His Golden Touch [Gold Rush 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Read Free Page A

a complaint when it’s time to visit a sick neighbor or travel to church.”
    “Oh, thank heavens I don’t have to worry about feeding you. I have time to pack a lunch and get to school. Some of the older girls have been hearing the lessons of the smaller children while I was…indisposed. I will have a mess to straighten out, I’m sure.”
    The men left, and Hannah had to rush to make it to the schoolhouse before the children arrived. At noon she spoke to one of the older girls. “Lou Ann, can you come stay at my house for the evening?” Lou Ann was engaged to be married after fall harvest and would most likely love to get away from a houseful of parents and siblings and have some time alone with her fiancé.
    “Of course, Miz Hannah. Do you need some cooking or cleaning done?”
    “No, I need a chaperone to keep the gossips at bay until I decide on a permanent arrangement.” If Lou Ann worked out as a companion and acceptable chaperone, Hannah intended to ask her to stay the week. If she was bothersome, she’d look for someone else tomorrow.
    “Ah, I see. I’ll be there around four and help with dinner. I’m a really good cook. Ask my ma.”
    “Great, and thanks.”
    Lou Ann turned out to be a terrific cook. Mrs. Vance gladly let her take over the kitchen while she sat with her knitting. All through supper, Brady and Wade sent Hannah questioning looks while the others chattered on, mainly with Lou Ann. Absorbed with her own dilemma, Hannah avoided direct eye contact with everyone.
    After supper the Vances went out on the porch for air and lemonade. Hannah waved Lou Ann out with them. “You’ve done most of the cooking so go sit while I clear the table.”
    Brady carried the heated well water from the fireplace to the sink and went out to pump more water for rinsing the dishes. Wade stayed with Hannah. As soon as they were alone, Wade drew her into his arms. “You know I love you to death, don’t you, darlin’?”
    “I do, but I don’t know if I can quite get my head around having two men. I’m scared.”
    “Ah, don’t ever be scared of Brady and me. He’s so in awe of you, he thinks you walk on water. We’d never do anything to hurt you or give you a moment’s worry. We’ll make you happy, and we’ll make sure the ranch prospers.”
    He kissed her long and deep. Hannah tried to keep her head, but with his arms around her, all rational thought disappeared. Brady came in quietly with two pails of fresh water and set them on the counter next to the sink. Wade passed Hannah over to him, and his kisses were rougher but every bit as stimulating as Wade’s. Hannah was breathless when he let her go.
    Wade ran a hand softly down her cheek to her breastbone and stopped there with his thumb grazing a taut nipple. “We’ll see you tomorrow, darlin’.” They left her dazed and tingling with desire. She stood in the middle of the kitchen until Lou Ann came in.
    “Gettin’ a little cold out there, so Mr. and Mrs. Vance are coming in to light a fire in the parlor. Should we be gettin’ on to your house now the kitchen’s all tidy?” She slid the glassware into the wash tub. “Uh, Miz Hannah? You okay? Not dwellin’ on sad events are ya? You got to carry on, as my mamma would say.”
    Finally, Hannah recovered her wits and took over the rinsing. “I’ll do that and let them drain. You go light a fire in my parlor and sit awhile. I picked up a nice new magazine today at the post office.”
    “Okay, but first I’m gonna go to my room and comb my hair and such. Cal said he’d be stopping by. You don’t mind, do ya, Miz Hannah? We never have a chance to be alone without my parents hoverin’ over us like buzzards circling a carcass.”
    “No, I don’t mind a bit. It’ll be nice having lively young folk around. I’ll disappear upstairs as soon as he arrives, and you can have the parlor to yourselves.”
    The dishes were done before the Vances had settled by the fire. Hannah wandered to her own