Free brides for brothers 02 - cowboy daddy by judy christenberry Page B

gathered around the fireplace. Everyone stood and turned to greet them, and Janie received a shock.
    The bleached blonde wasn’t there. But the beautiful woman who’d clung to Pete’s hand was.
    Chad came forward to greet them, pulling the fashionable young woman with him. Janie tried to suppress the surge of envy over the woman’s elegant hairstyle, her knit skirt and sweater in a heavenly blue, the look of adoration Chad was giving her.
    “I’d like to present my wife, Megan,” Chad was saying, and Janie managed a nod in greeting.
    Lavinia and Hank shook her hand, and then it was Janie’s turn. “Hello, Megan. Welcome to Wyoming.”
    “Thank you, Janie. I know we haven’t met, but I saw you that night at the steak house. I’m delighted to finally meet you.”
    “Me, too. But I’ll confess to being confused. You were holding Pete’s hand that night. I thought Chad had married the other lady.”
    “Rita?” Chad asked before hooting in derision. “I’m insulted, Janie, that you would think I’d pick someone like her. My heart was set on Megan from the first.”
    Janie managed a smile. “Well, I think you’ve chosen well.”
    Megan must have realized her discomfort, because she leaned closer and whispered, “I was only holding Pete’s hand because he seemed so distressed to see you with another man.”
    Janie smiled her thanks as Pete returned to her side to lead them to chairs by the fireplace. Red entered at that moment with some chips and salsa.
    “Red, is there anything I can do to help?” Lavinia asked.
    “Well, now, I could use a little help with the rolls, Lavinia, if you’re sure.”
    “When I offered, he refused,” an older woman said, sniffing in disdain at the man.
    “Now, Miss Bates, this is your first time to dine with us, and I wanted—”
    “Red, why don’t Miss Bates and I both help you? I’d like to get to know one of our new neighbors.” Lavinia sent an inviting smile to the lady, who immediately stood and joined Lavinia. The two walked out of the room, talking together, and Red followed behind, mumbling under his breath.
    “Janie, that was Mildred, B.J.’s aunt, and here’s B.J. and Toby,” Pete said, gesturing to a tall woman a little older than Megan.
    Janie shook hands and felt a lot more comfortable with B.J. than she did with Megan. B.J. was dressed in a denim skirt and blouse. She was one of their kind.
    The little boy, adorable with his shyness, reminded Janie of the child she was carrying. Suddenly mistyeyed, she decided to sit down.
    “You okay?” Pete whispered, hovering. “You shouldn’t have ridden out with your dad today.”
    Janie glared at him. “You’ve always urged me on, telling me I didn’t get any special privileges because I was a girl.”
    “That’s when you were growing up. Not now. You’re pregnant, damn it!” He’d stopped whispering somewhere in the middle of his protest, and his words rang out in the utter silence as he finished.
    Janie tried to keep hold of her temper. “Thank you, Pete. I guess now I don’t have to send out announcements.” Then she smiled at the rest of those in the room, determined to avoid heavy drama. “You’re in the company of a sinful woman, so let me know if I need to leave.”
    B.J. became her friend for life as she chuckled and said, “Honey, if you’re the only woman the Randall clan has tempted to sin, I’ll be surprised.”
    Megan joined her. “I’m certainly not going to cast any stones. Something about glass houses.”
    Jake had the final word. “We want to celebrate the newest Randall-to-be, Janie, not condemn him or her.”
    “Thank you.” She could’ve pointed out that her baby was a Dawson, but that would be like a Southerner firing the first shot of the Civil War smack in the middle of Central Park.
    Pete pulled a chair up to the side of hers and sat down, but he didn’t have anything to say. He’d already said too much.
    T HE DINNER WAS more enjoyable than Janie had thought it