Page 42 of Montana Groom of Convenience
He nodded, his insides too tangled to allow him to speak.
She helped Jill mount again, and they continued riding north. She seemed to know where the cows were and led them to a wide, green basin where they grazedplacidly. Several were spooked at the sight of three humans on horseback, but for the most part, they ignored the intrusion.
Mr. Morrison had informed Sawyer that he would make Sawyer a partner in the business. Sawyer said it wasn’t necessary. His needs were few. A token wage would suffice. But the older man said he thought it was necessary. “You and Carly—equal partners.”
Sawyer wondered if Mr. Morrison had told Carly this news. Sawyer had no intention of being the one to inform her. But he studied the stock with a sense of pride. A mixed herd, mostly Texas longhorns, but according to Mr. Morrison, the man was trying to introduce some heavier English stock. Sawyer could see signs of his program in the new calves, the evidence of the bull Mr. Morrison had purchased.
“They’ll stay here for a few weeks,” Carly said. “Who’s hungry?” She swung to the ground and pulled a sack from her saddlebags.
Jill didn’t wait for help but climbed down on her own.
Sawyer hesitated. For a man who’d learned not to feel anything, this rough ride of emotions left him anxious, afraid of where it would lead. But at the sight of Carly’s tender biscuits, he pushed all that aside and joined the other two.
They sat on the verge of the hill, side by side. He was close enough to Carly for her arm to brush his as she moved. He could have shifted away but didn’t. He kind of liked having her at his side, being able to feel her every breath and breathe in the scent of hay, baking, and wildflowers.
They had three biscuits each. He passedaround his canteen that he’d filled with water before they left. When he thought he’d be riding alone. How had he gone from a loner to sharing the day with a girl and a woman?
“You’re smiling again,” Carly said.
“I didn’t realize.” He failed to make it end.
“Don’t mind if you keep doing it.” More pink in her cheeks, and she lowered her eyes as if embarrassed.
Jill jumped up. “A baby rabbit.” She dashed after it. It darted from side to side, so when she thought she had it, she missed it. She started to giggle.
Carly laughed.
Sawyer’s smile deepened, tickled something inside him, and he chuckled.
Carly looked in his direction. Laughter filled her eyes. Their gazes held, filled with amusement and something more. On his part, an awareness of something sweet and fragile hovering between them.
Is this what marriage did to him? He wasn’t sure if he liked it. Wasn’t certain he didn’t, either. Suddenly, he couldn’t wait to see what the next few days held for him. For Jill. For all of them. A shiver crawled across his neck. The last time he had felt even remotely this content about his life had been before the fire.
Chapter 9
As they rode toward home, Carly tried to sort out her feelings. Why had she been so embarrassed to see him smiling and laughing? So aware of the fact he was her husband? She’d almost blurted out how handsome he was. Today, he’d donned a clean shirt, the dark green bringing out the color of his eyes. He’d shaved this morning, allowing her to see his strong jaw. But when he smiled, oh my, his eyes flashed the color of the early morning sky with the remembrance of lingering stars.
“If I caught him, I would keep him as a pet,” Jill said, referring to the rabbit.
“Good thing you didn’t catch him,” Carly said. “Wild animals don’t make good pets.”
Jill shot her a cross look. “You just don’t want me to have it.”
“That’s not true.” Carly rode a little ahead so she wouldn’t have to see Jill’s expression.
Sawyer pulled up beside her. “She wasn’t always like that.”
Carly nodded. “She’s been told some cruel things.” She relayed what Jill had said the night before.
Sawyer’s jaw muscles bunched. He might think he had no feelings, but when it came to his little sister, he felt plenty.
She wanted to encourage him, so she told him of the Bible verse she’d read to Jill. “I’m convinced she will be okay. She’s had to face a lot for one so young, but I’ve seen glimpses of a happier child. She’ll find her way back to that.” She paused to think how else to reassure him. “Everyone has to deal with loss in their own way.” She felt Sawyer watching her but didn’t look at him. For some reason, although she’d started it, she didn’t want to continue this discussion.
“Do you handle yours by trying to be the son your father never had?”
She pulled Sunny to a halt and came round to stare at the man. “How can you say such a thing? You’ve known me a day and you jump to this conclusion? Based on what? Your keen observation? Your awareness of how people feel?” She shook her head. “Are you insane?”
Jill gave them both a piercing look and rode on by them. Wise girl, wanting nothing to do with an argument between them.
