Page 39 of Montana Groom of Convenience
She had to make him understand. “The ranch is mine. You need only concern yourself with Big Harry. I could do that, too, but Father has made me promise not to. I believe in honoring my promises. From what you said, I thought you did, too.”
He continued to watch her, revealing nothing of what he thought.
His steadfast indifference set off a reaction in her. “She has a home. Father is there. She doesn’t need me.”
“What about our agreement?” His words were soft, but she wasn’t fooling herself into thinking they carried no weight.
She couldn’t hold his challenging gaze and looked past him to the sunny, beckoning outdoors. “You need someone to show you around.”
He recognized her stalling. “Jill will be home alone with your father.”
“We could take her with us. Wait here.” She rushed past him and out to the corral behind the barn to catch up Daisy, her gentle old roan-colored mare that she had learned to ride on. She led Daisy inside. “Meet Daisy. Jill can ride her.”
Again, that silent, steady challenge from him.
This time, she held his gaze. “It’s the perfect solution.”
“Your father will be home alone.”
“He often is. He can get around fine with his crutch.”
“He must get lonely.”
She thought of the pleasure she’d seen in his face as he entertained Jill. “You can’t have it both ways. We can’t leave her here for Father’s company and take her with us. It’s one or the other.”
“Those are not the only options.”
They were back to his demand that she stay home with Jill and Father.
“Look at me.” She flipped her hand across the legs of her trousers and touched her battered cowboy hat. “Do I look like a homebody?” She would not give into him and stay at the house. Not that she minded cooking, cleaning, and housework. The laundry was a different matter. It took far too long. But her mother had trained her well in all those chores. She’d enjoyed them when Mother was alive. Yes, she’d often ridden out with Father, but for the most part, she was content to help her mother. That had changed after Mother’s death.
“I know what it’s like to lose a mother when you’re as young as Jill.” He spoke as if that clinched the argument.
Carly considered his words. She’d been older, almost ready to leave home if she’d chosen to do so. Jill was so young, dependent on others to provide a home and care. And then someone had said such awful things to her. She felt sorry for the child and would stay with her except—“You heard her. She doesn’t want me.”
“What she wants and what she needs are two different things.”
“Sawyer, I’m sorry you misunderstood the terms of our agreement. I never once thought you’d expect me to give up what I’ve been doing.” She hated that she had to plead, but he’d left her little choice. “Please don’t ask me to do so.”
His expression never changed, yet, somehow, she knew she’d disappointed him. She tried to tell herself that didn’t bother her, but it did. Seems she was alwaysto be a disappointment to the men in her life. Father, who wanted and needed sons. Bart Connelly who wanted her to be a pretty ornament and provide him with a ranch. And now Sawyer, who wanted?—
She wasn’t even sure what he wanted. A mother for his little sister? A wife who wasn’t a wife? A family without love?
They both turned at the sound of a wagon driving into the yard and hurried to see who approached.
“It’s Dawson,” Carly said. “He has Grandfather Marshall with him. I better go see what he wants.”
Sawyer stayed at her side as they hurried to the house.
Dawson jumped down before they got there. He reached up to help his grandfather down.
“Howdy,” he called. “Grandfather wanted to see your father. I can leave him for a visit while I conduct my business in town.”
“He’ll like that.” And it provided Carly with the perfect setup. She escorted them inside, and Sawyer followed her. She put the coffee pot on and put out a plate of cookies.
The two older men were eager for a chin-wag, so Dawson drove away.
“Can I talk to you?” Carly asked Sawyer, and they stepped outside. “Father has company. He doesn’t need me to babysit him. He and Grandfather will visit and play checkers until Dawson comes back.”
