Page 34 of Love’s Silver Bullet

Silently gathering up her blouse, skirt, and corset, she released a quiet sigh while she hung each item in her closet, completely aware that Blaze had been out of sorts ever since Clay Morgan showed up, and even downright curt with the man. But never once after six blissful months as man and wife did Maggie think he would ever take it out on her.

Anxious to make amends, she made her way to the bed to sit on her side, facing him with eyes lowered while she absently fiddled with the nightgown bunched in her lap. “Well, I know you seemed out of sorts over Clay Morgan all evening, Blaze, but I’m not exactly sure why you would be angry at me.”

“Come on, Maggie, you’re one of the smartest women I know, so I’ll just bet if you try real hard, you can figure it out.”

Gaze fixed on the nightgown, she fiddled with its silken tie, not anxious to talk about her part in bringing Clay Morgan to a family affair.

“Did you invite Clay Morgan to the ranch?”

Her head shot up, eyes as wide as her mouth. “No, of course not! Why would you think that?”

“Because Jake saw him fawning over you and Sheridan outside the arena, so I’m pretty sure somebody put the idea in his head. Was it Sheridan?” He leaned in, those sapphire-blue eyes she fell in love with now so cool, she felt a chill.

“Well, not exactly …” She quickly launched the nightgown over her head, stalling as long as she could by grappling it onto her arms.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, Blaze …” Maggie wrestled both the nightgown in place and her thoughts, striving for the best way to phrase something her husband would not want to hear. Her gaze finally rose to meet his as she buttoned the gown. “That Clay Morgan had a question for Finn, so Sheridan suggested Finn would be available Sunday afternoon.”

“Tarnation, Maggie!” Blaze gouged stiff fingers through his hair. “Why the devil didn’t you stop her?”

Maggie was barely aware she was picking at her nails. “I tried, Blaze, at first, honestly I did, but then I didn’t see the harm—”

“That’s because you don’t know Sheridan like we do, Maggie, so you don’t know how blasted vulnerable she is.”

Maggie placed a gentle hand on Blaze’s leg. “She’s only vulnerable because you’ve made her that way, Blaze—you, Finn, Dash, and Jake, isolating her from the outside world instead of letting her grow up normally.”

Blaze pushed her hand away. “Stay out of this, Maggie—Uncle Finn, Dash, and I all made a vow to Ma before she died that we’d protect Sher and Shay, so we know what we’re doing.”

“Do you?” Her voice softened into a plea. “Sheridan is a normal, red-blooded American girl who longs for the attention of boys her age, Blaze.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.” He grabbed his pillow and punched it hard several times, slapping it against the headboard before finally plopping down, staring at the ceiling through slits. “Along with those red-blooded American males like I used to be.”

Oh, Blaze. A reedy sigh seeped through Maggie’s lips as she tenderly touched his shoulder, remembering all too well how Blaze took advantage of women before he found the faith that opened his eyes. “She’s not you, Blaze,” she whispered. “She’s a bright and curious young woman, almost nineteen years old, who deserves the same chance to grow up as you and Dash had. To learn to defend herself just like both of you did. Which is why she’s going off to college in the first place.”

A tic pulsed in his cheek. “No, she’s going off to college because Aunt Libby strong-armed Uncle Finn! Found out he made a blasted promise to my mother to get her girls an education like Dash and me, which a woman flat-out doesn’t need.”

Maggie jolted straight up, shoulders squared. “I beg your pardon?”

He stared her down. “It’s all fine and well you have an education, Maggie, but you might as well admit it now—once you have my babies, that degree will be nothing more than a useless piece of paper.”

“If I have your babies,” Maggie bit out, her temper hanging on by a thread, “which at the moment, doesn’t look too promising.”

He brandished a blunt finger. “Look, Maggie—women need to be protected, and I made a promise to Ma before she died that I would do just that for both Sher and Shay. So, I’m just doing my job as Sheridan’s big brother until a husband can take over down the road.”

Maggie’s chin lashed up. “Oh, yeah? Well, I did just fine protecting myself against you, Blaze Donovan, if you recall, and I say Sheridan deserves the chance to do the same.”

“Oh, sure you did”—Blaze mocked her with a slow nod of his head—“like you did with Clint Keller at the rodeo dance last year, weeping your fool head off when he made a pass.”

Maggie snapped, along with the bare thread of her temper. Slapping her arms into a rigid fold, she glared him down. “Yes, as a matter of fact, you bull-headed baboon. If you must know, I slapped him silly before you rushed in to play the almighty hero.”

“Yeah, that’s why you bolted out of the woods into my arms like a scared, little rabbit.”

Maggie closed her eyes, counting to ten under her breath before she opened them again with a deep draw of air, determined to remain the adult in this argument. “Blaze,” she said quietly, ducking to peer up into his eyes, “I admire your loyalty to Sheridan, truly I do, but you can’t protect her from the world.” Her gaze softened along with her tone. “Only God can do that, sweetheart.”

“You’re right, Maggie”—he rammed a thumb to his chest—“and He’s using me to do it, along with Uncle Finn, Dash, and Jake, so I suggest you just drop it right now and listen to that Bible you’re so fond of quoting. Because as my wife, it says you have an obligation to stand by me, not my little sister.”

“But you’re being ridiculous!” Maggie shouted, fists clenched at her sides to keep from shaking him silly.