“No. Nothing. Maybe they placed an ad for you in a lonely-hearts club magazine.” She reached out for the door, but he put his hand against it, holding it shut.
“What, Jake?” she demanded, frustration in her voice.
Clearly his revelation about her aunt Mildred and Red had distracted her. But he had his own problems to deal with. “Could you ask them?”
“You mean, could I spy on my friends for you? No, I couldn’t.”
“You’d better rethink your decision.”
“Why?”
“Because if they managed to get me married off, who would be their next target?”
A wary look filled her eyes. Slowly she said, “Why would they choose another target? Maybe they’re only interested in marrying you off.”
“I don’t think so. Success goes to the head. They’ll start thinking they’re invincible, that they can play God. And the next unmarried person in their target range is you, B. J. Anderson. They’ll start on you next.”
“Then I’ll just have to hope and pray that you hold out against them, won’t I?” She tugged on the door again.
“You could help me.”
“I won’t spy on my friends.”
“It’s not spying. You could just ask them if that’s what they’re doing. A simple question.” He was close enough now to smell her, an earthy scent that made him think of summer. He’d better end this conversation soon.
“And they would tell me the truth, Jake. Right after they asked me to give my word not to tell you. So what would my asking them accomplish?” He opened his mouth, but she spoke before he could. “No. Don’t ask me to break a promise.”
“But, B.J.—”
“No. I’m not going to help you out, Jake. You’re on your own.” This time when she tugged on the door, he let her open it.
Within seconds he was alone in the barn.
Time to think up a new plan.
Chapter Two
B.J. crossed the yard to the neat little house off to one side. Lights were burning in the windows, welcoming her as they always did.
What was she going to do about Mildred?
Every since Darrell, B.J.’s husband, had died, Mildred had been there for her and Toby. Her aunt had kept house and helped raise Toby from the time he was a year old.
The three of them had shared a good life.
Now Mildred was keeping part of her life a secret. And it had to be because she thought she didn’t have a choice.
Damn Jake Randall’s hide.
The man had been the one drawback in her move to Wyoming. He hadn’t wanted her here. Even when he finally accepted her skills, he still hadn’t wanted her here. She didn’t know why. She just knew he didn’t.
The rest of the Randalls had been delightful, making her feel a part of the community, even a part of their family, her and Mildred and Toby. She’d tried to accommodate Jake’s aversion to her. She’d avoided him, and she’d tried to keep Toby out of his way.
Tonight had been different.
Because he wanted something. She opened the door of the house, still undecided about what to say to Mildred. The thud of little feet took her mind off her problem. She opened her arms wide, dropping her kit as Toby rounded the corner of the hall.
“Mommy!” he called as he launched himself toward her.
“Toby!” she responded. It was a game they played each evening as she came in. He was already in his pajamas, reminding her that she was later than usual.
Spot, the dog Jake had given her son, stood at her feet, barking as she hugged Toby. Then Mildred came toward them.
“Land’s sake, girl, were you planning on working all night? You haven’t had your dinner yet. Toby, get down and let’s take your mom to the kitchen and feed her.”
“Okay! There’s chocolate pie tonight. Mr. Red sent it home with Aunt Mildred.”
“How kind of Red,” B.J. said, watching Mildred. Sure enough, just as Jake predicted, even that mild comment had Mildred’s cheeks pinkening.
With loving concern, the two most important people in her life settled her at the kitchen table. Toby, almost five years old, carried a plate of biscuits to the table and proudly set them in front of his mother. Mildred added a plate filled with delicious food.
“Well, did you have a good day today?” B.J. asked her son, putting off talking to Mildred.
“Yeah! I learned to write my name.” In a flash, he was down from the table and out the kitchen door.
“I believe he’s going to demonstrate his miraculous feat,” Mildred said, her lips curving into a tolerant smile. “He only wrote it for us ten or twelve times.”
“Is he getting in the way?” Several months ago, just before the birth of the twins, Jake had hired Mildred to help Red out with the housework. Each afternoon after preschool, Toby spent his time at the Randall house.
“Not at all. Red and the ladies love on him so much, it’s a wonder he’s not spoiled.”
“Mildred—”
“Watch, Mommy!” Toby exclaimed, running back to the table, a crayon and paper clutched in his hands.
After several repetitions of his new talent, Toby allowed his mother to finish her dinner. Then she took him to bed and read him a story, as she always did.
When she closed the door behind her drowsy son, she returned to the kitchen to find it sparkling clean and no Mildred in sight.
She tracked her down to the living room, where Mildred was watching a favorite TV show. Patiently B.J. waited until the commercial break.
“Jake and I were talking—”
“You and Jake? That’s something new, isn’t it? Maybe he’s gotten over whatever has kept him kind of standoffish,” Mildred said with satisfaction. “Want more pie?” she asked, standing.
“No, I don’t. And I don’t want to discuss Jake.”
“I always thought you had a problem with him as much as he had with you,” Mildred said, a teasing light in her eyes. “Like maybe he was a bit too much man for you.”
“Mildred! What are you saying?” B.J. thought she’d kept her reaction to the oldest Randall brother carefully hidden. She should’ve known Mildred would see through her.
“Nothing to be ashamed of. A woman can’t help her reaction to a man. And Darrell’s been gone almost four years now.”
“Mildred, this has nothing to do with Jake Randall! Or me, except—It’s about you. And Red.”
The easy grin left Mildred’s face. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m asking what’s going on between you and Red.”
“Nothing! Nothing at all. I work with him, that’s all.” In spite of her protests, Mildred’s face filled with color. Just as Jake said.
“Mildred, there’s nothing wrong with l-liking a man. Red’s a true gentleman.”
“He certainly is. But that don’t change the fact that there’s nothing going on.” Mildred sat down abruptly, as if she could no longer stand.
B.J. licked her dry lips and wished she could choke Jake Randall. “All I want to say is Toby and I want you to be happy. There’s no reason to—to hold back if you and Red—”
“How many times I gotta tell you, girl? There’s no such thing going on. I’m an old woman!” Mildred, belying her words, jumped to her feet and ran from the room.
The television program started again, and B.J. stared at it blindly. If Jake was right and Mildred was lying, B.J. didn’t want her aunt to give up a chance at love because of her and Toby.
What was she going to do about it?
Damn Jake Randall’s hide.
JAKE MADE SURE he was out of the house before anyone reached the kitchen the next morning. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d gone without breakfast. Since Janice had made a point of informing him that she was an early riser, he had no choice.
Last night, after he returned from his “chat” with B.J., Anna’s friend had sat beside him and talked nonstop until he’d been able to excuse himself and go to bed.
Today he intended
to make another effort to find out what was going on.
When his brothers joined him in the north pasture, they made several comments about him missing breakfast. Then Chad pulled a napkin out of his jean jacket. “Red was worried about you and sent these biscuits.”
Jake grabbed them.
“So it wasn’t lack of appetite that had you out early? Was it the boys’ crying?” Pete asked, referring to his twins’ nocturnal habits.
“Nah . That’s music to my ears,” Jake assured him.
“Unlike a certain lady’s conversation?” Chad asked.
After a quick look at Brett’s guilty face, Jake shrugged and said nothing.
Brett spoke up. “Sorry, Jake. I didn’t know Anna’s friend was such a chatterbox.”
“I can put up with a little talk,” Jake finally said, “but I’m beginning to think the girls are trying to marry me off.”
Jake was convinced at once that none of his brothers suspected the same thing. It bothered him. Was he so conceited that he thought every woman was after him?
“Why do you think that, Jake?” Pete asked.
Jake enumerated the three encounters that had convinced him.
“I hadn’t heard about the lunch,” Chad said, frowning.
“Janie never said anything to me,” Pete protested.
Brett just chuckled.
His brothers stared at him, Jake with a ferocious frown on his face.
“What? It’s funny. I mean, it’s poetic justice, isn’t it? After all, that’s what Jake did to us,” Brett explained.
“I don’t find it funny at all. And you sound like B.J.,” Jake growled.
He realized what he’d said when his three brothers exchanged startled looks.
“You talked to B.J. about this?” Chad asked cautiously.
“Yeah. I figured the girls might have said something to her about their plans.”
“And?” Chad persisted.
“And nothing. She refused to help me.”
“That shouldn’t be a big surprise,” Pete drawled, wrapping his right leg around the saddle horn and resting his elbow on it. “The two of you haven’t exactly been friendly.”
Jake ignored Pete’s comment. “Listen, I want each of you to tell your wife to leave well enough alone. We all know marriage isn’t a good idea for me. Okay?”
Brett grinned at his oldest brother. “We may tell ’em, Jake, but that doesn’t mean they’ll do what we say.”
“Just tell ’em!” Jake shouted, and rode off to chase a cow, leaving his three brothers behind.
“Do you think he’s right?” Pete asked, watching Jake.
“Could be,” Chad said, frowning. “And frankly I wouldn’t mind. I’d like Jake to be happy. But Megan’s friend wasn’t right for him at all.”
“Neither was Janie’s,” Pete said.
“Well, Anna’s friend sure isn’t,” Brett added. “The woman is driving me crazy. I can’t imagine what she’s doing to Jake, drooling all over him.”
Pete swung his leg back down and slid his boot into the stirrup. “Okay. We’ll each talk to our brides and see what we can find out.” He nudged his horse and, as he set out in a gallop, called over his shoulder. “And maybe give them a few suggestions along the way about who might attract Jake.”
IN THE NORMAL COURSE of work, B.J., who covered the entire county, didn’t see Jake more than once or twice a month, unless her family received an invitation from the Randalls. So she was surprised to run into him at lunch.
“B.J.?” he called to her as she was about to get into her truck.
“Yes, Jake? You need something?”
“I just wondered if you’d thought over our conversation last night.”
Yes, she had. She’d tossed and turned all night, wondering what to do about Mildred. “Yeah.”
“Good. You willing to help me now?”
She frowned. Was the man still going on about the matchmaking? “No. I thought you were talking about Red and Mildred.”
“Red and Mildred? There’s nothing to do about those two. Unless you intend to object.”
“Of course I don’t intend to object. But Mildred won’t even talk about it. I’m not sure you’re on the right track here.”
“Did she blush?” he asked, a grin on his face.
She wanted to smack him. Instead, she turned away. “Yeah.”
“Well, there’s your answer.”
“Red’s not trying to take advantage of her, is he?” she suddenly asked, squaring back around to face him.
“Take advantage of her? Come on, Anderson, that’s even outdated for Mildred to say, much less you.”
“I’m an old-fashioned girl. Is he?”
“No!” he returned, his good humor disappearing. “Red is as much a gentleman as I am.”
“Some reassurance!” she muttered sarcastically.
“When have I ever been less than a gentleman to you?” Jake demanded, his pride seemingly hurt.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Forget it.”
He clenched his jaw. “So, have you changed your mind about helping me?”
“No. I think you can protect yourself without me coming to your rescue.”
Jake whipped off his hat and ran his hand through his thick hair. B.J. followed his movement, wishing she had the right to—She put her wanton thoughts out of her head.
“I’m not sure I can. Someone came to my room last night after I’d gone to bed.”
“Someone? Didn’t she introduce herself?”
She watched in amazement as Jake blushed.
“I had a chair under the doorknob. She couldn’t get in.”
“Maybe it was one of your brothers.”
“I don’t think so.”
“My, my, my. Maybe you’re right. Maybe these women are desperate for a husband,” she teased, grinning at him.
He reached out and grabbed her arms. “You’re not going to think this is so funny when they start in on you.”
Her breath caught in her throat. She’d never been quite this close to Jake Randall before. His brown eyes held her gaze, and he moved closer still.
“Maybe you’re looking for a husband. Is that the reason you’re not worried?” he whispered.
“No. No, I’m not looking for a husband. But I don’t have to start worrying until they take you down. So don’t give in, Jake. Resist temptation.”
“Those women don’t tempt me,” he muttered, and pulled her closer still until her body was pressed against his.
B.J. felt her mouth go dry as his hard muscles were imprinted on every inch of her. She needed to protest, to move away, to do something. Quickly.
“Hey, Jake!” a cowboy called from the steps of the bunkhouse. “You eatin’ with us?”
“Yeah,” Jake yelled back as he released B.J.
She took a step away from him, drawing a deep breath.
“See you around, Doc,” he muttered, and walked away.
As B.J. watched his arrogant stride eat up the distance to the bunkhouse, she whispered, “Not if I see you first.”
“SWEETHEART, I HEARD you took Jake to lunch the other day with a friend of yours. Was it Mindy?”
“Yes, it was. Jake didn’t mind, did he?” Megan asked, turning innocent eyes on her husband.
“Um, well, he sort of got the idea you might be trying to marry him off.” When she said nothing, he added, “And Mindy’s just not his type.”
“I know. Wouldn’t it be awful if he fell for someone like her? It’d be Chloe all over again,” she said with a shudder, naming Jake’s ex-wife.
“Yeah,” Chad agreed, but he watched his wife closely.
“JANIE, ARE YOU up to anything?”
Looking up from the baby bed where Nathan was having his diaper changed, Janie stared at her husband. “What are you talking about? Oh, honey, would you change Neal’s diaper?”
Pete moved to the other bed. “Hey, there, little guy. Is that why you’re fussin’?” He started the change but he d
idn’t drop his questioning. “I asked if you were up to something. Jake’s got a bee in his bonnet that you might be matchmaking.”
“What? Who would I match him with?”
“Allison.”
“Good heavens, Pete, she’s not Jake’s type. That would never do. Besides, she’d drive us all crazy in a minute.”
The grin she sent in his direction had Pete thinking of doing some matchmaking of his own, as soon as the boys were tucked in for their nap. Some matchmaking between him and his lovely wife. His favorite kind.
“UM, ANNA, could I speak to you alone?” Brett whispered in his wife’s ear after lunch.
With a smile that set him on fire, she took his hand and led him into the television room. “Yes, husband mine?”
His only answer was to cover her soft lips with his.
Several minutes later, her cheeks flushed and her hair in disarray, Anna pushed back from his embrace. “Was this what you wanted to talk to me about?”
He nibbled on her neck, wishing he could forget working this afternoon and carry his bride up the stairs. But that wouldn’t be fair to everyone else. “No. Jake wants you to stop matchmaking.”
Anna’s eyebrows soared. “What are you talking about?”
“Janice. And when is she leaving?”
Anna giggled. “Soon, I hope. I had no idea she would set out after Jake like that. Wouldn’t it be terrible if she caught him?”
Brett shuddered. “Yeah. I wouldn’t mind if Jake married. Only I’d like him to marry someone nice. Someone who’d make him happy.” “Or someone he could make happy?” “Whatever,” he muttered, and returned his lips to hers. She was too distracting for any coherent conversation.
JAKE CONVINCED HIMSELF his brothers would take care of his problem. And when Janice left the next day, he felt confident everything was taken care of.
Until Friday night.
He came down from his shower to find the kitchen quiet. Warily he headed back toward the stairs, but before he could retreat, Pete and Janie met him.
“Hi, Jake. We’re going to town tonight to celebrate Pete’s new contract with the Cheyenne rodeo,” Janie announced.
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