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“Is he?”
“Yes,” she said matter-of-factly, deep in thought.
“Why does he do that for her?” I asked her.
She recognized my meaning and lifted her head cautiously. “Because Jonah is the nicest guy God ever made, Spencer.”
“I don’t disagree, but I believe he’s more motivated than that.”
She looked at the ground and tried to hurry before me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I snatched the back of her coat and brought her back. She looked up at me warily. “Cricket.”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly.”
She sighed. “I don’t know.”
“Bull!”
“I’m serious! He’s a very secretive guy sometimes. He hasn’t said anything to any of us, that I know of, but we can see what you see.”
I tugged off my cap and ran my fingers through my hair. Blond strands fell forward and almost reached the tip of my nose. I slicked it back and drew the cap back on. “Doesn’t he recognize that she’s pregnant?”
“He’s not an idiot,” she laughed. “Wanna know my opinion?”
“What’s that?” I asked, as we reached the carriage house. I didn’t know what we were doing there, but I opened the door for her anyway.
“I think he sees a kindred spirit in her.”
I snorted.
“What? Don’t believe me?”
“No,” I answered simply as we rounded several tractors with massive blades in front.
“Jonah’s a big guy,” she started and I laughed which made her grin. “Okay, a very big guy.
“The guy should be a freaking linebacker.”
“Exactly. He’s always been that large and to girls, that’s intimidating. In high school, he fumbled around like a goof, unable to control his massive frame. He’s always been lean, muscular, but it wasn’t until he hit his sophomore year, right about the time he became really interested in girls, that he became the Mister Universe we’ve all come to love. It didn’t help matters that he was shyer than anyone I’d ever met.”
I whistled low.
“Tell me about it. I would have to drag him around with me, practically speak for him if a girl was present.”
I laughed out loud. The idea of itty-bitty Cricket acting as bodyguard to Montana’s version of Tom Hardy was too hilarious.
“Shut up,” she said, fighting a giggle. “He’s a giant teddy bear and incredibly sensitive. I remember him telling me how he hated how people stared at him.”
“Ah,” I said, finally realizing what she meant. “The way the ranch stares at Bridge.”
“Exactly. Like she’s a novelty,” she said quietly. “He wants to shield her from all that.” She cleared her throat. “It doesn’t hurt that Bridge is Barbie personified, a virtual Miss Sweden.”
“Oh God, don’t say that!” I cringed.
“Sorry to inform you, Mr. Blackwell, but your sister is like liquid gold around here, pregnant or not. She may slip through their fingers, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t going to try.”
