Matthew: The Circle Eight (12 page)

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Authors: Emma Lang

BOOK: Matthew: The Circle Eight
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“I’m sorry. I felt a little sick to my stomach.” She gave him a weak smile and tightened her grip on Matt’s arm.
“Caleb, can you get Winston and Buttercup saddled?” Matt spoke to his brother. “We’re leaving in just a few minutes.”
“Sure thing, Matt.” He frowned at both of them, but the younger Graham set off on his chore.
“You’re leaving?” Jeb looked between them. “Nothing we said, is it?”
“No, we were heading to Houston to sign some papers.” Matt opened the front door. “We can plan a visit after we get back.”
“Margaret is already hatching a gathering to celebrate your wedding. No need for you to plan anything.” Jeb followed them into the house.
Hannah looked around and realized so many things made sense, she wondered why she hadn’t seen it before. Olivia sat beside Margaret, smiling and laughing, thick as thieves with the woman who wanted to be Mrs. Graham. It explained why Olivia didn’t like her, why she was so hostile. Her sister-in-law expected her best friend to be Matt’s wife, not a plump stranger plainer than prairie grass.
Eva stood at the stove, arms crossed, watching the young women. Granny sat at the table, also watching them. If she hadn’t felt so awful, Hannah might have laughed at them. The sheer annoyance on the older women’s faces was clear as day. Hannah realized nobody but Olivia tolerated Margaret.
“There you are,
hija.
” Eva spotted them and smiled at Hannah. That simple gesture helped her feel ten times better. “I made you some food to take with you.”
There on the counter was a large basket with a handle that would fit nicely on a saddle horn.
“Gracias, Eva.”
“Hija
? Your housekeeper is already speaking Spanish to her?” Margaret’s voice was nowhere near a whisper.
Olivia glanced at Eva, a smidge of guilt in her gaze. “She’s not just a housekeeper, and she talks Spanish to everyone.”
“Well, we are in Texas, and we speak English. She should learn the words she needs to know.” Margaret finally looked at Matt and Hannah. “I see you found your wayward wife. She should be careful. Accidents happen on ranches all the time.”
Matt held Hannah tight when she surged forward. She wanted to punch the woman and possibly chip one of those perfect teeth.
“Easy,” he said under his breath. “Let’s just get our things and go.”
Hannah breathed through her nose until the urge to do harm passed. Margaret turned a sparkling smile on Matt.
“I want to plan the biggest party in the state to celebrate your wedding. Livy will help me.” Margaret patted Livy’s shoulder. “Although she’s apparently not happy with your marriage. I’ve convinced her it’s for the best.”
What nonsense was this woman spouting? She didn’t know Hannah well enough to know anything about her marriage or whether it was for the best. The woman had a motive that was yet to be determined. Hannah knew she’d just found a reason to be on her guard.
“Why thank you, Margaret. That’s right kind of you.” Matt grabbed the basket and the traveling bag. “If you’ll excuse us, we’ll be on our way. Eva, we’ll be back in two days.”
“Vaya con dios, hijos. Buen viaje.”
She smiled at Hannah. “Take care of him,
hija.”
Hannah wasn’t sure what that meant exactly but she did know she already loved Eva. The older woman could see right through someone to their soul. She was a person to be trusted, and she’d proved to be Hannah’s first friend at the Graham ranch.
“You come back now, y’hear?” Granny speared her with her gaze. “Do what you need to, child.”
Hannah almost blushed at the reminder of her conversation earlier with Granny, but managed to keep the heat from her cheeks.
“We’ll see you in two days.”
Matt shook Jeb’s hand and they walked out of the house. When she and Matt finally walked into the barn, she let out the breath she’d been holding. It had been such a long day, and it was only nine o’clock in the morning.
Caleb had the horses saddled and ready, handing the reins to his brother. He nodded at them and disappeared back into the barn. The gelding was incredibly tall and broad, a perfect match for Matt. The mare was a dainty buckskin almost the color of buttermilk. Hannah thought the horse looked nice but she wasn’t sure. Her experience with horses was extremely limited.
“Can you ride?” Matt murmured to her.
“A little.”
He groaned. “I should have asked.”
“It’s okay. I rode some when I was younger, mostly on ponies, but I remember how.” She approached the mare slowly.
“Let her get to know you first.” Matt took her hand. “Breathe into her nostrils so she can get your scent.”
Hannah thought that was about the strangest thing she’d heard all day, but she did it just the same. The horse whickered and pressed her big snout into Hannah’s chest.
“Now pet the side of her neck. Let her feel your touch.” He took her hand and flattened it on the horse’s warm flesh. The combination of his callused fingers and touching the mare made tears prick her eyes, this time for the right reason.
“She likes you.”
Hannah let a bit of joy into her heart. “I like her, too.”
“Are you ready?” He was close enough she could almost count the thick eyelashes gracing his eyelids. He was so beautiful she could hardly believe he was really her husband.
“I’m ready.”
C
HAPTER
N
INE
 
M
att did not know exactly what had happened at the ranch, but as they rode away, he was damn glad to be leaving. Margaret had arrived and thrown everyone into a snit, as she usually did. Damn woman knew just how to stir the pot and she did a good job. Made Hannah think they were supposed to be married.
That was so far from the truth, it was laughable. Oh, maybe when he was fifteen, he’d followed her around. But he learned his lesson when she humiliated him in front of her family at a barbecue. Matt might have dreamed about her ten years ago, but now she’d turned into something more like a nightmare.
Jeb was good folk and Matt liked him a lot. The rest of the Stinsons were more like snakes in the grass, eager to show everyone just how much they had. Margaret was a product of her mother’s demanding nature and her father’s pride. Jeb was somehow different from the rest. If he hadn’t looked exactly like his sister, Matt would have guessed he’d been adopted.
Shaking off his thoughts of the Stinsons, he concentrated instead on Hannah’s childish wonder at the horse she rode. He could see she had some amount of skill but wasn’t at all confident in her abilities. That seemed to be the case with most everything she did, except for cooking and sewing. She was a puzzle he had yet to figure out.
Hannah bounced a bit in the saddle, but she had a natural seat. With some practice, she’d do fine. He’d tucked some horse liniment in his bag just in case the long ride caused her discomfort later. No reason to embarrass her, but he knew just how sore a hind end and thighs could get.
The bright blue sky above them was dotted with a few white, puffy clouds. The day was warm with only a gentle breeze. It was a perfect day for a trip, and although the purpose was enough to make him quake in his boots, he focused instead on the sheer pleasure of the ride.
“How do you feel?”
Hannah shifted in the saddle. “Good so far. Don’t know about later.”
“I’ve got liniment in case you’re sore.” The idea of rubbing it into her skin, of the soft downy skin between her thighs, made his entire body harden at once. Particularly his cock, which thumped against his trouser buttons.
“Oh, good. Granny usually has a good remedy but I haven’t gotten the knack of making a good poultice yet.” She glanced back at him, then her gaze fell between his legs. Like a bullet, her gaze snapped back to his. She obviously saw his state and was probably wondering exactly why riding a horse had made him hard.
“I, uh, started thinking about you.” Maybe telling her the bare truth was the right thing to do.
“Me?” Her eyes widened. “Really?”
His grin felt more like a wolf’s leer. “Yes, you, Mrs. Graham.”
She giggled and the sound went straight to his throbbing staff. It was going to be a long ride.
With Margaret and the troubles at the ranch behind them, the rest of the morning passed by mostly in silence. As if they were comfortable with each other, at ease with silence.
“I hear you’re a real hand at sewing.” Matt tripped over his own tongue with that one.
“Oh, I know how to do basic things. I, uh, enjoy it.” She looked down, as he discovered she always did when talking about herself. He realized it was embarrassment.
“That’s a good thing. I mean, enjoying something that most folks think of as a chore.” Matt kept his gaze on hers, willing her to look up. “I like taking care of my horse.”
She finally lifted her lashes and looked at him out of the corner of her eyes. “Taking care of your horse?”
“Currying him, picking rocks out of his shoes, even using the hoof knife to keep his hooves healthy. It might be a chore to my brothers, but I like it.” He patted Winston’s neck. “He’s, well, my friend. Stupid I know.” Now it was his turn to be embarrassed.
To his surprise, Hannah raised her head. “It’s not stupid. I think it’s sweet.” She smiled at him, and he found himself smiling back.
“Don’t tell anyone else that. I won’t hear the end of it.”
This time, she laughed, that amazingly rich sound that always surprised him. As he watched, her freckled face lit up brighter than the sun. Hannah laughed with her entire being, the most genuine thing he’d ever seen.
After that, the ride was not silent. He found himself talking to Hannah about things he hadn’t told anyone else. Not even Caleb, who was closest to him.
The conversation continued as they feasted on Eva’s ham and tortillas. They’d found a shaded spot to sit down, with a creek and sweet grass for the horses. The cool water in their canteens washed everything down. It was a simple meal, but the first one he’d truly enjoyed in six months, since his parents were taken from him.
She cleaned everything up efficiently while he retrieved the horses from the tree they were tied to. Hannah might not think much of herself, but Matt already did. He’d not admit to her that he hadn’t expected much from their marriage, but he was damn glad to be proven wrong.
“You never told me the story of the land grant.” She hung the basket on her horse’s saddle horn.
Her question hit Matt like a punch to the gut. It was true he’d only given her the barest information about the reason behind the land grant. The entire story was painful for him and he hadn’t known her well enough to tell it when he’d married her.
“I am curious, but if you don’t want to tell me, that’s okay.” She put her foot in the stirrup and tried to boost herself into the saddle.
Matt put his hands on her behind and pushed her up.
“Oh shit!” The curse popped out of her mouth fast and hard. Matt barely had time to react before she did it again as she landed on the saddle. “Son of a bitch.”
She turned to look at him, this time not hiding her pinkened cheeks. “Oh my God.”
Matt did the only thing he could think of. He threw back his head and laughed. “Hannah, I can’t even begin to tell you how glad I am you married me.”
“I, uh, do tend to cuss sometimes,” she confessed.
“Me, too.” He patted her thigh. “We’re going to be just fine Hannah Graham.”
Matt meant every word of it. He’d found a hidden treasure in his wife and he intended to hang onto her, come hell or high water.
They spent the night in a sheltered area just outside Houston, surrounded by rocks and the protection of the horses. Although it wasn’t an ideal place to make love, they did spoon together all night. Hannah felt safe in his arms, comfortable sleeping with him for the first time since they’d married.
In the morning, he rolled over and kissed her. The heat from his lips traveled down her body, leaving tingles in its wake. He kissed her again, this time slowly, nibbling her lips until she opened them.
She moaned in her throat and he swallowed the sound into his own. His kiss deepened and grew more demanding. His body became hard as an oak against hers and she found herself wishing they weren’t on the ground, lying between two blankets. She wanted to touch him, feel his skin, and make love.
Hannah scooted closer, pressing her aching breasts into his chest. He reached between them and squeezed one nipple, drawing a gasp from deep within her. A throb of pure desire echoed through her and she knew she was already wet, again. She didn’t want to admit to herself that she was falling in love with her husband, but she knew she was. Whether he would return her love had yet to be determined.
“Ah, excuse me, folks.” A stranger’s voice sounded from nearby. “I’m just passing through.”
Hannah tucked her head into Matt’s shoulder and tried not to die of embarrassment. Matt kissed her forehead and chuckled, a painful sound.
“I guess it’s time to get going.” He extricated himself from the blankets and held out his hand for her.
She glanced around and saw the stranger who had spoken walking down the road. The last thing she wanted to do was leave the cocoon she’d shared with Matt, but he was right. It was time to get going.
After a cold breakfast, they rode into the city. When they arrived in Houston proper, Hannah was goggle-eyed at the number of people, horses, carriages, wagons, and buildings. She could hardly take it all in without hurting her neck craning it this way and that. Good thing he knew where he was going. She would never have been able to find her way without him.
He stabled the horses and led her out of the livery. Hannah hung onto his arm as they navigated the streets. Two people bumped into her and one wagon nearly ran her down. It truly made her miss home and the quiet pace of the life she didn’t realize she loved so much.
Matt took them straight to the land grant office. An officious looking man in a navy suit made them sit down in the most uncomfortable chairs she’d ever had the misfortune of sitting in. Matt stared straight ahead, stoic-faced and silent. Hannah wondered if he was nervous. Judging by the way he fidgeted as they waited, he definitely was.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“Nothing. Just don’t like being in places like this.” He glanced down at his callused hands. “I’m a rancher, not a banker or an office man.”
Hannah understood what he meant and felt the same level of discomfort being there, but it was important to the ranch. She had married Matt so he could get this land grant. There was no reason to be a coward now, even if her stomach was twittering as if a bird was trapped inside.
“Mr. and Mrs. Graham?” A short, round bald man with thick spectacles peered at them. He wore a dark gray suit and vest, which looked as if it would bust a button if he breathed too hard.
“Mr. Prentiss.” Matt stood and held out his hand to help Hannah to her feet. It was a gentlemanly gesture, one she could get used to.
“I’m glad to see you back to finalize the paperwork.” He turned his gaze to Hannah. “This must be your wife, Hannah.”
“Yes, sir, this is my Hannah.”
My Hannah.
Oh, her stupid heart did a pittypat at the reference.
She nodded at him. “Pleased to meet you, sir.”
“And you as well, Mrs. Graham. Why don’t you both come into my office?” He led them through a frosted glass door and into a room with a large wooden desk and two of the same uncomfortable chairs in front of it. Were there no comfortable places to sit?
Hannah perched on the chair and tried to look the way she thought a respectable wife should. Her back was straight, her hands folded in her lap.
“I have papers for Mrs. Graham to sign, since you’ve already signed them, Mr. Graham.” He pulled out a sheaf of papers and presented them to her with a fountain pen.
She’d worn her best white gloves, really the only good pair she had. As she took them off, she noted Mr. Prentiss glance at her bare ring finger. Her stomach dropped and panic danced on her neck. She forced herself to smile at Mr. Prentiss.
“My ring always gets caught on my glove.” Hiding her shaking hands, she reached into her reticule and pulled out the ancient handkerchief with her great-grandmother’s silver ring. She had no time to hope that it would fit. If it didn’t, it would make the situation worse.
Her Grandma Peters must’ve been smiling down on her like a guardian angel. The ring slid onto her finger as if it were made for her, and not another woman seventy-five years earlier. Matt made a noise in his throat, which she assumed was surprise.
Mr. Prentiss gave her a small smile. “Very nice. Now if you’ll sign these papers, we can complete the land grant process.”
The next thirty minutes were a blur of papers, legal terms she couldn’t possibly follow, and a great deal of ink. Her signature was shaky on a few of the papers, but it didn’t seem to matter to the clerk.
Mr. Prentiss pulled out a large map and spread it on his desk. “Now let me show you the property lines so you are well aware of where your new property lies.”
Matt and Hannah leaned forward. It was the first time she’d seen a land map, and it had lots of squiggles and symbols on it she didn’t understand.
“This is your current ranch here. To the east and south is the Stinson ranch, and to the west is the McRae ranch.” He pointed to a pie shaped squiggle. “This is your new acreage. Note there is approximately two miles of land between the old property and the new.”
Matt traced the property lines with one blunt-edged fingernail. “Who owns this?”
“Frederick Stinson.”
Matt’s jaw tightened as he continued to study the map. “Two miles hmm? And how long does it take to get through this two miles?”
“You’d have to go around the McRae’s through this canyon. Rough estimate is thirty-five or forty miles.” Mr. Stinson pushed his glasses up his nose.
Matt traced the swath of land with his finger. “How is it possible that he owns just this piece?”
“Oh, he doesn’t own just this piece. His land grant was rather unusual. You see his property extended out to here.” Mr. Stinson pointed to another line. “He requested the additional ten thousand acres directly adjoining his, but that wasn’t possible given your father’s claim. Instead he took the ragged land between.”

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