"Well, it's just as well, I suppose, what with that nice Mr. Montgomery coming along and snatching you up. We've noticed he brings you to town with him right regularly. A lot of men wouldn't think of taking their woman along."
Johanna nodded agreeably. "He's a gentleman, all right. I'm very fortunate, I suppose."
Marjorie rambled on, her thoughts switching from one place to another, touching on the price of clothing and the hardship of being dependent on the farmers dealing at the mill.
Johanna hid her humor, knowing full well that Hardy Jones was not stingy with his wife and that he had a captive clientele, being the only miller in this part of the county.
"Mr. Montgomery out in the barn?" Marjorie asked as she readied herself to leave, once the tea was gone and she'd managed to put away half a dozen of Johanna's cookies.
Johanna shook her head. "No, he's gone to town to see the blacksmith about something."
"I didn't see him on my way out," Marjorie offered, stuffing herself into the coat she'd worn as insurance against the cold weather.
Johanna opened the door and walked out on the porch, snatching up her shawl as she passed the coat hooks. She was working at being patient with the garrulous woman, anxious to get back to her chores. "He's due home soon," she said, hugging herself against the gust of wind blowing around the corner of the house.
Marjorie hoisted herself into the buggy and lifted the reins, turning the vehicle around before she raised a hand to wave a goodbye. "Why, looky there!" she exclaimed, pointing toward the road. "Isn't that your husband coming now? And will you look at that string of horses he's got!"
Johanna gaped at the sight. Tate, atop one of his mares, led three more horses behind, one of them a huge creature-a stallion, if her eyes weren't playing tricks.
"Yes, I see," she muttered, waving a farewell, even as she headed down the steps. If she hadn't waited till Marjorie was well on her way to the road, she'd have beaten him to the barn, but as it was, Tate reached there first.
If ever there were a thundercloud walking, Johanna was its name. Tate eyed the woman who stalked across the yard, heading for the barn as fast as her legs would carry her. Her skirts were swishing, her feet raising small clouds of dust with every step. Her mouth was pursed, and her eyes flashed signals that he was more than a little wary of.
This was Johanna Montgomery in a snit.
"Where did you get the idea we needed three more horses? We've got the two you brought with you, and it seems to me that's enough to be feeding for now. We can't use but two at a time to pull the wagon, anyway."
Framed in the barn door, Tate watched her approach, listened to her scolding, admiring the high color in her cheeks and the way her dress clung to the rise of her full bosom.
"I'm not plannin' on using them to pull the wagon, Johanna. Matter of fact, that stallion would be insulted if I tried to put him in harness." From the box stall within the barn came a trumpeting call from that very horse.
"What earthly good is a stallion, Tate Montgomery?"
His lifted eyebrow questioned her lack of knowledge. "Why, even a young lady like you ought to know the answer to that one, Jo."
Her quick blush made his grin widen. And her abrupt about-face earned her a muffled chuckle as he lifted a closed fist to his mouth, attempting to conceal his humor.
"I know what stallions are used for," she muttered darkly. "I just don't understand what makes you think we need one here."
He stepped closer to her and bent to whisper in her ear. "I'm planning on using him to make those two mares I just brought home into mamas. There's good money in raising horses, Jo." His breath was warm against her neck, and she shivered, which only increased his good humor.
She spun away, stamping her foot in a quick display of frustration. "You had no right to buy any animals without talking it over with me, Mr. Montgomery. I thought we were partners in this farm."
His hands settled at her waist, and he turned her to face him, his mouth drawn firmly, his eyes meeting hers with no trace of foolishness in their depths. "I was offered the mares at a good price from a man who'd stopped at the blacksmith's place. He was passing through town, heading back east and needing to make some money from his animals. He sold them at a loss, Jo, and I snatched them up. We'll need a riding horse for the boys to get to school by next fall. And as far as money's concerned, I'm gonna spend a little more this week. I've ordered us a two-seater surrey, for going to town and to church on Sundays."
"A surrey?" Not to ride on the wagon any longer? That was a temptation she could barely resist. And she didn't even try. Johanna relaxed in his hold and took a deep breath. There was one more battle to be fought. "What about the stallion?"
His grin was back and, to her dismay, she welcomed it. "I borrowed him for a little while, just long enough to have the use of his services, and then I'll take him to his new owner. A fella the other side of town bought him, and he's lettin' me have the use of him. It was part of the deal, Johanna. He'll only be here for a week or two, at the most. Not much longer, anyway. Just till those two little ladies are ready for him."
Her blush deepened. "I don't think I want to hear about this, Tate. And make sure you keep the boys away from your shenanigans."
His hands rose to frame her face, and his head lowered until their noses were almost touching. "Is that what you call it? I'd have put a different word on it, but I guess we can settle for shenanigans, Mrs. Montgomery."
In a quick movement she couldn't have dodged, even had she wanted to, Tate planted a kiss on her open mouth. And then, after a second's hesitation, during which she could only stand and blink her surprise, he came back after another taste of her soft lips.
"The boys … " was all she could utter as he drew back the second time.
" … are up in the loft with the kittens," he managed between chuckles. "I explained to Timmy about boy cats and girl cats this morning, by the way."
"You did?" Her own laughter joined his, and Tate barely resisted the temptation she offered, her eyes shining, her lips smiling.
"Yes, ma'am. Now he wants to know who the daddy of those babies might be, and I had to admit my ignorance. Told him he'd have to talk to you about that part of it."
"Oh, my!" Her mouth formed a small O of distress as she considered that idea. "It was probably the Cooneys' old tom. He was hanging around for a week or so a couple of months ago. I guess that's when she … Well, you know."
He took pity on his bride, placing his hand loosely over her mouth, more to hide the temptation she offered than to quiet her explanations. "I know what you mean, Johanna. And all you have to tell Timmy and Pete, if they ask, is that the daddy lives at the Cooneys' place. They won't ask more than that." He lowered his hand, cupping her chin in its depths, and eyed her moist lips longingly.
"Don't you dare, Tate." Her eyes darted everywhere but to where he wanted them to focus, and he smiled at her innocence. So barely had he awakened her needs, so little had he shown her of his own masculine yearnings … so fresh and pure was the gaze of those blue eyes. The urge to wrap her in his embrace was almost overwhelming this morning, and only the thought of his two sons happening upon them kept his arms from the caress they longed to instigate.
Tate settled for one more brush of his lips across hers, one more taste of the sweetness she would have denied possessing, had he spoken his thoughts aloud. Like a prickly hedgehog, she'd bustled from the house-and now, like a hand-fed fawn, she looked at him, wary and hesitant.
"You shouldn't be kissing on me like that," Johanna said after a moment, breaking his hold as she stepped back.
"We're married, Johanna." He reached to tug her shawl over her shoulders, snuggling it around her throat.
"Not really." Her gaze fell from his, intent on the third button of his jacket.
"According to the law, we are."
"You know what I mean, Tate. We have a bargain."
He stuffed his big hands in his pockets, scrunching his jacket up in the doing. It was the only way he could stop them from fastening on her and hauling her into his arms. "I'm willing to make some changes in the deal we made."
She turned from him and ducked her head. Her steps were quick as she walked back toward the house. "I'm not, Tate."
From the barn, the noisy trumpet of the stallion sounded once more, and Johanna's shoulders stiffened at the sound. "You'd best find a secure place to hold that animal for the next two weeks, Mr. Montgomery. One male creature on the loose around here is about all we need."