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“I didn’t mean it the way you took it.” His demeanor held the same graveness he had shown outside her cell. “I want you to feel safe here. No one enters our property without our approval. After dinner, Moses will introduce you to his dogs so they can get your scent. Anyone who takes a step on our property uninvited won’t get far before they will find themselves climbing a tree to escape them.”
“Don’t scare her.” Silas handed her a plate of pork chops. “Don’t worry. Moses trains dogs for a living. Once they have your scent, you’ll never know they’re around.”
Alanna handed the platter of pork chops to Fynn, who had taken the seat next to her, before she glanced at the dog lying contently in front of the fireplace.
“Suki is Gavin’s dog,” Silas told her, passing her a basket of biscuits.
Several minutes passed with her filling her plate. Remaining quiet, she started to eat, not listening to the conversations going on between the siblings. Covertly, she studied them as she ate. None on them really resembled each other. Matthew and Isaac were brawnier than their brothers. Silas and Moses were leaner, while Jacob was more muscular. Their hair varied in color, also.
“Go ahead and ask.” Matthew’s lips curled in amusement.
“Excuse me?” Aware she had been caught staring, she nearly choked on a bite of food.
“None of us really look alike. That’s because we each have different mothers.”
Her eyes widened, and then she moved her gaze around the table, her mind working even though Silas had told her how many siblings he had.
“Your dad was married seven times?” Alanna managed to choke out, covering her mouth with a napkin.
“He was a very loving man,” Ginny said hotly when the whole table broke into laughter.
“He was that.” Matthew nodded in agreement. “But he didn’t marry any of our eight mothers.”
“Eight?” Alanna lowered her napkin.
“I’m adopted,” Ginny explained with sad eyes. “We had a sister, Leah, who died when she was younger. Leah and Ezra share the same mother.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Matthew’s pain-filled expression had her wanting to console him.
“We lost Dad and Leah at the same time. It was rough going for a while, but it’s getting better. Little Freddy reminds us a lot of Dad.”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t take after him in at least one trait,” Gavin spoke for the first time since she had come into the house.
Alanna felt her lips twitching in amusement at the wry way Gavin was staring at his innocent son.
“Gavin swears he’s going to watch Freddy like a hawk.”
“I think you’re in trouble.” Alanna couldn’t resist teasing the grim man. Then something occurred her to as soon as she said it. “Freddy is the only grandchild?”
“So far. We’re expecting another in the summer.”
Other than Fynn, all the other Colemans were old enough to have started their own families.
“You have a question?” Matthew saw the question she was too embarrassed to ask.
“No.” Reaching for her fork, she shoved a mouthful of food into her mouth to keep it busy.
“Don’t be embarrassed.”
Her groin started clenching at the way he looked at her.
“None of my brothers or I have tried to keep up with our dad’s record.”
“It’s none of my business,” she managed to get out.
“You didn’t have to. Everyone expected us to follow in his footsteps where women were concerned. So far, they’ve been disappointed that their predictions haven’t come true. None of us are evening dating anyone.”
