Page 24 of Marrying a Cowboy

Sean held up his hands. “Oh, right. I forgot.” He chuckled as he flipped the radio off that had changed to playing commercials. “The back pasture’s all cleaned up from the storm last week. We lost a few trees, but that was it. You get the fence fixed?” He pulled open his door and hoped out of his idlingtruck.

Austin shook his head. “We got the holes dug for the posts but then had to quit. Emma hurt herhands.”

At his words, Emma winced. Why did she feel so defeated by his words? She wanted to do well. Prove that she could handle this kind of life. But at that thought, she felt stupid. Why did it matter if she did well? She was leaving once his grandmother signed over the farm. Their marriage was finished and she’d be back home.Alone.

Sean studied her. “Youokay?”

She nodded. “Nothing a hot shower won’tfix.”

“We’re headed in for the night,” Austinsaid.

Sean shook his head. “Nope. You’re coming out with me. Bernie’s playing at the Tavern tonight. He wants us to come out to seehim.”

Austin cleared his throat. “I don’t think that would be wise. We’re tired.” He shot her a sympatheticlook.

Emma watched him. Why was he acting so weird? “Actually, that sounds nice,” shesaid.

Austin’s gaze whipped from Sean over to her. “I—err—”

“You heard your wife. She wants to come.” Sean reached over and pulled Emma into a hug. “You’ll have fun. We’ll show you how we party here in Montana. Besides, it’s time to bury the past. Bringing your wife therewill—”

“We’ll come if you stop talking,” Austinsaid.

Emma studied the two men. What was going on? Why did Austin have a strained expression? She parted her lips to ask, but then decided to keep quiet. If he wanted her to know, he’d tellher.

She decided not to dwell on it. “I’m fine with it if youare.”

He nodded, but she could see his jaw muscles twitching. “Yeah. It’ll befine.”

Why was he lying to her? If they were married, he should be able to tell her these things.Ifthey were married. They weren’t married. Why couldn’t she rememberthat?

Sean whooped and pulled open the door to his truck. “I’ll see you two there in a bit then. It’ll be a party like no other,” he yelled out his window as he backed his truck up and pulledaway.

Once he was gone, Emma turned to Austin. Even in the evening light, she could see that he had paled. What was wrong with him? Why wouldn’t he tell her? As much as she wanted to believe that she was fine with never talking about anything personal, she was beginning to believe that that wasn’t possible. She wanted to know about him. A lot about him. And it was hard to admit, but it broke her heart just a bit that he couldn’t possibly want the samething.

The rest of the way to the house, they walked in silence. Emma could feel the stress emanating off Austin. There were a few times she contemplated turning around and asking him what was wrong but then decided against it. Was it so bad that she wanted him to tell her because he wanted her to know? Not because she had to practically pull it fromhim?

Once they got to the house, Austin offered the shower to her first and then disappeared into his room. A half an hour later, Emma sat on her bed, slipping on a pair of heels. After a hot shower and a scrub down, she felt a lot better. Her hands still stung, but the water and soap had a cleansing effect onthem.

She’d decided to go with a fitted pencil skirt and a lacy blouse. It made her feel feminine and after a long day of working outside, she wanted to feel feminine. Just as she moved to stand, there was a knock on her door. She swallowed.Austin.

“Come in,” she said as she stood and brushed down herskirt.

The handle turned and Austin slowly pushed open the door. She tried to still her heart as it picked up speed when her gaze fell on him. His blue button up shirt highlighted his tanned skin and his dark hair was still damp from his shower. His gaze roamed the room as he shoved his hand into the front pocket of his jeans. The jeans whose tightness caused her cheeks to flush just thinking aboutthem.

“Are you”—he cleared his throat when his gaze fell on her—“Are you ready?” heasked.

Emma nodded. Her heart pounding so loud in her ears. Why did she feel this need to know everything about him? She wanted to figure out the reason behind his earlier reaction so bad that she felt like she could burst. Was he feeling this way as well? She was an idiot to even think that hemight.

“You look beautiful,” he said, nodding in herdirection.

Emma swallowed. Statements like that were not going to help her calm her emotions. “Thanks. So, doyou?”

Even from across the room, she saw his cheeks reddened. He dropped her gaze to the floor where he dug the toe of his boot into thecarpet.

Having enough of his mysterious behavior, she closed the gap between them and grasped his hand. He flinched and moved to pull it away but then hepaused.

“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to. Whatever past you have, you don’t have to tell me. I understand. We can stay home.” She winced as every thought she’d been having since their meeting with Sean came tumbling out. Great. Now she was a blabberingidiot.

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