brides for brothers 03 - cowboy groom (19 page)

B
RETT WANDERED AROUND
the church grounds, barely acknowledging old friends. He had too much on his mind. Namely Anna. He’d really screwed up his love life, getting engaged to Sylvia just before he met Anna.

Finally he’d gotten rid of the complication of Sylvia, but Anna wasn’t cooperating. Okay, okay, Pete was right. It was indecent to go straight from Sylvia to Anna. Any woman would want to be courted, to have some time before he declared he wanted her in front of everyone.

But how could he hold back? Anna consumed him. She was his missing part, his soul mate. He’d never say that to his brothers, though. They’d rib him forever about being a poet.

But for Anna, he’d even take that.

So he could be patient. Couldn’t he? After all, in spite of herself, she’d shown him that, if nothing else, she wanted him as much as he wanted her. That was a start, even if she wasn’t in love with him…yet.

He had at least a couple of more weeks before Janie delivered. He’d keep it casual, let her get to know him. Then, as soon as she moved back to her apartment in Rawhide, he’d camp on her doorstep.

Satisfied with his plan of action, one that wouldn’t make him wait too long, he turned back to the dance floor. After all, it wasn’t safe to leave the keeper of his heart alone around all those cowboys.

And if he was lucky, Janie would have her babies in a day or two, and he wouldn’t have to wait as long.

That thought cheered him up, and he returned to the colored lights at a run.

“Where’s the fire, Brett?” someone called out.

Brett waved and kept on going. As soon as he got close, he discovered the red curls he sought framed by the black shirt of the cowboy holding her. Roy Barnes. He was one man Brett would never let their daughter dance with, he assured himself angrily, then realized what an inane thought he’d had. By the time their daughter was interested in dancing, Roy wouldn’t be around. But he didn’t want Anna dancing with the man, either.

The musicians announced a break, and the dancers moved en masse to the steps. Brett hurried toward them. Time to reclaim his woman.

Anna and Roy were chatting as they came toward him, and jealousy filled Brett. It had been a long time since Anna had really talked to him.

“Anna,” he called sharply.

She turned toward him, but the pleasant smile on her lips disappeared.

“Evening, Brett,” Roy added, smiling. As well he might. His arm was around Anna’s waist.

“I think maybe you ought to stop pawing the lady, Barnes,” Brett growled, completely forgetting his plan of action.

Instead of following his orders, the cowboy raised one eyebrow and grinned. “I think Anna’s old enough to make her wishes clear.”

Brett swung his gaze to Anna, unable to keep from pleading with his look for her to tell Roy to get lost.

“Roy is just being polite, Brett. We’re going to get something to drink if you want to join us.”

At least she didn’t snub him. But she didn’t reject Roy, either. And Brett knew Roy wasn’t being nice. He was imagining making love to her, just as Brett had done. He was hoping to keep her to himself. He was—“Anna, you don’t understand!”

“Yes, I do. They’re serving punch over there.”

Roy didn’t allow her to linger, and she went with him.

Frustrated, Brett stepped to her side and took her arm, his hand giving Roy’s a quick shove that dislodged it.

“Hey!” Roy protested, coming to an abrupt halt. Brett, however, pulled Anna on, hoping to leave the other cowboy behind in the crowd. No such luck.

Roy caught up with them and took Anna’s other arm.

Suddenly she came to an abrupt halt. “Look, I don’t enjoy feeling like the wishbone on the Thanksgiving turkey. I can find a glass of punch by myself. If you two want to walk along with me, fine. But let’s try acting like mature adults.”

Roy recovered first from Anna’s lecture. “Why, sure, Anna, darlin’. Whatever you say.”

“I was just trying to be gentlemanly,” Brett muttered as Anna pulled her arm away from him.

She rolled her eyes at him but said nothing because they had reached the refreshment table. After they each claimed a glass of punch, Anna sat down at one of the picnic tables. The two men almost collided to see who got the seat beside her.

Brett managed to slide in beside Anna by bumping Roy to the side, almost knocking him off his feet.

“You cheated!” Roy yelled, and everyone at the dance turned around to stare at the three of them.

Brett figured possession was the important thing, so he kept quiet and snaked his arm around Anna.

“Move down, Brett,” Anna coolly ordered.

He stared at her, disbelief filling him. Didn’t she understand? He’d won fair and square. “Why?”

“So that Roy has room to sit down. After we invited you to join us, you shouldn’t take Roy’s place.” She stared at him, waiting for him to do as she asked.

He had an awful fear that Anna was going to offer Roy the seat between the two of them, but to his relief, she slid down the bench after him, letting Roy sit on her other side.

Then Anna began speaking in a low voice, anger lacing her words. “For the last time, I am not some Kewpie doll to be won at the fair. I don’t want either of you to put your arm around me. Nor do I intend to dance with either of you again. Do you understand?”

Brett was stunned. Here he’d returned to the dance to protect her, be there for her, and she was treating him like something to be avoided. Damn it, she was going to be his wife! Of course, he hurriedly admitted, she didn’t know that yet, but when she did she’d regret what she’d just said.

Roy was quicker to respond. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, Anna. But you’re so pretty, I lose my head.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Roy.”

“I’ve told you you’re pretty!” Brett snapped. He felt like Alice in Wonderland. Everything was coming out wrong.

Anna gave a long-suffering sigh and looked away.

Roy, on the other hand, couldn’t resist sending a smile of triumph in his direction.

“Anna, can I have the next dance?” another cowboy asked, having walked up behind them without Brett realizing it.

“Sure, Mike. I’d like that. Is the band ready to start again?”

“Yeah, I think so.” The happy cowboy stood waiting, and Anna asked Roy to let her out. He did so, taking her hand as she stood. “If I can’t dance with you again, Anna, I’ll go on home. But I’ll see you in the morning.”

Anna smiled and walked away from the table with her new partner. Before Roy could depart, Brett stood.

“What did you mean you’d see her in the morning?” he growled at Roy.

“Just what I said. When I see something I like, I go after it,” Roy announced, a self-confident smile on his face.

“Why, you jerk,” Brett snarled, and reared back, ready to fight. “Anna isn’t some prize to be won. She’s—she’s a wonderful woman.”

“Watch it, Brett, or I’ll break you into little pieces. There’s no Randall brand on Anna. And I think she’s ripe for the pickin’,” Roy said, his meaning clear.

Brett grabbed Roy’s shirt and jerked him toward him as he aimed his fist. But something stopped his arm in midair.

Jake.

“Brother, didn’t Daddy teach you not to fight at church socials?” Jake asked.

“Yeah, but he didn’t mention someone might insult a lady at a church social.” He continued to glare at Roy, who didn’t look any happier than him.

Jake dropped his arm and moved between the two of them. He was still smiling, but there was a steeliness in it that encouraged Brett. Jake didn’t tolerate insulting any woman. But when it was one of their women, he’d explode. Jake turned his full attention to Roy. “Anna is living on Randall property…and we protect our women.”

“Hell, Jake, I didn’t insult Anna. Unless you call asking her out an insult.” Roy turned to glare at Brett again.

“That’s all he did?” Jake asked, amusement filling his smile now.

“Damn it, Jake, that’s not all. He wants her!” Brett knew he was right. Roy had made his intentions perfectly clear.

“Well, hell, Brett, if that’s an insult, half the men here tonight are guilty. And no one more than you!” Jake drawled.

Everyone around them burst into laughter.

Unfortunately Brett couldn’t deny his brother’s words.

Chapter Fifteen

By the time Jake was ready to go home from the church social, Brett was in a snit. He admitted it. He’d get over it. But right now, he was enjoying it.

Anna had slipped away an hour ago with Chad and Megan. And there hadn’t been anything he could do about it.

He maintained a steady silence after Jake slid behind the wheel. When Jake didn’t even notice, driving along whistling beneath his breath, Brett was compelled to speak.

“Damn it, Jake, you embarrassed me!”

“I know. And I’m sorry. But you were being a little hard on poor old Roy.”

“He was trying to steal my girl.”

“Oh? I didn’t know you’d claimed Anna.”

“‘Course I have!”

“So when’s the wedding?”

Jake continued to watch his driving, calmly steering the big truck.

Finally Brett broke the dark silence. “I haven’t asked her to marry me yet.”

“Then I guess she’s not your girl. Last I heard, until a woman gives her promise, she’s free to do whatever with whomever.”

“I can’t ask her yet. I just broke my engagement,” Brett said in exasperation. “But you can’t expect me not to protect her in the meantime.”

“Have you let her know how you feel?”

“I’ve tried. But I haven’t come right out and said…I mean, it’s awkward. She’s avoiding me.”

“You can’t blame her. A week ago, you were marrying someone else.”

Brett let his chin rest on his chest. “I’ve messed up, haven’t I?”

Jake reached over to slap him on the shoulder. “Not as bad as I did. I married Chloe. You only got engaged to Sylvia. And besides, Anna doesn’t care anything about Roy Barnes.”

Brett’s head snapped up and he stared eagerly at his brother. “Did she tell you?”

“Nope. But I can tell by watching her. You two were all over each other when you danced. Roy tried, but he was the only one doing the trying.”

Brett sagged back against the seat. He’d feel better if Anna had told Jake she didn’t want Roy. That she wanted him. He’d feel best of all if Anna told him that herself.

“I hope you’re right,” he finally said with a sigh.

“‘Course I am. Wait until tomorrow. You’ll see.”

B
RETT WAS DEPRESSED
.

Especially since Roy Barnes had joined Anna as she entered the church this morning. He hadn’t expected that after his conversation with Jake last night. Roy and Anna were sitting at the other end of the pew, whispering to each other.

He didn’t like Roy sitting that close. Or putting his arm around her in church. He was supposed to be paying attention to the sermon, worshiping. That’s what church was all about. Didn’t the cowboy know any better? Church was no place to romance a woman!

Brett’s indignation over Roy’s behavior grew with each seemingly unending minute. But when they stood, after the final benediction had been given, Brett realized he couldn’t remember a single word the pastor had spoken.

And had he had the opportunity Roy enjoyed, he knew he would’ve been concentrating on Anna. Hell, he hadn’t been nearly as close, and she was all he’d thought of.

Thinking seemed to be all he was going to get to do about Anna, because so far this morning, she hadn’t spoken to him.

Looking up, Brett was just in time to see the other cowboy, his hand on Anna’s arm, heading out the door of the church. Brett started after them.

“Hey, Anna, you ready?” Brett called as he got near them, his gaze narrowed on Roy instead of Anna.

“I’m askin’ Anna to come with me,” Roy protested. “I’m invitin’ her on a picnic.”

“We had a picnic last Sunday. Anna’s expected back at the ranch. Janie didn’t feel up to coming to church this morning.” Brett felt a real sense of gratitude to Janie for her pregnancy. Whatever it took to keep Anna out of the other man’s clutches.

“Thanks for the invitation,” Anna said, smiling at Roy, making Brett’s blood boil. “But I really do need to go back to the ranch.”

“I could come there. I’ll bring a couple of ponies, and we could take a short ride, close to the house.”

“Thanks, Roy, but I need to stay near Janie. She’s getting close to time.”

“Then how about I rent a movie?”

Brett was about to inform the persistent cowboy that Anna didn’t have any interest in spending the afternoon with him when Jake joined them.

“Hi, Roy. We’re going to work out some of Pete’s stock this afternoon. Why don’t you help us out? We could turn it into our own little rodeo.”

Brett glared at his brother. He didn’t want to compete in front of Anna, especially with Roy, who had a reputation as a tough rider. The cowboy had been on the rodeo circuit a year or two with Pete.

“Great,” Roy said. “You’ll watch, won’t you, Anna?”

“Of course. It’ll be fun.”

“You can even join us for lunch if you want,” Jake added.

Brett stared at his brother, openmouthed. What was wrong with him? Brett had told him last night how much he loved Anna. Now he was inviting the competition home with them!

“I’ll go home and change and be right over,” Roy said, a grin on his face. “Want to ride with me, Anna?”

“I’d better go straight back to the ranch. I’ll see you there.”

Anna smiled and waved goodbye to the cowboy, and Brett wanted to put his arms around her and hold her tight against him. She was his. Why didn’t she know it?

When they started back to the ranch, Brett was even more depressed. Anna wouldn’t even ride in Jake’s truck with him. She’d chosen to ride with Megan and Chad.

“Cheer up, boy,” Jake said. “You haven’t lost her.”

“Well, if I haven’t, it’s no thanks to you. Why’d you invite Roy over?”

“To prove a point. Anna may have sat with him in church, but she paid a lot of attention to you. Probably because you were staring at her,” Jake added with a chuckle, “but maybe because she’s more interested in you than in Roy.”

“So why do we need him there?” Brett growled, but he was encouraged by Jake’s words.