Page 92 of Montana Groom of Convenience
Jill waited at the doorway, Skippy in her arms. “Who are they?”
Carly provided the names. “They have an eight-year-old boy you can play with.” No point in passing her resentment on to the child.
Jill pulled Skippy closer. “I don’t like boys. They’re mean.”
Sawyer ruffled his sister’s hair. “Not all of them are.”
Jill ducked away and watched the company walk toward the house, their pace slow as Carly’s father led the way.
Carly rushed to make tea. She’d serve cookies, too. The sooner they had tea, the sooner they’d depart.
They entered. Sawyer hurriedly put more chairs and stools around the table while Carly served the tea. All the while, Father kept up a running commentary. “The town is nice. Has everything a man or woman could want.” He paused long enough to lower himself to a chair. “There’s a school and a church.” His voice momentarily deepened as he adjusted his leg. “Our land borders Wolf River to the east.” On and on he went.
Why are you telling these people all this? You can’t seriously be thinking of selling the ranch? After all I did.
The visitors finished their tea, complimented Carly on the delicious cookies, and grew restless.
“Carly will show you around.” Father turned to her. “Show them the buildings and yard first, then take them out to see the land.”
She stared at him. Who was this man? He surely couldn’t be her father and treat her like this. What if she wasn’t his child? Maybe she was a foundling. Had been left on their doorstep. Or perhaps Mother had rescued her from a dying mother. That would explain why Father could do this to her.
Even so, she owed him for providing her a home.
But she would not have any part in encouraging this young couple to buy the ranch. “Father, I am unable to show them around.”
Father looked ready to sputter a protest. Then his expression hardened. She half expected him to order her to comply.
Instead, he turned to Sawyer. “Will you?—?”
“Sir, I’m sorry, but I, too, am unable to show them around.”
Father gave them both a stinging look.
Jill eased forward, a shy look on her face. “I’ll take them.”
Father patted Jill’s head and sent Carly an accusing look. “Child, ’tis very kind of you. Let’s do it together.”
Young Mrs. Jacobs clutched the baby to her chest and sent her husband a worried look.
Mr. Jacobs cleared his throat. “Is there a problem?”
Father’s look challenged Carly to say anything. “Nothing that concerns you.”
“If you’re sure.”
Father grimaced as he got to his feet, doing nothing to hide his pain. In fact, if Carly wasn’t mistaken, he wanted her to see how badly it hurt him to move.
Carly’s conscience smote her, but she didn’t change her mind not even when Father moaned as he grabbed his cane and made his way to the door.
He waved for the Jacobses to join him. “Come then, we’ll have a look around.”
Mr. Jacobs looked from Father to Carly to Sawyer. Hesitated, and then gave a dismissive shrug. “Thank you, sir.”
Jill stayed at Father’s side.
Carly waited until they headed toward the barn, then spun about to face Sawyer. “I can’t believe he is doing this.”
“Nor can I.”
