Matthew: The Circle Eight (11 page)

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Authors: Emma Lang

BOOK: Matthew: The Circle Eight
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The mood was high and the laughter abundant until Olivia walked in. She carried a basket of eggs and a scowl.
“Livy, Hannah can sew.” Rebecca seemed to be the most pleased by the newfound knowledge.
“Does that call for a holiday?” Olivia set the basket on the counter.
Eva cracked the eggs into the readied pan, and a sizzling sound filled the room. “
Sí,
it does call for a holiday. We have much sewing with so many people.”
Olivia shrugged. “I sew.”
Elizabeth snorted. “Like a bull dances.”
“Shut up.” Olivia speared her younger sister with a fierce glare. “At least I tried. More than you did.”
“I know I can’t sew, but at least I can cook. All you can do is scrub floors and clothes.” Elizabeth stuck her nose in the air.
Olivia nearly leapt across the room at her sister. Eva stopped her with one look. The rest of the Grahams came in, no doubt after hearing the commotion between the girls.
Nicholas and Caleb stood by the door while Catherine rushed in with her braids flying.
“What happened? You didn’t yell at Hannah again, did you, Livy?” Catherine was her protector of sorts.
“No, she didn’t.” Hannah gestured to the basket. “I was getting some sewing done and everybody got excited.” It sounded foolish to her ears, but her explanation seemed to appease everyone.
Then Matt stepped in, pushing his brothers aside. He surveyed the room quickly before his gaze settled on Hannah. With a nod, he came into the room and sat down at the other end of the table.
The tension dissipated and they all sat down to eat. Hannah finally had an appetite, after days of an upset stomach and an upset heart. The food was delicious, and she almost thought Olivia had softened just a smidge toward her. Hannah could have been imagining it, but she had a small bit of hope their relationship might be getting better.
“Hannah and I are going to Houston to sign the papers,” Matt announced without any preamble, and without talking to Hannah about it first.
Everyone stopped eating and stared at him, then turned to look at Hannah. After finally finding a way to fit in at the ranch, Matt was taking her away.
“For how long?” She was surprised her voice didn’t shake.
“Two days at the most.” Matt glanced at her. “After breakfast, pack what we need, including food.”
Just like that, her husband had taken that goodness away from her. She wanted to tell him no. She wanted to tell him to ask her to do things instead of ordering her. Anger mixed with hurt, churning in her stomach. She lost her appetite for the delicious breakfast.
Hannah got to her feet. “I’m going to go check on Granny.”
Most mornings Granny had trouble getting up because of pain in her joints. She usually made it up after the sun rose, but today Hannah wasn’t going to wait. Today she needed her grandmother.
C
HAPTER
E
IGHT
 
E
va’s stare nearly burned a hole in Matthew’s head. She was obviously angry with him, but he wasn’t about to invite her to tell him why. The rest of his siblings were a barrier he was glad was there.
He had handled delivering the news about the trip to Houston badly. Truth was he was tired and his thoughts were a bit jumbled. He’d rehearsed talking to Hannah about it in his head numerous times during the night while he was taking care of the calf. Then somehow he thought he had done it already. Judging by the look on Hannah’s face, he sure as hell hadn’t.
Damn.
After that first night in the bedroom, he thought they had started to understand each other. At least the sex had been incredible. Damn, he spent half his time thinking about going to bed with her now. Unfortunately his tiredness and his big mouth had put a dent in that possibility.
Matt knew he’d have to talk to her, he just wanted to avoid it until they were on the trail together. It was a long ride to Houston. Plenty of time to talk.
Now all he had to do was avoid Eva until they left.
“He’s a man, child. That’s all I can say.” Granny slowly buttoned her dress with gnarled hands. Hannah knew if she offered to help the older woman would be insulted. “Men can bully you around if you let them.”
“I don’t want him to bully me around.” Hannah frowned.
“But it seems he only wants me for the land.”
Granny snorted. “Well, he told you that the minute he proposed. Why is it a surprise to you?”
It wasn’t a surprise; it was a disappointment. Hannah had let her romantic side wreak havoc with her practical side, and it had resulted in misery.
“It’s not. I just, well, I wanted more.” She sighed and sat on the bed beside her grandmother, whose familiar scent helped calm her.
“Then you gotta earn it.” Granny held out her hand and Hannah helped her to her feet. “Ain’t no call to sit around whining.”
Hannah’s mouth dropped open. “I’m not whining.”
“Land sakes, you’ve done nothing but whine since we got here.” Granny speared her with one of those looks that always made Hannah squirm.
“I didn’t think I was whining.” She thought back over the four days since her wedding and realized Granny was right. She had been just accepting what was given to her rather than asking for what she wanted. That caused resentment, and obviously, whining.
“It’s only natural that you feel out of place, Hannah. They’re a big family.” Granny patted her knee. “What you need to do is stake your claim, let them know who you really are.”
Hannah didn’t want to admit she didn’t know who she was, and couldn’t tell anyone anything. “What if they don’t like me then?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “What if Matt doesn’t?”
“Get a backbone, child. There ain’t no guarantees in this world. You got to take what you want and fight for what you need.” Granny pointed at the chest in the corner. “Fetch me my reticule from that chest.”
After some searching, Hannah found the ancient looking reticule, oft-mended and tattered as it was. She handed it to her grandmother.
“Now when I first got married, your grandfather was a fool. He was a terrible husband. My mama saw that and told me the same thing I’m telling you. Stand up for yourself and don’t let nobody step on you.” Granny fished around in the reticule and pulled out a handkerchief yellowed with age. As she unfolded it, Hannah found herself leaning forward, trying to see. “This here was my mama’s wedding band.”
Granny held up a thin band of silver. “I don’t know what it’s made of, but it’s worth something. She gave it to me and said to keep it hidden. It was mine to do with as I chose.” She put it in Hannah’s palm and closed her fingers around it. “It’s now yours. If you need to, sell it for money, but only if it’s for you. This whole ranch is your husband’s, but now you have something of value, too.”
The slight weight of the ring in her hand didn’t compare to the significance of what her grandmother had given her. It might not be a treasure, but it was something she could keep and call her own. She hugged her grandmother, so happy to have her there, to have her support and her love.
“Thank you. I will keep it safe.”
“A’course you will. That’s a legacy, that is. Not much of one, but it’s what I have to give you.” Granny got to her feet.
She had given Hannah so much more than a ring. Without her grandmother’s love and support, Hannah would have ended up in an orphanage or worse. Granny meant the world to Hannah.
“Now quit your whining. Go get what you want and fight for what you need.” Granny shuffled toward the door. “I need some vittles and you’d best get packing.” She glanced back at Hannah. “I’ve got faith in you, child. Go get him.”
With that, her cackling grandmother had left her alone with her thoughts whirling. Hannah didn’t think she’d been whining, but what Granny said did make sense. Matt had told her up front exactly what he wanted from her, and she had turned their marriage into a fairy tale of epic proportions. Foolish girl.
It was time Hannah actually started building the foundation for her marriage instead of waiting for someone to open the door for her. She would find a way to earn Matt’s love and respect, instead of simply being his roommate. Hannah got to her feet and marched to her bedroom, ready to do battle.
He arrived in the bedroom five minutes later. She had begun packing her own bag, not knowing where his was. Without turning, she knew he was in the doorway watching her.
“I packed what appeared to be your Sunday clothes, along with mine. I brought the boot polish and brush, and my hairbrush.” She looked down at her outfit. “I have a split riding skirt that used to be my mother’s. What will the temperature be like at night? Do I need to bring my wool cape?”
He stared at her, surprise clearly written in his expression. “You’re packing my things?”
“Of course. Isn’t it a wife’s job?” She had no idea what a wife’s job was, but maybe he didn’t either.
“I guess.” He nodded. “I reckon I’ll say thank you.” He glanced at the bag. “We ought to get moving soon.”
Hannah went back to packing as if she’d had ample experience doing it, which was far from the truth. She’d only packed twice in her life, once to move to the boardinghouse after her parents’ deaths, and once when she got married. There had been no trips anywhere for her. The one to Houston would be the first time she’d left their little town.
A glimmer of excitement tickled her chest. Perhaps she’d not only be able to get closer to her new husband but also have an adventure to one day tell her children. With an even lighter heart, she finished packing and changed into the butter soft leather riding skirt. It had been her mother’s. Although Hannah remembered her as being tall, she must’ve been short. The skirt was at least six inches too short. It wasn’t as if Hannah could make it longer now, so it would have to do.
As she carried the bag toward the kitchen, voices echoed down the hallway, two of them unfamiliar. Her feet faltered for a second, but she kept going. As soon as she stepped into the kitchen, she wanted to run back to the bedroom.
In front of her stood the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen. She had porcelain skin, auburn hair, cornflower blue eyes, and ruby red lips. The woman wore an elegant green dress in some fancy fabric with a matching hat. She was smiling at Matt, her pearly white teeth shining against her plump lips.
Holy Mary, the woman was simply stunning.
“That’s right kind of you to stop by, Margaret, but I’m about to leave. You and Jeb are welcome to stay and visit, a’course.” Matt hadn’t even noticed Hannah.
Jeb was almost as good-looking as the woman, with the same auburn hair and blue eyes. No doubt the woman’s brother. He spotted Hannah and smiled.
“Good morning, madam.” He tipped his hat, his smile almost blinding. “Jeb Stinson. And you are?”
Matt swung around and his jaw tightened. “This is Hannah.”
Margaret turned, smiling, with her hand outstretched.
“My wife.”
The other woman’s smile disappeared and shock rippled across her perfect features. “Wife?”
“You got married?” Jeb smiled and clapped Matt on the back. “I didn’t know you were even courting anyone.”
“Wife?” Margaret whirled around to face Matt. “Matthew Graham. I cannot believe my ears. You, well I thought, I’d never considered you would marry and not tell me.”
Hannah’s heart dropped to her feet. Obviously the woman had set her cap for Matt, and Hannah had destroyed that particular dream. She couldn’t possibly feel more awkward than she did at that moment. If only there was a hole in the ground in front of her to drop into.
Matt frowned at Margaret. “You and me, we never courted. I know Mama had hopes, but you’re a thoroughbred and I’m a cow pony.”
The redhead put her gloved hand on his chest. “Matthew, I don’t consider you beneath me. Just because Daddy has the biggest ranch in eastern Texas does not mean I wouldn’t marry for love.” Her lip quivered and her eyes grew moist.
Hannah dropped the bag and left the house, running after she cleared the front door. It didn’t matter what they thought of her. She could not stand by and watch a perfect, beautiful woman throw herself at Matt.
Nicholas, Caleb, and the Vasquez boys were in the corral looking at a horse when she ran past. They all stopped to stare at her, but no one spoke. She didn’t stop until she reached the crest of the hill just beyond the barn. By then she was out of breath and shaking.
She bent over and put her hands on her knees. Hannah tried to calm her breathing and her heart, which was about to break a rib it was beating so hard. There had been no way she could have stayed in the house a second longer. The last thing she’d expected was a woman who had obviously been waiting to marry Matt. Why had he married Hannah instead?
“Hannah.” Matt walked up the hill toward her. “What are you doing?”
The laugh that burst from her throat was more like a pitiful cry. She straightened up and met his gaze, knowing her pain and confusion shone in her eyes. “Why? Why did you marry me?”
“Hannah, I told you why.” Matt put his hands on his hips and scowled. “I had to marry to get the land from Texas.”
“Why didn’t you marry her? She’s beautiful, obviously rich, and she was expecting it from what I can tell.” Hannah felt as if her heart was just pouring out of her mouth in a steady stream. No matter what, she had to get everything out or she would choke on it.
“Margaret?” He looked back toward the house. “I meant what I told her, a cow pony doesn’t belong with a thoroughbred. She flirted with me, but I never took it seriously. She flirts with every man.”
“She obviously wanted you to ask her to marry you. Now you’ve painted yourself into a corner and had to marry someone named Hannah.” Hannah’s hurt had turned to rage and she let the angry words fly. “You’ve made me into a second choice and saddled yourself with an ugly cow instead of a beautiful butterfly. You settled for me, and worst of all, I settled for you.”
“Hannah.” Matt’s mouth opened in surprise. “You are not my second choice. I never even thought of Margaret when I needed a wife.”
“Ha. I don’t believe that.” Hannah’s face was likely redder than a beet from shouting at him.
“It’s true. We don’t suit, never have.” He reached for her hand but she backed away.
“She’s exquisitely beautiful.” Her voice began to fade, as did her anger. Her pain began to seep back up, stealing her breath.
“On the outside.” Matt moved closer until he backed her into a huge tree. The bark scratched at her back. “I didn’t marry her because I didn’t want to.”
Hannah stared into his eyes, wanting so desperately to see honesty, but she didn’t know him well enough to tell for sure. His tone conveyed the truth, but she couldn’t believe him entirely. Her head overruled her heart again.
“I don’t believe you.”
For a split second, she saw hurt in his gaze, and some evil little part of her was glad of it. He’d hurt her enough already.
“I can understand that, but I don’t like it.” He took her hands and pressed his forehead to hers. His breath gusted across her mouth and she breathed him in, his anger and hurt mingled with hers.
“Maybe one day, I’ll change my mind,” she whispered. “But right now I can’t.”
“You’re my wife, Hannah, for now and always.” He kissed her lightly. “Now let’s get back to the house so we can start out.”
She nodded and took his proffered arm. Hannah was exhausted, as if she had run from one end of Texas to the other. Her knees shook as they made their way down the hill and across the ground to the house. Jeb stood outside with Caleb, smoking a cigar.
“There you are, Mrs. Graham. I was worried we’d offended you.” His accent was as smooth as his sister’s, but he didn’t set off any warning bells in Hannah’s heart. He appeared to be just who he was, a good-natured young man.

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