corner, however, Mitchell stepped forward. “Here, let me help.”
“Thank you, Mr. Parker. If you’ll give it a good shake, I’ll fold it and put it away.”
As Mitchell shook the crumbs and leaves from the blanket, Reggie finally realized what it was about him that bothered her. He seemed the most pleasant of the three men, was unfailingly polite, and was the first to step forward to lend a hand. Yet there was a wall around him, a standoffishness that made one hesitant to approach uninvited.
She offered a smile as he handed her the large cloth. “Thanks. You don’t seem a stranger to domestic chores.”
His expression shuttered immediately. “My wife liked picnics.” With a nod, he turned and walked away.
She’d forgotten he was a widower. How long had his wife been gone? The pain was obviously still raw. But if he hadn’t managed to put the past behind him, why was he looking for another wife?
More to the point, what in the world was such a man doing in this marriage lottery?
Regina folded the blanket, her gaze focused on Mitchell’s stiff back.
Hang it all! She didn’t want to feel sympathy for any of these men. She couldn’t afford to soften toward them, not if she wanted to have any chance of getting out of this fix.
She had to remember what was at stake, had to get the fire burning in her gut again.
Reggie glanced across the meadow toward her grandfather’s sergeant-at-arms, and tilted her chin up.
Pulling the blanket firmly against her chest, she marched toward her quarry.
* * *
Adam heard her approach, but continued grooming Trib, waiting for her to speak.
“Mr. Barr.”
Her tone held a note of challenge, a sound he was becoming familiar with. Straightening, he gave her his full attention. “Yes?”
She planted a fist on her hip. “Thanks to the way you headed out here almost before your train left the station, there’s probably been speculation in town about who you are and why you’re here.”
They’d covered this ground already. “Most likely.”
“Your concern over the notoriety you’ve heaped on my household is truly touching.” Her color rose and her voice took on that caustic edge that signaled he’d riled her again.
He was finding it an entertaining pastime.
“I’ll likely receive more than my usual share of welcome home visits this evening and tomorrow after church.”
He idly slapped the reins against his free hand. “Which I’m certain you’ll deal with admirably.”
She didn’t appear amused. “I aim to try to put the best face I can on a bad situation. Just introducing you to folks at church isn’t enough. So, tomorrow afternoon I’ll host a garden party in my backyard.”
Her eyes flashed with purpose. “This will give everyone a chance to talk to you and ask all the questions that have been simmering since yesterday. They can also see from the get-go what good friends we all are.”
“Fine with me,” he said, ignoring her sarcasm. How far could he push her with his show of unconcern?
“I wasn’t asking for your approval, only your cooperation,” she snapped. Then she took a deep breath. “I’ll introduce you as friends of my grandfather who are looking for investment opportunities. You all have come to Turnabout at his recommendation, and want to look the place over for yourselves.”
“Seems as good a story as any.” It appeared the judge wasn’t the only one in this family who had a knack for planning ahead.
She batted away an errant bumblebee without blinking. “It has the benefit of being the truth, as far as it goes. Remember, it would be best if you four keep to yourselves as much as possible this evening.” She frowned as if she’d just discovered a hitch in her plans. “Are you staying at the hotel or Mrs. Ortolon’s Boardinghouse?”
“The boardinghouse.”
She grimaced. “Eunice Ortolon won’t be bashful about asking questions. And she’s not easily ignored.”
Not unlike another woman he knew. “Don’t
“Thank you, Mr. Parker. If you’ll give it a good shake, I’ll fold it and put it away.”
As Mitchell shook the crumbs and leaves from the blanket, Reggie finally realized what it was about him that bothered her. He seemed the most pleasant of the three men, was unfailingly polite, and was the first to step forward to lend a hand. Yet there was a wall around him, a standoffishness that made one hesitant to approach uninvited.
She offered a smile as he handed her the large cloth. “Thanks. You don’t seem a stranger to domestic chores.”
His expression shuttered immediately. “My wife liked picnics.” With a nod, he turned and walked away.
She’d forgotten he was a widower. How long had his wife been gone? The pain was obviously still raw. But if he hadn’t managed to put the past behind him, why was he looking for another wife?
More to the point, what in the world was such a man doing in this marriage lottery?
Regina folded the blanket, her gaze focused on Mitchell’s stiff back.
Hang it all! She didn’t want to feel sympathy for any of these men. She couldn’t afford to soften toward them, not if she wanted to have any chance of getting out of this fix.
She had to remember what was at stake, had to get the fire burning in her gut again.
Reggie glanced across the meadow toward her grandfather’s sergeant-at-arms, and tilted her chin up.
Pulling the blanket firmly against her chest, she marched toward her quarry.
* * *
Adam heard her approach, but continued grooming Trib, waiting for her to speak.
“Mr. Barr.”
Her tone held a note of challenge, a sound he was becoming familiar with. Straightening, he gave her his full attention. “Yes?”
She planted a fist on her hip. “Thanks to the way you headed out here almost before your train left the station, there’s probably been speculation in town about who you are and why you’re here.”
They’d covered this ground already. “Most likely.”
“Your concern over the notoriety you’ve heaped on my household is truly touching.” Her color rose and her voice took on that caustic edge that signaled he’d riled her again.
He was finding it an entertaining pastime.
“I’ll likely receive more than my usual share of welcome home visits this evening and tomorrow after church.”
He idly slapped the reins against his free hand. “Which I’m certain you’ll deal with admirably.”
She didn’t appear amused. “I aim to try to put the best face I can on a bad situation. Just introducing you to folks at church isn’t enough. So, tomorrow afternoon I’ll host a garden party in my backyard.”
Her eyes flashed with purpose. “This will give everyone a chance to talk to you and ask all the questions that have been simmering since yesterday. They can also see from the get-go what good friends we all are.”
“Fine with me,” he said, ignoring her sarcasm. How far could he push her with his show of unconcern?
“I wasn’t asking for your approval, only your cooperation,” she snapped. Then she took a deep breath. “I’ll introduce you as friends of my grandfather who are looking for investment opportunities. You all have come to Turnabout at his recommendation, and want to look the place over for yourselves.”
“Seems as good a story as any.” It appeared the judge wasn’t the only one in this family who had a knack for planning ahead.
She batted away an errant bumblebee without blinking. “It has the benefit of being the truth, as far as it goes. Remember, it would be best if you four keep to yourselves as much as possible this evening.” She frowned as if she’d just discovered a hitch in her plans. “Are you staying at the hotel or Mrs. Ortolon’s Boardinghouse?”
“The boardinghouse.”
She grimaced. “Eunice Ortolon won’t be bashful about asking questions. And she’s not easily ignored.”
Not unlike another woman he knew. “Don’t
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