CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Nick Listens

Nick carried a tray of sandwiches into the library.

"You're going to spoil your appetite!" Victoria objected.

"We didn't get lunch," Nick stated.

"Nick, you want a whiskey?" Jarrod called.

Nick shrugged. "I suppose. If you and Heath are havin' somethin'."

"I just poured me one," Jarrod said. "It's been a long day already."

"Sure has," Heath agreed. He glanced around at those gathered and then looked at Margaret. "You've met everyone except Audra, right?"

"I think so," she said.

"You want some wine?" Nick asked.

Margaret looked around. "Me?"

"Yeah. You want some wine?"

Margaret looked at Heath.

"You can have whatever you want," Heath said. "This is your home now. You can help yourself."

"Just opened this pinot noir." Jarrod poured a glass and handed it to Margaret.

"Thank you." She accepted it and took a sip, looking around to see if anyone would scold her. But no one did.

"Mother?" Jarrod asked, lifting the bottle.

"May as well," Victoria stated, and Jarrod handed her a glass.

Isabella and Audra breezed into the room. The men all stood. "Sorry we're late," Isabella said. "Sam is teaching the boys how to play baseball."

"They got that set up already?" Nick asked.

"It didn't take them long. A couple of the hands are playing, too." Isabella's smile lit up her face. "Oh, Margaret! You made it!" She ran over and gave Margaret a hug.

"Audra." Heath set down his sandwich and drink and approached the women. "This is Margaret. Margaret, this is my sister, Audra."

"It's so good to finally meet you," Audra said, squeezing in for a hug. "I hope I can help you with your wedding preparations."

"I'd like that. I don't have any idea of what to do." Margaret shrugged. "I've never been to a wedding before."

"You've never been to a wedding before?" Audra tried not to look shocked, but she hadn't mastered hiding her emotions as well as Heath or Jarrod. Instead, her award-winning smile covered her face. "We have lots to do." She squeezed Margaret's arm. "And I'd love to help you."

"I appreciate that. I'm sure I'll need some help."

The men returned to their seats. Heath dropped into a chair between his brothers. He took a long drink. "I think this is the first time I've been able to relax in months—since Nick first left."

"I want to see your arm," Victoria stated.

Nick chuckled. "So much for relaxing." He winked at Heath.

"You'd better get some air to that arm anyway," Jarrod said.

Heath growled. "He's almost as bad as you are, Nick."

"He does have a point." Nick tilted his head. "You're supposed to let the air get to it when you're in the house."

Heath scowled at Nick, but took off the sling, then unwrapped his arm. "Here, Mother. Take a look."

She knelt next to him and examined it closely. Then she stood, walked behind Nick, and slapped Nick's head.

"What?" Nick asked, rubbing his head.

"That's a bit more than a flesh wound."

"No, it ain't—isn't," Nick stated. "It didn't hit any bones or muscles or nothing. That makes it a flesh wound."

Heath took in a breath. "When is Eugene coming home?"

"I'm sure he'll get here for your wedding," Victoria answered. "I already sent him a letter. Why?"

"I'm daggone tired of bein' the youngest brother. I assume if Eugene is here, y'all will pick on him and leave me alone."

"You'd better put some ointment on that flesh wound," Jarrod said.

Nick jumped up, chewing on a bite of sandwich. "Is the ointment in your bag?"

"Yes," Heath replied. "I can go get it."

"Stay sitting down there," Nick ordered. "I'll get it for you." On his way out of the room, he stopped and turned to face Heath. "Seems to me like being the youngest means you get spoiled." Before Heath could respond, Nick ran up the stairs and to Heath's room. He found Heath's carpet bag on the bed and opened it.

Right on top were two books. A Husband's Guide to Marriage—from Honeymoon to Happy Ever After and A Wife's Guide to Marriage—from Honeymoon to Happy Ever After. A smile grew on Nick's face. He opened the husband book and glanced through it. He chuckled. Interesting. Very interesting. He might just need to borrow that from Heath. He found a suggestion in the "Keeping the Magic Alive" chapter that he and Isabella should try. Then he scanned through the wife book. Oh, he'd have some fun tormenting Heath about that. Later, of course.

He found the ointment and ran back down the stairs.

"That took long enough," Heath stated.

Nick grinned, his eyes locked on Heath.

Heath stared back at him, his face slowly flushing.

Nick's dimples appeared. The redder Heath's face turned, the more Nick's dimples grew until they took over his face.

Jarrod glanced from one brother to the other and knew what had happened. He cleared his throat. "Did you get the ointment, Nick?" he asked pointedly.

"Oh, yeah. I guess I did." He handed the jar to his mother, then turned his dimples back to Heath.

Victoria noticed the silent communication going on between the men. "Is there something I should know?"

"Nope," Nick said firmly. "Absolutely nothing." He looked at Heath. "Nothing at all." His eyebrow rose. "Is there, Heath?"

"Nick, would you get a spoon to spread the ointment with?" Jarrod asked.

"Sure." Nick grabbed another bite from his sandwich and hurried from the room.

Jarrod followed Nick. As soon as they were in the kitchen, Jarrod stepped in front of him and faced him. "Leave Heath alone."

"So, you know what I found?" Nick chuckled.

"Yes. I bought them for him. Now, forget what you saw and leave that kid alone."

Nick laughed heartedly. "C'mon, Jarrod. How can I not tease him about that?"

Jarrod raised an eyebrow. "Because Pappy is telling you not to."

Nick continued to laugh. "I'm gonna enjoy this for a long time."

"Do I need to take you outside?"

"Oh, Jarrod." Nick chuckled. "That's the best—"

Jarrod grabbed Nick's arm. "I mean it, Nick," he said sternly. "Drop it."

Nick sobered. "But—"

"Drop it. Now."

"But why—"

"There's no reason to humiliate him. Now, forget what you saw."

Nick sighed. "Okay, okay." He shook his head. "But—"

"Drop it and don't ever mention it again."

"But—"

"Pappy has spoken." Jarrod waited for Nick to look him in the eye. "And you damn well better listen."

Nick scowled and strode out of the kitchen.

Jarrod rolled his eyes and grabbed the spoon Nick forgot.

Nick returned to the library, still frowning. Even though he could feel Heath's eyes on him, he avoided looking at him and didn't return to the chair he'd sat in previously. Instead, he squeezed in next to Isabella and put his arm around her.

Jarrod walked in behind him and handed the spoon to his mother.

Victoria watched both of them. She still didn't know what was going on, but it was obvious that Jarrod had put a halt to whatever it was. She wondered if Nick had found something in Heath's room that shouldn't have been there. She hoped she hadn't made a mistake by allowing Margaret to share his room. But Jarrod wouldn't have misled her. Still, something was going on, and she'd like to know what it was—not that any of the boys would tell her, of course.

She stirred the ointment. "This has honey in it."

"Good," Jarrod stated. "I didn't ask what was in it, but I should've figured honey was part of it. That will help to keep the infection at bay."

"And it will help it heal." Victoria moved into the chair Nick had vacated. "Did the doctor say to clean his arm before putting on the ointment?"

"Only if he accidentally gets it dirty," Jarrod replied. "Which he's not going to do, are you, Heath?"

"No, sir," Heath answered with a smirk. "When Pappy speaks, I listen."

"Just like Nick does," Jarrod said.

Heath nodded. "Just like Nick does."

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