Chapter 6

Who are these people?” Honor looked at Ash, who’d gone rigid as a fence post.

“My family.”

Her stomach flip-flopped. “But I’m not ready for visitors.” Least of all them. Mud coated her shirt and her neck, having dripped between her shoulder blades and adhered the fabric to her skin. She must look a fright.

Lord, You’re punishing me, aren’t You? If they’d gone to church that morning, they’d be arriving home in their Sunday finery to prepare the noon meal. Instead, both she and Ash were covered in sludge, with their recent fun a distant memory.

“I’m sorry. I should have expected this. I’ll handle it.” He nudged his horse into motion.

A shiver raced through her. She urged her horse forward, following Ash. “That was rude of me. They’re your family.” But this was hardly how she wanted to meet her in-laws.

Her eyes flashed to the flour sack on the ground then to her guests. The two young ladies, dressed in fancy, bustled traveling dresses, grinned and clapped, though their excitement waned the nearer she and Ash came. When Ash dismounted, his mother dragged the girls back by their elbows, as if protecting them from some vile evil.

The man on the porch stepped out of the shadows. His suit, made from fine material in what looked like the latest style, was just like the one Ash wore on their wedding day. His posture and expression bespoke disapproval. “Ashton.”

The hairs on the back of her neck rose at his clipped tone. She’d addressed ornery livestock in friendlier ways.

“Father.” Ash’s mouth twitched into a half smile, pinched and awkward. “Mother. Eliza, Lucy.” His easy grin returned as he looked at the two girls. “Please, forgive us. My bride and I could both do with hot baths before offering you a proper greeting.” Ash stepped around to her side as she dismounted, then laced his fingers with hers.

“This is your wife?” Ash’s father’s gaze raked her up and down.

Heat flooded her.

“Yes, sir. I’d like you to meet your daughter-in-law, Honor.” Ash pulled her forward a step. “Honor, please meet my father, Ashton Rutherford Junior; my mother, Gwendolyn; and my sisters Eliza and Lucy.”

The girls mustered somewhat genuine smiles. Ash’s mother looked as if she might be ill, and his father’s disapproval oozed from every pore.

Her mouth dry, Honor’s nerves sizzled with the desire to swing into the saddle and ride right back to her quiet little meadow. Or anywhere, so long as it wasn’t here.

Yet here she was.

“It’s a pleasure.” How she’d managed to find her voice, she didn’t know.

“The pleasure is ours, Honor.” The older girl smiled warmly, though her smile faltered when Mr. Rutherford cleared his throat.

“What are you all doing here?” Ash asked.

“After that cryptic message, you left us no choice but to check on you. Now, might we go inside, or will you continue to make us wait in this heat?”

Honor gritted her teeth. Perhaps these were Ash’s parents and sisters, but the rudeness—particularly of his father—grated on her nerves.

“And I assume, in a home this size, you’ll have rooms enough that we can stay?”

Stay? With only three bedrooms, there weren’t rooms enough … not as long as she and Ash inhabited separate quarters.

Ash offered a hesitant smile. “I’m sure we can make do.”

Honor’s face went pale beneath the residue of mud, and she disentangled her fingers from his. Ash reached for her hand, but she slipped away before he could get it back. Without a word, she stomped to the front door. Mother’s eyes grew wide, and again she dragged Eliza and Lucy out of the way. Father’s eyes followed Honor as she walked. Her back ramrod straight, she turned toward Father, eyes flashing, and bared her teeth. She turned her head one way then another.

Ash watched in horror. Had she gone mad?

Father stiffened, drew back. “What in heaven’s name are you doing, young lady?”

She opened her mouth as wide as she could, again turning this way and that.

Ash’s stomach churned. Oh, Lord, help me.…

“That is quite enough!” Father turned toward him. “What is this all about?”

Honor snapped her jaw closed and settled her fists on her hips. “The way you keep looking me over is reminiscent of the way Papa used to size up horse flesh. I just figured to save you the trouble of asking to see my teeth.” She whirled to glare at Ash. “Let me know if I pass inspection, will you?”

She disappeared into the house. Fifteen-year-old Lucy tittered behind her hand, but both Ash and their father shot her heated glares.

Father turned on him. “She’s simply charming, Ashton. Just what are you trying to prove by marrying someone like her?”

Heat flooded Ash’s body, and he gritted his teeth. “I will thank you not to insult my wife. Honor is quite charming when you get to know her. Now if you will excuse me, please make yourselves comfortable on the porch while I check on my bride.”

He stormed past them all. Father grabbed for his arm, but Ash cut around him and scooted through the door. Honor stood in the middle of the room.

“I’m sorry. My father was very rude. Are you all right?”

Back to him and posture completely unbending, she shook her head.

“Please, look at me.”

Honor turned slowly, her muddy face a sickly shade of white, and held out a burlap sack. “Perhaps you can tell me why this gunnysack was on the floor.”

He stared at it a moment. “That’s the bag Nate kept the snake in.” Wasn’t it? But how had it gotten—

“That bag is still in the yard. I saw it when we rode up.”

Come to think of it, he had, too—and this one was larger. He looked from Honor to the floor, his nerves sizzling. In the amount of time since Nate’s fateful visit, a snake could have hidden itself anywhere.

“I’ll kill him.”

Ash barged from the house, mounted his horse, and spurred the animal toward Nate’s ranch.