*Both Nate and Crease had agreed to help him so long as he didn’t ride them too much.
Nate, being the elder of the two, put forward his rules for working. “We need breaking in nice like.”
“Fair enough, but that doesn’t mean you get to sleep in til morning break. You start when I start or you’ll never get a good reputation around here.”
“Deal. But we want lunch provided.”
“Seriously? You can get that yourself. I’m not your maid.”
Crease looked warily between the two brothers. No doubt waiting for the fist fight that usually followed their arguments.
“You want our help or not?”
“You want a place to sleep or not?” Jethro turned and walked away. He never would’ve given them an ultimatum a month ago.
“Fine. I’ll make my own damn lunch, then.”
“Good, because I’m the one who has to pay for the food around here. Least you can do is put it on the plate yourself.” He paused for a moment and then said, “I don’t dare look in the bunkhouse, but I know how you two usually clean up after yourselves. Make the effort please to keep the kitchen and your living quarters tidier. If you get a job, chances are you’re going to get accommodation too. If I get asked for a reference, I’m not gonna lie and tell them you’re clean and tidy when your bedroom resembles a pigsty.”
Nate yelled after him, “When did you go getting all high and mighty? It’s that lawyer, isn’t it? She’s got you all hot and bothered and acting proper like.”
He turned and glared at Nate. “I remember something Mom said when she tried to get us to clean up and it came to me today. ‘You gotta do your own roping no matter how good your daddy was.’ Figure that means cleaning and looking after yourself, too, not expecting someone else to do it. Something you might want to remember.”
“I don’t get it. Our daddy was a good-for-nothing drifter who left us without two dollars to rub together.”
Crease tilted his head to the side and balked when Nate threw a punch to his shoulder.
“What it means is, you need to learn to stand on your own two feet, you fool.”
Jethro sighed and stepped out of their way as they tussled with each other. “Got it in one, little brother.”
By the time he had his truck loaded up with wire and tools, his brothers stumbled down to the shed.
“This is gonna kill us; I know it will.” Nate moaned as they drove down to the pasture that needed the most serious fencing repairs.
And he was almost right. That evening they all stumbled back to the ranch house, aching in places that shouldn’t have ached. Their hands were raw despite the leather gloves and their backs sore enough to make a grown man cry.
“Least we got that section done.” Jethro tried to be upbeat about it, but even he was suffering. “Tomorrow we can start the pasture next to it, and then I can talk to Chance and arrange Bulldozer’s transport in the next week or so.”
Nate looked up from where he lay on the couch. “Not sure I’m gonna be able to help you out. I think I’ll die in my sleep tonight.”
A knock at the door made him bolt up despite his pain. “We expecting anyone?”
Crease shook his head but stood and made his way to the door despite his stiff joints while Jethro merely sat still, staring at the blisters on his hands and the cuts from the wire that’d pierced his old gloves.
Sadie’s voice reached him. “I thought you boys might like a home-cooked meal since you’re on a mission to get the fencing under control.”
Jethro went to greet her, ignoring the grin on Nate’s face as she placed the basket on the table. “Sadie. What’re you doing here?”
She acknowledged him with a quick kiss on the cheek. “You know I told you I like to cook. Well, yesterday was a very stressful day and I got carried away in the kitchen. Baked all night long, and there’s way too much for me to eat and I thought of you boys. I hope I’m not interrupting anything or overstepping the friendship boundaries.” She opened the basket and pulled out a covered dish and placed it on the table before she gave him a hug. “I knew you were going to be doing the fencing this week and thought you might appreciate someone cooking you a meal.”
Nate jumped to his feet—aching body, Jethro’s ass—and lifted the cover on the dish, sniffing the aroma that rose from the meal. “You aren’t overstepping anything with food that smells this good. Let me grab some plates.” He brushed past the table with a speed that belied his aching body and pulled a mix of plates from the cupboard and put them on the table. He glanced at Sadie before dipping in a serving spoon. “Every man for himself.”
Jethro pushed him away. “Use your manners or you can leave now.”
*
Sadie watched as Nate backed down, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
“Sorry, Miss St. Martin. Didn’t mean to be such an ass.”
Jethro kicked him.
“I didn’t mean to be so rude.” He glared at his brother. “Better?”
“It’s okay, Nate. I know you meant well, and you’re all tired and sore. Please don’t stand on ceremony for me. In fact, you go wash up and I’ll serve dinner. Okay?”
Jethro stood with his hands on his hips, waiting for his brothers to agree, and Sadie felt bad for them if not a little bit amused at how he was trying to protect her from the rougher side of ranch life with his family. “Jethro, it’s okay. Go wash up, too, and I’ll get this served. You look like you’re asleep on your feet.”
He touched her on the shoulder and followed his brothers out. The kitchen was cramped and pretty basic, but it was clean and serviceable. She found cutlery, glasses, and side plates. Mismatched, but that didn’t matter. The pretty bluebell plates were mixed with other fine china that looked like it’d been around longer than she had. The idea that it belonged to Jethro’s mom made it special. She set the plates out, took the still-warm bread rolls from the basket, and a tub of butter curls she’d made, and tipped them onto a small dish.
The salad could stay in the container she’d brought it over in, and that went in the middle of the table too. By the time Sadie had served the rice and rich meat stew, the boys returned. Their hands were clean and their hair damp around their faces, but their eyes were shining with a light that hadn’t been there when she arrived.
“Have a seat and dig in before it gets cold.” She pushed bread rolls and salad toward them and three hungry men dove in.
Jethro buttered his roll before he looked back at her. “You’re eating too, right?”
She shook her head. “I brought this for you. I can eat later when I get home.”
He put down his fork and his brothers watched on warily. After a moment, they followed his lead. “You don’t eat, we don’t eat.”
Sadie glanced around the table. As much as the food appealed to them, she could see that his word was final. “Fine. Thank you.” She took another plate from the cupboard, loaded it with her beef and mushroom stew, and added a generous amount of salad. She lifted her water glass and toasted them. “Here’s to hardworking men. May you have another great day tomorrow.”
She sat on the front porch with Jethro after dinner while Nate and Crease did the dishes and then ambled their way down to their sleeping quarters, leaving the two of them alone. “You’re very lucky to have brothers, you know.”
His gaze fell on her and he reached out and wound his fingers through hers. “Yeah, I know. Don’t always appreciate them and they feel the same, but I wouldn’t be without them. You got any?”
A sense of sadness flowed over her. “No. Just little old me.” It all fell on her shoulders to be the one who made her parents proud. Right now, it seemed like an awful weight to carry alone.
“Hey.” He squeezed her hand. “Feel free to borrow those two anytime you like.”
“Thanks. I just might take you up on that.” She lifted her feet up and put them on the railing like Jethro had. “It’s perfect out here.” The moon hung low in the sky, and the stars shone bright in the inky night sky.
“Yeah. Not too bad. Place needs work, but it’s home.”
“Hope you didn’t mind me bringing dinner over. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes or push my nose in where it’s not wanted.” Truth was, he was her only real friend in Marietta and she was drawn to him. Sexy and unassuming, handsome and earthy. What wasn’t to like?
“Are you kidding? You saw the way those boys cleaned up everything you made. It was very kind of you to think of us, but now it’s just the two of us here, how about you tell me why you were so stressed? Something happen at work?”
“You don’t need to listen to my problems, Jethro. You have enough on your plate without me crying on your shoulder.”
He laughed, glanced at his shoulder. “Last time I looked, they were wide enough for you to do just that.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the pale skin on her wrist. She shivered under his touch. “Tell me what’s making those eyes of yours so serious.”
“Please feel free to forget it all once I go home, but if you don’t mind then, I will. My father called today. He thinks it’s time I go back home.”
His fingers stiffened and he remained silent.
“He had lunch at his club with the senior partner in one of the firms I was looking at. It seems they have an opening and my parents are prepared to bankroll me if I want to go ahead.”
He swallowed and stared straight ahead.
“I haven’t made up my mind if that’s what I want. Remember you suggested I let it go and see how it feels?”
Jethro nodded his head, his lips in a tight line.
“I want the chance to do that. I have the feeling I’d like it here once I got to settle down better.” She leaned into him. “I want to know if there could be anything between you and me. I hope I’m not reading things wrong, Jethro, but I have to know if you’re interested in me. It’s something I need to factor in.”
Sadie wished she could take back the last part of that conversation as soon as the words slipped from her mouth.
“Factor me in?” His voice had an edge to it.
“I didn’t mean it quite like that. You responded when I kissed you the other day. Did you do that because I was handy, or did you do it because you like me?”
“Stupid question. ’Course I like you. Wouldn’t have done it otherwise.” He turned away, withdrew his hand. “I might be poor, but I’m not stupid.”
“I never thought you were. That’s a crazy thing to say.”
“But thinking I’m going to factor in to your plans. Who says that kind of thing?” He dropped his foot and stood up.
“I’m sorry. Wrong word choice. I get that, and I really do apologize. But you know how I work. Everything is planned and thought out. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been thinking about you.” She reached out to him again. “I want to do what you suggested, let things roll along and see how they go, but I can’t let go of my usual style completely.” Sadie slid her arms around him and rested her cheek on his back, taking in the smell of his body and enjoying the feel of him close.
“If you could bear with me and not take everything personally, I’d really appreciate it, because I like you, Jethro Hansen. Whether you believe me or not, I really like you.”
He relaxed under her touch and eventually turned to wrap her in his arms. “I don’t know if this is right. I like you more than I should, but I can’t compete with what you have in Denver. I can’t even compete with your damn list.” He stroked her hair.
“You don’t have to. All I’m asking is that you give me the time to sort out my mixed emotions and get my act together. I have to decide what my future holds, but I’m not sure being rushed into it by my father is what I want. Not now that I’ve had a chance to spend time with you.” She looked up into his face. “I’m sorry I didn’t say it right. For a lawyer who’s used to addressing the court, you’d think I’d be more organized. But something about you gets me all tongue-tied, Jethro.”
“Yes, I’d like a relationship with you, Sadie. It’s all I’ve thought about these last couple of weeks. But you know my position. I don’t have much money, and what I do have has to go into the ranch to bring it back to producing income again.”
“I understand that, and at this stage I’m not promising a happy ever after. What I want to do is investigate and see if we can make this happen between us. I’m not ready to go back to Denver yet. I may never be.” She grinned. “Can we just let things chug along and see if we’re a good fit? See if we really do work well together? You have a lot on your plate with building up the ranch. I don’t want to distract you from what’s important.”
“You’re important to me. More so than the bull I need, but being realistic, we both have commitments we need to honor. I reckon we can make it work.”