After a tour of the house, the group settled down for a sumptuous farm breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and sausages. Ben proudly told them that every ingredient except the maple syrup, had come from the Valley. “Not the healthiest breakfast in the world,” Maggie declared, “but we figure once a week won’t kill us.”
Lang regaled them with stories of working on friends’ Vermont farms, helping tap the maple trees and harvest the syrup. He promised that the next time he visited his friends, he would send them a case of maple syrup. “And maybe a few packages of maple sugar candy,” he added, winking at Emma.
Plates empty, they were chatting when the front door opened and they heard Sam call, “Hello, anyone here?”
“It’s the genius himself,” Ben said to Lang. “You can ask him all those questions you were asking me that I couldn’t answer. Sam brought his own foreman and construction crew from Flagstaff. It ruffled a few feathers in town, but we used local guys to build the barn and outbuildings, so that smoothed things over a little. Hey, brother, we’re back here!”
Sam Morgan stepped into the kitchen, a thinner, leaner version of his older brother. Lang watched Rose blushed crimson when she spied Sam. Lang was so busy wondering about Rose’s reaction to this handsome Morgan brother that he failed to see who followed Sam until Beth bent to hug Emma. She looked especially lovely in a pale blue, faded work shirt and jeans that hugged her curves. Her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail.
Maggie looked around and marveled at the change in the room. “We just finished, but I can make more pancakes. Have you guys eaten?”
“Yup,” Sam said, stepping round the table to give Rose a peck on the cheek. He then extended his hand to Lang, whom he noticed had not taken his eyes off Beth. “Hey, Lang, it’s been a while.”
Shaking himself, Lang turned and shook Sam’s hand. “Good to see you. This house is amazing. Your work is amazing.”
“It was a joint effort,” Sam said, smiling as he glanced at his sister. Beth’s face had drained of color, and her lips quivered. “On second thought, maybe some coffee and toast might be good. What’dya think, sis?”
Beth took a step back, leaning against the counter, trying to compose herself. “No, thanks, I’m fine.” She’d been preparing herself to see Lang at the party, but this unexpected encounter left her reeling. How could anyone look this gorgeous at eight a.m.? Lang wore a gray Rambler Sports tee shirt and faded jeans, possibly the same faded jeans she had practically ripped off him two nights ago.
Yeah, right, Ben thought, watching her. “Sit down, sis. Have something.”He gave her his chair and Beth sat, hard. Oblivious to her aunt’s distress, Emma began regaling her with stories about her riding success and how she was training Sunny. Beth breathed deeply and gave her full attention to her niece.
Lang wasn’t sure who looked worse, Beth or his sister, but he decided that now was the time to exit. Beth’s distress was lost on no one, least of all her lover, who stood and said, “Rosie and I need to get cracking. Martha will send out the posse if we aren’t back soon. We’ve got a million things on the list before tonight, don’t we, sis?”
“I’ll walk you out,” Ben said, winking at Maggie and Emma as he headed for the back door.
Flustered, Rose stood and looked around at her companions, unable to meet Sam’s eyes. “Thanks so much for breakfast. It was terrific.”
“Ditto,” Lang said, coming around the table to stand beside Beth’s chair. “I guess we’ll see you tonight, huh?” He addressed them all, but he only had eyes for Beth. “Have a great day.”
His hand on the back of her chair grazed her shoulder as Lang stepped back. Beth flushed crimson and sputtered, “Of course. Looking forward to it.”
“Well, then, that’s settled. Be right back,” Ben said, hurrying their guests out the back door. Emma followed, skipping along in front of the three adults to see her pony.
As the door closed, Maggie looked from Sam to Beth. “You guys okay?”
“Fine, now,” Beth said, letting out a huge sigh.
“Fine, never better,” he said, grinning. “Why do you ask?”
“Because there was something cooking in this kitchen between four people, and that didn’t include Ben, Em, and me. What’s going on with you and Rose?”
“Nothing.” Sam shrugged. “I mean, Rose is great, but she’s a friend.”
Friends don’t blush to the tips of their ears when they greet one another, Maggie thought, turning to Beth. “You okay, sister-in-law?”
“Gettin’ there.”
“What’s going on, Bethie? Are there suddenly two guys your brothers need to whip?”
“No, and nothing’s going on. Lang and I are friends.”
“Yeah, right,” Sam said, but he dropped the subject, rolling his eyes at Maggie, who was wiping the table.
Sam spread out the blueprints, and the three leaned into them.
Ben walked the Dillons out and helped them onto their mounts. “You gonna take a ride before headin’ back?”
“Maybe a short one,” Rose said, heading for the barn to say goodbye to Emma. “Thanks again.”
“She’s a mess right now,” Ben said, gazing up at Lang.
“I know.”
“We don’t want her hurt any more than she already is.”
“Neither do I, believe me.”
“What’s going on, then? She looked like a scared jackrabbit facing a coyote.”
“I don’t know, but if I had to guess, it’s lack of sleep.”
“I was with her last night, and she wasn’t acting like that. Not till she spied you.”
“We’re friends. There is an attraction, but I know what’s she’s going through, and I’m tryin’ to keep my distance.”
“Good. Well, let’s hope it stays that way. Have a good ride.”
Great, Lang thought as he and Rose set off. The Morgan boys are circling the wagons, ready to string me up. He had promised and he would stay away, but he missed Beth Morgan—in fact, ached for her with a hunger he had never experienced before.