Chapter Seven
Jared watched from his chair at the head of the table as Abby, his housekeeper/cook, talked to Sky about the ranch while she picked up their dinner dishes to take to the kitchen.
He watched Abby wave Sky back into her chair when she stood to help her.
That showed Jared that Sky had yet another sweet side to herself.
She was willing to help. It was something the women he’d known in the past would never have considered.
They thought they were above such menial tasks.
In the short amount of time they sat at the table, he’d learned so much about Sky, and everything made him feel good about his decision to go that route to get a bride. In the back of his mind, he had seriously doubted it would work.
Jared stared at Sky as he thought about all he knew.
She wasn’t used to the attention and definitely not affection.
She had stiffened when Abby had hugged her when they were introduced, but then quickly relaxed and hugged her back almost desperately.
She liked being helpful, and being waited on made her uncomfortable.
It also made her feel very uncomfortable to answer questions about herself, and she was too shy to ask any of her own.
Jared had sat her to his right at the table.
He held back a chuckle when he discovered his attention made her extremely nervous, and when she was nervous, she fidgeted.
She looked horrified when she had knocked over her wineglass and spilled the liquid over the table.
Jared had simply called for Abby and a towel.
“Baby, don’t worry about spilling anything. I spill shit all the time.”
“Ain’t that the truth?” Abby said sarcastically, making a small smile spread across Sky’s face.
Jared growled playfully. “I didn’t ask your opinion, woman.”
Abby picked up the wet towel and glass before turning toward the kitchen. “Well, Hun, that’s the great thing about being me, you don’t have to ask. I’ll always tell you like it is.”
Jared chuckled. His smile faded at the look on Sky’s face. After Abby left, he grasped her hand that lay on the table.
“Hey, what are you thinking?”
“You’re really not mad that she talked to you like that?”
“No, Baby, I’m not. The woman terrifies me, and she knows it.”
Sky chuckled at his dramatic shudder.
He felt her relax and watched the fear seep out of her eyes.
“Why would you think I would be mad?”
Sky shrugged and tried to pull her hand from his.
“I’ve always been taught to respect the men in my life, and since she’s an employee, that makes it even worse.”
Jared tightened his grip and leaned toward her.
“For one thing, she’s not just an employee, she’s part of this family.
Abby and her husband, Terry, have been here forever.
She takes care of the house, and he takes care of the grounds and flower beds.
They were never able to have children, so they kind of took me in as their surrogate child, and my parents loved all the help they could get. I was kind of a hellion.”
“That must have been wonderful to have so many people care about you.”
“Yes, it was, most of the time. The trouble, though, was that too many people caught me when I was bad. I didn’t get away with anything.”
Sky snickered and rolled her eyes. “Oh, you poor thing.”
“It sucked. How about you? Did you get into any trouble as a child?” He regretted asking when the light seemed to flow from her face.
“No, I never got into trouble.”
Jared watched the happiness seep from her expression and didn’t push for an explanation. He stood and pulled her up.
“Thank you, Abby,” he yelled.
Abby walked through the kitchen door as she wiped her hands with a dish towel.
“You’re welcome.” She turned her gaze toward Sky. “I hope you get a good night’s rest, Sweetie, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Jared had Sky tucked against his side with his arm wrapped around her back.
“Is Terry coming to get you? You know I don’t like you walking home in the dark.”
Abby laughed. “Of course, he is. I’m just about done in the kitchen. Do you want me to lock the back door?”
“That would be great. We’ll see you in the morning.”
****
Abby watched as Jared led Sky from the dining room with an arm curled around her waist. Despite the size difference, they looked good together.
His darkness to her fairness. His tough masculinity to her calm female presence.
Abby predicted that little Sky was going to calm the beast and bring joy to his dull life, and he would bring safety and love to hers.
“You about ready, Hun?”
Abby smiled over her shoulder at her husband. “Yes. Let me set the coffeemaker for the morning and wipe down the dining room table.”
Terry narrowed his eyes as he stared at her. “What are you smiling about? That smile always makes me nervous.”
Abby snapped her towel at Terry. “Oh, poo. I was just watching the two of them. I know he’s so much bigger than her, but they fit. You should have seen the looks they were giving each other. Sky’s eyes followed him, but she tried to hide it, and Jared didn’t even try to hide his interest in her.”
Terry tilted his head to the side and smiled. “If you’re so happy, why are you crying?”
Abby wiped her eyes with the towel. “They’re mostly happy tears.
I really didn’t think he’d ever get married, and if anyone needs a lot of love, it’s that woman.
I noticed she was startled and cringed in fear when he would speak roughly or make a sudden movement.
That woman has been abused by someone, and it just burns me that someone could hurt her. ”
Terry pulled his wife into his arms. “Well, she’s safe here. She’ll settle after she relaxes and gets to know us, and I know you’ll be mothering her.”
“She deserves every bit of happiness we can give her. He does, too.”
“Let’s go home. I want some of that roast beef you’re keeping warm in the crockpot.”
Abby took one more look around and made sure the door was locked behind them.