The Heavenly Surrender (3 page)

“So,” Travis began, winking conspiratorially at Brian. “This…this Genieva you’ve gone and married so blindly…do you think she’ll be capable of working like you expect her to?”

“She’s small, ’tis true enough…but determined lookin’ and sturdy,” Brevan answered.

“And pretty?” Travis prodded.

“
I’d say she’s the very definition of cute and adorable,” Brevan answered. “Like a school girl the likes ya see in town.”

“And…” Travis continued as Brian snickered, and a barely withheld chuckle began to manifest itself in his voice, “and…is she soft as velvet with a mouth that tastes of spring ripe berries?”

Brevan frowned as Brian and Travis both chuckled, knowing they had succeeded in irritating him. “I’ve no notion of how she feels or tastes, lads. I’ve not the time to waste that the two of you do on courtin’ and flirtin’ with me wife. It’s hard work I’m lookin’ for.”

As Brenna and Genieva exited the house and walked toward the barn, all three men watched in momentary silence.

Travis patted Brevan’s shoulder as if consoling him and said, “If you can keep your hands off that little morsel for more than two weeks, I’ll give you that new heifer Brenna and I bought last month.”

“Bring her on over now, Travis. For the lass is no temptation to me,” Brevan grumbled.

Genieva’s stomach began to twist itself into knots as she looked at the three men staring at her from the barn.

“
There’s me Travis!” Brenna whispered with excitement rising in her voice. She waved to her husband and pulled Genieva along with her. “Isn’t he just the picture of a handsome lad, Genieva?”

“I’m…I’m Genieva,” she answered, accepting his hand. Brian had a knowing, mirthful glint in his eyes, and it unnerved her terribly.

“And I’m Brian. This is Travis, Brenna’s…what is
that me dear sister calls ya now, Travis? Ah, yes. This is Travis…Brenna’s love muffin,” Brian informed her, pointing to Travis.

“That’s me, Genieva,” Travis agreed, shaking her hand as well. “Love muffin.”

Brevan sighed, obviously annoyed as Brenna giggled and linked her arm with her husband’s.

Genieva smiled at their silly, flirtatious manner—yet bit her lip self-consciously as she looked again to Brevan standing so severe and frowning.

“Lita!” Brian suddenly exclaimed. Genieva was only somewhat aware of her mouth hanging open in astounded awe as she stared almost rudely at Brian’s wife. There before her stood the most beautiful woman Genieva had ever seen—in her entire life she’d never seen such a beautiful woman!

“Hola,” the dark beauty greeted in a melodious voice thick and rich with the sound of Mexico. She offered a soft and friendly hand to Genieva. Genieva could only nod in response, so the woman continued. “I’m Lita,” she explained, her beautiful smile sparkling. “I’m so glad that Brevan has finally taken vows,” Lita sighed. She placed one hand daintily over her heart and shook her head indicating concern. “We were all so afraid he would never settle down and start la familia.”

Lita McLean’s voice was as lovely as a songbird’s, and the richness of her accent spilled from her lips like a dark, liquid confection. Her hair was thick and bluish-black—pulled into a braid hanging nearly to her knees. Her eyes were the deepest of brown, her cheeks rosy, and her lips the color of wine. Genieva sighed as she thought of her own pitifully common features in comparison.

All the same, Genieva was finally drawn from her wonderment and able to take Lita’s extended hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Lita. I’m…I’m sorry to stare so, but you’re so beautiful!” she said.

Lita giggled and placed a graceful hand on Genieva’s shoulder. “Oh no, Genieva!” The scarlet of a lovely blush rose to her cheeks as she explained, “You flatter me, Genieva. I don’t deserve such a compliment. I see myself every day in the…how you say? Espejo?” she asked, looking to Brian.

“Mirror,” Brian answered.

“Yes, yes. The mirror. Every day I look into it and am sad to see myself looking back at me.”

Everyone shook their heads in disagreement, and Genieva could only stand silent, unable to comprehend the reason for such a remark.

“Lita is forever and always goin’ on and on about how ugly and fat she is,” Brenna explained to Genieva. “She only does it to be makin’ me feel a bit better, she does.”

Brevan looked at Lita and spoke plainly, “Ya’re lookin’ as lovely as the summer skies today, Lita.”

Lita’s deepening blush did not go unnoticed by Genieva. Neither did the shy manner in which the dark-haired beauty momentarily cast her gaze to the ground.

“Muchas gracias, Brevan.”

“So,” Brevan began, turning to Genieva, “ya’ve met me brother and his lovely wife…and me wee brat of a sister and her love muffin ya have. I’ll be takin’ charge of yar time now, and we’ll have a go ’round the place while I tell ya what needs to be done to keep things runnin’ smooth.” Hunkering down, he quite improperly took hold of Genieva’s ankle, studying her shoe for a moment. Genieva thumped him squarely on the head with one fist—an entirely natural reflex to being so brazenly accosted. Brevan dropped her foot—looked up at her with profound irritation.

He seemed to completely ignore her explanation and simply reached down to take hold of her ankle once more—resuming his study of her shoe. “Are these the only sort of shoes ya would be ownin’, lass?” he asked.

“Of course,” Genieva answered, wrenching her ankle from his grasp again. She stepped backward several steps to ensure her ankle remained hidden—to ensure her modesty.

“Well, then day after tomorrow we’ll be ridin’ back to town to purchase ya somethin’ more useful,” Brevan informed her. He rose to his full, intimidating height—glaring down at her.

“Brevan McLean!” Brenna scolded. “She be your wife! Not some new horse ya’ve acquired. Next thing ya know ya’ll be tryin’ to nail her boots onto her feet ya will.”

“Brevan wouldn’t know what to do with a woman if she walked up and pinched him in the bum, for sure and for certain,” Brian chuckled.

“Sí! Sí!” Lita added as she and Brenna broke into amused laughter.

Genieva looked up into Brevan’s stern, frowning face—bit her lip to stifle her own need to giggle. It was obvious he was completely agitated. Yet his expression was somehow quite unexpectedly attractive.

“There’s not a woman on this green earth ownin’ the courage it would be takin’ to pinch me square on the bum, Brian,” he muttered, still glaring at Genieva.

“Oh, settle yar temper down now, Brev,” Brian soothed, slapping his brother squarely on the back. “Genieva doesn’t appear to be the bum-pinchin’ type…now does she, Lita?”

Lita could only shake her head in agreement as she dabbed at the tears of laughter brimming in her eyes. Brenna began her giggles anew, and Brevan shook his head disgustedly.

“Ya be seein’ now why I had to do most of the work on this farm me ownself all the bloomin’ time, Genieva,” Brevan grumbled. Taking hold of her arm, he led her away from the amused group of relatives. “Not a one of them can go through a single hour in the day without gettin’ the sillies.”

“Laughter is good for the soul, Mr. McLean,” Genieva stated.

“
There be a place and a time for everythin’,” he growled. “But Brenna and Brian take too much time for foolish things.” He looked ominously at Genieva and added, “If ya be the silly, lazy type, lass…let it be said now…and know that ya’ll have to change.”

Genieva clenched her teeth tightly—yanked her arm from his grasp. “I am not something you own, Mr. McLean. I am an individual, and I do enjoy laughter and fun. I also enjoy hard work and accomplishment. I consider myself to be well balanced, and you would do well to treat me as your equal rather than your slave.” Smoothing the folds of her skirt, she added, “Furthermore, I would appreciate your adherence to a higher degree of propriety. My foot is my own as is my arm and…”

She was interrupted, however, as he once again firmly took hold of her arm and began leading her toward the house.

“
We’ll begin in the house, Genieva. It is to be yar main responsibility,” he said.

“Don’t let him bully ya around, Genieva,” Brian called out. Genieva turned to glance back at the four onlookers. “Spank him hard on the bum if he tries it. That’s what our mother used to do, she did,” he added as Lita and Brenna broke into giggles once more.

“A word of warnin’ to ya, Genieva,” Brevan growled. “Ya lay yar hand across me bum but once, and I’ll return the favor with spankin’ ya over me knee, I will.”

“I’m sure they’re only teasing, Mr. McLean,” Genieva assured him. “After all, this is such an unusual situation, and your family seems so…”

“When me mother died…and she slapped me on the seat of the pants when I did wrong ’til the day she did…Brenna took over spankin’ me when I got out of hand. Teasin’ it wasn’t,” he stated.

Spontaneously, Genieva’s eyes dropped to the seat of Brevan’s pants as he pulled her along. She bit her lip to suppress a giggle needing escape at the thought of a man this large being reprimanded with a good paddling.

The screen door to the house screeched open, and Genieva stood inside her new home once more.

“I raise meself from sleep at five in the mornin’ sharp. I like bacon and eggs and fried potatoes for breakfast best. Biscuits, honey, or whatever else will do though. A man needs a good breakfast if he’s expected to work through the day. I eat me lunch at noon and me supper at dusk,” Brevan informed her—exactly as if he were instructing a new kitchen servant.

“I only know how to cook beans,” Genieva responded with obvious sarcasm.

“Then you’ll learn how to cook what I like,” Brevan growled.

“Yes, I will. And you’ll learn how to like beans.” She watched as Brevan inhaled a slow, calming breath. Still, she was right, and he nodded—having accepted her countering.

“Don’t you worry about things taking root in there and growing into wild, uncontrollable vines…creatures that will gobble you up in the middle of the…”

He quirked an eyebrow and looked at her inquisitively. He seemed puzzled by her exaggerated description of the possible consequences of bad housekeeping.

“Me room is mine, lass,” he firmly repeated.

“Yes, sir,” Genieva agreed, nodding. She was puzzled. For some reason she enjoyed teasing him. She liked the look of barely controlled irritation that crossed his face when she did. At the same time, however, she knew she would not want to be involved in a serious battle with him. She did not doubt the repercussions would be tempestuous—in the least.

“Brenna has shown ya the room that will be yars now, hasn’t she?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll be bringin’ yar trunk in for ya,” he stated. He turned, leaving Genieva alone to consider the consequences of her rash decision making. Married to a complete stranger? What had she been thinking? Still, a more attractive, more interesting stranger there had never been. At least she was sure of that.



Brevan McLean had eventually ceased in giving instructions, and Genieva found her first quiet moments to reflect on the day. The sun was setting—sending waves of pink and lavender radiance across an endless ocean of sky. Travis, Brian, and Brevan sat on the front porch talking—their low, masculine voices lending a warm sense of safekeeping to the evening. Yet this sound did little to settle Genieva’s uncertainty—for the deep, commanding intonation of Brevan’s voice only served to remind her of the far-reaching consequences of her actions.

Brenna seemed to notice the look of uncertainty no doubt blatant on Genieva’s face.

“It’ll be fine, it will,” Brenna whispered kindly as the three women sat at the table. She placed a comforting hand over Genieva’s.

Genieva forced a smile and said, “Thank you, ladies…for the fine dinner. It was so kind of you to…”

“We’re not ladies, amiga,” Lita explained, placing her hand over Brenna’s. “We’re your sisters now—tus hermanas.”

Brenna nodded—smiled at Genieva with reassurance. “He’s brought up his battlements, he has, Genieva,” Brenna whispered. Lita nodded and smiled in agreement. “He does it when he’s tryin’ to close himself away, ya see. He’ll soften up, he will. Believe me—’tis well I know me brother.”

Genieva shook her head—tried to smile. “He’s fine. He’s just fine. A little bossy, but…I’ll learn to work around it.”

“Brevan,” Lita spoke softly. She dropped her gaze for a moment. “He would not have married with you if he had not liked you at once.”

“Yes. He would’ve,” Genieva argued. “He’s not the kind to go back on his word.”

“That is true,” Lita confirmed. “Still, Brevan would not marry with someone he did not want to. Yes, Brenna?”

Brenna nodded. “He talks as if he’s a heartless soul, Genieva…but he’s not. You’ll find it in time. He would not have brought ya home if he hadn’t taken to ya right off.”



An obsidian sky glistening with stars replaced the lavender of sunset, and Genieva Bankmans McLean lay in her new bed in her new home. Unable to sleep—for uncertainty gripped her in its cold, heartless fist—Genieva thought on the assurances of her new friends. Still, she felt so terribly alone—frightened. Days ago, when she’d left Chicago, it had all seemed so clear in her mind. This was her chance—her only chance at the life she wanted. In truth, it hadn’t really been the life she had wanted—only better than the one previously placed before her. Yet now—now that she was here—married to the man who, through his letters, she’d secretly come to care for—she knew with all her heart—Genieva knew this
was
the life she wanted. More than that—this was the man she wanted.