Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

" O h my!"

Evie laid aside the garment she'd been mending and watched Marisol fan herself as she watched the shirtless man chopping wood in the barnyard, just beyond the garden, and where three cats sat perfectly still in the shade of the bunkhouse, watching him just as intently as the women on the patio were. Even Smoky the dog was watching him.

"Marisol! I'm surprised at you! You're a married woman!" Evie followed her gaze though it wasn't the first time she'd looked at him. One would only have to check the crooked stitching on her grandnephew's shirt to see that her mind wasn't on mending. Indeed, from the moment Jake stepped into her sights, her attention had been on him as he swung the axe over and over, his skin glistening in the sun, muscles, previously hidden by his clothing, rippling with every movement.

Marisol laughed as she took a sip of her lemonade. "I might be married, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the sight of a fine-looking man."

"And does your husband know you look at other men?"

"Sergio says the day I stop looking is the day he'll start to worry."

Evie laughed. She couldn't help it. The comment was not out of character for Marisol. Neither was watching Jake chop wood. From the moment they'd met all those years ago when Evie first came to the ranch from San Francisco to take care of Regina's children, Marisol had been outspoken, almost brazen, but always kind, loving, and generous. A good friend. The best friend she'd ever had, aside from Hilde and Aunt Felicity. There were no lies or secrets between them. Never had been. Never would be.

Marisol continued to gaze at Jake. "What do you know about your mystery man?"

Evie picked up her mending and tried hard to make the stitches even, but it wasn't working, not when the distraction at hand was the enigmatic, too charming, too handsome by far Jake Hannigan. "Not very much. He seems like a nice enough man. He hasn't balked at any of the chores Antonio has given him. And he's learning very quickly. The boys are not happy he's here, though, especially Teddy."

"Bah! Teddy! He's an old woman!" Marisol said. "So…what are you going to do? Are you going to marry him?"

Evie glanced down at the shirt in her hand, avoiding Marisol's curious expression. She shrugged, feeling the tension in her shoulders. "He's only been here a few days. I don't know him, and I will not commit to spending the rest of my life with someone I don't know."

"I understand, but that situation is not going to fix itself with you just watching him from afar. You have to talk to him, too, Evie. Get to know him." Marisol paused, mischief in her light-brown eyes. "I don't have to ask if you find him attractive, the way you keep looking at him."

She hesitated, then told the truth, as she'd always done with Marisol. "He's got the most amazing smile. And the nicest eyes. Kind. Soulful. Yet I have the feeling he doesn't miss anything."

"Then what's holding you back? You talk to everyone, Evie. That was the first thing I noticed about you when we met. You were a regular little chatterbox, so why are you avoiding him? What makes him so different?"

She didn't know how to even begin getting to know him, but before she could admit that, Ana, the young woman she was training to be a housekeeper, came out to the yard, carrying a fresh pitcher of lemonade. Ice tinkled as she refilled their glasses. "You have a visitor, Miss Evie."

"Who is it?"

"He said his name is Oscar Pe?a. He said you were expecting him."

His name was not familiar, and she wasn't expecting anyone, but it wasn't unusual for someone to call without an invitation. Monta?a del Trueno had a reputation for some of the finest horseflesh in the area. It wouldn't have been the first time someone just stopped by to purchase one of their horses. "Where is he?"

"In the parlor."

"Thank you, Ana. I'll be there in a moment. Please offer him some coffee or lemonade."

"I already have. He declined both." Ana lifted her head just a fraction and smiled, pleased she'd done what was appropriate, then went back in the house.

Evie placed her mending in the basket beside her, then slowly rose to her feet.

She turned toward Marisol, who had gone back to watching Jake.

"Come with me, Marisol. Meet Mr. Pe?a with me."

"And miss this wonderful view?" She gestured toward Jake swinging the axe high, sweat glistening on his skin, his biceps prominent. "I don't think so."

"Fine, you stay, but don't blame me when you get a crick in your neck."

Marisol laughed. "The pain would be well worth it, I think."

Evie headed across the lawn, following the path Ana had taken just a moment before, and let herself into the kitchen. Hilde stood at the counter, kneading dough, an apron tied around her ample waist. A smudge of flour stood out against the redness of her cheek. "You have company."

"I know." She pushed through the swinging door and strode down the hallway.

She met her Aunt Felicity coming down the stairs. "I hear you have another gentleman caller," she remarked, as she tugged on her gloves.

"Perhaps. I don't know who he is, but I'm about to find out."

"Charley and I are heading into town. I thought we might stop by and see Lucy. Do you need anything?"

"No, thank you, but give Lucy my love."

Felicity buttoned her gloves. "Of course." She took another step down the risers until they were eye level, Felicity being the shorter of the two of them. Kindness showed in the older woman's light-green eyes as they roamed over Evie's face. She reached out and gently laid her hand on her cheek. "You're a beautiful, vibrant woman, Everleigh. You deserve every happiness. I'd like to see you find it."

And with those words, she stepped off the stairs and headed down the hall.

Evie frowned as she watched Felicity stroll toward the kitchen—probably to conspire with Hilde before she and Uncle Charley drove into town. She patted her hair to make sure every strand was in place, then stepped into the parlor to see her guest standing at the window, hands on his hips, his gaze focused on the view outside. She stood for a moment, silently comparing him to Jake. He wasn't as tall, or as muscular. He did have dark hair, though not quite as black as Jake's. And there were no strands of silver. "Hello. I'm Everleigh Miller. May I help you?"

He turned quickly, bumping into the potted plant beside him. The heavy brass stand wobbled, but before it could fall to the floor, he caught it and set it right. He mumbled an apology then rushed forward, tripping over the edge of the rug in his haste. He took a few awkward steps, but managed to keep his balance, then grabbed her hand. For a moment, she thought he was going to drop a kiss on her knuckles, but he simply shook her hand instead. "Oscar Pe?a. How nice to meet you in person." He smiled, showing a full complement of pearly white teeth in his young, much younger than her, face. His smile did not make her heart flutter the way Jake's had done, but it was charming, nonetheless. Friendly. Full of confidence.

And his eyes? No, they didn't make her want to melt, either.

"Please, have a seat." She gestured to an overstuffed chair beside a small table holding one of the photographs Lucy had taken with the camera she'd received as a gift, this one of Miguel, Teddy's son, when he was just a baby. The entire table jiggled as he bumped into it in his haste to sit. The frame holding Miguel's photograph rocked. She caught it before it could fall and possibly break the glass. "How may I help you, Mr. Pe?a?"

A flush colored his face even as he flashed a sheepish smile. "I…uh…I'm here in…response to your letter."

That little minx! Lucy had corresponded to two men!

"I see. May I see the letter?" She had briefly looked at the letter Jake had handed her long enough to recognize Lucy's handwriting and the letterhead, but hadn't read anything except the first few lines.

If Oscar thought it odd she would request to see the letter she'd written, he didn't say so. He didn't even blink as he pulled the envelope from his suit jacket and handed it to her. As he did so though, he knocked over the picture of Miguel. The silver frame clattered against the table. Thankfully, the glass did not break. She righted the picture then smiled at the man sitting beside her. He returned her smile, his expression one of definite interest and expectation as well as curiosity, but only for a moment before his gaze fell to the table between them.

She glanced at the envelope and instantly recognized Lucy's penmanship. Her stomach twisting with anxiety, she pulled the letter from the envelope and began to read. After a moment, relief rushed through her. The knot in her stomach started to unravel.

It wasn't a proposal of marriage at all. Instead, it was an invitation to visit the ranch for an opportunity to get to know one another. The prospect of marriage was sometime in the future if all parties agreed; however, there was no promise of such. The words in the letter did not say "come to Monta?a del Trueno to be married." It was simply an invitation to meet.

Evie folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. As she did so, she studied his face. It was a nice face, younger than she originally thought, and right now, his expression was full of hope. "I'm afraid you've been misinformed, Mr. Pe?a. My niece placed the advertisement in the newspaper unbeknownst to me. She was the one who also wrote this letter. I'm not looking for a husband."

"Oh."

It was the smallest word, but it held such regret.

"I'm sorry." Her gaze roamed his face, and she noticed the emotion in his voice was reflected in his expression. She hated to be the cause of someone else's unhappiness, and since he had come all this way, the least she could do was extend an offer of work, like she'd done for Jake—she just wondered how many others there would be. The ranch could handle quite a few ranch hands, but the bunkhouse could not. "I can offer you a job as one of my ranch hands, providing you want to stay. Do you have experience?"

"Yes, ma'am." His face brightened, the disappointment nearly gone. "I grew up on a ranch. I know how to ride, how to rope, how to brand. Anything you need me to do."

A stark departure from Jake, who couldn't do any of those things. "Excellent." She handed him the letter, which he stuffed in his suit jacket pocket. "I can have Antonio show you to the bunkhouse and get you settled." She rose from her seat, her gaze on him as he did the same. "Just out of curiosity, why did you answer the advertisement?"

He shrugged, a reddish hue suffusing his face. "There weren't too many eligible ladies where I'm from and I was competing with my older brothers," he blurted out, though she wasn't sure he meant to say it. His face seemed to turn even redder, and sweat beaded on his forehead as if he realized his faux pas.

At least, he was honest. "No need to apologize, Mr. Pe?a. I value honesty." She smiled at him, trying to put him at ease. "You have brothers. How many?"

"I have seven brothers," he said, the redness on his cheeks beginning to fade. "And six sisters. I'm the youngest."

"Being the youngest of so many children can be hard."

"It can be. There's a lot to be said about being part of a big family. You're never lonely," he chuckled. "How could you be with so many people around all the time?" He let out a sigh. "I've always wanted a spread of my own, though, not something I had to share with my brothers and sisters and their children."

She filled in the words he didn't say—that by marrying her, he thought he would get that spread of his own—that what she owned would become his with the marriage certificate. She should disabuse him of that right now but didn't see the need. She'd already told him she wasn't looking for a husband.

"And how old are you, Mr. Pe?a?"

"I'll be twenty-nine on my next birthday."

Twenty-nine! She knew he was young, but more than ten years younger than herself? That would be a scandal. Or would it? It wasn't for a man. They could marry someone twenty or even thirty years younger than themselves and no one batted an eyelash. Well, some did, but the rules just weren't the same for a woman. Never had been.

"If you'll wait here, I'll get Antonio so he can show you around."

"Thank you, ma'am."

She left the room, leaving him to wait, hoping he wouldn't break anything in the meantime. She found Antonio in short order, explained the situation, which was difficult because he kept laughing, then she joined Marisol in the garden once more.

Evie sat down and said, "It was another man answering Lucy's advertisement."

Marisol laughed. "And?"

"And nothing. I've offered him a job, but nothing more. He accepted."

"You might not find a husband from Lucy's ad, but you are hiring plenty of ranch hands, amiga ."

She laughed and picked up Miguel's shirt from the basket. "I'm not looking for a husband. What was Lucy thinking?"

"Well, if you're not looking for a husband then what about…oh never mind. You'd never."

"I'd never what?"

"Take a lover."

"Marisol! I couldn't!" She jabbed her finger with the needle, shocked by her friend's suggestion, though she shouldn't have been because of who said it. A drop of bright red blood blossomed on her finger. She brought her finger to her mouth and sucked at it, leaving a metallic taste on her tongue.

"Why not?"

She added pressure to her finger to stop the bleeding. "Because that's not who I am. You know Teddy thinks I'm too old for that sort of thing."

Marisol laughed. "As I said before, Teddy is an old woman!" She turned serious eyes toward her but before she spoke, her attention was drawn to the barnyard. "Is that him?"

Evie turned her head, following Marisol's line of vision to see Antonio and Oscar walking toward the bunkhouse, a big black stallion with a fancy saddle inlaid with silver and turquoise following behind. "Yes. Antonio is showing him around."

"He's attractive." Marisol sounded amused. "Nice-looking horse, too. And that saddle!"

"Yes, I suppose he is, but he's so young. More than ten years younger than me."

"So what? A younger man would be…energetic." Marisol winked.

Evie shook her head as her face warmed. "I just…couldn't."

"What about the other one? Mr. Hannigan?" She suggested. "You've been drooling over him all afternoon. Don't think I didn't notice."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Evie said, even though she had been admiring him. It was difficult not to. She was attracted to him—and more than just a little. Indeed, watching him as he did his chores left her stomach quivering and feeling flushed all over.

Marisol looked at her. "I think you do." She finished the lemonade in her glass and rose to her feet. "What's more, I heard you sigh a couple of times as you were watching him." She picked up her basket of mending, which she hadn't touched all afternoon. "Why not, Evie? Tom passed away a long time ago and you've concentrated all your energies on raising the children and running Monta?a del Trueno. The children are grown and married now. The boys run the ranch. It's your turn." She laid her hand on Evie's shoulder in a gesture of sympathy. She'd been there when Tom had passed. She'd been there every step of the way since. "And with that thought stuck in your head, I shall take my leave." She bent down, dropped a kiss on Evie's cheek. "I'll see you next Tuesday. I'll bring my mending, just in case."

Evie rose as well. "I'll see you out."

"No need. You just stay and watch your mystery man and think about what I said." Basket in hand, she strolled over the grass toward the garden gate, waved one last time, and disappeared around the corner of the house to head home to her own ranch.

Evie took her seat, her gaze immediately drawn to Jake once more. He finished chopping the wood, and with one last thwack, buried the head of the axe in the stump then slipped into his shirt, hiding his perfectly sculpted back from her sight.

She watched him stroll toward the barn, sunlight reflecting off his black hair, highlighting the strands of silver. He moved with innate grace, his long legs eating up the short distance to the barn, the cats and dog following closely behind him. "Why not, indeed?" she asked quietly.

But that left more questions than answers. Like how to even approach him. Would he consider an arrangement instead of marriage? And what about her? The only man she'd ever been with had been Tom, and that was only after they'd become engaged. There had been no one since, but she wasn't the type of woman who gave herself freely. She'd been in love with Tom, loved him deeply and without reservation. The physical side of their relationship had been an expression of that love.

Could she consider the physical side without the emotion?

No answers presented themselves as Jake disappeared into the barn. Evie let out a sigh and continued working on Miguel's shirt, but it was no use. The stitches were more lopsided than before and the reason for her inability to concentrate wasn't even in sight. She put the mending away, picked up her basket, and strolled into the house, but that didn't stop the thoughts running through her head nor the flush that seemed to encompass her entire being.