Page 19 of Montana Groom of Convenience
“Sorry about your accident,” Sawyer said, taking in the strain about the man’s eyes despite his laughter. “What happened?”
“Ack. What can I say? A foolish old man trying to be a hero.”
Sawyer looked at Carly for an explanation. “He tried to stop a runaway wagon and slipped on a patch of ice. The wagon ran over his leg.”
“Aye, and it would not have happened if some fool had not blasted his gun beside the horses.” He eased himself to a more comfortable position, then leaned forward. “Now, let’s have a look at the wee lassie.”
Sawyer peeled Jill off the back of his legs and pulled her forward. “Say hello to Mr. Morrison.”
She didn’t respond. Her jaw jutted out, and he knew she wouldn’t.
He couldn’t force her to. Instead of trying, he glanced about the house. A big kitchen with the table in the middle of the room, the stove and cupboards to one side. A wide doorway opened to the living room. From where he stood, he saw a couple of comfortable-looking armchairs, one with a table beside it and a scattering of newspapers and books. A footstool to one side of the chair. He wondered if that’s where Mr. Morrison spent some of his day.
Across the kitchen was a closed door. To one end ofthe kitchen, another closed door. No doubt the bedrooms. He eased slightly to his left and saw another door leading off the kitchen. The house was small, as Carly said, but more than adequate. He’d shared crowded quarters with a dozen men and slept in the open under the stars. This would do fine for a home for himself and Jill.
No doubt, he’d soon learn where he and Jill were to sleep and which rooms were used by Carly and her father.
Mr. Morrison took the initiative with Jill. “Hello, little Jill. So yer going to be living with us now.” Mr. Morrison eyed the child without saying another word. The silence grew heavy and uncomfortable.
Jill lifted her head and looked at the older man.
Mr. Morrison smiled. “That’s better.” He nodded. “You have beautiful eyes. You should let people see them more often. ’Tis my guess you have a beautiful smile, too. I can’t wait to see it.”
Sawyer could have warned the man it might be a long time before he did.
Mr. Morrison sat back, and Jill shuffled to Sawyer’s side. She didn’t touch him. She wouldn’t. Sawyer understood. But perhaps living here and being settled would help her remember a time when it was okay to feel something besides caution.
“Well, if you’re satisfied,” Carly said. “I need to get some beds ready for these people.”
Mr. Morrison chuckled. A pleasing sound that spread a little honey to Sawyer’s insides. “You mean your husband and his little sister?”
“Uh-huh. I’m going to clean out the little storeroom.”
“Aye. It will be a nice bedroom for the wee lassie.”
“Or for the big brother.”
Mr. Morrison sat upright so suddenly he groaned with pain. He quickly recovered. “Are you telling me your husband is going to sleep there? What kind of nonsense is this?” His voice rose.
Carly dipped water from the bucket on the cupboard and had a long drink. “You said I needed a husband to keep the ranch. I got one. The ranch is safe. But I have no need of a man for any other reason.” She refilled the dipper and offered it to Sawyer.
He drank, more to distance himself from this situation than because of thirst. “Thanks.” He returned the dipper to her and she again refilled it and offered it to Jill, who likewise drank rather desperately. She might try to distance herself from people, but she couldn’t help but feel the tension in the room.
“Are ye telling me this marriage is a mockery?”
Carly seemed unaffected by the man’s loud voice. “Nope. Just a contract between two adults.”
Mr. Morrison’s eyes came to Sawyer. Hard, challenging.
Sawyer met the gaze without flinching.
“Yer agreeable to this?”
Sawyer nodded. He was getting tired of explaining it. “We need a family. She needed a man.”
“That so? Seems to me a married man would be wanting to share his wife’s bed.”
“Father! Enough. We agreed the marriage was for mutual benefit and that wasn’t one of them. We know what we’re doing.”
