Page 36 of Fairy Tale Husband

Jake glared. “What’s wrong now?”

“I don’t do reverse,” she explained.

“You don’t—” He bit off an exclamation. “But you can go forward, correct?”

She grinned. “Well enough to have gotten us here.”

“Well enough to get you back home again, too?”

“I think so.”

He yanked open the cab door. “Stand on the sidewalk. I’ll back the truck out.”

Buster tugged on Wynne’s arm. “Uncle Jake sounds funny again,” he whispered. “Like when he was in the store.”

“I think that means he’s annoyed,” she whisperedback.

“I’m not annoyed.” Jake corrected her grimly. “I’m mad enough to spit nails. Now go stand on that sidewalk like I told you.”

Silently they did as he asked. Or rather, ordered. Starting the engine with a roar, he spun out of the parking space and left the pickup idling in the middle of the street. “Hop in and start for home,” he called to Wynne. “I’ll be right on your tail.”

The three climbed into the truck. With an earsplitting grinding of gears, Wynne popped the clutch into first and coughed her way down the road. Jake winced. His mechanic was going to love her. At a transmission a month, Billy Dee would soon be able to afford that Ford F-450 he’d been eyeing. Shaking his head in disgust, Jake climbed into an ancient Jeep and planted his front bumper inches off her back one. The first time she stalled the engine, he almost rear-ended her. After that, he kept a respectable distance betweenthem.

Ten minutes later they reached the driveway to Lost Trail. It took three tries for her to find the right gear and keep the engine running long enough to make the turn. Jake released a gusty sigh. He had a horrible feeling this was only the beginning of his tribulations with his adorable wife. Unfortunately, he had a tough time working up any real irritation with her, especially after her spirited defense of him in the general store.

Dusty emerged from the barn to greet them as they pulled into the yard. He eyed Wynne and the children with trepidation. “That her?” he questioned, poking his head in the open window of the Jeep. “Where’d the kids come from? Don’t remember you sayin’ anything about kids.”

“I told you my wife packed a few surprises. They’re just one of them. Come on and I’ll introduce you.”

Dusty held up his hands and started backing toward the barn. “That’s not necessary. Any ol’ time will do. Next week. Next month. How ’bout while they’re packing to leave?”

Jake shook his head. “Not a chance. You’ll meet them now. That way you can keep an eye on the kids while I teach Wynne how to drive a stick.”

“I’m no babysitter,” Dusty protested.

“Yeah? Well, you’re not much of a foreman, either. But that’s never stopped you from collecting the wages of one. Now shut your yap and come on.” A sudden thought occurred and he swiveled to glare a warning. “And don’t spit on her.”

Wynne turned her attention from the endless expanse of pastureland flying by the truck window and glanced at Jake. “I appreciate your teaching me to drive the truck.”

“You should have told me you’d never driven a standard transmission before.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t notice it was standard until we were ready to go shopping.”

“Once you did notice, you should have waited until I returned. You could have caused an accident.”

Silence descended again and she twirled her wedding band around her finger, scrambling for something else to say. “The people of Chesterfield are really nice,” she volunteered. “Belle sure does have a busy store. Iguess that’s why you wanted me to go to Two Forks, right? Because it isn’t as crowded there?”

“Wrong. Belle’s place was so packed because word spread that a Mrs. Jake Hondo had wandered in to do her shopping. They were all curious to meet the woman brave enough to take me on.” A muscle worked in his jaw. “I wanted you to go to Two Forks to avoid all those nice, curious people. In particular, I’d hoped to avoid Randolph.”

She blinked. “Oh. Well, except for him, Chesterfield’s an awfully friendly town. Iprobably met just about everyone. What a wonderful place to celebrate the holidays.” She slanted him another look. “I wonder why Randolph took such a dislike to me.”

“I believe he explained that.”

“Then he wasn’t lying about the inheritance?”

“No.”

Another thought occurred to her. “You must have been standing there a long time to have heard all that.”

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