The Rancher Takes a Bride by Brenda Minton Page A

much left to do. Marty has the day off, but she left a salad and potato salad in the fridge. I’m just fixing up some ranch dressing.” Breezy handed her a knife. “Slice tomatoes for the burgers?”
    â€œI can do that.”
    Ten minutes later they were all at the table, hands held as Jake asked the blessing on the food. Duke sat across from her, and Brody sat next to him. As the food was passed around, Brody cleared his throat.
    Oregon wanted to toss her knife at him. Instead, she shot the younger man a look he couldn’t misinterpret. He remained unfazed.
    â€œWhat?” he asked as he squeezed ketchup on his burger.
    â€œNot funny, I think is what she wants to say.” Duke grabbed the ketchup from his younger brother. “I think if you’re working, you’ll have less time to scheme.”
    â€œNo scheming going on here.” Brody started to eat.
    Duke wasn’t giving up. Oregon could see it in his eyes. He’d gone from teasing to serious.
    â€œMaybe tomorrow instead of lounging around the house like you’re retired at twenty-six, you ought to try helping out around here. We’ve got to get the hay cut and baled before that rain hits next week. And if that doesn’t keep you busy, I’ve got a couple of geldings that we need to start working so we can put them on the website for sale.”
    â€œI’d love to help you out, but I’ve got an appointment in Austin.”
    â€œIs your appointment going to take all week?” Jake asked.
    â€œNope,” Brody answered.
    Oregon handed Violet a small piece of hamburger, which the little girl chomped down in three seconds flat. It was easier to handle a two-year-old than the conversation going on around them. Next to her, Lilly watched with rapt attention.
    Brody finished his burger and sat back in his chair. “The invitations were a joke.”
    â€œI’m not laughing,” Duke said calmly as he piled a second helping of salad on his plate.
    Brody downed a glass of tea and pushed his chair away from the table. “Maybe you should laugh.”
    â€œBrody, is there something...” Breezy started. Brody cut her off with an easy look, but that look didn’t quite reach his eyes.
    â€œIt’s nothing, Breeze. I’ve got stuff to take care of.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t be going to have that knee checked tomorrow, would you?” Jake asked.
    â€œSure, that’s what I’m doing.”
    â€œNeed me to come along?” Jake asked as Brody headed for the door.
    â€œNope.”
    â€œYou aren’t looking for Sylvia, are you?” Duke asked.
    Brody shot Duke a look. “Does it matter? It isn’t like she wants to be found. Besides, she knows where we live.”
    â€œYeah,” Duke said. “She knows.”
    Next to Oregon, Lilly moved from her chair. As Brody limped away, Lilly asked to be excused and went after him. Oregon heard her call him Uncle Brody, asking him to wait up.
    â€œWe should just give him space, stop cornering him,” Duke said.
    â€œYeah, I would agree if I wasn’t worried about him.” Jake tossed his napkin on the table. “Eventually he’s going to have to tell us what’s going on.”
    Breezy cleared her throat. “We have company, and I’m pretty sure one of you just said you should give him space. He’s probably taking a walk, and Lilly is hobbling along behind him, talking his ear off and making him forget his troubles. Brody isn’t a little boy who needs to be fixed. He’s a grown man who’s working through something in his life.”
    Duke and Jake remained in their seats. They gave each other a look, then went back to eating. Silence hung over the table, broken only by the occasional jabbering of the twins. Oregon wondered what it had been like in this home before Breezy came along. She knew their past had been rocky. As kids, the Martins had worked hard to keep the