave her a hug.

  “She has a point, boys, she cooks a mean pot roast and these animals will devour it all if you don’t get some,” their father, Daniel, said to them as he maneuvered around them.

  “Right,” Connor said, frowning. He shook his head and moved to the table.

  Brendan though just stood there, staring at her. Like she was a ghost or something.

  Bethany hugged Patty back and put her hand on her belly. “I have you and Daniel a plate of to the side. How’s the baby treating you? Not running and hiding up under your ribs every time that your daddy comes around is he?” she teased.

  “Nope. Not anymore.” Patty took the plate that Bethany offered her and grinned. “I think you broke my brother.” She looked at Brendan who was still just standing there, shocked.

  Bethany shook her head and pushed Patty toward her husbands gently. She then walked to Brendan and looked up at him. “Bren, you really need to take a seat and eat. I’m not a ghost you know.” Why he was looking the way that he was didn’t make sense, at all. She had always been their kid sister’s bratty friend, not someone that they would stop and take notice of.

  His mouth was working but nothing coming out. He seemed to shake himself out of the stupor and looked to the table before looking to her again. “I’m good, I think I’ll skip it,” he said. Spinning on his heel he stalked out of the kitchen to parts unknown. Though she did hear the front door slam shut behind him.

  Bethany sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. Wonderful. Already she had run off one of Daniel’s sons, the one that was so seldom ever came home as well. Great, now he was going to ask her to leave for sure.

  Daniel stopped by her side and looked down at her. “He was always the more emotional of the kids,” he said quietly. “He never showed it though, buried it all inside. Just like his mother. You should sit and eat, Beth,” he told her.

  Bethany smiled up at Daniel and nodded. “Thank you. I will once everyone has a plate and is settled. Promise.” She would take up whatever space was left open to her. Looking to her guards, the new hands that Daniel had taken on she nodded. She would need to talk to them later as well.

  Corbin wiggled over on the bench seat and smacked the space. “Come here and park it, Beth. You know the rules. First come, first served, and these men are animals when it comes to pot roast. So get in here and stake your claim or go without. Pass me a plate someone,” he called out over the hubbub.

  Beth laughed. “Good thing that I made two then, huh?” she asked and took the seat at Corbin’s side. Bumping her shoulder to his she smiled. “I’m glad that she’s so happy.” She looked at Patty who was eating and all but radiating happiness.

  “Considering she’s got us by the balls, she damn well better be,” he muttered with a grin. “She knows she’s loved, the threat to her life is gone and she’s about to give Daniel the first grandbaby. She has a reason to be happy. Plus, she has her best friend around again, even more reason.”

  Beth smiled and nodded. “She does have you boys just where she wants you doesn’t she? And yeah, it’s great to be around her again. I love her like a sister and always have. She’s a good person, period.” So were Blake and Corbin. “Now, eat,” she told him again.

  “In a second,” he said. Then he reached out and dropped a full plate in front of her. “Now we can eat.” He smiled at her. With a wink he dug into his own full plate of food with gusto she knew that all the hands had. Working the land was a hard gig and worked up very healthy appetites.

  Shaking her head at Corbin she did just what they expected and began to eat. She couldn’t taste her food, she was too busy worrying about Brendan and wondered what she had done to piss him off enough to take off.

  Chapter Four

  Dinner was long since done when she heard the front screen door squeak open and then thump shut. Booted feet moved up the hallway toward the stairs. Had to be Brendan, the rest of the family had either gone to bed, settled in for a movie or, in the case of Patty and her husbands, gone home.

  Bethany opened her door and saw Brendan walking down the hall. “There is a plate of food for you in the oven. If you are hungry that is. If not just leave it there and I will toss it out in the morning when I start breakfast.” She toyed with her door and chewed her lip and before she could stop the words blurted out. “What did I do that made you leave the house? Do you hate me that much?”

  He turned to face her and shook his head. “You didn’t do anything, Bethany. And I’ve never hated you, how the hell could you think that?” he asked. He was keeping his voice down but she still caught his shock and his own hurt in the words.

  “The fact that you have never be
en able to be in the same room with me for more than two minutes without leaving?” She sighed and shook her head. “Go and eat, Bren. Eat and get some sleep.” Defeat was clear in her voice. “Rest well, Bren, when you are able to get there. Until tomorrow.”

  His hand on her door stopped her from shutting it. Holy hell he’d moved quick. “Because you were my sister’s best friend and too damned young. Then,” he said. He stared down at her and leaned in closer. “But you’re not now, Bethany. So be careful and consider just what you might be starting by poking me.”

  Bethany looked up at the imposing man before her but found herself swaying toward him. “And if I already know what I’m doing?” She had not the first damn clue what she was doing. All that she knew was that she had always wanted Connor and Brendan both for more than just her best friends’ big brothers.

  His hand moved from the door to her cheek, his thumb stroking slowly over her skin. “I don’t think you do,” he said quietly. Then he leaned in and kissed her. Really kissed her. His lips were firm against hers, his tongue stroking the seam of her lips to get her to let him in.

  When he touched her cheek she was a little shocked but when he began to kiss her, she was stunned. For all of a half of a second she stood there in shock but then she leaned into him and fisted her hands into his plaid shirt and moved closer to him. Her lips opened greedily to his invasion, and that’s what it was, an invasion. She heard a moan, from her or him she wasn’t sure but she knew what kind of pleasure that she was receiving from this kiss.

  His hand slid into her hair and he stepped in closer, his other hand on her back drawing her tighter to his body. Brendan slipped his tongue into her mouth and teased her, stroking her tongue with his and tempting her.

  Her tongue dueled with his. This was what a kiss should be. This was perfect and she loved it. Finally however she pulled back slightly and looked up at him. Licking her lips she was panting, so was he she noticed, and smiled. “Wow.” Sometimes just one word was all that could be used to sum up feelings.

  He rubbed his thumb to her jaw as he stared down at her. “Does that answer your question about why I beat a hasty retreat out of any room you were in?” he asked quietly. Brushing his lips to hers he lifted his head a little more.

  “Yeah but it brings up another one of why you didn’t do this sooner,” she whispered and leaned into him. “I wouldn’t have argued with you at all. If the kiss I gave back was any indication to you that is,” she teased. “I have always had a thing for you.” Well both brothers honestly.

  “You never said anything either,” he said, pointing out the obvious. He stared down at her, his thumb slowly sliding back and forth over her skin. For an attorney Brendan had the hands of a rancher, just a little rough in all the right ways. “I always worried that you wouldn’t feel the same and I really didn’t want to ever make it awkward for you to be here with Patty. I know you preferred it being at home,” he said softly.

  She nodded and felt her face flush. “I did,” she whispered and leaned into him. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t know how you would react.” Especially given she had the hots for him and his brother. “What if I told you that I had feelings for more than you though?” she whispered without moving her forehead from his chest. She couldn’t look at him when she asked this question. “What if I want what Patty has? What if I have deep feelings for Connor as well?”

  “Well that would definitely make it easier,” he said. “I won’t have to beat up my brother to get the girl.” He chuckled. Pulling her close he slipped his arms around her and hugged her gently. “We’ve always known we both had a thing for you, Bethany. And one, very drunken weekend years ago, we even talked about it. After which we drank some more to forget about talking about it and all the emotional crap we purged. Then we had to work a full day in the sun and regretted ever drinking.”

  Bethany’s arms wound up around his neck and she rested her cheek on his chest. “We should sleep.” She didn’t want to tell him yet about all she had to, but she knew she would have to tell them. Both. “Tomorrow maybe I can spend some time alone with both of you so that we can all talk? There are things that you both need to know before anything else happens. Reasons why I was in the disguise that I was in. Tomorrow, okay?” So that she could work up the nerve to tell them everything.

  “Yeah, we can talk tomorrow. Not in the morning, apparently Connor and I are on fence duty for the morning and then are to be back here for the afternoon. There are some new horses coming in that Blake wants a hand with.” Rubbing his hand up and down her back he pressed a kiss to her hair. “In this discussion, will you be mentioning the two very observant hands we just happened to take on when you came to work here?”

  Bethany blushed and nodded. “Yes. Everything,” she said with a sigh. “I will make us up a lunch and meet you boys out on the fence line, or do you just want to wait until after you have helped Blake with the horses?”

  “We’re coming back for lunch and the horses won’t be here until around two-thirty,” he told her. “So that would work,” he added. Leaning back he cupped her face in both hands and looked at her. “You should get some sleep, Bethany. We all need to be up early tomorrow.”

  “Yes we do. You need to eat, Brendan. Like I said there is a plate still warm for you in the oven. You should eat and then hit the sack. Morning comes very early on the ranch.” She smiled and leaned into his touch. “I could get used to your touches, but I can’t. Not until you know everything.” They would likely push her away, she was after all defective in a way now. She didn’t see it as such. She refused to see herself as a victim anymore. She was a survivor and she was going to continue thusly. She was also going to take everything from her father so if that made her a bully, but so be it.

  Frowning down at her he tipped her face up to his. “No matter what, Bethany, you’re not going to chase us off. Get to bed, I’ll go eat something but I’m honestly not hungry. Always have had all my emotions run through my gut,” he muttered. Leaning over, he kissed her softly. “Sleep well, Bethany,” he whispered.

  “Sleep well, Brendan.” Impulsively she hugged him tightly. “Don’t worry. If I can help it I won’t be letting you go again. Ever. Tomorrow. I promise we will talk about all of this tomorrow. Rest because you will need it come morning.” She stepped back out of his arms and smiled. “Goodness, no wonder I lost my heart to you so many years ago.” It was more than his looks too. It was him. She knew him on a level most people who got married didn’t know each other on, and she loved him all the same.

  “You really should have said something, Bethany. You should know, men are kind of oblivious beasts,” he smiled at her. Brushing a finger down her cheek he stepped back into the hallway. “Sweet dreams,” he told her. Then he turned and headed for the stairs.

  Chapter Five

  Morning came early for her. The night had been a sleepless one, she had tossed and turned all night and now that it was morning she knew that she had a million and one things to do. After a fast shower Beth walked downstairs to get breakfast started. It was still fairly dark outside so she had thankfully rose before everyone else. Peace. It was peaceful this time of the morning. Before the cock crowed, before the animals began to move. It was simply still and quiet. It was nice.

  Partway through her preparations she heard the stairs creak. Turning she saw Connor pad into the kitchen, boots in hand, hair tousled and in mid-yawn. “Mornin’,” he grunted her way as he dropped his boots. Shuffling to the coffee maker he leaned over and inhaled the strong aroma before pouring a cup and drinking it straight up.

  Leaning against the counter Bethany smiled. “Good morning to you as well.” She passed him a plate. “Sit and eat. From what I understand you and Bren will be working the fence line today so you need fuel.” She wanted to reach out and touch him, wanted to brush a hand over his lightly whiskered cheek but she refrained, barely.

  “Yup.” He nodded taking the plate. “Thanks, B.” He shuffled over to the
table and collapsed onto one of the chairs.

  “Thought I heard you,” Brendan said as he came into the kitchen. He was in socks too, boots in hand, which he set down inside the doorway. “Good morning, Bethany.” He smiled at her. Then he stopped and frowned. “Did you even get any sleep last night?”

  “Not a lot,” Bethany said with a shrug. “Don’t worry though, I will take a nap before I come see you both for lunch.” She assured him and leaned into him. “And good morning,” she said with a grin. “Now, go and eat.” She would have handed him a plate as well but he was so close, and she had her hand on his chest and one on the counter so she couldn’t. Yet.

  Rubbing his hand over her arm he sighed. “You’d better,” he said softly. Leaning over he pressed a kiss to her lips. Behind him she heard a utensil hit a plate, obviously Connor.

  “Uh, there something I need to know?” Connor asked in a still groggy tone.

  “Plenty of things,” Brendan said. “But that will be later, after we get some work done and Bethany has had a nap. We’re doing lunch with her out at the watering hole so we need to be quick about our work today.”

  “Yes please. I am bringing leftover pie to lunch as well.” She looked up at Brendan and smiled. “Go. Have a seat and eat. Your daddy will be down soon and if you aren’t gone before then he will have even more for you to do and I really want our talk today please.”

  Stepping back he poured a cup of coffee and then took the plate she handed him. “Thank you,” he said softly. Moving to the table he sat down and immediately dug in. Apparently her words had kicked both guys into gear to ensure they didn’t stick around for their father’s arrival in the kitchen.

  As the table filled Bethany kept herself busy by ensuring that everyone had something to eat. It was nearly two hours later before she was able to climb back up to her room and crawl back under the blankets. She could nap for about ninety minutes and then she would need to be up, shower, get a horse and ride out to meet Connor and Brendan. She just wasn’t so sure she was ready for this talk or if she was far too ready. With that thought, she drifted off to sleep.