Guardian Bride (23 page)

again, he rocked slightly, gently swaying them both back and

forth. "Would you rather I was as grumpy as a cornered

badger?"

Her arms wrapped around him. "I don't know what I'd

rather. I just don't know anything anymore." Her sigh was so

weighted he felt it—in an odd and deep way.

His mind tumbled, twisted, and leaped about like a flea on

a dog but came up empty no matter what. He continued to

rock her. "Honey, I sure do wish you'd tell me what's wrong.

That's the only way I can help."

"There's nothing you can do. There's nothing anyone can

do." She sniffled, which struck his heart like a long, sharp

needle.

"Hey, nothing's that bad. Tell me what's bothering you.

Please." He almost flinched at how he sounded. August didn't

whine that hard over a bath.

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She sat up abruptly. "There's nothing bothering me." Her

lie was completely unconvincing. "I'm sorry I've acted so. I'm

just sad your family lost so much in the fire."

The reason he'd sought her had been sitting in the back of

his mind, waiting for the right time. It wasn't now, he

decided. Telling her he loved her wasn't what she needed.

Then again, he had no idea what she did need. Wishing he

did, he said, "We didn't lose anything that can't be replaced.

That's the only thing that matters."

She stood, and whether it was real or disguised, she

smiled.

"You're right. I am thankful no one was hurt. Extremely

thankful." Her hand stretched toward him.

He took it, pretending to allow her to aid in his stance.

"And you shouldn't be climbing ladders with that leg, yet."

He used his grasp to tug her forward. They stood face to

face. "Every day, in every way, I get better and better."

A glimmer of a smile sparked in her eyes. "I've noticed

that." Her free hand ran up his arm.

Her touch, soft and loving, sent a bolt though him. He

wrapped both arms around her waist, tugging her closer yet.

"You have?"

She nodded, her nose practically touching his chin. The

temptation was too much. He leaned down, offering the kiss

she clearly asked for. It started out slow, just a soft, sensual

connection, but when she stepped closer, pressing her torso

against his, he had no control over his reaction. Their

correlation was like a match thrown against dry kindling,

going from calm and quiet to alive and raging within seconds.

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"I bet they're still kissing!" filtered up the small hole in the

floor.

Snake eased out of the kiss, and by the time August's

head popped out of the hole, Snake was leading Summer

across the hay. The way they stumbled, both he and

Summer, made Snake wonder if getting caught kissing in the

hayloft for the second time would have been easier than

walking.

"Excuse me?" Summer, once again daydreaming while

washing the supper dishes, glanced to the woman standing

beside her.

Lila had the brightest green eyes Summer had ever seen,

and they sparkled with a devilish hint as her sister-in-law

giggled.

"Is your head still in the hayloft?"

It had been hours since the hayloft incident, but the

statement caused heat to rush into her cheeks—and other

parts of her body. And, yes, that's exactly where her head

had been.

"Don't be embarrassed," her other sister-in-law, Hog's

wife, offered. "The rest of us know how irresistible they are."

Randi's attention was on the house, where the brothers, all

five of them stood, conversing with one another. "From the

moment I met Hog, a constant thought has hung in my

head." She let out a dreamy sigh.

Summer waited, wondering if Randi would share her

thought—even though she knew what it was. Summer's mind

trailed down a familiar road. It relived every moment she

shared near Snake including each time they'd touched or

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kissed with such clarity she found herself trembling in her

shoes.

After another sigh, Randi said, "Every day I wonder when

is the sun going to set so we can be alone?"

Lila giggled. "Ain't that the truth."

Summer didn't answer, didn't need to since the other two

women were staring at their husbands like August stared at

chocolate cake. Besides, what could she say? She most

certainly couldn't deny she had the same thoughts—about

being alone with Snake. There was no way she could admit it

either.

On cue, Skeeter and Hog turned around. Smiling, their

gazes landed on their wives. Summer averted her eyes,

feeling somewhat like an intruder, but her movement stalled.

Snake's eyes had settled on her. A stirring happened in her

stomach. The swirling heat caused her breath to catch. There

was no doubt how strongly the Quinter brothers loved their

wives. Anyone with eyes in their head could see that—

probably even a blind man would pick up on the love that

hovered between the couples. But that didn't include her and

Snake.

Her heart pounded. Or did it?

The men began walking across the yard. Her nerves jolted

and water splashed over the sides as Summer plunged her

hands back into the dishpan. Her fingers searched, but

besides the tepid water, the pan was empty. Almost

panicking, she searched the makeshift cupboard for more to

wash. Anything to keep her busy. Not a cup, nor spoon, nor

pan was anywhere in sight.

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"They're all done," Randi said, hooking the towel she'd

used to dry the dishes on a nail left sticking out for that

purpose. She was a petite woman, and when Hog, who was

the largest of the brothers, walked up behind her and

engulfed her in a hug, she looked even smaller. Randi

embraced his hold lovingly, and Summer turned away again—

only to catch a glimpse of Lila folding herself into her

husband, Skeeter's arms. The two of them were closer in

height, and Lila openly grasped Skeeter's backside as their

hugging grew closer.

Summer spun about and ended up chin to chest with

Snake. Swallowing her heart, she tipped her head up. Air

swooshed out her lungs, and she spun back to the dishpan.

Hands shaking, she grabbed for the sides of the pan. The

gaze of Snake's eyes, as he'd looked down at her, was the

same as Hog's had been to Randi, and Skeeter's to Lila. It

held that unmistakable shine—like sun reflecting off a pool of

water—of fresh, pure, devotion.

Someone else caught a hold on the dishpan. "I'll empty

that for you, Summer," Bug said, lifting the pan. Summer had

no choice but to let loose of the edges as the man tugged the

pan away.

"I'll help you, Bug," August, forever near the brothers,

offered.

"Where's Kid and Jessie?" Skeeter asked, "It's time to get

the kids back to their place."

"They're kissing in the barn!" August shouted over his

shoulder, his little legs hop-skipping as he kept pace with Bug

walking across the yard.

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Summer didn't have the gumption to reprimand the child.

It wouldn't have mattered anyway; the people surrounding

her were all laughing.

Moments later, Kid and Jessie exited the barn. Grinning as

they approached, Kid acknowledged, "That kid doesn't miss

anything does he?"

"No, not much," Snake said, wrapping an arm around

Summer's waist. His hand flayed out over her side, and his

fingers squeezed, tugging her until their hips and thighs

collided. A flock of butterflies took flight in her insides. An

urge erupted. She wanted to wrap her arms around his waist

and hold on for dear life. She quelled the want, forcing her

hands to stay at her sides.

"See what we have to look forward to?" Hog asked Randi,

resting his hand on her abdomen.

"What?" Lila asked, lifting her head from Skeeter's

shoulder. Her eyes grew wide, and her smile increased,

brightening her face with glee. "Is there something you

haven't told us?"

Randi covered Hog's hand with both of hers. "No." She

glanced at her husband, blushing. "He just thinks it should

have already happened."

Skeeter slapped Hog on the back. "Maybe you aren't trying

hard enough little brother."

The hoots, laughter, and jesting in general lasted for

several minutes. Summer watched and listened with interest.

She'd grown accustomed to the brothers—and their wives—

and their playfulness and teasing, but a piece of her remained

aloof, making her feel like the outsider. Not a single family

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member made her feel so, but just the same, she did—for she

was an outsider. She certainly didn't belong with this loving,

caring family. Soon they would all hate her—the moment they

learned the truth.

Jessie put a stop to the hooting when, still giggling, she

said, "We best head home. The kids are tired."

The others agreed and as the couples moved toward the

tent where Ma and September had taken the children—less

August of course—Jessie touched Summer's arm. "We were

wondering if you'd mind if September came home with us for

the night."

August as usual, appeared out of nowhere. "I'll go, too!

Can I, Summer? Please?"

Snake's hand, gently rubbing her side—along with the

turmoil racing up and down her spine—made thinking difficult.

"What?" Summer asked. "Why?"

"So I can see the puppies!" August hopped up and down.

"I can see the puppies, can't I, Kid?"

"Sure can, bucko, you can even feed them their supper,"

Kid answered, ruffling August's blond curls.

"Please, Summer?" her little brother repeated. "September

wants to see the puppies, too, I heard her ask Jessie."

Summer lifted her gaze to the other woman. Jessie

nodded. "She asked me this afternoon if she could come over

and spend the night sometime. I told her I'd ask you."

"Pleeeease?" August had his hands folded beneath his chin

as if praying to the Lord Almighty.

She really couldn't say no. August and September rarely

asked for anything. The children had blossomed the past

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weeks. The sight of their constant grins and glowing faces

was something that had been absent in their lives up until

now. The children were not only healthy, they were happy.

Summer knelt down in front of August. "You'll have to be

extra good."

"I will." His head bobbed. "I promise. I'll be as good as

gold."

"And go to bed when asked."

August nodded faster. "I will."

The love she had for her siblings swelled in her chest.

Summer leaned forward and wrapped her arms around

August. "I know you will. You always mind."

He hugged her briefly before he stepped back. "So I can

go? I can go see the puppies?"

"Yes," she agreed. "You can go."

His grin faded slightly. "And September, too?"

Words tried to lodge themselves in her throat. Other than

the night she'd followed Snake, she'd never spent a night

away from the children since they'd been born. She

swallowed her own anxiety. "Yes. September, too."

With a hoot and a holler, August took off toward the tent.

Snake took a hold of her arm and unnecessarily assisted her

stance. When her knees quaked, she realized she did need his

assistance. It felt good to lean on someone. That, too, was

something she'd never experienced before.

Jessie stepped forward and looped one arm gently around

her neck. After a quick hug, which touched the inside of

Summer's chest in a new and unique way, Jessie said, "Don't

worry, we'll take good care of them."

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Unsure and a bit confused by all the emotions spewing

inside her, Summer nodded. Snake's arm was back around

her, and he tightened his hold. She closed her eyes, and just

for a moment, let his caring, affectionate touch fill her. While

she was lost in that wonderful world, his lips brushed over

hers.

It all happened in a blink of an eye—or at least, that's

what it felt like to Summer. Still recovering from the quick

kiss Snake had bestowed upon her lips, she was caught off

guard when September raced over and gave her a quick hug

before running back to the wagons the rest of the Quinter

families loaded themselves into. Their departing greetings

made the fog lift inside her head. She spied Ma holding one of

the babies, either Kid's little girl, Winifred, or Skeeter's infant

boy, Charles, the swaddling didn't allow her to determine

which one.

Summer turned to Snake, who once again—or maybe

still—occupied the space beside her. "Ma's going, too?"

"Looks that way," he said, waving to the departing troop.