His Brother's Bride by Denise Hunter

ran across down the row of plants, leaving footprints behind him. “We didn’t plant no nuts.”
    As Cade swung Adam into his arms, Emily stood and dusted the dirt from her skirts.
    â€œIs it that late?” she asked. The sun was behind the house, but it seemed too early for Cade to come home. Was he angry she’d been fooling around instead of working? Why does he always seem to catch me at the worst possible moment?
    â€œNah, came home early today. Thought I might know a young ’un that’d like to go wading in the creek.”
    Adam squealed and squirmed until Cade set him down.
    Emily walked toward them feeling a bit out of place. Her bonnet had slipped off and hung from the ribbons tied at her neck. She felt her hair and tried to tuck away the damp strands that had come loose.
    â€œWill you teach me to swim, Pa? Please?”
    â€œNot tonight. Thought we’d go to that shallow spot by Bender’s Meadow.”
    Emily turned toward the house. She supposed she could get the floor mopped up while they were gone. Hearing the happy chitchat behind her made her feel strangely empty inside. She felt like a fifth wheel. Cade and his son were a pair. Where did she belong?
    While Cade went to hitch up the wagon, Emily filled the tin pail with water from the pump and shaved some soap into it. She looked across the length of the house and felt a sigh well up in her. No use moaning about it, Emily Jane, it needs to be done.
    As she dipped the mop into the water, Cade entered the house.
    â€œWhat are you doing?”
    She pulled the sopping mop from the water. “Mopping the floor.”
    His expression seemed to fall, and she wondered what she’d done now.
    He tapped his hat against his thigh, his gaze scanning the floor. “You don’t want to come along?”
    Her heart sailed high at his words. He’d assumed she would come with them.
    â€œI thought you might pack us a little supper, and we’d picnic alongside the creek. If you want to, I mean.”
    Her hands tightened on the mop handle, the soppy weight of it bearing down on her arms. A picnic. She felt a smile tugging on her lips. “That sounds just fine. Let me just. . .” She looked back toward the kitchen, wondering what she’d fix for their picnic, but turned back, realizing she still had a mop in her hands.
    â€œHere, let me get that.” Cade took the mop from her hands and picked up the full bucket. “Something quick and easy’s just fine.”
    She nodded and scurried off to pack the meal.
    â§
    Before long, they were at the bend in the creek. She selected a spot on the high bank under a weeping willow tree, its graceful branches hanging down around them like a veil. Adam slipped off his shoes and stockings and slid down the grassy incline.
    â€œCareful you don’t fall,” she called.
    While Cade gathered the basket from the wagon, she spread the colorful quilt over the grass and sank down in the cool shade. She slid off her bonnet, and the evening breeze ruffled the stray hairs. She patted it, wishing she’d taken the time to put it up again. The knot was loose, and some of the pins were sliding out.
    Cade set the basket beside her. “You should take it down, now that it’s cooling off.”
    She lowered her hands, and heat crawled up her neck at having been caught primping.
    â€œCome on, Pa!” Adam called from the edge of the creek. Sunlight broke through the leafy canopy and kissed the water here and there with splotches of light.
    â€œComin’,” Cade called. He tugged off his boots and socks and began rolling up the ends of trousers. His calves were thick with muscle and covered with hair as black as the ones on his head.
    â€œYou coming in?” Cade’s gaze was fixed on her, his lips tilted in a crooked grin, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
    He’d caught her staring! She began unpacking the basket. “I’ll just stay