“I know how hard something like that is, for the man and the woman. I couldn’t have survived without Brian’s love. He’s such a patient, caring man.”
Lloyd hated thinking about it. He’d shot a man in the back the day Evie was rescued, and he damn well deserved it for running from the law. Thank God he and Jake had been the law back in those days. They’d had a right to go after those bastards and blow them away. “Your husband is a real blessing,” he said aloud. “If you’d married a man who abused you or didn’t give you the proper love and attention, I’d have beat the shit out of him, but then I’d have to wait for Pa to do it first.”
Evie smiled shyly. “Pity the young men who come calling on Tricia or Sadie Mae.”
Lloyd kept the cigarette between his lips. “I don’t even want to think about that.”
Evie rose, folding her arms. “Well, speaking of giving a woman the proper love and attention, dear brother, I should tell you that you need to work on your own husbandry.”
Lloyd frowned, taking the cigarette from his lips. “What are you talking about?”
“Katie is hiding it, but she’s been depressed about gaining weight. She thinks it bothers you.”
Lloyd tossed the cigarette. “That’s ridiculous! I don’t care about things like that. Hell, she just had a baby five months ago, a healthy new son. I couldn’t be happier about that. And Katie is beautiful no matter what. Her mother is a stout woman too, but all I ever saw was a lovely woman who had an incredibly big heart and generous nature.”
Evie smiled slyly. “Honestly, Lloyd, sometimes a man just needs to be hit over the head to see straight. You do realize how handsome you are, don’t you? I mean, you see yourself in the mirror when you shave.”
Lloyd let out a little gasp of exasperation. “Jesus, Evie, I don’t think about things like that. Who the hell cares?”
“Katie cares. And at that cookout a month ago at the Holmeses’, you talked often with little Lori Holmes. She’s sixteen and a beautiful girl, and anyone can tell she’s infatuated with you.”
“For crying out loud, she’s close to half my age! I was just being friendly.”
“And being the block-headed man you can be sometimes, you have no idea how it feels to a woman who is worn out from running after kids and from constantly nursing and feeling hard on herself to see her handsome husband being friendly with a little girl gone all starry-eyed. It hurt her, Lloyd. She finally told me just a couple of days ago. We had a long talk, and I told her I think I know you well enough that it meant nothing to you, but she needs to hear it from you, not me.”
Lloyd grasped his long hair and pulled it behind his back. “That really bothered her?”
Evie sighed in exasperation. “Honestly, men can be so dense! Lloyd, sometimes women get depressed after having a baby, and I know it’s been almost six months, but with all of you men being so busy this spring rebuilding the barn that burned, and then roundup and branding, Katie says you haven’t paid her a whole lot of attention. Then came the cookout and that pretty young girl. Put it all together, big brother. Your wife needs some extra attention the next couple of weeks. And if I were you, I’d bring back something really nice for her when you come home from the Denver cattle drive. She needs to know you still fancy her.”
“Of course I’m attracted to her! But I also love her enough to realize how hard it would be on her if she got pregnant again. I’ve been deliberately staying away from her, because that’s the last thing she needs right now.”
“Then you need to explain that to her. Listen to me, Lloyd. This is a woman who understands, so take my advice. And let her make the decision about more babies. If you stay away from each other because she wants it, she’ll understand. But this way, she just thinks you’ve got your eye on someone younger and prettier.”
“Evie, I had my share of women before I married Beth. When I lost her, Katie filled a void I never thought could be filled. I couldn’t love her more. As far as someone younger and prettier, hell, look at Katie. Women don’t get much prettier than her…present company excluded, of course.”
Evie waved him off. “Don’t take it for granted Katie understands that. Women have to hear from their husband’s lips how pretty they are. And quit worrying about getting her pregnant. All children are a wonderful gift, and if God means for you to have more, you’ll have more. Take my advice and give her some extra attention. I have no doubt you have plenty of charm in that department. I can take Tricia and Stephen with us tonight if you want. Tricia likes to play with Sadie Mae anyway, and it might help Tricia forget about that awful gunfight. It must have been terrifying for her.”