Journey of the Bride
brother shot him a smile. “ What makes you so certain she would have ever tired of this place? ”
     
    “ You did, ” Brandon pointed out.
     
    Paul sighed. “ I made a choice, Brandon. My choice was to go to the city. I wasn ’ t meant to be here. Has it ever occurred to you that this was her choice? ”
     
    It hadn ’ t, but Brandon ’ s pride wouldn ’ t let him consider the idea now. “ It doesn ’ t matter, ” he said, pulling off his hat and slapping it against his leg to rid it of the current build-up of dust. “ She ’ s gone now. She ’ s not coming back either. ”
     
    Another sigh escaped his brother ’ s mouth, and when Brandon glanced over him, he saw Paul shaking his head as he wiped sweat from his eyes. “ You are a fool, Brandon. A right fool. I can ’ t believe you tossed out a good woman because you thought she was going to treat you the same way Elizabeth did. ”
     
    Without warning, Brandon turned on Paul, his fist flying as he punched the other man in the face. Paul fell to the ground, sprawling in the dust and dirt and staring up at Brandon as if trying to figure out how he ’ d ended up on the ground in the first place. “ You leave her out of this, ” Brandon snarled through clenched teeth. His hands were curled up into fists and his eyes were narrowed at Paul.
     
    His brother ’ s reaction was similar. He glared up at his younger brother, anger heating his words. “ That ’ s what this is all about, isn ’ t it? It always comes back to her, the woman who stole your heart and then left you high and dry for some city slicker like myself. ”
     
    With a snarl, Brandon reached down and dragged Paul to his feet. Then he curled his fist back and punched Paul again. “ I said leave her out of this. ”
     
    “ Like you always do? ” Paul didn ’ t try to hit back. He understood his brother ’ s anger. It had been pent up for the past couple of years, worming through his mind and making him bitter towards the world. Their ma and pa had always assumed it was why Brandon hadn ’ t left the ranch. Yes, Brandon loved the ranch, and loved working out there, but they had always suspected that ranch work was just an excuse Brandon used to make sure he never had to go into town where he might possibly come across Elizabeth and her beau.
     
    “ This has nothing to do with her. ”
     
    “ It has everything to do with her! ”
     
    They were screaming at one another now. Paul ducked out of the way every time Brandon threw a punch his direction. Now that he understood how his brother would react to his words, he was smarter in his counter-actions. Brandon advanced upon him, anger in every step he took, a sneer frozen upon his face.
     
    Around them, the new hired ranch hands gathered, watching the goings-on with interest. Some cheered for one of the two brothers or the other. Others chanted the word “ fight ” over and over again. They stood in a semi-circle around the two men, giving them a wide enough berth none had to worry about being drawn within the fight by accident but close enough they could hear and see everything going on.
     
    The two brothers faced one another, rage contorting both their faces. Blood dribbled down from Paul ’ s lower lip where Brandon ’ s initial punch had busted it. He ’ d also have a nice shiner come morning, Brandon noted. In a way, he felt bad, but he didn ’ t care. Paul deserved it, dragging up memories he ’ d been avoiding for the past two years, emotions he hadn ’ t ever wanted to think about since Elizabeth left.
     
    “ She didn ’ t want me, ” Brandon told his brother.
     
    Sensing their physical fight was over for the moment, Paul stood up tall and straightened his suit. It was ruined, but he didn ’ t care. It was a suit. He could always buy another one. He dusted the dirt from it with a wry grin.
     
    “ No, she didn ’ t. She chose that city slicker, didn ’ t she? ”
     
    “ Is that supposed to make me feel

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