“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” he replied cryptically. “Mead, I need to have a long talk with you and Morg and the sooner the better.”
“About…”
“Let’s leave that alone until we have privacy,” Matt replied. “No offense intended, Marilee. It’s between brothers.”
“No offense taken, Matt. Oh dear, here’s Jane and she is wearing the black dress Doc Brubaker hates so much, and he’s just now coming through the doors. I fear there’s going to be trouble,” she whispered nervously.
“Darling, being here, involved in all this drama isn’t good for you,” Mead insisted. “I wish you’d let me pay Callie Mae off and marry me, now, tonight!”
“Mead, I can’t,” she pleaded almost tearfully. “I’ve already explained my reasons. Please try to understand.”
“I’m trying, but I don’t like it one bit. I’ll try to distract Doc and you see if you can’t get Jane to put on something a little more…”
“I think she looks beautiful,” Matthew said with a wicked grin.
“You would,” Mead snapped. “How would you like to see Laurie Dixon wearing a dress like that? How would you like her working in a saloon?”
“Over my dead body,” Matthew replied, his lips tight.
“Then you should know how the rest of us feel. It’s not proper.”
“Excuse me; are you saying that you don’t feel I’m behaving properly?” Marilee asked, her warm drawl cooling markedly.
“No, sweetheart.”
“That’s what it sounded like.”
“Well, you took my meaning in the wrong way. I simply meant…”
“Excuse me, sir. I have customers to wait on,” she stated, spinning away. “Maybe I can find a moment to talk with you later. It will depend on how busy The Duchess gets.”
Matthew could barely hold back his laugh.
“You and Morgan are pushing hard for me to hurry up and marry Laurie,” Matthew said calmly. “If you’ll pardon me for saying so, things don’t look so good for either of you.”
“You don’t understand,” Mead snapped.
“No, I don’t, but I will soon because you both are finally going to be honest with me. Callie Mae,” he crowed, seeing her at the top of the landing wearing the forbidden red dress. Walking away from Mead, Matthew stood at the bottom and waited for her.
“You look lovely,” he said, kissing her hand. “Morgan must be so proud,” he said, taunting his oldest brother, who quickly appeared at his side.
“Oh, go to hell, Matthew,” Callie hissed, yanking her hand away. “You know you’re only making it worse.”
Matthew looked at Morgan, saw the fire in his eyes, and backed up a step.
“Callie, I’m not sure it can get any worse. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll head on over to The Blue Bonnet. I believe my work here is done,” Matthew stated as he straightened his hat and strolled toward the bat-wing doors. “Doc, have a good evening.”
There was no reply.
CHAPTER 3
Matthew found Laurie up to her elbows in soapy water. The stack of dishes on the sideboard clearly indicated how busy her café had been.
“I’ll dry,” he stated, rolling up his sleeves. “Where are the boys? Why aren’t they helping?” he asked calmly.
“They have schoolwork to do,” she replied.
“Even Jacob?”
