Page 36 of Things Left Unsaid

“We dealt with it in-house,” Colt reassures me.

I’m learning that his reassurances leave me wanting.

“Dealt with what?!”

“Calder tagged our barn,” he says simply then, in my ear, whispers, “Much as I like Harry, he’s the biggest gossip in town. Let’s not give him fodder for the masses, hmm?”

It’s too late though—Harry has some gossip.

When I look at him, I can see him calculating precisely how close the pair of us are standing. How Colt has his hand pressed against my back still. The intimacy of that gesture where his lips brushed my ear as he imparted his message. Never mind the fact Colt threatened Hilary Browne with a lawsuitandcalled me a close friend.

Because he’s a top-tier gossipmonger, Harry smiles (innocently,HA!)when he notices me give him the side-eye.

He snags a cane and hobbles off his chair before crossing the shop with a deft spryness as he beckons us closer, singing, “Come with me!”

“If we owe you anything for the damage,” I tell Colt as Harry disappears behind a beaded curtain, “then please, let me know.”

Colt rolls his eyes. “As if I’m going to charge my future wife on account of my future brother-in-law acting up.

“It’s fine. We painted over it and he cleaned out our barns for a month solid for free.”

Though I frown, I let him guide me away from the counter with that damn hand of his at the small of my back.

When he bows his head, I study him, not wanting to think about the flecks of gray in his eyes or how his aftershave scents the air around me.

“How long’s it been since you last saw your brothers?”

“A while,” I confess. “We talk often though. Couple times a week. They never mentioned anything about tagging.”

“Why would they? Juliette already reamed Calder a new one. Might not be a bad thing that you’re coming home. Harry’s right—they’ve been acting up.”

“They’re as frightened ofGrand-mèreas I am,” I dismiss, though I admit I’m worried.

Tagging the Korhonen barn might not be a serious offense, but if Clyde were in charge, he’d have had the RCMP throw the book at Calder.

“Juliette’s not the powerhouse she used to be.”

The words hurt. A lot. I noticed that for myself though so I can’t deny I know what he’s talking about.

“They never listen to me, so I don’t know what miracles I’m supposed to reap. Case in point our contract. They didn’t warn me ahead of time.” Jerks.

“Firstly, Juliette probably threatened them with pain of death if they warned you. Secondly, you don’t need them to listen to you. They’re the same age as Callan. I can handle them if you’ll let me.”

My brow furrows as I brake to a halt. “Why would you do that?”

“Because they need to do something and letting them stew is doing nothing for no one.” He heaves a sigh at my confusion. “I was eighteen once. And I’ve steered my brothers through that age without any of them ending up in a jail cell either. Plus, there’s always plenty of work to be done on ranches the size of ours.”

“Then why hasn’tGrand-mèregotten them so busy they’re too exhausted to cause mischief?”

He hitches a shoulder. “They sneak off.”

“How do you know all this?”

“I made it my business to know. Now, come on before Harry gets more food for the gossip mill.”

Still, before he can step away, I grab his arm. “You can’t humiliate everyone who calls me names. The town’ll be empty?—”

“They say it loud enough for me to hear, I’ll do something about it. I never realized—” He shakes his head. “Naive of me to think you wouldn’t bear the brunt of it in town. I’m sorry.”

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