Rose?'
She kept her gaze on Harrison when she answered Eleanor. 'Yes, of course you would.'
Harrison was at it again. Mary Rose didn't know what to make of him. The sweet and gentle man she liked having around so much had once again turned into a barbarian. It was happening more frequently these days, she realized. She should be used to his spells by now. She wasn't, though. At least he didn't frighten her, she considered, He just stunned the breath out of her.
She decided she didn't like his unpredictability one bit. He was becoming extremely aggressive What had caused the change?
She looked around the table for someone to blame. Her gaze settled on Cole. He winked at her.
' Harrison sure got your attention,' he said. 'You look astonished.'
She didn't appreciate his humor. She frowned with displeasure and pointed her finger at him.
'This is all your fault, Cole Clayborne. You've been a bad influence on Harrison since the day he got here. He used to be a perfect gentleman. Now look at him. If you've ruined him, I'll never forgive you.'
'Mary Rose, don't point your finger at anyone,' Adam instructed. His attempt to correct her manners was halfhearted. He was trying not to laugh at his sister because he didn't want to hurt her feelings. If she believed Cole had ruined Harrison, Adam wouldn't try to change her mind.
Cole wasn't as disciplined, or as sensitive to his sister's feelings. He burst into laughter. 'He was only pretending to be a gentleman. He's just like the rest of us, Mary Rose.'
'He may be like Adam, but he certainly isn't like you or Douglas or Travis.'
'What's wrong with us?' Douglas wanted to know.
She ignored his question. She turned to Harrison. He was still standing at the end of the table.
'I think you should stay away from Cole from now on. He's rubbing off on you, Harrison. You've picked up some bad habits.'
'Such as?' Harrison asked.
'Such as rudeness,' she answered.
'Come here, Mary Rose.'
She let out a sigh. The look in his eyes told her it would be pointless to argue. She put her napkin down, got up from her chair, and walked over to him.
She put her hand on his arm. 'It was rude of you to pull Travis out of his chair.'
'Yes,' he agreed. 'It was rude.'
She was pleased he realized it. 'And you're sorry,' she said, thinking to help him with his apology.
'No, I'm not sorry at all.'
'Oh, for heaven's sake, Harrison. I wish you'd stop having these spells. They're very unsettling.'
'He's only acting like a normal man, Mary Rose,' Douglas said. 'I think it's kind of refreshing.'
'I'm helping him get rid of his citified ways,' Cole added. 'You should thank me, sister.'
'About Corrie,' Harrison began, ignoring all the talk about his temper.
She squeezed his arm. 'I wish you would follow my advice, Harrison. It will serve you well around here.'
'This ought to be good,' Travis whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
'Mind your own business, Travis,' Mary Rose said.
'You can give me your advice after we talk about Corrie,' Harrison insisted.
She let out a sigh. 'I know what you want. You'd like me to apologize for going up those stairs, wouldn't you?'
'I would like you to use the mind God gave you. Don't take chances like that again.'
She didn't argue with him. 'I'll be careful.'
The tension went out of his shoulders. 'Thank you.'
He leaned down and kissed her. It was a sweet, tender, undemanding kiss that was finished before she had time to react.
'Stop kissing our sister,' Douglas ordered, though his voice lacked any real bite.
Harrison responded to the command by kissing Mary Rose again. Then he put his arm around her shoulders and hauled her up against his side. He was deliberately showing his possessiveness.
He turned his attention to Travis. 'If I can't trust you to protect her…'
'If you can't trust me? If that isn't the kettle…'
'Let it rest, Travis,' Adam suggested. ' Harrison, sit down. Mary Rose, go back to your chair.'
She walked back to her seat in a trance of disbelief. Whatever had come over Harrison? He had never shown such blatant affection in front of her brothers before.
'Who made these biscuits?' Travis asked.
'I did,' Eleanor replied. 'Why? Don't you like them?'
'I like them just fine. They're good.'
She smiled with pleasure. 'I'm pleased you like them. I'll make more tomorrow if you want me to. I could even bake a cake. I'm quite handy to have around. Aren't I, Mary Rose?'
'Yes, you are,' she answered.
'You're sure being accommodating,' Douglas said.
'I do try to be,' Eleanor replied.
'What was the advice you were going to give Harrison?' Cole asked his sister.
'What did you ask…? Advice? Oh, yes, I remember now.'
She was still rattled by Harrison 's kiss and was trying to regain her composure. 'I was going to suggest Harrison follow my advice.'
'Well, what the hell is it?' Cole asked.
'Watch your language, Cole,' Mary Rose told him. 'First with his mind, then with his heart. He should think things through before he acts.'
Cole turned to Harrison. 'Where have I heard that before?'
Harrison looked like he wanted to hit his head against something hard.
'Probably from your sister,' he said dryly. 'Mary Rose?'
'Yes?'
'You make me crazy.'
Adam started laughing. 'Don't get angry, sister. Harrison didn't meant to offend you. He was just having one of his spells again.'
Eleanor patted Mary Rose's hand. 'He's still rude, isn't he?'
Mary Rose didn't answer her. She let the brothers have their laugh, then decided to change the subject.
'Do you want to hear about the rest of my visit with Corrie?' Mary Rose asked.
'I don't think Harrison has enough stamina to hear any more.'
Cole said.
'Go ahead, sister, tell the rest,' Adam encouraged.
'Corrie touched me. I was telling her all the news, rocking back and forth in her chair, and then I suddenly felt her hand on my shoulder. It was as light as a butterfly's wings. She even patted me. She also pinched me, but just once.'
Douglas laughed. 'Why'd she do that?'
'How could Mary Rose know?' Travis asked. 'The woman still isn't talking to her.'
'Oh, I believe I know why she pinched me, but I don't want to bore you with the details. Eleanor, pass the biscuits, please. They look delicious.'
'They taste delicious too. Travis said so,' Eleanor said. She handed the plate to Mary Rose and added the suggestion that she take two.
'You won't bore us,' Cole said. 'Tell us why she pinched you.'
'Oh, all right,' she agreed. She knew her brother wouldn't stop inquiring until she explained. 'I was doing a spot of complaining, and I guess she got tired of listening. I stopped complaining as soon as she pinched me.'
'We should have started in pinching you years ago,' Adam teased. 'Had we known how effective it would be.'
'You really shouldn't complain, Mary Rose,' Eleanor instructed. 'People don't like it.'
'When did you figure that out?' she asked.
