Jamie Read online

  Jamie gaped at her, his eyes wide. “Olivia?”

  Milly took the plates and pie from her. Her eyes were sparkling with humor. “Why don’t I take those to the kitchen for you?”

  Mama Fraser picked up what remained of the pies. “I’ll just set these in the kitchen, too.” Her shoulders were shaking.

  Olivia chewed her bottom lip. Everyone else at the table stared at her as if dumbfounded, although a few smiles threatened. The rest of the family had to be tired of Jake and Cat’s antics. But had she upset Mama? Was the woman crying?

  “I’d better check on Mama.” She rose and hurried to the kitchen.

  Mama and Milly were laughing so hard they leaned against the sink. Milly held her sides. Mama reached for a towel and dried her eyes.

  When she saw Olivia, Mama came over and hugged her. “My dear, I’ve never seen Jamie so surprised in my life. Now go finish your meal. Milly and I can’t come back until we can keep a straight face.” She broke into laughter again.

  Milly said, “I’ll never forget the look on his face or on the children’s.”

  Olivia went back and took her seat.

  Jamie stared at her, still wearing the poleaxed expression. He scrubbed a hand across his face as if to wipe away the experience. No one said anything.

  She flicked her napkin back across her lap and smiled at the others. “I do love a good apple pie, don’t you?”

  ***

  At breakfast the next morning, Jamie dug into his food. Nothing like a big breakfast to get a body ready for a hard day. He had no plans to risk comments about the food or his children’s appearance today. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Beth nudging Ethan.

  Ethan cleared his throat. “Beth and I need a house, a real house like Caleb has. We’d like to build one soon as possible.”

  Gideon nodded but looked at Jamie without comment.

  Jamie didn’t even look up. Couldn’t a man eat breakfast in peace? As the eldest, he was the head of the family. Although the ranch profits were shared among the four, he was in charge and took his responsibility seriously. Once again, he recalled the promise he’d made his father.

  “Can’t now. We have more mouths to feed and have to see how this year’s profits work out before we commit to any new expenses.” He didn’t figure Ethan’s wife would stay with him. Appeared to Jamie as the type to move on to a big city with fancy social events.

  Beth turned red and huffed. “You expect me to sleep in a barn with the smell of animals and manure filling the air? How would you like to sleep out there?”

  He continued eating. “Doesn’t enter into my decision. I didn’t travel halfway across the country to marry a man sight unseen. You took your chance and now you’re stuck with it.”

  Ethan leaped up. “You can’t talk to her that way. She thought she was coming to a ranch with a house where she’d live. Now she’s stuck climbing stairs that are like a ladder to sleep over a bunch of horses and cows.”

  Gideon met his gaze. “You’re being a little harsh, Jamie.”

  Ruby smiled at her husband. “Thank you, Gideon. I know Beth is unhappy out there.”

  Olivia said, “I’m sure my husband will consider all the options and make the decision he believes is best for the family.”

  Surprised, Jamie stared at her then nodded at his brother. “Sit down, Ethan. We have a hard day ahead so you’d better eat your fill.”

  After they’d eaten, Olivia touched his arm. “Jamie, may I speak to you in the parlor before you go?”

  Annoyed at the delay, he followed her. “Thank you for agreeing with me just now.”

  She held up a forefinger. “Oh, I don’t agree. I supported you because you’re my husband. Beth and Ethan need a home of their own. What about that house I can see from upstairs? Could they move there?”

  He shook his head. “The old foreman’s cottage? Fixing that place up after all this time would cost as much as building. I’m surprised the house is still standing. Ethan’s loft is much sturdier and more comfortable.”

  “Can the ranch not afford the expense of another building?”

  “What? No, we’ve got plenty in the bank—and one of the reasons is because we always weigh every decision to spend. Has to be unanimous for something like this.”

  “Then how did Caleb come to build a house and not Ethan?”

  “Aw, Caleb wanted a place where Mama couldn’t see what he was up to and I went along with him. That was a different time with different reasons.”

  “A single man needed a house less than a married one.”

  “Caleb used his own cash and built his house. Ethan’s youngest and his share is less than the rest of us. Papa’s system was prorated by age. When Ethan’s twenty-five, he’ll get a full share. That’s three more years. Right now, he has to do as I say.”

  “Jamie, please consider Ethan’s request. Your brothers look up to you. You owe it to them to be fair. Jamie’s circumstances have changed. He’s a married man now.”

  Anger heated his words. “I do what’s best for the ranch.”

  “Think back to the first time you married. How would you have felt bringing your wife back to a room in a barn?”

  He clamped his hat on his heat. “I’m through talking about this.”

  Without a backward glance, he stomped out of the house and toward the barn. The others were mounted and waiting for him.

  He swung up onto to saddle. “Let’s get to work.”

  All morning he thought about what Olivia had said. A wife should stand with her husband against others. However, that she’d supported him when she didn’t agree surprised him.

  He couldn’t help considering the arguments she presented. When he’d wed Lucy, he’d been proud to bring her to a fine home, even considering it belonged to his parents and his brothers also lived there. How would he have felt if he’d lived in a loft in the barn? For sure, Lucy would have given him hell, no doubt like Beth was giving Ethan.

  This was different. He refused to cater to a snobbish woman he considered unsuited for ranch life. Danged if he’d give in to please another woman like her. He doubted she’d be around long enough for the house to be finished. He recalled his promise to his father and knew he was doing what was best for Ethan. But damn, being right sure didn’t feel very good about now.

  At the noon break, Jamie gazed at the bank of clouds headed their way. Looked like more snow. “Let’s knock off work early so we can all spend a little extra time with our wives.”

  Gideon and Ethan grinned at the news. Caleb pressed his mouth in a firm line. Jamie guessed his brother had a few rocks in his marriage bed.

  When they reached the barn later that afternoon, Caleb headed to his home while the rest of the brothers went inside the main house. The clouds took a turn and headed east, meaning they’d stopped early needlessly. Undaunted, Jamie’s mood was high from two nights with a willing, if inexperienced, woman whose passion astonished him.

  Appearing surprised at his early homecoming, Olivia glided toward him. “Is everything all right?”

  “Thought you might like to go riding. You mentioned you wanted to learn.”

  “I do. I’ll hurry up and change into warmer clothes.” She turned and sped up the stairs. Soon, she was back down wearing a green and red plaid dress he’d never seen, wool if he guessed correctly.

  “You look warm. Be sure you wear gloves and a scarf around your neck and a hat.”

  “I have them right here.” She pulled a red hat over her hair and wrapped a matching knit scarf around her neck.

  He took her hand. “Those gloves won’t hold up to the reins. Have any leather ones?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do.” She pulled a brown pair from her coat pocket and grinned. “They don’t match my hat.”

  Jake and Cat ran toward them. “Can we go?”

  He’d hoped to get away without his two children, but what the heck? “Sure, if you bundle up so you don’t catch cold.”

  He and Olivia he
lped the children with their warmest clothing and then they went to the barn. He’d left his gelding Thunder saddled, but Sam Zimmerman had taken charge of the animal.

  Jamie offered his arm and his wife held on across the snowy ground between the house and the barn. Jake and Cat ran ahead yelling their excitement. Inside the barn, Olivia stared up at Ethan’s rooms.

  Jamie followed her glance. “He built that himself. Ethan’s good with wood.”

  Sam led the horse the children rode and started saddling him. “You want the pinto for Mrs. Fraser?”

  A devil took hold of Jamie and he grinned. “No, let’s get Bolt out for her.”

  Sam frowned above his red beard and gave Jamie the fisheye. “If you say so.”

  Olivia’s eyes widened. “Bolt? That sounds dangerous. Don’t you have one called Lazy or Mosey?”

  Jamie turned his grin on her. “He’s the brother of my horse Thunder. Get it? Thunder Bolt?”

  “Oh, I get it, but I don’t think I like it. Are you sure this Bolt is a horse for a beginner to ride?” She stroked her horse’s nose. He nickered and backed up. “That’s not a good sign.”

  Jamie lifted Jake onto his horse and then Cat behind him. “You’ll be fine. We won’t be going fast until you’re comfortable and the children aren’t with us.” He turned to help her mount.

  She climbed up but didn’t appear secure. Her skirts hiked up to reveal longhandles. “I know they show, but it’s cold.”

  “Smart. We’ve never had sidesaddles, too dangerous. Okay, now we’re going to go slow and easy on a short ride. Just copy what I do and you’ll be fine.”

  He led across the range. For the first ten minutes, his wife was all right, though she sat stiff and proved she was a novice. Her face was set in sober concentration. He doubted she enjoyed the surroundings at all.

  As if to prove him wrong, she said, “This is beautiful. I can see why you love living here. Spring must be majestic.”

  His daughter pounded on his son’s back with one hand. “Jake, stop trying to make me fall. Stop now.”

  “Cat, hold on to your brother. Jake don’t be cutting up.” He saw what was coming but couldn’t get there in time to stop Bolt from rearing up.

  “Eek!” Olivia hit the snow-covered ground.”

  Jake and then Cat guffawed.

  Jamie was off his horse and beside Olivia in a flash. “Are you hurt? Let me help you.”

  She gained her feet and glared at him. “You helped me all right—helped me to a horse too rowdy for me to handle.” She scooped up snow and pelted him.

  “Hey, that means war.” He retaliated with a ball of snow.

  The children climbed off Jake’s horse and joined in. Olivia chased Jamie, raining snow on him as she ran after him. Laughing, he ran in a zig-zag circle around the children, who stood building snowballs.

  When Olivia caught him, she rushed at his chest. As he fell, he grabbed her and pulled her with him. She still had snow in her hand and, laughing, shoved it into his face.

  Rolling over, he pinned her beneath him. Her bright blue eyes shone with laughter. She’d never looked more appealing.

  Before he could think about his actions, he kissed her. Softly at first, then his body took over from his mind and he deepened the kiss. Again and again he sought her mouth, plundering her sweet taste.

  She broke contact. “Ahem.” She rolled her eyes toward Jake and Cat.

  The children stood staring as if shocked beyond words, a first for them.

  He brushed a kiss across her swollen lips. “Right.” He stood and extended his hand. “May I help you up, Mrs. Fraser?”

  “Certainly, Mr. Fraser.” She stood and brushed snow from her coat. “I do believe the snow is softer than if I’d fallen in summer.”

  He put Jake and Cat back on their horse then helped Olivia mount Bolt. When he’d climbed on Thunder, they set off at a walk. For an hour, they rode through range and forest. By the time they were home, dusk was falling.

  As they left the barn, Cat pulled on his sleeve. “Can I go see the pigs, Papa?”

  “No, you cannot. I’ve told you not to go near the pig pen, Cat. You know that. Pigs are dangerous animals.” He picked her up and tickled her through her coat. “That big hog would love to eat you.”

  She giggled. “No, he wouldn’t. Animals like me.”

  “Yes, he’d like to eat you. He’d start with your nose, and then your fingers, and then your toes.”

  Her giggles increased.

  He tossed her over his shoulder. “I’ll have to toss this bag of potatoes into the root cellar. Jake, you’ll have to help me open the cellar door.”

  “No, no, Papa, it’s me, Cat. I don’t want to be in the cellar.”

  Jamie pretended to be surprised and changed to cradle her in his arms. “What? Why so it is my daughter. I almost took you to the cellar for storage.”

  They all laughed.

  Inside the house, Gideon and Ruby waited for them.

  Gideon stood when they entered. “We’re hoping to go to Angel Springs by day after tomorrow. I’m looking forward to showing Ruby the parsonage.”

  Ruby smiled shyly at Gideon. “And I’m looking forward to seeing where I’ll live with my husband. I can’t wait to meet the people in the congregation.”

  Just before dinner time, Ethan and Beth came in. She wore a petulant expression. Poor Ethan’s face resembled a scolded child’s and he refused to acknowledge Jamie.

  Jamie wondered if he’d been that green when he and Lucy wed. Considering he’d been only a couple of years older than Ethan’s age, he figured he had been. No wonder he’d fallen for Lucy. Forget it, that subject was best left in the past.

  ***

  That evening as they readied for bed, Olivia decided to tackle the subject of a house for Ethan and Beth once more. “Jamie, why did Ethan build rooms in the barn loft instead of a house?”

  He pinned her with a gaze that let her know her question upset him. “You’re not going to let this rest, are you?”

  She shook her head and smiled. “Not until I understand.”

  He exhaled as if exhausted and unbuttoned his shirt. “Before my father died, we didn’t know he had heart trouble. Apparently, he knew or at least suspected. About a month before his death, he called me into the office and told me I would be in charge once he died and he wanted me to be sure and look after Mama and Ethan.”

  “That must have frightened you.” She slid off her dress and pulled her nightgown over her head.

  He stripped out of his clothes and climbed in bed. “You bet it did. He was only fifty, so I figured he’d be around at least another twenty or so years. He’d always said I’d be in charge one day, but this time was very different.”

  Jamie appeared to shiver as he adjusted his pillows against the mahogany headboard. “He was dead solemn and laid out the finances and future plans for the ranch. Ethan was seventeen. He idolized Caleb, but the two of them are different.”

  She sat in the rocker and removed her shoes and stockings. “Even in the short time I’ve been here I can see that age isn’t the only difference between them.”

  He watched her but she thought he was reliving the scene with his father. “Caleb is harder, but I don’t mean that in a bad way. Only that he can take care of himself. Ethan is softer, sweeter I guess, and naïve. He wants to imitate Caleb, but he wouldn’t survive the same lifestyle.”

  “So, you’re willing to look the bad guy to protect your baby brother?”

  “If that’s what it takes, yes. I truly don’t believe Beth will stick around. She was looking for a safe place to hide from whatever it is she’s running from. If they built a house and then she left, Ethan would hate living there with the memory of being made a fool.”

  “She might surprise you and learn to be a good rancher’s wife.”

  He gave a derisive snort. “Not likely, but if that happens, I’ll be happy to approve them building a house.”

  She laid another log on the fire.
“You know, Jamie Fraser, you’re a good man.”

  He grinned at her. “Keep it to yourself, will you. I don’t want to ruin my reputation.”

  Now she stood by the fire, grinning at him. “Even though Ethan is hurt and angry with you now, he still respects and loves you. In fact, everyone I’ve met respects and admires you.”

  “Yeah? Why don’t you respect my wishes and come to bed?”

  “I believe I will.” She scampered across the floor and climbed under the covers. “I did promise to obey.”

  He chuckled as he pulled her into his embrace. “You should have added ‘when it pleases you’ to those vows.”

  Chapter Five

  While the men were gone the next day, the women hurried through their chores. Beth had a baking lesson from Clara Zimmerman. Ruby and Olivia cleaned the house together, which led to chatter.

  “I’m sore from riding a horse the first time. Don’t see how sitting on a saddle could use that many muscles. I’m walking like a duck.”

  “Wait until you’re pregnant. I already waddle. I’m surprised Gideon isn’t put off by my appearance, but he promises he’s not. He’s a good man.”

  When they reached the room used as the ranch office, the door was closed.

  Olivia whispered, “Mama Fraser said to skip this room.”

  Ruby’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Let’s just peek in, shall we?”

  “You are a bad influence on me, Ruby Haller Fraser.” She laughed. “I’m dying to see in there. I hope it’s not like Bluebeard’s closet?”

  The room was small and held a desk, two chairs, bookcases and a file cabinet.

  “No fireplace.” Olivia craned her neck around the door. “Oh, there’s a potbellied stove.”

  “Why do you suppose we’re not supposed to clean in there? The room looks clean, so someone is taking care of things.”

  “Probably Mama Fraser cleans there because it used to be her husband’s office. She’s still very much in love with him, have you noticed?”

  Ruby looked wistful. “Oh, yes, I find it touching and sad that he died so young. I hope Gideon will keep me around for twenty-five years or more. Maybe forever.”

  “Why wouldn’t he? You’re a kind and caring woman. You’ll be a perfect wife who’ll be an asset to his ministry.”