The Rancher's Second Chance (Martin's Crossing Book 3) by Brenda Minton Page B

why, but he agreed to it.”
    “It’s because he’s going to be a daddy, and he wants to give Breezy anything that makes her happy,” Brody answered. Instantly his thoughts turned to Grace, because she was alone, with no husband to make her happy, make her feel safe and cared for.
    She was strong, but it wouldn’t be easy.
    “Climb in. We’ll head that way,” Duke said as he headed for the front of the truck.
    Brody didn’t remember agreeing to go, but he climbed in anyway, grabbing the handle on the side of the door frame to pull himself into the cab of the truck. Duke shook his head, but didn’t comment.
    As the truck headed down the drive, in the direction of Jake’s place, Duke cleared his throat. “Heard any more from Lincoln?”
    “Nope. But I think she needs a restraining order against him.”
    “Probably,” Duke agreed. He shot Brody a quick look, his gaze landing on Brody’s hands. “What did the doctor say?”
    “Not much.”
    Duke let it go. He pulled the truck up to the barn near Jake’s place. “There’s an extra pair of gloves in the toolbox if you want to help unload.”
    It felt like a test, and Brody never liked to fail a test. He grabbed the gloves when Duke opened the metal box in the truck bed. Duke grabbed his own pair and slipped them on, pretending not to watch Brody pull the gloves on his swollen hands. Two could play the game of pretending not to notice.
    “What is Breezy going to do with llamas?” Brody asked as he reached for the first bale of hay, careful to school his features as he wrapped his fingers around the wire that held the bale together.
    “Nothing.” Jake’s voice came from behind him. “Absolutely nothing. But she’s always wanted one, and how could I say no?”
    Brody lifted the bale of hay out of the truck and carried it to the barn. “You’ve never had a problem with the word in the past.”
    “Yeah, well, things change. Women do that to us.”
    Brody changed the subject. “How are Rosie and Violet? Do they know they’re going to have a little brother or sister?”
    Rosie and Violet were the twin nieces that Jake and Breezy were raising as their own since Jake’s twin sister, Elizabeth, and Breezy’s brother, Lawton, died in a plane crash. The twins had brought the couple together.
    “They’re good, and we haven’t told them yet. They’re only three. I doubt they’re going to understand too much. If you’re coming to church tomorrow, you’ll see them then. Why don’t you come over for lunch after?”
    “Yeah, I’ll be there.” He grabbed another bale of hay, wiggling his fingers around the baling wire, taking a deep breath and lifting. “Heard from Sam lately?”
    That was his trick: steer the conversation to something other than himself. It was good to ask about their little sister. She always had something going on that they could discuss. He glanced at Jake before heading to the barn with the hay.
    “Yeah, she’s planning on graduating next summer. She’s excited about working close to home.”
    “Good for her. I’ve missed her.”
    Brody said nothing else, because he didn’t need to repeat that he thought his brothers had made a mistake when they’d sent Sam away to boarding school and then college. All to keep her away from a guy they thought would get their little sister in trouble. “We’ve all missed her. Holidays are never really enough,” Jake said as he grabbed the bale of hay Brody reached for.
    Brody pushed him away. “I can unload hay.”
    “Of course you can. Why all the small talk, brother?”
    “It’s just talk, Jake. We humans do that. We communicate to learn information.”
    “Right. Of course we do.” Jake backed off and let him take the bale. “But you’re especially chatty this morning.”
    “Just being a good brother.” Brody stepped past Duke and tossed the last bale on the pile.
    Jake followed him into the barn. “Do you want to move into Lawton and Elizabeth’s place? Breezy mentioned it the