Demanding Satisfaction [Bride Train 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (42 page)

Barstow sidled up close to Max. “What about the Jennets?”

“We’re charging Hugh for interfering with and endangering a peace officer, as in Sam,” said Max. “Eudora should be locked up for stealing from her father’s bank, as well as arranging to have her husband murdered, but that was so long ago it might not stick. We’ll be bringing them both East to face the courts.”

Barstow snickered. “You think your two brothers are going to leave Sophie here, alone, and head off East just for that?” He shook his head. “There’s other agents who can haul them away.”

“Yes, but we have to go anyway, to resign from the Pinkerton Agency.”

“Fer gawd’s sake, man!” Barstow blew out through his droopy moustache. “What’s he gonna do if you sign a letter of resignation and send it with your agents? Fire you?”

He stomped away in disgust, leaving Max with a huge dilemma. Did he stay with his family, or finish the assignment he’d been ordered to complete?

* * * *

Though excitement flooded her body, Sophie pushed everyone out of her room and took a few minutes to herself. Finally, she was going to marry Josh. She chewed on a ragged fingernail. Would they be upset that she’d bought the ranch they wanted? She’d been shocked the previous evening when Nevin knocked on Lily’s door and asked to see her. He said he was there replacing Trace as the mayor of Tanner’s Ford. Trace wanted to know if she wanted the ranch Orville Rivers used to own. He’d held it for her in case she wanted to sell the hotel. They’d wait for her hotel to sell before being paid, if she wanted the ranch.

She’d said yes before she could think. It would be her first home. Not the one Rivers had built, as that had been torn down. The men had constructed a brand-new cabin in a different spot. She’d been there, of course, having supplied some of the food for the work party. She’d admired the design, dreaming of living there. And now her dreams would come true. If, that is, her husband and his brothers weren’t furious at her for buying it.

The one thing she would not do was to choose a brand. Nevin said there were things men just had to do, and putting their mark on things was one of them. He’d laughed and said it was like pissing up a tree. The biggest dog lifted his leg the highest to show his superiority. Her buying the ranch was one thing, he’d said, as it was a woman’s home. But the cattle brand was men’s work, and they’d not tolerate her interference.

All that mattered was that she had a home. If Josh was willing to live in a hotel to keep her, he shouldn’t get upset that she’d found them a home.

A quick knock and the room flooded with women. She’d helped almost everyone from Beth to Casey marry, and they were not going to miss the chance to get her back.

“We have some advice to give you on how to manage a home along with three big men,” said Beth.

* * * *

Sam stuck his hands in his pockets. If he held them out they might tremble, so he kept them in fists.

This was it. A woman had agreed to marry them. A woman so wonderful that he couldn’t believe it was real. All his life he’d kept his true feelings hidden, pretending he wanted to be wild and carefree. But it was a mask. Thinking he could never have a loving home, he’d pretended it didn’t matter.

But all he really wanted in life was the security of a home, and a loving woman in it.

Sophie would save them from themselves. Max was already mellowing. He’d even suggested they send in their letters of resignation rather than present them in person!

Josh, ever so calm and controlled, bounced on his toes, straightened his tie, and glanced at the door every two seconds.

“No one will tell me who owns that ranch!” said Max.

Sam grabbed him by the arm. “I know you want a home. So do I. But let’s get through this wedding first.”

The swish of rustling fabric and chatter of returning wives made them turn around. Beth whispered something to the judge. He caught Sam’s eye and nodded.

“It’s time.”

Max nodded, straightened his tie once more, and strode forward to join Josh. Sam took his younger brother’s other side. He blinked back womanly tears but was unable to stop the lump forming in his throat.

So many years, a lifetime of dreams, and now it was happening.

“Here she comes!”

* * * *

Josh kept his mind carefully blank. Ever since Max and Sam arrived he’d been closeted with the married men, getting unnecessary advice on how to handle a strong Valley wife. He’d kept his mouth shut and his ears open and had picked up one or two things he planned to use on Sophie. The woman who would soon walk into the room and change his miserable life forever.

He trembled as everyone stood up to see his bride enter the room. Flanked by his brothers, he turned to watch Sophie approach.

“Look at that dress!”

His heart and lungs stopped. There she was.

He hadn’t thought about what she would wear. She ignited the room with her flames. They thought it was the color of her dress, but that was nothing to the passion he knew flared beneath it.

She smiled at him, a wide promise of love forever.

Someone pounded him on the back, breaking the spell. He gasped for air.

“That is one magnificent woman,” said the judge.

“Amen to that,” murmured Sam.

Staring him in the eyes, she shook her head. Her loose hair fluttered around her. He narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth to keep from saying anything. When she got close he saw that sparkle of mischief. She knew, and had done it anyway. His cock surged to life.

“I said no one would see your hair down.”

“You’re not my husband,” she replied flippantly. “You can’t give me orders.”

“That situation is going to change in two minutes,” he replied, tugging on the thick brown ends dancing at her hips. “And as soon as the door closes behind us, you know what’s going to happen.”

Her nostrils flared. “You’ll have to catch me first.”

His body jerked at her challenge. “I’ll catch you, and then I’ll—”

“Enough,” said Sam. He jammed an elbow into Josh’s side. “Get the wedding done before you get into the honeymoon.”

“Excellent advice,” drawled the judge. He raised a bushy eyebrow. “If you four are ready?”

Josh gave Sophie a quelling look. She winked impishly. He turned to the judge but couldn’t hide his smile. Thatcher sighed.

“This valley is full of them,” he said. “And I expect the next generation will follow in their mothers’ footsteps.”

“Enough jawing,” called a voice from the audience. “Let’s get this wedding over so we can get down to some serious drinking!”

“Drinking wasn’t what I had in mind,” said Josh quietly.

He reached down and patted Sophie’s bottom.

“If the bride and groom can keep their hands off each other,” said Thatcher, “I will conduct the ceremony.”

“Are we going on a picnic?” asked Sam the next morning, eyeing the wagon. He leered as Sophie approached. “It’s a mite cool for getting naked, but if you’re game, so’m I.”

“Yes, it’s a picnic,” replied Sophie as she stepped onto the hotel porch. “I’d like to see that ranch, in case it comes up for sale.” Josh took the basket out of her hands and set it down.

“Good morning, wife,” he said. He gently wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

Flames ignited at his touch. She moaned, grabbed his shirt, and hauled him closer. He deepened the kiss and she matched it, their tongues fighting. Passion erupted as fast as it had the night before. She backed up a step, trying to haul him with her.

“Whoa. My turn.”

Josh broke away. Chest heaving, she found herself facing Max and Sam. The one on her left had a dimple while the other had a scowl.

“Sam,” she said, nodding to the man on her left. “Max.” Another nod. She smiled and held out her arms. “Who’s first?”

Sam grinned and moved forward, but Max elbowed him out of the way. “Me!”

An hour later she was bumping her way toward her new home, not that any of the men realized it. Josh’s horse, saddled with Gibson tack, was on a lead behind the wagon. Sam and Max rode, one on each side as if to protect her flanks.

It was a lovely September morning. Cold and crisp, with bright sunshine to bless them. The mountains hadn’t yet gained their mantle of snow, but in a few weeks they’d be white. Come spring, if all went right, it would slowly melt and keep the lands green as long as possible. By then she hoped they had cattle to graze on their ranch.

“Why picnic on the ranch we want, but can’t have?” asked Josh.

“Um, it’s just that…” Her hands fluttered as she ran out of words.

Josh’s body suddenly tensed. He shot her a look, almost a glare. She flinched. He immediately smoothed his expression. They rode on for a few minutes. She pressed her fist into her tight stomach.

“It’s ours, isn’t it?” He gestured with his chin. “This is the Gibson ranch now.”

“Not yet. But if we want it, it’s ours. I wanted you to see the cabin before I told you,” she replied. It came out in a gush of relief. “In case you hated it.”

“Aw, Sophie.” He exhaled, then snorted a laugh. “You’ll never cease to surprise me. I’ll be ninety years old and you’ll come up with something and get my rocking chair going.”

“Ninety?”

“I’ve spent my life wanting you, but not knowing it. Now that you’re mine, I expect to keep you with me a long, long, time.” He gently nudged her with his elbow. “You hear that, Mrs. Gibson? You’d better hang on until we use up all our love, and that’s going to take a hundred years or more.”

Love. She smiled to herself and nudged him back. He loved her. So did Max and Sam. And she loved them back just as fiercely. With luck, there’d be another Gibson to love by summer.

Now that Josh knew where they were going and why, she sat up and looked around. This was where they’d create and raise their children with love. She inhaled the fresh, crisp air as deep as she could.

“Smoke!”

Sophie looked in the direction Max pointed. A thin column rose from behind a hill.

“That’s the woodstove,” called Josh in response.

Max grimaced. “We’d best turn back. Don’t want to disturb whoever lives there.”

“We’re expected,” said Josh before she could think of something to say.

“Why?” asked Sam. He rode close and looked down at her. “Sophie?” She kept her head down. “Max, Josh looks like he’s hiding something. Can we stop and beat it out of him?”

Max rode in front of the wagon, forcing Josh to stop. He stared at Sophie. She didn’t look up but could feel his glare. Her ears burned.

“Hot dang!” yelled Sam. “She did it!” He whooped, startling the horses.

“Did what?” demanded Max.

“Welcome to the Gibson ranch,” said Josh. “It’s Sophie’s wedding gift to us.” He patted her hand in encouragement. “Max isn’t going to beat you for hiding it from him,” he said. “But I might.”

“How long have you had it?” asked Max in a dead tone.

“Nevin asked me just before the ceremony,” she replied. “And I don’t have it yet. But I told him we wanted it.”

“And you couldn’t tell us before now?”

“There were other things you were more interested in doing than talking!” She jammed her elbow into Josh’s gut. “To heck with him and his grumps. I want to see my forever home!”

Josh slapped the reins, forcing Max to move out of the way. Sam looked at her riding in the slow wagon, and then at the smoke.

“Go ahead,” she called out. Sam whooped again and took off. Max was a moment behind. “Do they ever stop trying to show the other up?”

“Nope. Did someone know we were coming and start a fire? Mighty neighborly of them.”

She nodded, tears threatening at the thoughtfulness. They crossed a ridge and clattered down toward the cabin. It was just as she’d imagined, only better. Tucked into a hill, protected from the winter winds, it would be warm and cozy. Just one room, but it was twelve feet by sixteen, a good size. There was even a covered porch, something she’d always wanted. A rocker, padded with a bright quilt, waited for her in the sun. Wind chimes dangled from the corner of the roof, delighting her with their lovely tone.

“The coffee’s hot and there’s fresh biscuits in the warming oven,” said Max as they approached.

Josh lifted her down, and, despite her struggles, carried her into the cabin. He set her down in the middle of the room.

“Oh, it’s lovely,” she whispered.

Bright blue-and-white checked curtains were drawn to let in light through sparkling windows. She inhaled the scent of cinnamon, apple, and something tangy. She looked to the side. There was a pie safe. She pulled the door open.

“Mary’s famous apple berry pies.”

She rolled her lips over her teeth to stop her chin wobbling. Blinking didn’t help, so she had to wipe away her tears. She sniffled. Someone came up behind her and held out a crisply ironed white handkerchief. Josh elbowed Max out of the way and held out a red-and-white checked bandana. She grabbed it and brought it to her nose. She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent.