Jamie's Revenge by Jenny Penn Read Free Book Online

calmness and back into her old self with a snort. “Because he’s an arrogant, controlling bastard, and I’m sick to death of him sticking his nose in my business.”
    “You been gone for five years.”
    “So?”
    “Before that it was you always sticking your nose in his business.”
    “I knew it,” Jamie snapped in disgusted. “You’re going to take his side.”
    “I didn’t say—”
    “You always take his side, and it ain’t right.” Not willing to be consoled, Jamie launched herself into a well-worn tirade. “I’m your daughter, but you give that wart-dicked—”
    “ Jamie .”
Sheridan
glared her back to silence, outraged at the language she’d used twice now. “Did I not just say that you will respect my guest?”
    “He’s not in the room .”
    Sheridan
wouldn’t nitpick that fine point. Instead, he went with the only threat he could think of. “And do you want me to go give him whatever it is he’s waiting to ask for?”
    Sullen and pouty, her chin dropped to her chest. “No, sir.”
    “No, and you’ll keep that in mind when you make a formal apology to Brodie for saying what you did on the porch.”
    “Yes, sir.”
      “All right then, you might as well fess up now, and tell me what ugly story Brodie has waiting for me.”
    That got a smile back on her face. A very big one that fairly glowed with an innocence
Sheridan
didn’t believe for a second. Still, he didn’t object as she moved in to take his arm and lead him toward the edge of the bed.
    “Well, Daddy…”

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    Brodie didn’t even bother to wonder what kind of rosy image Jamie painted for her father of the day’s events. It might have taken her over an hour to have her say with her daddy, but it wouldn’t take him more than ten minutes to get
Sheridan
to see things his way. That didn’t make the waiting any easier.
    As the minutes ticked by, Brodie grew more and more convinced that Jamie dragged it out to encourage his impatience. The little brat probably hoped she could tempt him into doing something rash, but Brodie’d grown up a little since she last knew him. No longer the wild hothead he used to be, instead Brodie took the time she gave him to lay out a plan with Caelen.
    The little vixen didn’t know what a gift she’d actually given him, because he could still be kind of rash. Caelen didn’t talk him out of his need for revenge or his lust, but he managed to temper them with the assuredness that he could revel in both emotions at the same time if only they got
Sheridan
to shift his daughter over to their ranch.
    Then they’d have little Miss Jamie all to themselves. Caelen’s plan even held the element of surprise to it. No doubt Jamie was spending all her time trying to convince her daddy not to give her to them. Well, that wasn’t what they were going to ask of
Sheridan
. At least, not directly.
    Finally, the old man appeared, turning the corner on the den’s door as Brodie measured himself out a shot of whisky. Without a word, he walked right up to take the drink right out of Brodie’s hand. Throwing it back, he had it waving in front of Brodie just a blink later. A silent demand for a second, Brodie filled the glass up a little higher, more than willing to get
Sheridan
liquored up if that increased their chances of riding out with Jamie that evening.
    The second glass got carried over to the large chair reserved just for
Sheridan
. Settling into it, the man appeared his age as tiredness and concern etched his wrinkles deeper. Finally with a sigh, he opened up the conversation.
    “Jamie’s settled down for a nap now. I got a bell on her door, so we’ll hear her just fine if she stirs.”
    Neither one of the brothers responded to that, recognizing just how important showing the right amount of respect was. Instead, Brodie brooded by the mantle while Caelen perched with the same tension at the edge of his seat. There would be no easing the stiffness holding their muscles