no.
He slid down the stable wall and sat on an upturned bucket.
“She’s a widow, at least six months right?” Zeke squatted next to Lee.
“Yeah, near as I can tell her husband wasn’t worth a shit either. This barn, I know you can’t tell today or maybe you can, but it was in sorry shape. Moldy shit, moldy hay, they only got but one horse and that thing is older than God. The fences are falling apart, the child hasn’t got a lick of discipline. This farm is held together by spit and string near as I can tell.”
Zeke nodded. “Well, sounds to me like Mrs. Blanchard made a choice and you accepted. She’s a widow, you’re not married, ain’t no reason why the two of you can’t have your private pleasures in private. Nobody needs to know.”
Lee let out the breath he’d been holding. He’d hoped Zeke would understand. God knew he didn’t understand it. His brother’s acceptance, approval maybe, was more important than just about anything. Lee had spent most of his life proving what an ass he could be, until they’d come to Texas and everything changed. Until a tiny town on the ass-edge of starvation and ruin had yanked Lee back to the land of the living and given him something worth fighting for. He’d bet every dollar he had, which wasn’t much, that if they hadn’t come to Tanger, he would have been dead already in a saloon brawl, maybe killed by a young buck with a shiny new gun and an attitude. Tanger had saved him just as much as he had helped save it.
Now Tanger was giving him one more gift in the form of a widow named Genny. Perhaps it was Lee’s time to find someone to make him feel human again.
“Thanks, Zeke. I’m glad you came out to see me. It’s, uh, mighty nice of you.” It sounded awkward and stupid as usual, but the sentiment was there.
Zeke grinned and jangled the harness. “What are big brothers for? Now how about you go introduce me to your Genny?”
Lee felt like a boy bringing a girl home to meet his parents. In this case, his brother had filled the role of father for many years. Zeke’s approval was more important than Lee would ever let on. He looked to his big brother for guidance even if he didn’t know it.
They found her on her hands and knees in what remained of the garden. There were apparently still some vegetables left because she was pulling potatoes from the dirt. Her curvaceous ass wiggled with each yank of her hands. Lee must’ve stared at her for a little bit too long because Zeke nudged him with a sharp elbow.
“Miz Blanchard?” Lee thought it best to keep it formal around others as she had done with Sophie.
She answered without turning around. “I’m a little busy as you can see. Can it wait a few minutes? Or maybe Sophie can help you.” Tug, tug, yank, oh, the fantasies he could conjure up about her hands.
“Well, no it can’t.” Lee sounded harsher than he intended, but damn, the woman distracted him whenever he was around her. “My brother came by.”
She froze in place, her hand wrapped around a potato, hair hanging down from the kerchief she’d tied around her head. “He’s standing there beside you, isn’t he? And I’m in the dirt.”
“Yes, ma’am, I surely am, but I have no qualms or quarrels with a woman who is a hard worker.” Zeke sounded smooth, covering up Lee’s awkwardness.
With a sigh that could likely be heard round the world, Genny set the potato in the basket with the others. She clapped her hands together and rubbed to try and loosen the dirt, then stood. When she turned to face the two men, her eyes flashed fire at Lee but she just smiled at Zeke.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sheriff Blackwood. I’d shake your hand but I’m sure you don’t want to share the last of the harvest like that.”
Zeke let out a small chuckle. “Since you put it like that, no I probably wouldn’t. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Mrs. Blanchard. I remember seeing you at the Founder’s Day celebration with your
He slid down the stable wall and sat on an upturned bucket.
“She’s a widow, at least six months right?” Zeke squatted next to Lee.
“Yeah, near as I can tell her husband wasn’t worth a shit either. This barn, I know you can’t tell today or maybe you can, but it was in sorry shape. Moldy shit, moldy hay, they only got but one horse and that thing is older than God. The fences are falling apart, the child hasn’t got a lick of discipline. This farm is held together by spit and string near as I can tell.”
Zeke nodded. “Well, sounds to me like Mrs. Blanchard made a choice and you accepted. She’s a widow, you’re not married, ain’t no reason why the two of you can’t have your private pleasures in private. Nobody needs to know.”
Lee let out the breath he’d been holding. He’d hoped Zeke would understand. God knew he didn’t understand it. His brother’s acceptance, approval maybe, was more important than just about anything. Lee had spent most of his life proving what an ass he could be, until they’d come to Texas and everything changed. Until a tiny town on the ass-edge of starvation and ruin had yanked Lee back to the land of the living and given him something worth fighting for. He’d bet every dollar he had, which wasn’t much, that if they hadn’t come to Tanger, he would have been dead already in a saloon brawl, maybe killed by a young buck with a shiny new gun and an attitude. Tanger had saved him just as much as he had helped save it.
Now Tanger was giving him one more gift in the form of a widow named Genny. Perhaps it was Lee’s time to find someone to make him feel human again.
“Thanks, Zeke. I’m glad you came out to see me. It’s, uh, mighty nice of you.” It sounded awkward and stupid as usual, but the sentiment was there.
Zeke grinned and jangled the harness. “What are big brothers for? Now how about you go introduce me to your Genny?”
Lee felt like a boy bringing a girl home to meet his parents. In this case, his brother had filled the role of father for many years. Zeke’s approval was more important than Lee would ever let on. He looked to his big brother for guidance even if he didn’t know it.
They found her on her hands and knees in what remained of the garden. There were apparently still some vegetables left because she was pulling potatoes from the dirt. Her curvaceous ass wiggled with each yank of her hands. Lee must’ve stared at her for a little bit too long because Zeke nudged him with a sharp elbow.
“Miz Blanchard?” Lee thought it best to keep it formal around others as she had done with Sophie.
She answered without turning around. “I’m a little busy as you can see. Can it wait a few minutes? Or maybe Sophie can help you.” Tug, tug, yank, oh, the fantasies he could conjure up about her hands.
“Well, no it can’t.” Lee sounded harsher than he intended, but damn, the woman distracted him whenever he was around her. “My brother came by.”
She froze in place, her hand wrapped around a potato, hair hanging down from the kerchief she’d tied around her head. “He’s standing there beside you, isn’t he? And I’m in the dirt.”
“Yes, ma’am, I surely am, but I have no qualms or quarrels with a woman who is a hard worker.” Zeke sounded smooth, covering up Lee’s awkwardness.
With a sigh that could likely be heard round the world, Genny set the potato in the basket with the others. She clapped her hands together and rubbed to try and loosen the dirt, then stood. When she turned to face the two men, her eyes flashed fire at Lee but she just smiled at Zeke.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sheriff Blackwood. I’d shake your hand but I’m sure you don’t want to share the last of the harvest like that.”
Zeke let out a small chuckle. “Since you put it like that, no I probably wouldn’t. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Mrs. Blanchard. I remember seeing you at the Founder’s Day celebration with your
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