Chapter Nine
Jesse’s mood declinedthe longer the night wore on. The heat from the inside of the barn warped his mind, which led him frequently to the refreshing breeze coming from the open doors. He scanned the shadows in the night, and when he couldn’t see Fairbanks and Summer, his temper escalated.
He’d been counting the minutes since he saw them leave. So far, it’d been twenty, and his patience thinned. He lingered by the barn doors, waiting for their return, but the wondering only increased his foul mood.
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally emerged into the light, and he stepped back into the barn’s shadows before they noticed him. About to burst from anger and afraid he might let his emotions get the better of him, he quickly distanced himself from the couple. Another cup of Jed Hansen’s homemade brew would calm his temper.
Jesse marched over to the table, filled his cup to the brim, and quickly gulped down the scalding liquid. Within seconds, he refilled his empty cup. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Cal coming toward him. Jesse grumbled. He didn’t want to talk to his brother right now. The man always seemed to read Jesse’s mind. He mentally tried to shake off his anger before his brother asked too many questions.
Cal reached Jesse’s side. The grin on his brother’s face made Jesse physically ill.
“How are you enjoyin’ the dance?” Cal asked.
“It started out fine, but it’s endin’ rather miserably,” Jesse snapped.
Cal’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong? Seems to me like it’s the same as last year’s dance.”
Jesse glanced across the crowd. “It’s not the same.”
“What’s so different?”
Jesse turned away from his brother and leaned against the table with another drink in his hand. As his gaze skimmed the dance floor, he found Summer with another dance partner. Even through his jealous anger, he still thought she was the prettiest woman at the dance. She smiled while in the arms of this particular man, and her eyes sparkled. Would she ever look at him that way? His heart dropped. Probably not.
“I’m just not feelin’ the excitement tonight,” Jesse finally answered.
Cal chuckled and shook his head. “So, what’s the story with you and Summer?”
“There’s no story,” Jesse answered quickly before realizing he shouldn’t have done that. Now his brother would suspect something was amiss.
Cal arched a brow. “Oh? Didn’t look that way to me.”
Jesse leaned his hip against the table and folded his arms across his chest. “And exactly how did it look to you, Sheriff Slade?”
“Well, considerin’ you were biddin’ on her picnic basket and the way you danced with her, I’d say it looks as if you’re smitten with the girl.”
Jesse threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, my dear brother. I believe your thoughts are runnin’ away again. There is nothin’ between that girl and me, and there never will be.”
Cal shrugged. “She acts like she enjoys the attention.”
“Of course, she enjoys it.” He moved closer to his brother. “It’s probably the first time she’s gotten this many admirers at one time.”
Cal’s smile stayed on his face as he looked out across the floor. “Are you sayin’ you’re one of her admirers?”
“Stop puttin’ words in my mouth,” Jesse hissed. “You always do that, but you don’t know what you’re talkin’ about this time.”
Cal clapped a hand over Jesse’s shoulder. “Actually, I think I do. If my hunch is correct, I think you and Rosie aren’t goin’ to get married after all, and...” His grin widened. “I don’t think Summer is goin’ to be a mail-order bride.”
Jesse glared at his brother. “You think too much, but you’re wrong.”
