Page 66 of Any Cowboy of Mine
“Yes, I guess there is some truth to that. I just wish I’d saved all of you a lot of heartache, me too, actually, by asking Brad how he was doing sooner. I hope he can forgive me, that you can.”
“I’m sure he will, and as for me, consider us starting over. Plus, we need to focus on getting him clear of any lawsuits so he can get back on schedule withJewel Thief.”
“You’re kind, Sophie, thank you. And I agree, but how can we help him? Do we testify or something about his character?”
“You shouldn’t have to. This is a libel suit, meaning it’s his words, his characters that are under attack. I’m going to see what I can take care of with my firm, but there might be another way around this that I’d like to try first.”
“You’re a lawyer?” Marge asked. The woman was smiling ear to ear, the mischievous grin tugging at the corners of her eyes as well.
“One of the best, actually. He’s in good hands, Marge.”
Marge peered into Sophie’s eyes, unwavering.
“I see that now.”
“Marge,” Sophie started, “what made you want to listen now?” Sophie asked after a moment of silence between the women. Penske whined at her feet, so she reached down to rub between his ears.
“Brad told me how he feels about you, and as much as I worry about how fast you two are going down this road, I saw a truth in what he said that I never saw in his relationship with Julia. It was never really a partnership between them—honestly, I never once saw her defend him the way you just did, having really heard him. He did the impossible and made me see past my own nose.”
This time, Marge broke into, not really a grin, but a soft smile nonetheless. It forced the cold from Sophie, and she found herself smiling as well. “It didn’t hurt that he threatened to keep me from my future grandkids if I didn’t listen, but I’m glad I did either way.”
Sophie’s stomach flipped twice over at the mention of grandkids. She’d always known that they were off the table with Drew, or that at the very least he’d insist on a nanny so Sophie’s attention wasn’t pulled from her work at the firm. That Brad had alluded to the possibility already was icing on the very rich cake she’d been served since she met him. Her abdomen fluttered once more. Being a mother was very much on her agenda, but she and Brad had to talk about when, how many, who would stay home when they were little—the list was long but exciting.
She also noted that she needed to still get his phone number. Small details.
“I know you’re worried, Marge, and you have every right to be, but I’ll never hurt your son. I love him for a thousand different reasons, including all the things I don’t know enough to love yet. For how he handled Julia and come out of it on top despite it all, for starters.”
“Despite me, you mean?” Marge looked skeptical. Her eyebrows raised, and her frown returned.
“No, though I do think your support would have done wonders, and will from here. But I mean despite the town. They don’t know her for who she really is, besides the cheating, and Brad took the high ground. I don’t know if I’d have been that strong. I probably would have put out a full-page ad in theCourierthat announced what a schmuck she is. The thing is, she doesn’t realize that her suit will go public if it goes to court. That’ll put a damper on her reputation if she sullies the work of Banberry’s local hero.”
Sophie almost fell down in the snow when Marge laughed, a tiny bubble of noise that escaped from her throat and seemed to surprise her as well. Marge put her hand over her mouth like she was embarrassed to have been caught enjoying herself for a change.
“You should let that happen more often, Marge. It looks good on you.”
“I have a feeling that’s a possibility now. Thank you, Sophie. You’ve been kind to listen to me after the way I’ve treated you. I would not have been as generous.”
Sophie shook her head. “Not at all. Brad thinks the world of you, and I’m just glad I get the chance to see why. Because I don’t think either of us is going anywhere, right?”
“Not on my end. And it doesn’t seem like Brad will let you go no matter what anyone thinks. Sophie, if you’d give me the pleasure of a second chance, I’d like to get to know you more. Starting with dinner? Paige will be here, and despite my earlier behavior attempting to convince her otherwise, she seems to like you already. Plus, you have this guy’s approval, so you can’t be all bad.” Marge nudged Penske, who was nuzzled up against Sophie’s thigh.
“Yes, and yes,” Sophie said. She wrapped Marge in an embrace, who struggled against the unrequested display of affection, her body rigid beneath Sophie’s. After just a moment, however, Sophie felt her begin to soften like butter, until Marge’s arms slid around her as well. She closed her eyes over Marge’s shoulder, her hopes kindled.
“Well that’s a sight I didn’t think I’d ever see.”
Sophie pulled back from Marge, pleased to see Marge’s lips in the most natural smile. Brad stood behind them, his arms crossed loosely over his chest, the same grin as his mother’s on his face, burnished by the cold. Now that Marge had relaxed a bit, Sophie could see more of a resemblance between mother and son. Besides both being tall with sinewy runners’ builds, they both had a naturally crooked smile that lifted a little more on the right side than the left. Marge also shared Brad’s adorably scrunched eyes when she let the smile reach them, as she was just then.
“Where were you hiding?” Sophie asked.
“My mom needed some help with the CVT transmission and gear ratio on the tractor, whether or not she would admit it.”
“I would have been able to figure it out, eventually,” Marge said. “And if not, Mike is coming back tomorrow to help work out the kinks in the chisel plow before spring. He’d have taken care of the CVT and not given me any grief for it.”
“Yeah, well that’s what you pay him for. I come with snark, but I work for free,” Brad teased. With a twinkle in her eye that Sophie had only seen before in both Brad and his father, Marge walked over and hugged her son.
“This young lady has accepted my offer to join us for dinner, so I’d better be heading in to start the oven. Come in whenever you’re ready and help me with the veggies, Brad?”
Brad nodded, a suspicious look on his face. “You bet, Mom. Be there in a sec.”
