We were led to a table in the corner, far from the other guests. As I held out her chair, Landon hung his hat on a peg. I ensured that my knees gently pressed into her thigh beneath the table. When I glanced at Landon, I knew he'd done the same, ensuring she felt both of us, almost trapped between us.
We'd let her up if she panicked, but we saw nothing of that in her eyes. Nervousness, yes, but that was fine. We could soothe her of any fears readily enough.
After the waitress poured water in our glasses and told us what the meal was for this evening, Mrs. Thomas smiled up at her. While I couldn't see them, I knew her hands were folded primly in her lap. She sat ramrod straight in her chair, in part from being a lady, but mostly because her stiff corset wouldn't allow any slouching. I was eager to undo the stays, one at a time, and watch her shift from her formal outward persona to the passionate woman I knew was hidden beneath.
"You've been very kind, offering me a room and escorting me to dinner, however I can see to myself."
"Yes, traveling by yourself is proof of that," Landon offered. "But wouldn't you like to have two men to take care of you?"
"Two?" She cleared her throat and flushed again, her eyes dropping to the cutlery before her. She looked so prim and perfect with the little hat on her head, the dark curls snug at her nape, the modest dress. "I've already had a husband."
"Was he so bad you don't you wish for another?" I asked. I frowned at the thought of her being in a cruel marriage. While we would never hurt her, it would be difficult for a woman with a harsh past to believe otherwise.
Her gaze turned to mine. "Oh, Orville wasn't so bad. We were young and he died within months of our wedding."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Landon said, unfolding his napkin and placing it in his lap. "Do you still love him?"
We needed to know if we had competition for her affections, if she still longed for a dead man.
"That is a bold question." When we said nothing further, only looked at her patiently and waited for a response, she sighed. "That was a long time ago. I think we shared a youthful fancy more than love."
"No instant attraction?" I asked, relieved. "Desire?"
Her eyes widened and her tongue darted out to lick her lower lip. Her cheeks turned pink at my bold question. "Oh, um. As I said, we were young."
"And now?" Landon asked. She wasn't old, I guessed her to be twenty-three or -four. Not an aging widow and I had to wonder how she hadn't been snatched up.
She cleared her throat. "Now?"
"You don't have a beau?"
She looked at me directly when she shook her head.
"No one to escort you to Helena?" I asked.
"As I said, I don't need one, and you're well aware I have no escort."
She wouldn't be sitting between us, alone, otherwise.
"Yes, but surely someone is concerned for your safety," I added, trying to keep my tone light. I didn't like the idea of her roaming the territory alone, but she wasn't mine … yet. "Where do you hale from?"
"Mecklen, just east of Billings."
"At least your father, or even a brother, should be seeing to your safety."
When all color blanched from her rounded cheeks and tears filled her eyes, Landon kicked me beneath the table. I winced, but I knew it was well deserved, for I'd certainly hit a sore spot with my comment. No, a sad spot.
She lifted her chin, took a deep breath and willed those damn tears away. "My father died a few months ago, my mother having passed when I was a child. An only child. I assure you, while I am very much alone, I can take care of myself."
I was proud of her in that moment. She didn't know us, so she kept a brave face, held herself together beautifully. She was forthcoming with answers to our questions, but there was a story there. More. She'd learn that she could tell us anything-everything-and she would never be alone again. But not everything could be shared over dinner. Fortunately, if we had our way, we'd have the rest of our lives to find out everything about her.
"As I said before," Landon said, leaning in slightly. "Wouldn't you like to have two men to take care of you?"
She cleared her throat. "I very much want to have a husband, children, but it isn't a possibility."
Why the fuck not? Landon looked at me and I knew he was thinking the exact same thing.
"Oh?" I asked, letting her continue to talk.
"I am not a good match," she admitted, although I wasn't sure why. I looked her over, that which I could see above the table, and so did Landon.
"I don't see what might be wrong with you," Landon told her. "Do you, Seth?"
"I can't find a single thing," I replied, truthfully. Then I posed a potent question. "Are you saying you're barren? Is that why there is no possibility of children?"
Her mouth fell open and she flushed. Her chin went up.
I'd asked another barbed question and received a second kick from Landon.
"I beg your pardon?" she replied, her tone haughty and stiff.
"You were married and yet have no children from the union ."
"No, no children."
"Perhaps your Orville was not as attentive in his duties to give you what you so desired," I added.
I was being bold. We would be attentive, but we would not let her hide from us. Not one part of her. I wasn't interested in her for her ability to give me offspring. I wanted her for her. Children would come if they were meant to be.
"Tell us, Mrs. Thomas, if you are averse to having two gentlemen callers."
She just blinked at Landon. "Mr. Cooper-"
"Landon, please. It's only fitting."
"Landon," she repeated. A little V formed in her smooth brow. "Fitting? Why?"
"Because you yourself said you are worldly," he added. "Giving you leave to use my given name is bold, yet appropriate for a widow. Isn't it?"
It was obvious, at least to us, that we wanted to marry her. If she wished us to take our time, court her, we would, but we'd have to wait until we returned from our latest job. If I had my way, she'd be in bed with us by midnight and before the justice of the peace before we crossed town to our meeting in the morning.
"May we speak plainly?" he asked.
She lifted her chin, adjusted her silverware. "Haven't you already?"
Landon grinned. "Seth and I, we are looking for a woman-"
"A wife," I clarified.
"-to share."
"To share?" she asked. She hadn't stood and fled, so it seemed we'd surprised her instead of scaring her away. "First, you ask me if I'm barren and now this." She looked between the two of us, then laughed. When we didn't say anything further, she continued, "You're not jesting, are you?"
Both of us shook our heads.
"Oh my." She picked up her napkin, unfolded it with a little too much flourish, then worried it with her fingers. "And you have your sights set on me? To be your … your wife?"
"We do," Landon and I said at the same time.
"When you say share, you mean-"
"We mean that if you are wishing a child, it would be our job to give you one. We would be quite thorough with the task, I assure you," he added, then leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Do you wish to know how we'd be so … attentive?"
Her response was interrupted by the arrival of our meals. Placed before each of us was a plate of roast chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans.
"I'm a breast man." When the waitress gasped at my completely inappropriate, completely carnal words, I pointed to the chicken on my plate. "I love a good chicken breast."
The waitress flushed and pursed her lips, but hastily moved on to put a bowl of rolls and a crock of butter down, then fled as if stung in the ass by a bee.
"Mmm, yes." Landon picked up his fork and knife, dug into his meal, cutting up his chicken. "I'm more of a thigh man myself."
Mrs. Thomas, who was sipping her water, coughed at his words.
I stood and patted her back. I felt the bumps of her spine and the stiff edge of her corset through her dress.
Mrs. Thomas held up her hand, then added, "I'm all right." Her face was a bright red and she refused to look at either of us. "Thank you."
Leaning down, I whispered in her ear, "You see, two men can offer up such … variety."
CHAPTER THREE
Maddie
"You don't even know my name," I replied, turning my head slightly. Mr. Bane was right there. I could see the hard line of his jaw, just the hint of whiskers, his full lips, his pale eyes that held humor and heat. I couldn't help but breathe in his clean, male scent before he took his seat again.
I'd recovered from choking on my water, but not as much from their topic of conversation, or his nearness. I couldn't believe the, well, gall of these two. Their boldness. I didn't let them respond, just kept right on talking. "We've just met, not even thirty minutes ago and you want to marry me?"