Page 13 of Sweet Surprise

“I don’t think you do.” For the next several minutes, Carson went into great detail about the ranch, the foreman, the thefts, the trust, the partial payment on marrying and then the balance after the first year anniversary, his brother’s fake marriage and the struggles all the siblings were having to do the same. “Of course the hardest part has been pulling the wool over Mom’s eyes so she doesn’t realize we’re all marrying quickly for the trust money to replenish what that snake of a foreman stole before we lose the ranch to the bank.”

All she could do was nod. This entire scenario sounded like it had fallen from the pages of a really bad made for TV movie script.

“I know it’s asking a lot, and I can’t quite wrap my head around how to do this without hurting Mason.”

“This?”

He stared at her for a while and she could see the exact moment when he realized whatever he was saying and she was hearing may not be the same thing. “I was hoping, perhaps you’d be willing to marry me.”

She was pretty sure her jaw came close to hitting the floor and her eyeballs may have escaped from their sockets. “You wantwhat?”

Frantically, he shook his head. “Not for real. I mean, I wouldn’t expect you, I mean, we don’t have to, that is…” Pausing, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Open mouth insert size thirteen shoe.”

Sorting through his rambling, slowly, she began to put the pieces together. He was asking her to do what Sarah had done. To help save the ranch. What she couldn’t decide was if this was an answer to prayer, or if she wanted to haul off and belt him.

“Feel free to slug me if it makes you feel better.” His gaze softened, but worry still danced in his eyes.

On the other hand, his uncanny ability, even after all these years, to know what she was thinking, made her smile. “I considered it.”

Shaking his head, he leaned back again. “It’s thoughtless, selfish, and I’m worried about Mason, but I’m also desperate. If you’re willing to help, and we put our heads together, I know we can figure out a way to make this work.”

Chapter Six

“One of these days I’m going to build a chicken coup and have fresh eggs.” Squatting on her haunches, Alice Sweet had a roll of paper towels in one hand and a yellow mess under the other.

“How many?” Carson didn’t have to be a gourmet chef to know that this morning’s eggs were now splattered on the kitchen floor.

“The whole carton. Eighteen eggs. Slipped right out of my hand, flipped open, and splat.” Tossing the gloppy towels into the trash, she pushed to her feet and sighed. “I used the rest of my eggs last night for the casserole I froze for the Flannagan’s upcoming fundraiser. Can you run down to the farmers market for me? Sadie Thompson is saving two dozen eggs for us.”

Carson nodded.

The back door creaked open and Clint, the lone hand, stood in the doorway, hat in hand. “Excuse me, ma’am.”

Mop in hand, Carson’s mom looked up. “If you’ve come to borrow eggs, you’re just plumb out of luck.”

“No, ma’am.” He shook his head. “I, um, hate to ask this but I need an afternoon off.”

“Of course.” She leaned the mop handle against the counter. “Clint, anything you need is yours.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“It’s none of my business, but nothing serious, I hope?”

“No, ma’am. Just an appointment that I have to keep.”

His mother nodded, but something in the way Clint stood didn’t seem like the self-assured man Carson had gotten to know over the last couple of months. The cowhand seemed almost nervous.

“Morning.” Her son in front of her, Jess nudged Mason into the kitchen. “Sorry we’re late. I didn’t realize how early ranch life starts.”

“No worries. You two sleep in as long as you need to.” His mother pulled out a couple of loaves of bread from the drawer.

Hat in hand, Carson nodded at his mother. “I’d better get going.”

“Thanks, baby.” His mom leaned in for him to kiss her cheek.

“Going?” A hint of panic flickered in Jess’s eyes.

“To town. Mom needs more eggs.”

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