“So you’ve pined for them, too?” Emma asked.
I nodded.
“I’d never even laid eyes on Kane and Ian before my wedding,” Emma said.
“I knew Cross, Simon, and Rhys only a few hours. Actually,” Olivia said, then paused, “I knew Simon and Rhys for a few hours. Cross I met just before I married.”
“I’ve wanted them since I was fourteen,” I admitted. These ladies were being forthright. I was well and truly married, so there was no reason not to share. And they would be… no, they were, my friends.
All three of them looked at me wistfully. Laurel’s baby banged on the table with her little fist, and we laughed.
“I think they didn’t like the competition,” Laurel added. “The man from Butte. When they heard about him, they were done waiting.”
They married me because of imaginary competition? I couldn’t help but smile at how possessive, and possibly jealous, my men were. I stood then, eager to get to them. “They are waiting for me in the stable.”
“Don’t you want to eat?” Olivia asked.
I grinned at them, realizing I didn’t have to be nervous with them. They were kind and generous and open, especially about being with two men. And because of this, I said, “They’re waiting.”
Emma waggled her eyebrows. “Have fun!”
I heard them laughing as I walked down the hall to the front door. They were laughing at me, but I didn’t mind, for once.
I smiled as I walked across the open field to the stables, pleased with my husbands, pleased with my new friends, pleased that I was going to tell them about Mr. Grimsby, that there would be nothing between us in our marriage. And when they claimed me together, later, when I had one man in front of me, the other behind, I’d know we were finally one.
The large door to the stable stood open to the warm, fresh air and so I walked in then paused, letting my eyes adjust to the dark interior.
“This is a beautiful piece of horseflesh. I do wish to purchase her.”
The voices came from the back of the building, and I walked in that direction.
“You’ve seemed to acquire a nice piece of flesh of your own, Landry. A very good choice for a bride. The Carr ranch almost rivals Bridgewater.”
I didn’t recognize the voice carrying from the back pen, but I knew they spoke of me. Was the new voice someone else who lived here at Bridgewater? There was a large group, and I had yet to meet them all.
“Yes, I’m very pleased,” Tucker replied. My heart leapt at his candid response.
The stranger laughed. “Getting your hands on all that land is a coup. Not many would look past her face.”
I’d started to walk toward them, but the last froze me in place. It also chilled my heart.
“With a body like hers, you can just cover up her face as you fuck her and think about all that land.”
“Her brother’s land is vast.” Gabe. He didn’t deny the man’s horrible words. Didn’t disagree.
I stumbled back a step, then another.
They married me for my brother’s ranch? They were willing to fuck me as sacrifice until they could get their hands on it?
Oh God. I put my hand over my mouth to keep the whimper from escaping. I wanted to vomit. What had I gotten myself into? I’d been right all along. The men couldn’t see past my scar. They’d lied. That was why Tucker had fucked me from behind the first time. He’d lied. Lied!
I shouldn’t be surprised. I’d lied to them. It was only fair they did, too. Our marriage was based on lies. Built on them. Because of this, it was so unstable. I had planned to tell them about Mr. Grimsby, to get their help with the matter. Not now. I’d rather eat a bucket of nails than tell them. Now, I’d go on my own, save Tennessee then just… go. Somewhere.
I couldn’t go to James. He’d send me back here, to my husbands. They hadn’t physically hurt me. While he might beat up Tucker and Gabe for their thoughts, James would tell me they were better than other men. They’d wanted me for the family ranch, not me. Who was I kidding? What man didn’t want something like the Carr ranch? I was just the price the Landrys had to pay. James had tried to protect me by sending me away to school, but it had only validated what I’d known all along. No one wanted me.
Walking as quickly and quietly as I could, I dashed out of the stable. Once out in the fresh air, I ran. My lungs started to burn from the exertion, but I didn’t care. The pain smothered the agony of my breaking heart.
CHAPTER SEVEN