Monroe, Marla - Their Border Lands Temptress [Men of the Border Lands 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (7 page)

They walked another twenty minutes without finding any more broken areas in the fence line. Brice called a halt to it and they turned around and headed back to the house. Garrett walked on ahead, eager to get back and see Ronnie. He hoped she was feeling better today. Her wrist still seemed swollen. Brice had said he was worried it had a broken bone in it, but there was nothing he could do other than soak it and wrap it.

As soon as they arrived back at the house, Garrett hurried and put up the wire and hammer he had so he could go check on Ronnie. Brice seemed to realize what he was doing, because he took his time putting up his hammer and nails. Garrett wasn’t waiting on him. He hurried toward the back door and only stopped in the laundry room to remove his dirty boots, jacket, and hat.

He found her napping on the couch with her feet up and her left hand over the back of the couch. She had told him it didn’t hurt as bad when she had it up. He didn’t want to wake her up, but he dearly wanted to talk with her. He loved listening to her slight Southern accent. He and Brice were originally from the Chicago area, so they were fascinated by her accent.

He turned to leave her alone, but she stirred and opened her eyes. At first, she looked startled, but then her eyes softened and she smiled at him.

“Hi.”

“Hi, yourself. How are you feeling?”

“Better every day, I think. I wish I could get up and walk around some. I’m getting tired of this couch.” She huffed out a breath.

“I’m sure you are. I could sit you out on the back some in the morning when we’re outside there. I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to sit outside without one of us close by.”

He watched the light fade from her eyes. He wanted to take the words back that had dulled her excitement. Still, they were the truth. She had to know it was too dangerous for her to sit outside alone, especially when she couldn’t defend herself or run.

“Maybe when you’re doing chores around the house tomorrow. I’d like that. I’m tired of looking at these four walls.”

“We fixed a hole in the fence out in the pasture. I don’t think we lost any of your cows, though. They probably just hadn’t found it yet.” Garrett felt tongue-tied around her now that he was there. He didn’t know what to talk about.

“That’s something I haven’t checked in a while. I just haven’t had the time with getting in the garden and putting things up for the winter. Thanks for checking for me.”

“Ronnie, Brice told me he suggested that you let us find you a good man to settle here with you. How do you really feel about it?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think I want a complete stranger coming here. I told him I think I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it anyway.”

“What happens if you get hurt again? You need some help, Ronnie.” Garrett lifted her legs, being careful of her left ankle, and sat down on the couch, cushioning her feet in his lap.

“Um, I-I don’t know. I just have to be careful and not get hurt. Oh, Garrett, I don’t know what to do.” There were tears in her eyes now.

Garrett felt terrible for bringing it all up again. He wanted to see how she would feel about them staying with her, most importantly, him.

“Would you be more comfortable with us?”

She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “Yes, I would. I’m used to you and Brice. I trust you two.”

Garrett slowly let out the breath he had been holding. She had included him in her trust. He’d talk to Brice about it later.

“Are you saying you might be willing to stay and, and well, stay with me?” Her voice trembled.

“I don’t know. I thought I would see if you were comfortable with us or not and talk to Brice. I’m not sure how he feels about sticking around in one place.”

“I understand.”

Brice walked in with a glass of tea, an odd look on his face. Garrett figured he had overheard. Well, he was going to talk to him about staying anyway. It just meant he didn’t have to bring it up. Brice would do that the first time they were alone.

“Garrett, can you help me in the kitchen for a minute?”

Well, it looked like he wasn’t going to wait around until they were alone. Brice was going to make time.

Chapter Six

Garrett followed Brice into the kitchen and then back outside. Evidently, he wasn’t going to take any chance that Ronnie would overhear them. This didn’t bode well.

“Did I hear you right? Did you just offer for us to stay with her—permanently?”

“I told her I’d talk to you about it. She said she was comfortable with us and wouldn’t be with anyone else, Brice.”

“We’ve talked some about this, and I thought we agreed we weren’t ready to settle down right now.”

“You said you didn’t think you were. And if you’re not, I understand, but I’m seriously thinking about it, if she’ll have me. I guess there’s a chance she won’t as she’s so uneasy around me anyway.”

“Dammit, Garrett. We’ve been together since college. You’re talking about splitting up.” Brice stuck his hands on his hips and looked up as if studying the sky for an answer.

“I don’t want to split up. I want you to stay here with us. She’s more comfortable around you, anyway. You like her. I can tell. You can’t tell me you haven’t jerked off in the shower any more than I can.”

“That doesn’t a true relationship make, Garrett. It’s just sex.”

“Which we’re not getting now anyway, and we both still care about her. She’s interesting to talk to and is obviously a hard worker. She’s got a body that keeps my dick hard all day long. Why wouldn’t you want to at least think about it?”

“I have thought about it. Fuck, Garrett. I just don’t know if I can settle down or not. We’ve been on the road for too long.”

“I think you can. You’ve settled here for this long and haven’t acted like it’s been a hardship. Why not stick around for a little longer and see if you can?”

Garrett watched Brice for any clue as to what he would do. He gave nothing away on his face. He rarely did.

“I’ll think about it, but that’s all I’ll promise right now.”

“That’s good enough for me. But, Brice, if she’ll have me, I’m staying.”

“Fuck.” Brice headed for the barn. “I’m going to get started on that fucking cow.”

Garrett watched him go and sighed. He didn’t want to lose his friend, but he was afraid he was falling in love with Ronnie and didn’t want to leave her. He just hoped she would learn to care about him and not be so skittish around him.

He turned around and walked back into the house. He hesitated before walking back into the living room. He wasn’t sure what to tell her. Coward that he was, he decided to start supper instead. He would think on it a little longer and then talk to her again. Maybe Brice would have decided something by then as well.

Brice didn’t come back in until he had supper ready and on the table. He decided to bring Ronnie into the kitchen to eat tonight. She wouldn’t be up for long, but it would be a change in scenery for her.

While Brice cleaned up, Garrett hurried into the other room to see about carrying Ronnie into the kitchen. She was staring at the fire when he walked back into the room. She jerked her head up and smiled at him. His heart stuttered in his chest.

“Thought you might like to sit at the table for supper tonight.”

“Thanks, that would be great.” She pushed off the couch with one hand and stood on one leg.

“Whoa, there. You’ll hurt yourself.” He quickly picked her up and carried her into the other room and settled her at the table.

Brice walked over and checked her wrist. “Looks better. In fact, you look better sitting up.”

“I feel better sitting up.” She smiled at him.

Garrett watched them, hoping Brice wouldn’t say anything to dim her smile. It brightened her face despite the bruises still evident there. He gathered up the dishes and served them. Brice kept up a running dialogue about little things going on around the farm and even had her laugh at his daily battle with the cow.

As soon as she was finished, Garrett gathered her up in his arms and carried her to the couch again. He didn’t want her to wear herself out.

Brice didn’t say anything when he walked back in. He gathered up the dishes and helped Garrett wash them then put them away. He couldn’t tell what was going through Brice’s mind. His friend had clamped down on his expressions so that he didn’t have a clue.

Damn, he hadn’t wanted to drive a wedge between them. He only wanted to look at settling down. He should have talked to Brice about it before now. He’d shied away from broaching the subject for just this reason.

“I’m going to go ahead and take a shower. I’m nasty.” Brice headed up the stairs, leaving Garrett alone with Ronnie.

“Where was Brice going?” she asked with a puzzled expression.

“He went to take his shower. He said he was so dirty he could smell himself.”

“Oh.”

“Soon as he finishes, I’ll help you get in the tub if you want.”

“I’d love that. I feel so nasty just taking sink baths.” She picked at her shirt.

“Well, your stitches are out of your head, so Brice said you could get your head wet now. You can even wash your hair if you like.” Garrett enjoyed seeing her face light up at the idea.

They talked about things around the ranch. She explained that she had a garden each year. She lived off the canned goods she could find and what she put up from the garden.

“I don’t grow much because I can’t dig up much ground for planting. I wanted to try and get a garden tractor, but I’m scared to drive to one of the abandoned towns around here. I’m scared someone will catch me.”

“It’s best if you don’t do anything like that alone. You really don’t need to be out and about alone anyway.”

“It’s so unfair!” she exclaimed.

“What’s unfair?” Brice walked back down the stairs into the living room.

“That I can’t go anywhere alone. I feel like a convict on a chain.”

“I’m sorry. I wish it wasn’t like that, but the world is different from how it used to be, and there isn’t anything we can do about it.” Brice laid a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed it.

Garrett watched how he touched her. He had to feel something for her. He touched her too often and got all quiet with her. Brice was only fooling himself if he thought he wasn’t affected by her. His friend might not realize it yet, but he would. He cared about her just as much as Garrett did. All he had to do was figure out a way to prove it to him.

* * * *

Ronnie enjoyed talking with the two men. Both of them were interesting and could be funny. Brice was obviously highly intelligent. Garrett was a big teddy bear. He looked all rough and scary, but he really wasn’t. She liked both of them for different reasons. With Brice, she felt cared for and knew he could figure out any problem. With Garrett, she felt protected and safe. He would fix anything he could.

If either one of them volunteered to stay, she’d take them up on it and try her best to relax and handle the sex part. Since her body seemed to think it wanted them, then maybe she could hold back the fear and discomfort from them.

“You about ready for your bath?” Garrett asked, standing up.

“That would be great, thanks. I’m getting tired.”

He picked her up and carried her up the stairs.

“I’m going to make sure all the doors are locked, and I’ll be right up,” Brice called up to them.