Page 31 of Conveniently Wed
She straightened, shoulders up around her ears now.
His sorry stomach rumbled.
Emma’s hand appeared between him and Fran, a biscuit proffered on the small palm.
He nodded his thanks and chomped into it. “Good, huh?” he said through a mouthful.
Fran looked at him with mild horror written on her features, but his wink earned a soft “mm hmm” of agreement from Emma—also through a mouthful.
“Emma!” Fran gasped, obviously embarrassed. “Manners!”
He laughed. “Who’s out here to see?” he asked through the next bite, crumbs flying.
Emma giggled very softly, but it definitely was a sound of happiness.
Fran looked at him askance. One corner of her mouth lifted and she didn’t correct him.
A few minutes later, Emma asked another soft-spoken question. “We don’t have time to stop…we’ll drive until it gets dark. What’s the big rush to get to where we’re going?”
“Tuck’s Station.”
“Yes, there. Why the hurry?”
“Because my pa made a deal with the buyer for delivery, and the train’s not running. We’ve got to get the cattle there on time.”
“So you always fulfill your obligations perfectly?” Fran broke in.
She made him sound just like his brothers did. Boring.
“I have fun.” And that didn’t sound petulant at all.
“What kind of things do you like to do?” the pixie behind him asked.
“I….” He couldn’t think of one thing, off hand. “Well, I….”
Now he sensed Fran’s eyes on him too, but he kept his narrowed eyes on the horizon. “I like riding,” he said finally. “Breaking horses.”
“Doesn’t count,” Fran said. “It’s part of the work you do, isn’t it?”
“I enjoy the work.” Most of the time.
“Hmm.” Fran’s little noise indicated she didn’t really believe him.
Emma was silent. Until, after a delayed moment, she asked, “What are your other brothers like?”
Relieved to have the attention off himself, he went with the topic he could talk about.
“My two older brothers are married. Oscar’s wife is Sarah. They’ve got three adopted girls and a son of their own. And another on the way.
“Maxwell’s a doctor in Denver. His wife Hattie is finishing her medical degree and then they intend to move back to Bear Creek.”
“His wife is a doctor, too? How incredible.” Fran seemed genuinely impressed, not shocked like some of the other people who knew Hattie’s intentions.
“And…what do you think of their wives?”
He tipped his Stetson back on his forehead, thrown by her question. “They’re fine, why?”
“I just wondered if you disliked their wives, or if it was only me that you dislike.”
