The younger man laughed then stepped toward Mary and hugged her. “Welcome to the family.” He sounded genuine, and it made her feel sad. She should have been happy at his words, and ordinarily she would. But when her marriage was nothing more than a pretense, how could she feel welcomed?
Suddenly he slapped Noah on the back. “You didn’t tell me your wife was so beautiful. Is that why you’ve been hiding her away?” He grinned at her. The brothers were so similar to look at, and their grin almost identical. It was uncanny.
She felt heat creep up her neck and through her face. “Now look what you’ve done,” Noah said jokingly. “You’ve embarrassed her.” He came closer and put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
Mary molded into him. It had been so long since Noah had held her this way, and she’d missed it. In spite of that, she had to keep in mind it was all for show. Did he want Seth to think they had a real marriage? That was the most likely scenario.
“Did you only come her to ogle my wife, or was there something you wanted?” Noah spoke in jest, she knew, but warmth flooded her at the thought of him being so protective of her.
“Have you eaten,” she asked Seth. “I’m making pancakes.”
He glanced at Noah and raised his eyebrows in question. “Pancakes? You didn’t tell me you were being spoiled, big brother. How can I say no to such an invitation?”
Mary poured coffee for the two men who sat at the table talking about work, then began to prepare the pancakes. She felt eyes on her and glanced up to see Noah studying her. Had his brother’s words triggered something in him? After all this time, did he have feelings for her, or was it jealousy?
His actions certainly hadn’t shown any affection for her, not really, so it must be jealousy on Noah’s part. Simply because Seth had shown some small interest in her. Funny, she hadn’t seen him as the jealous type. But it was what it was.
Once the pancakes were ready, she placed them in the center of the table. They didn’t last long, and if she didn’t know better, she’d think Seth was starving. More likely he was starved for homecooked food, like Noah had been.
“Delicious,” Seth told Mary. “You’re a remarkable cook.”
Noah stared at him. “Yes, she is, and you can’t have her.” He chuckled.
“So tell me,” Seth asked after they’d finished eating. “How are you two getting on?” It seemed a strange question to ask and it had Noah and Mary staring at each other. Seth shrugged. “Oh, I know – you’re newly weds but it’s not like you wanted to get married.”
Noah stiffened, and Mary felt dismayed by his words. As though wanting to prove otherwise, Noah leaned over kissed her on the lips. The tingle she felt rumbled through her, and Mary wished he meant it instead of trying to prove something to his brother. He grinned, then winked at her.
If only he really meant it.
Seth shrugged. Had he seen through Noah’s pretense? “I’m going to be in the same situation soon.” Noah glared at him. “You know – because of Father’s ridiculous condition in the will.”
Mary suddenly stood and cleared away the dishes, leaving the men to retire to the sitting room. Only they didn’t. Noah came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “He didn’t mean anything by it,” he whispered, and she nodded. She knew that, but Seth’s words still stung.
Had he guessed at their situation? Or had Noah told him? Either way, it pained her to feel this way. She’d become so settled in her life here at Broken Arrow Ranch and didn’t want to leave. If she was honest with herself, she had feelings for Noah. It was him she didn’t want to leave. She would be happy wherever she lived, provided Noah was in her life.
Could she ever have a real marriage with Noah? It was highly unlikely.
~*~
“It’s calving time.” Noah took a sip of his coffee, and shoveled in some food. “My men will do the bulk, but I’ll be working long hours for the next week or so.” He glanced up at her. Mary was staring at him. “Dang cows wander off all over the place so we have to round them up. Not to mention getting in trouble. Sometimes we have to deliver them ourselves or risk losing them.” Last season they lost six. Not a lot in the scheme of things on a property of this size, but every calf formed part of his livelihood.
He was determined not to let that happen again this year. He’d even put on more workers this time around.
Mary studied him over her mug. “I didn’t know you had anyone working for you.” She was frowning. With a property this size, of course he’d have workers “Do they live on the property?”
“Yes, of course. Did you honestly think I could manage a place this big without help?” Was she really that naive? “How big was your Pa’s property? Did he have help?”
She laughed, but not in a funny way. “Pa pay for workers? You are joking, right? We barely had money for food.”
Everything was beginning to make sense. She’d looked more than half starved and destitute when she’d arrived, and suggested she wore the only decent piece of clothing she’d owned. Of course she didn’t say it in so many words. “There’s a worker’s hut a couple of paddocks over. I like to keep my private life private. I certainly don’t want them ogling my beautiful wife.” He winked at her then reached out and touched her hand from across the table.
A shiver went through him. How many times now had
