Monroe, Marla - Their Bartered Bride [Men of the Border Lands 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Marla Monroe Page B

been with me for a little over a year now.” Ronnie handed her two cups of coffee.
    Leigh followed Ronnie back into the living room to offer the men coffee. Joel and Jonathan each took their cups from her. She hurried back to the kitchen behind Ronnie.
    “How did you meet your men?” Ronnie asked her.
    “Um, they bartered for me.” She looked out the window to avoid seeing the sympathy she was sure she would see in Ronnie’s eyes.
    “They bought you?” The other woman was outraged.
    “Well, I’m not complaining,” Leigh hurried to reassure the other woman. “They saved me from being sold to a brothel. I’m much better off.”
    “Still. That’s barbaric.”
    “How did you meet your men?” Leigh asked.
    “I hit a deer and had a wreck. They rescued me.”
    “That’s actually romantic,” Leigh said.
    “Are they treating you well?” Ronnie asked her.
    “Yes. They’ve been very good to me. But it’s really great to get to talk to another woman for a change.”
    “Maybe, now that we know about each other, we can meet and visit sometimes.” Ronnie got up and pulled something out of the oven.
    She took two of whatever it was and handed one to Leigh.
    “Go on and taste. It’s an apple turnover. I made them this morning for breakfast.”
    Leigh bit into the pastry and smiled at the explosion of taste.
    “This is good,” she finally managed to get out.
    “Thanks. Brice brought home some apples from Barter Town the other day. How are you doing food-wise over there? Do you have enough for the winter?” Ronnie looked genuinely concerned.
    “I think we’ll be fine. They had a small garden and put up a few things, but we have plenty of meat and canned vegetables. I’ll have a nice-size garden next year. I was raised in the south and can handle gardens and canning.” Leigh was proud to be able to say she could take care of her men.
    “Well, the winters here are really harsh. If you need help, don’t be too proud to ask. We might need meat. We could trade some if we need to,” Ronnie suggested.
    “That would be great. I’m sure the men will be glad to work out a trade if you need meat. If they can figure out what to do about the wolves, that is. They are getting brave. Some came up to the back door and dug at the door the other night.” Leigh shivered at the memory.
    “Oh, my God! Do you have a gun you can use?”
    “Yes, they gave me a handgun to keep with me. They have been going out at night to protect the cattle. I worry about them. The wolves have actually attacked Joel on horseback,” Leigh told the other woman.
    “What do you think they are going to decide to do?” Ronnie asked, looking toward the living room where the men were talking.
    “I think they want to form a big hunt to thin them out some. If there are enough men, they’ll be safe and the wolves will get scared of men again and stay away from us.”
    Leigh could tell the other woman was worried about this. She didn’t blame her. It worried Leigh, too.
    “If they decide to do this, they should try and gather up a few more of the families around here. I know there are more of us. Someone not too far south of us has a dog. I’ve heard them out hunting with it.”
    “Really? A dog? That would be really great to have dogs to help the men with keeping up with the cows. They have some that keep wandering off.”
    “Maybe all the women can get together when they go hunting and keep each other company. We’d be safer that way, too,” Ronnie suggested.
    “I’ll certainly suggest it to my men. I would feel better with someone else around. That’s for sure.”
    Leigh and Ronnie talked for another thirty minutes about ranching and farming while the men finished up their plans. When Jonathan came and got her, she took his hand and followed them back to the truck.
    “So, what did you think about our neighbors?” Joel asked her as they headed back home.
    “I like Ronnie. She’s really nice and she knows a lot about the land around