brides for brothers 04 - cowboy surrender by judy christenberry Read Free Book Online Page A

hardly keep his eyes off Mildred, whose cheeks were bright red.
    “Good. See you in the morning.”
    The couple passed him, their arms wrapped around each other, and faded into the night. Jake stood there, his hands on his hips, his eyes staring at nothing in the darkness. Looked like Red, too, would be joining the married state. Pretty soon he’d be the last bachelor on the Randall spread. Quite a change from last year at this time, when they’d been all men, all bachelors.
    Jake dismissed the feeling of loneliness that assailed him. He was happy. He didn’t need the complication of a woman to make his life worthwhile. In fact, in his experience, contrary to his brothers’, adding a woman to his life would only bring misery.
    Some men weren’t meant to be married.
    He was one of them.
    “M OMMY, YOU DIDN’T KISS me good-night last night,” Toby protested from the door, rubbing sleep from one eye.
    B.J. smiled at her little boy, in his pajamas, still young enough to enjoy a cuddle from his mommy. Her heart swelled with love as she opened her arms to him. When he raced across the kitchen, she lifted him up and pressed her lips to his cheek.
    “Oh, yes, I did. But you were sound asleep.” And she’d been glad. After that kiss she’d shared with Jake the night before on the dance floor, she hadn’t wanted to face either Toby or Mildred.
    “Where’s Aunt Mildred?”
    B.J. took a deep breath. It was unusual for her aunt not to be in the kitchen first thing in the morning. Was she angry about last night? “I’m not sure.”
    Toby didn’t show much concern for Mildred’s absence. His mind still seemed to be occupied with the previous night. “How did I get in my bed last night? I went to sleep on Mr. Jake’s couch.”
    According to Toby, everything on the Randall ranch belonged to Mr. Jake. B.J. had tried to explain that all four brothers shared the ranch, but Toby knew who was boss.
    “Mr. Jake carried you to your bed.”
    “He did?” Toby asked with awe in his voice. “Just like he was my daddy?”
    “No!” B.J. answered sharply, and then regretted her response. Hugging her little boy to her, she kissed him again and said, “Like a friend, Toby. Mr. Jake is a friend.”
    “I guess he is,” a familiar voice said.
    B.J. whirled around to find Mildred standing where Toby had been when he first claimed her attention. Thankfully Mildred had a smile on her face.
    “I was afraid you were angry with me.”
    “I should be,” Mildred said, but she was still smiling.
    Pudgy little hands covered each of B.J.’s cheeks as Toby turned her face to him. “Why would Aunt Mildred be mad at you, Mommy? Did you do something bad?”
    B.J. laughed, relief filling her. “Nope.” She kissed his nose and then set him down. “But if I don’t turn the bacon, I’ll burn it, and you wouldn’t like that.”
    Mildred joined her, apologizing for oversleeping, and together they finished breakfast and sent Toby off to get dressed.
    Mildred said nothing about the previous evening, and B.J. hesitated to ask. She’d interfered enough in her aunt’s life.
    But the look on Mildred’s face told of her happiness. B.J. hoped that meant Mildred and Red had worked out their differences. Before she worked up her nerve to ask, Toby burst back into the kitchen in jeans and shirt, his sneaker laces flopping.
    “Whoa, young man, you’re going to trip if you don’t tie your shoes,” she warned, and knelt down to provide some motherly assistance.
    “Have you told Toby yet?” Mildred suddenly asked.
    “Told me what?” Toby asked.
    “I thought your mommy might have told you that you’re going to have a grandpa.” Mildred’s cheeks were bright red, but a big smile was on her lips.
    “A grandpa?” Toby asked, his eyes round with surprise.
    “Would you like that?”
    “I guess so,” There was doubt in his voice. “How would I get a grandpa?”
    “Well, I’m not really your grandma, but that’s how I think of myself. So