Читать книгу Finally a Bride - Renee Ryan - Страница 12

Chapter Four

Molly sucked in a breath, torn between tightening her grip around Garrett’s hand and yanking free of his touch. With him this close, holding on to her oh so casually, every sense was heightened to alarming proportions. Smells became stronger, colors brighter, sounds louder.

It was always this way with Garrett, she realized, despite the years of turmoil standing between them. Sadly, she couldn’t remain detached, not with his fingers tenderly entwined with hers, and his masculine, woodsy scent wafting over her.

Her throat constricted.

Panic reared.

Despair threatened.

She really, really needed to distance herself from the tall, handsome man who thought the worst of her one moment, and then pointed out her strengths the next. The same man who’d so easily walked away from her seven years ago.

Your time to be together has come and gone, she reminded herself. The Lord has a different plan for you both.

Precisely. No use wishing for what might have been at this point.

Let him go, she told herself.

Instead of pulling free, she clutched her fingers around his a little tighter. A dreaded show of weakness, to be sure.

When Molly paused at the entrance, and spared a look at their joined hands, Garrett finally released her. Yet he didn’t go far. As she entered the house and climbed up to the third floor where Fanny and Callie shared a room, Garrett kept close, only one step below. At least he didn’t touch her, or try to hold her hand again.

Small blessing, that. But then he did something equally disturbing. He placed his palm at the small of his back, gently guiding her forward.

Unbearable longing sharpened in her throat, and something else, something equally awful, something that felt like wistfulness.

Your chance to be together has passed. Why couldn’t she remember that important fact?

Frustrated with herself, with him—with them both—she treated him to a fierce scowl. He dropped his hand.

Molly resumed her ascent.

This time, Garrett joined her step for step. From beneath her lashes, she took in every angle of his once-beloved face. He’d changed. Gone was the lean, almost lanky physique, replaced by broad shoulders, long legs, corded muscles and sun-bronzed skin. The latter was proof he spent time outdoors, working on the family ranch when he made the trip home.

“Through with your inspection?” he asked in an amused tone.

She suppressed a sigh. “Must you be such a...a...man?”

“I’m not sure how to answer that.”

“It was a rhetorical question.”

“Naturally.” A grin spread across his lips, teasing, almost flirtatious.

Telling herself the flutter in her stomach was due to physical exertion, she completed the rest of the climb. The moment her foot hit the third-floor landing, she whirled to face him again.

With him two stairs below, they stood nose to nose, neither moving, neither breathing. One shift on her part, one step on his and their lips would touch. Bad, bad idea.

She lowered her gaze.

He pressed his fingertip beneath her chin and applied gentle pressure until she looked him in the eye once more. “What’s wrong?”

Did he really have to ask?

“Molly.” He spoke her name on a whisper, his gaze full of remorse. “I’m sorry I accused you of encouraging Fanny to break her engagement.”

“Are you?”

“Beyond words.” He leaned over her, all six feet two inches of him, and rested his hand on her shoulder. “But I’m thankful we’re together now.”

Was he? “Why?”

“With the two of us working in tandem we’ll uncover what’s really behind Fanny’s decision to break up with Reese.”

He spoke with such confidence, as if they were a single unit, a team, stronger together than apart. She thought of a favorite Bible verse from Ecclesiastes, the one she’d once dreamed would be recited at their wedding. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

It was hard not to sigh, but Molly had a lot of practice controlling her emotions around Garrett. “I’m glad, too.”

She spoke the simple truth.

He pulled his hand away from her shoulder. As before, they turned toward the door as a, well, a single unit. Two are better than one.

She gave in to that sigh, after all.

Rolling his shoulders, Garrett lifted his hand to knock.

The door flew open before he made contact.

“At last, you’ve come.” Callie, the older of the two sisters by a year, spoke directly to Molly. She hadn’t noticed Garrett yet. Or perhaps she’d chosen to ignore him for now.

Either way, Molly did her best to smile at her friend.

In return, Callie gave her a shaky lift of her lips. The gesture didn’t quite reach her eyes. Upon closer scrutiny, Molly noted her friend looked uncharacteristically ruffled. Her pretty, oval face was flushed. Her green eyes, usually so bright, were dimmed with worry, and her hair was in disarray, with several blond locks fluttering around her ears.

“Is Fanny still in her room?” Molly tried to hide her concern behind a bland tone.

Callie nodded her head in resignation.

“Well, then, let’s see if we can coax her out of there.”

“I’m not sure I’ll be of much help.” Something uncomfortable shifted in Callie’s eyes. “She’s not feeling especially charitable toward me at the moment.”

“Not to worry, Cal. When Molly said we—” Garrett stepped forward, drawing his sister’s attention “—she meant her and me.”

“Oh. Right. Garrett...you’re back.” Callie’s shoulders relaxed, then stiffened again. “Wait. Now wait just a minute. You and Molly are here...” Her gaze darted between them. “Together?”

Her reaction came as no surprise. Still, Molly shared a look with Garrett. He flattened his lips in a grim line. She did the same. They drew a collective breath.

“Oh, honestly, Callie.” She choked out what she hoped was a mild, casual laugh. “Garrett and I have done nothing out of the ordinary by arriving here together.”

“I beg to differ.” Eyes wide, Callie divided a look between them. “It’s completely out of the ordinary for you two to be together, under any circumstances.”

Well, yes, that was true. But still...

Molly flicked a glance at Garrett. Quiet, calm, expression impassive, he appeared perfectly willing to let her carry the conversation.

So be it. “For Fanny’s sake, Garrett and I have agreed to join forces—this once.”

Molly emphasized the last two words, reminding herself she had a point to make. A very large point. It wouldn’t do for Callie, or Garrett, or even Molly herself, to assume matters between them were resolved simply because they shared a common purpose here today.

Too much stood between them—spoken and unspoken—hovering under the tense surface that she was taking great pains to ignore.

As was Garrett.

Molly glanced at him again, arched an eyebrow, waited.

He shot her a half smile then, finally, addressed his sister directly. “The point isn’t that Molly and I have arrived together, but that we have come to speak to Fanny. Not you.”

Callie scowled at her brother, opened her mouth to speak then clamped her lips shut and sighed. “Then you better come with me.”

She entered the suite. Garrett and Molly followed her inside.

Narrow and cramped, the tiny foyer barely had enough space for all three of them, especially with Garrett’s larger-than-life aura stealing all the available air.

Thankfully, Callie continued into the front parlor without breaking stride. Molly joined her, pleased to discover the room was still as warm and cozy as she remembered, welcoming even, much like the women who called this tiny space home.

The large, overstuffed furniture and flowered wallpaper offered a pleasant contrast to the stark, whitewashed beams in the sloped ceiling. Off to the left was Callie’s bedroom. The room next to it belonged to Fanny.

Pushing past both women, Garrett strode to Fanny’s closed door. He banged with two hard raps.

No response.

“Fanny, open up.” He knocked again. “It’s Garrett.”

Still no response.

Frowning, he stared straight ahead with a narrowed gaze, as if by sheer force of will he could make Fanny obey his command.

“I brought Molly with me.” Male frustration rolled off him in waves, but his tone remained conversational. “She’s eager to speak with you.”

More silence.

“Fanny.”

“Go away, Garrett.” The muffled reply came from just behind the door, as if Fanny had her forehead pressed to the wood.

He fisted his hand again, drew in several breaths then uncurled his fingers. Muttering to himself, he began pacing. A black weight seemed to settle on his shoulders.

Molly tried not to watch him move, tried not to see the boy she’d once loved inside the man he’d become. It was hopeless, of course. Whenever Garrett was near, she rarely saw anything but him.

She tracked his progress through the room. The hint of a swagger clung to him as naturally as the year-round snow on the mountain peaks. Garrett’s cowboy upbringing was written all over him, as natural as the innate integrity and strong sense of family all the Mitchell brood possessed.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into my sister,” Callie whispered to Molly in a low tone, her gaze tracking her brother’s movements. “She’s acting irrational. And I...that is, I...”

Letting her words trail off, she pressed her lips tightly together, sighed unhappily.

Garrett’s feet ground to a halt. “What have you done, Callie?”

She took a shuddering breath. “It’s not what I did. It’s what I said.”

Molly touched the other woman’s arm. “I’m sure it wasn’t anything too terrible.”

“Oh, it was bad all right. I really upset her. But I don’t regret a thing I said, not one thing.” Callie lifted her chin in an unexpected show of rebellion. “Someone needed to talk some sense into that stubborn girl. Why not me?”

“What did you say to her, Callie?” Garrett’s voice held remarkable patience, even though his eyes grew dark with banked emotion.

“I said—”

“She told me I’d made a grave mistake.” The reply came from the open doorway where Fanny stood glaring at her sister. Eyes red-rimmed and puffy, she wrapped her arms around her waist in a defensive gesture. “She warned that if I didn’t ask for his forgiveness, I would lose Reese forever.”

That didn’t sound too terrible, Molly decided, especially since it was partly true, assuming Fanny still loved Reese.

“She also called me...” Blinking rapidly, Fanny’s bottom lip trembled. “Stupid.”

Oh, dear.

“I didn’t call you stupid.” Callie snorted in disgust. “I said you were stupid to let Reese go.”

At this, Fanny’s eyes glazed over, giving her a lost, dejected look. Tears wiggled to the edges of her thick lashes but she bravely held them in check.

“Reese is a good man.” Callie jammed her hands on her hips, her earnest tone emphasizing her words. “He’s decent and loyal. You won’t find another like him.”

“If he’s so wonderful, you marry him.”

“He wants you, Fanny. It’s you he’s in love with.” Callie took a step closer. “Can’t you see the blessing in that?”

“Can’t you stay out of it?”

The two squared off, nose to nose. Standing there, staring at one another with an identical turbulent expression in their eyes, the similarities between the sisters were impossible to miss. They were of a comparable height, equal build, and tilted their heads at a common angle. Although Fanny was considered the great beauty of the family, Callie had her own appeal, less pronounced perhaps, but there all the same.

Before Molly could intervene, Garrett moved between his sisters.

A head taller than both, he placed a hand on each of their arms. “Is there something you aren’t saying?” He addressed Fanny directly. “Something less than honorable we should know about Reese?”

“What?” Both women gasped simultaneously and ripped free of his hold.

Unmoved by their shocked response, Garrett persisted. “Has Reese done something to make you question his character, Fanny? Has he hurt you in any way?”

“Hurt me? No, Garrett. No. How could you ask such an awful thing?”

“How could you even suspect something so vile?” Callie’s outrage matched her sister’s. “You won’t find a better man than Reese Bennett, Jr.”

Despite being outnumbered, Garrett showed no remorse over his line of questioning. If anything, he seemed to grow fiercer, looking very much like a protective older brother. “If Reese has hurt you, Fanny, and you’re protecting him for some reason, you need to tell me. If he—”

“Don’t you dare utter another word.”

Ignoring the warning, Garrett opened his mouth. Fanny cut him off again. “Reese has always behaved above reproach. He’s the best man I know. He’s absolutely—” a sob slipped out of her “—perfect.”

She made the word sound ugly, which only managed to rile her sister all the more. “If Reese is so wonderful,” Callie challenged, “then why break off your engagement with him?”

Fanny lowered her head. “I have my reasons.”

“Which are?”

“None of your business.”

The two went toe-to-toe again.

“Callie, step back.” Sighing, Garrett gently edged her aside then focused solely on Fanny.

Speaking slowly, calmly, as he would to a spooked horse, he whispered words of encouragement, all the while pressing for details. But no matter what he said, or how he said it, she refused to respond.

His voice dropped another octave. “Can’t you see I’m trying to help you?”

She promptly burst into tears.

Wincing, he glanced at Molly. A mix of resignation and uneasiness flickered in his eyes, a look that read utter masculine helplessness. Garrett had never been good with female tears, especially when the crying woman was someone he loved. It was another trait he shared with his brothers.

“Fanny, please. Don’t cry.” He pulled her into his arms, patted her back awkwardly. “Everything’s going to work out.”

She muttered something incomprehensible into his shoulder.

He closed his eyes a moment. “No, you’re not alone in this. You have your family, your friends and, of course, the Lord. You can lean on us.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It can be, with a little trust on your part.” He set her away from him, but kept his hands on her shoulders. “Help me to understand what’s made you change your mind about Reese.”

“I already did. He’s—” she released a choking sob “—perfect.”

Garrett chuckled mildly. “We live in a fallen world. No man is perfect.”

“Reese is,” Fanny whispered glumly. “Even worse, he thinks I’m equally perfect.”

There was that word again, spoken in that same dismal tone. So telling, so illuminating.

Garrett captured Molly’s gaze over Fanny’s head. At his arched eyebrow she arched one of her own. Didn’t he understand what his sister was saying?

Molly certainly did. She understood what it meant to fall short of others’ expectations. And now, she knew what she had to do.

“I want to speak privately with Fanny,” she said, looking pointedly at Garrett then widening the arc of her gaze to include Callie.

Callie immediately started to protest, but Molly cut her off with a firm shake of her head. She expected Garrett to balk, as well. He simply stared at her in measured silence.

Memories settled over her, her mind returning to a time when he trusted her without reservation. What would it be like to have him rely on her again, if only a little?

“Perhaps that’s not a bad idea,” he acknowledged, setting Fanny away from him, “but only if that’s what you want.”

Fanny nodded. “Yes, I want to speak to Molly. Alone.”

Despite being dismissed, he was calm, stoic, full of uncompromising integrity and strength. “If you continue down this path—” he took his sister’s hands in his, held her stare “—others will have to be told of your decision.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

“All right, then.” He released her and settled his gaze on Molly. “Walk me out.”

Before she could respond, he hooked his arm through hers and ushered her onto the third-floor landing. “She’s hiding something from us, something important.”

Perhaps. Perhaps not. Molly would know more once she spoke with Fanny.

“If this is merely a matter of cold feet—”

“It’s more than that.”

“I’m afraid you’re right.” Garrett rubbed the back of his neck, shifted his gaze to meet hers. “Since she’s made it perfectly clear she doesn’t want to discuss this with me or Callie, I’m counting on you to uncover the truth.”

“I’ll get her to talk,” she promised.

“I believe you will.” He turned to go then swung back around. “I’ll expect a full report later this evening.”

“This evening?”

“We’re attending the opera together. With Mrs. Singletary.” He punctuated the statement with a frown.

At his gloomy expression, Molly bit back a smile. Garrett hated the opera. Actually, he disliked all forms of theater, while she reveled in the drama of any production that required a stage and a troupe of performers.

Their vastly different opinions had been the source of their first argument. And, if memory served, the provocation that led to their first kiss.

Refusing to dwell on that thought, she cleared her face of all expression and became graciousness itself. “You’ll get your report. I won’t leave out a single detail.”

His eyes widened.

Oh, honestly. Did he think her completely incapable of agreeable behavior? Even after their unspoken truce?

Insulted, she pivoted around and, without uttering another word, left him to stare after her retreating back.

Let him think whatever he wished about her abrupt departure. Molly had a friend in need. At the moment, nothing mattered more than that.