approached on Jake’s right and slapped him on the back. “What do you mean, telling this pretty little lady that we don’t make fun of each other? I thrive on making fun of you, little brother.”
“As do I,” John said, giving him another slap on the back.
“What’s happening here?” Jeremiah asked, approaching from behind.
“Jake was just telling Amaryllis that folks in Groom don’t make fun of others.”
“Now that’s a keen one!” Jedediah doubled over with laughter. “We live to make fun of Jake here. And he makes it so easy. I’m surprised he hasn’t noticed. Looks like we’re falling down on the job.”
Jake drew in a breath and silently counted to ten. He wouldn’t let the others see his temper flare, no matter what. Not in front of the ladies, anyway. However, he might just take his brothers down a notch or two once they got back home.
“I was explaining to Amaryllis that we would not poke fun at her for being thirsty,” Jake said. “That’s it.” He strode to the table and reached for the ladle inside the bowl filled with lemonade. Moments later he returned to find Amaryllis standing alone. She appeared to be struggling to sit in that ridiculous dress of hers. After a few moments, she gave up altogether.
“I guess it’s too hot to sit anyway.” She giggled.
“I’m so sorry they subjected you to that,” he said. “My brothers are…” For whatever reason, no words would come. At least no words he could say in front of a lady.
“I have brothers,” Amaryllis said with a smile.
“Ah. Then you do understand.” He handed her the glass of lemonade.
She released another playful giggle and fussed with the tendrils of hair at the nape of her neck. “I do wish I had a fan. Is it always this warm in Texas?”
He laughed. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Just wait until August. That’s the hottest month of the year.”
“Our summers in New York are milder. Or perhaps I just stay indoors more. We don’t have these lovely wide-open spaces like you do here.” Her sigh caught him off guard for a moment. “I do love it here. Truly.”
“I do too.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Jake caught a glimpse of Anne seated next to his mother, with her younger sisters nearby. He’d missed out on the opportunity to sit next to her, thanks to Amaryllis and that cup of lemonade.
A peal of laughter rang out. His mother must’ve said something funny, because Anne was all giggles. He found himself captivated by her broad smile. With the exception of those few minutes under the setting sun, he hadn’t yet seen her this carefree. Oh, what he would give to see that smile more often. And those gorgeous brown eyes of hers were sparkling as she laughed.
Stop it, Jake. She’s leaving in a couple of days. Guard your heart.
He watched as she rose and headed to the punch table. Perfect opportunity to make a move.
“Jake?” Amaryllis reached out and touched his arm. “I don’t believe you’ve heard a word I’ve said, have you?”
“Oh, I…” He tugged at his collar. “I do find the heat to be bothersome. Maybe I need a bit of lemonade myself.” He turned on his heels and headed straight to Anne.
As he approached, she looked his way and her smile broadened. He loved having that effect on her. If drawing closer brought such a lovely smile, he’d have to go away and come back over and over again.
Emily’s voice resonated from the porch steps, distracting him. Jake turned to see what all the fuss was about.
“You have to do what I say,” Emily hollered at young William. “I’m the boss.”
“Why are you the boss?” William put his hands on his hips and glared at her.
“Because I’m the oldest!” Emily yelled in response.
Jake sighed. How many times had he heard that logic from his older brothers? He’d been bossed around hundreds—no, thousands—of times. And he’d taken it without a fight.
Still, today, as he watched Emily slide into the position of naturalborn
“As do I,” John said, giving him another slap on the back.
“What’s happening here?” Jeremiah asked, approaching from behind.
“Jake was just telling Amaryllis that folks in Groom don’t make fun of others.”
“Now that’s a keen one!” Jedediah doubled over with laughter. “We live to make fun of Jake here. And he makes it so easy. I’m surprised he hasn’t noticed. Looks like we’re falling down on the job.”
Jake drew in a breath and silently counted to ten. He wouldn’t let the others see his temper flare, no matter what. Not in front of the ladies, anyway. However, he might just take his brothers down a notch or two once they got back home.
“I was explaining to Amaryllis that we would not poke fun at her for being thirsty,” Jake said. “That’s it.” He strode to the table and reached for the ladle inside the bowl filled with lemonade. Moments later he returned to find Amaryllis standing alone. She appeared to be struggling to sit in that ridiculous dress of hers. After a few moments, she gave up altogether.
“I guess it’s too hot to sit anyway.” She giggled.
“I’m so sorry they subjected you to that,” he said. “My brothers are…” For whatever reason, no words would come. At least no words he could say in front of a lady.
“I have brothers,” Amaryllis said with a smile.
“Ah. Then you do understand.” He handed her the glass of lemonade.
She released another playful giggle and fussed with the tendrils of hair at the nape of her neck. “I do wish I had a fan. Is it always this warm in Texas?”
He laughed. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Just wait until August. That’s the hottest month of the year.”
“Our summers in New York are milder. Or perhaps I just stay indoors more. We don’t have these lovely wide-open spaces like you do here.” Her sigh caught him off guard for a moment. “I do love it here. Truly.”
“I do too.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Jake caught a glimpse of Anne seated next to his mother, with her younger sisters nearby. He’d missed out on the opportunity to sit next to her, thanks to Amaryllis and that cup of lemonade.
A peal of laughter rang out. His mother must’ve said something funny, because Anne was all giggles. He found himself captivated by her broad smile. With the exception of those few minutes under the setting sun, he hadn’t yet seen her this carefree. Oh, what he would give to see that smile more often. And those gorgeous brown eyes of hers were sparkling as she laughed.
Stop it, Jake. She’s leaving in a couple of days. Guard your heart.
He watched as she rose and headed to the punch table. Perfect opportunity to make a move.
“Jake?” Amaryllis reached out and touched his arm. “I don’t believe you’ve heard a word I’ve said, have you?”
“Oh, I…” He tugged at his collar. “I do find the heat to be bothersome. Maybe I need a bit of lemonade myself.” He turned on his heels and headed straight to Anne.
As he approached, she looked his way and her smile broadened. He loved having that effect on her. If drawing closer brought such a lovely smile, he’d have to go away and come back over and over again.
Emily’s voice resonated from the porch steps, distracting him. Jake turned to see what all the fuss was about.
“You have to do what I say,” Emily hollered at young William. “I’m the boss.”
“Why are you the boss?” William put his hands on his hips and glared at her.
“Because I’m the oldest!” Emily yelled in response.
Jake sighed. How many times had he heard that logic from his older brothers? He’d been bossed around hundreds—no, thousands—of times. And he’d taken it without a fight.
Still, today, as he watched Emily slide into the position of naturalborn
Similar Books
