Judith Bowen - His Brother's Bride

“Noah gave me some lunch,” she said simply. “Wasn’t that neighborly?”

Jesse beamed. “Hey, that’s great! Well, I got everything done in town—” He took a deep breath and turned to his brother. “Got the license and everything. We’re gonna get married on Friday.”

It was Thursday now. “Tomorrow?” she asked softly, unable to stop herself from a quick, indrawn breath. This was all happening so quickly....

“No, next week. Magistrate was all booked up until then. That okay, Ab?” Jesse looked worried for a moment.

“That’s fine.” She moved over to stand close to Jesse. Noah’s expression was skeptical. She took Jesse’s hand in hers, wishing he didn’t look quite so surprised when she did. “That’ll give me time to get ready. Buy a dress. Do some shopping. Write a few letters home.”

“You finished here? You ready to go back to my place?” Jesse asked.

“Uh-huh.” She glanced at Noah and then hated herself for the blush she felt rising to her cheeks. She knew Jesse only meant that she should come to his place to discuss their plans, maybe have coffee or something. She was a little taken aback by how distant he’d been, physically. He’d done no more than hug her when she got off the bus and hadn’t touched her since.

But that wasn’t what Noah was thinking... knowing him in the Biblical sense, as he’d said. He thought they were going to Jesse’s for some leisurely afternoon sex. She felt more acutely aware of everything she said and did around Noah than she did around Jesse, the man she planned to marry. The man who’d made love to her and who’d fathered the child she carried.

Everything was mixed up; everything was wrong.

“You going to the Dexters’ anniversary on Saturday?” Noah asked his brother. “Mona will be expecting you.”

Jesse smiled at her. “Sure am. Gonna introduce Abby to all the folks.”

“The Dexters?” Abby asked. “Who are they?”

“Oh, just some neighbors, Ab,” he replied, glancing at his brother. “Old Man and Old Lady Dexter been married fifty years and some of the family got up a surprise party for ‘em. At the community hall. We’re invited. Noah, too.”

“I see.” Abby smiled in return. “I’m looking forward to it. Shall we go now, Jesse?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.” Holding her fiancé’s hand, Abby left the kitchen, feeling completely silly about everything that had taken place there. She couldn’t help imagining she felt the heat of Noah’s gaze on them all the way to Jesse’s pickup, but she’d be damned if she’d look back to see if she was right.

And she didn’t. She’d finished looking back when she left South Dakota.

CHAPTER FIVE

THE DEXTERS’ ANNIVERSARY celebration began with a tea for the older folks on Saturday afternoon, followed by a buffet dinner and dancing at the Glory and District Community Hall.

Noah had decided they’d show up about five, introduce Abby around and then get the hell out of there before the dancing. Normally, he might have considered staying for the whole event, but now that his brother’s bride-to-be had arrived from out of nowhere, he figured the best plan was to get in and get out. Avoid the overcurious. The tough part was going to be introducing her as Jesse’s surprise ladylove to all their neighbors and friends. No one would be expecting what could only be described as a shotgun wedding from either of the Winslows.

Jesse and Abby were riding with him, as Jesse owned only his pickup, while Noah had both his pickup and a six-year-old four-door Chevrolet sedan, as well. Low-end, nothing fancy, but it served its purpose, which was mainly long highway trips and the occasional date. Taking a woman out to a decent restaurant in a work truck was a teenager’s trick, in his opinion.

By half past four he was ready, wearing dress pants and boots, a crew-necked white knit T-shirt—Noah couldn’t abide ties—and a Western-cut jacket. He wore a wide-brimmed hat, as usual, only this was his going-out model, a fine tan-colored beaver-felt Stetson. He had to adjust the seat on the Chevy, since Carl had driven it last, then put it. into gear and eased slowly down the hill. He was picking up the lovebirds at Jesse’s house.

He parked in the driveway, and when no one appeared right away, leaned gently on the horn. He glanced in the rearview mirror. Pat was walking slowly to her favorite spot behind one of the feed sheds and, as he watched, she turned three times and settled down, gazing sadly toward him. That old poser, he thought. He often took the dog with him in his pickup, but never in the car.

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