Trusting Them (20 page)

“What are you smiling about, baby girl?” Brady asked.

“Nothing really.”

“Uh huh, I believe that.” He pulled her across his lap.

When Brock came in the living room, he sat on the other end of the couch and pulled her feet into his lap. They watched the news and weather with Brock massaging her feet and ankles. Brady kept his hand across her waist and rubbed up and down her side. The sensations sent chills down her spine. Brady mistook it for her being cold and went and got a blanket for her.

“So, the storm is supposed to hit tomorrow afternoon around one or two right?” she asked.

“Yep. I figure we can get most of the chores done before then if we start early,” Brock said.

“I guess I better go to bed so I can get up early and get you something to put in your bellies before you go out.” She shifted to stand up, but Brady held on to her.

“We can fix something to eat. You don’t have to get up so early.”

“Hey, that’s what you have me for,” she teased.

Brady huffed out a breath. “That’s not the reason you’re here.”

“Brady,” Brock said in a soft voice.

“Sure it is. I needed somewhere to stay, and you offered me a job. I’m just doing my job.”

Jeni so wanted them to deny it. She wanted them to say she was there because they wanted her near them. She waited, but they didn’t say the words. Finally, she drew in a deep breath and stood up. Brady didn’t let go of her wrist for a few seconds. He seemed to be trying to tell her something using his hand on her wrist, but she couldn’t tell what. Instead, he let go and she left the room feeling a little bit melancholy. Maybe she was wrong after all about Brock. Brady seemed to want her for more than just a convenience. Maybe Brock didn’t. She blinked back the tears as she got ready for bed. She wouldn’t cry about it. She just wouldn’t.

Still, the tears flowed as she lay down. But she didn’t make a sound.

* * * *

“Brady, don’t screw this up. She has to want us both and enough to stay on her own. If you go and influence her, we’ll never know if she really wanted us or just a place to live.” Brock stood up and paced the room.

“I think she already wants us. She kisses us back when we kiss her. She responds when we touch her. It doesn’t matter if it’s you or me. She obviously feels something for us.”

“Until we’re sure she understands we want her together, we don’t influence her. We made that deal and we are going to keep it.” Brock stormed out of the living room and upstairs, leaving Brady alone in the living room.

Brady shook his head and turned off the TV. He was sure Jeni already loved them, but Brock was cautious. He guessed he could understand. It wouldn’t be easy for a woman to take on two men, even without the stigma that went along with it. She would have to be strong and have at thick skin. He believed she was the one.

Brock wanted a relationship like their parents had, one that was filled with love and devotion. They trusted each other and lived on that trust. He knew there would be times when they wouldn’t agree on something, but all marriages had that. They could make it work. He was sure of it. Now if he could only convince Brock she was ready.

Early the next morning, Brady dragged himself out of bed, determined to beat Jeni downstairs and start the coffee. He hoped he was even ahead of Brock for a change. He dressed and walked as quietly down the stairs as possible, only to smell the scent of freshly brewed coffee. He sighed and wondered who’d made it down first. More than likely it would be Jeni. She seemed to have a sixth sense on what time to get up no matter if they told her they would be up early or not.

“Morning, baby.” He wrapped his arms around her as she kneaded the dough for biscuits.

“Morning, Brady. Hope you slept well.” She blew a wisp of hair from her face.

“Slept fine. What about you? You couldn’t have gotten much sleep. You’re up too early.” He kissed her cheek and let go of her to pour a cup of coffee.

She looked so right in the kitchen—like she belonged there. He enjoyed watching her work, the way she put all her weight into molding the dough. Everything about her turned him on. She looked up and smiled at him and he felt on top of the world.

“Brock’s late this morning,” she commented.

“Who’s late?” Brock walked into the kitchen and headed straight for the coffee.

“You are, big brother. Even I beat you today.”

Brock frowned at him and then winked at Jeni. She smiled back at him, but ducked her head as if embarrassed. It was cute that she could be teased.

“So, what is on the agenda today?” Brady asked.

“Make sure we have all the stragglers in as close to the barn as we can get them. I want to try putting some of the younger ones inside. We’ll watch them close, and as long as they seem pretty calm, we’ll leave them there through the worst of the bad weather.”

After breakfast, he shrugged into his coat and settled his hat on his head before stepping out behind Brock into the cold air.

“Not cold enough to freeze yet. Let’s hope it cools off before it gets here or we’re going to have ice before the snow.” Brock shoved his hands into his gloves and flexed his fingers.

“Think we’ll lose any to this?” Brady asked.

“Probably. I want to keep the numbers down as low as we can. Keeping them well fed will give them the energy they need to stay warm.”

“I guess it depends on us getting out there as much as possible. At least we have the hands to help us.” Brady nodded and got to work.

Thoughts of Jeni at home waiting for them kept him going. The weather got colder but still not quite cold enough to keep the freezing drizzle from starting by the time they’d finished everything. It began to sleet in earnest as they stomped their boots on the back porch. Brady pulled off his coat and shook the ice from it before walking inside. He quickly shut the door, though Brock was still outside shaking out his coat. He knew better than to waste heat.

“You finished out there for now?” Jeni asked from the doorway.

“Yep.” Brady blew on his hands.

“I’ve got the fire going in the living room. Why don’t you go warm up? I have stew on the stove waiting for when you’re ready to eat.”

“Did I hear stew?” Brock asked as he closed the door behind him.

“Yes, you did. Go warm up in front of the fire, and I’ll get the cornbread in the oven.”

“You kept the fire going?” Brock asked.

“I thought I should. I knew you would be cold when you got inside and we don’t know if the electricity will go out or not.” Jeni bit her bottom lip.

“That was smart thinking,” Brock said.

Brady breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried Brock would light into her for picking up the logs. Either he hadn’t thought about it, or he knew it was a good idea. Brady backed up closer to the fire as Brock pushed him aside to hog the heat.

“If the sleet keeps up much longer, we will be out of electricity before the night is over,” Brock commented.

“I filled the wood box up and stacked some extra on the porch. Maybe we should look at bringing the mattress downstairs and putting it in front of the fire,” Brady said.

“I was thinking the same thing. Let’s see how things go the next few hours first.”

Brady and Brock watched the weather after their meal of stew and cornbread. The front was moving slower than anticipated. So far, ice accumulations had been a little over an inch. It hadn’t started snowing yet. Around six they bundled up to check on the cattle again. Brock took the bulls and horses. He took the cattle in the pen and the barns.

By the time they finished and started inside, it had changed over to snow. Brock let out a breath, and Brady felt the same way. Snow was better than the ice on any day. They walked into the kitchen, shedding their coats and gloves.

“Got the stew warmed up again. Cornbread will be ready in another ten minutes.” Jeni walked in the kitchen.

“Sounds good to me,” Brady said.

Just as he walked into the living room the lights went out, no flicker of warning.

Chapter Fourteen

Jeni couldn’t help the smile that bloomed on her face. No electricity meant no electric blankets. They would have to stick together to stay warm. She wondered if the men thought the same thing or if they dreaded it. She certainly hoped they would look forward to it like she did.

“Damn.”

Jeni heard Brady’s voice as he ran into something. She stayed where she was until someone located a flashlight. Suddenly one flicked on.

“You okay in here, baby?” Brady asked.

“I’m fine. Food is ready but we need some candles to see to eat.”

“Hey, Brock, aren’t the candles in the closet in there?” Brady called out.

“I’ll get them,” he called back from the living room.

A few minutes later, Brock walked into the kitchen carrying a box of candles and the flashlight he was using to see by. He looked funny by the light of the flashlight, almost like he was grinning ear to ear. Ridiculous, she thought. Just the light playing tricks on her eyes. He handed her the box. She retrieved a box of matches from near the stove.

Jeni went about placing candles on the table and around the room so they could see to eat. Brady provided the light for her to see by until the candles were all lighted. Then she placed the soup and the cornbread on the table. They all sat down and ate in silence. Once the meal was over, Jeni washed up the dishes since they didn’t have a dishwasher while the men made another trip out to check on the cattle again.

She looked out the window at the swirling snow. It was pitch black outside. Without stars or the moon, there was nothing to illuminate the land surrounding them.

Once the men returned, they set about pulling the king-sized mattress downstairs to the living room where they’d cleared out a space in front of the fireplace. Jeni made the bed and piled on several different comforters. She couldn’t wait to have them in bed next to her once again. She’d missed them. She hoped they had missed her too.

“I’m going to take a flashlight upstairs and change clothes,” Jeni announced.

“Be sure to wear something on your feet. They’ll be pointing away from the fire,” Brock said.

“He really means that he doesn’t want cold feet touching him in the middle of the night,” Brady teased.

“That either.” Brock actually cracked a smile for a few seconds.

Jeni laughed and made her way to the stairs.

“Wait,” Brady called out. “I’ll go with you to be sure you make it up the stairs okay.”

“Goodness, I think I can climb some stairs by myself.”

“I don’t want to take the chance you might fall.” Brady took the flashlight from her and shined it on the steps as she started to go up.

“Okay, daddy. I think I can make it from here.”

“Daddy, huh? Do you need a daddy to take care of you, baby girl?” he asked.

“Maybe. Now let me go and change clothes. You can sit out here in the dark and wait on me.” She took the flashlight and closed the door to her bedroom behind her.

She could just imagine him standing there waiting on her. She almost took her time to make him wait, but decided that wasn’t a nice thing to do. Jeni decided on a pair of cotton PJs and a pair of socks. They were the warmest thing she had, other than the thermal underwear Brock had made her buy. She was tempted to put it on, but wanted a reason for them to snuggle up close to her.