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His brother shook his head. “A bodyguard is the best solution. I’ll speak to Macklin about it. Maybe one of the new footmen.”
“Perhaps Ryan?” Braden sardonically asked.
“I can go with you,” Joseph chimed in. “As long as it’s nottoolate. Papa taught me how to shoot, and I am very good at noticing things. Plus, I think I want to become a doctor, so I can see how you work.”
Braden smiled at him. “Well, thank you, lad, but I think your papa might have ideas about that.”
Logan snorted.
“Perhaps next year, Joseph,” Donella tactfully said. “You’re still a bit young to be making house calls, especially at night.”
“Oh, rats,” the boy said, sighing. “You always say I’m too young to do the fun things.”
“Let’s be clear. My son is not going anywhere near the stews, not this year or next year, either,” Logan sternly added.
Joseph eyed his father with disapproval. “I’m not a little boy anymore, Papa. I’m getting very tall.”
“You are rather shooting up like a weed,” Donella said with a smile.
Braden stood. “Look, I really must—”
“Sit down,” Logan rapped out. “We have not finished this discussion.”
“Sorry, I have to go. I’m already miles late for my meeting with Blackmore.”
His brother adopted his most intimidating glower. “Braden Kendrick—”
“We’ll pick it up later, old man.” He strode for the door, and then turned to face his brother. “I promise.”
“That is an entirely empty promise, because you always make sure to evade the blasted subject.”
“How clever of him,” Donella said with a twinkle.
“I thought you were on my side,” Logan tartly said to his wife.
Donella simply widened her eyes at him.
“You do tend to yell when you’re fashed, Papa,” Joseph said. “No wonder Uncle Braden avoids you.”
“I forbid anyone avoiding me from now on.”
His son snickered.
“No one will avoid you, my love,” Donella said in a soothing tone. “Let me get you one of these orange scones. They’re so delicious, aren’t they, Joseph?”
“Papa should definitely have one, and probably some plum cake, too,” Joseph said. “Plum cake always makes him feel better.”
“I feel perfectly fine,” Logan protested as his wife starting piling food on his plate.
Once again, Braden’s big, tough brother had been rolled up. He found it all rather hilarious, but it simply confirmed for him how complicated families—and especially wives—could be.
Braden had been rolled up by a woman once before, one he had truly loved. And how had that ended?
In a trip to hell.
It was an experience he had vowed never to repeat again.
CHAPTER3
