Microsoft Word - Dwyer-Dixie-Lynn-For-the-Love-of-Anna.doc (10 page)

“I don’t know if I can be gentle, and I don’t want to hurt her.

She’s been hurt, and she seems like a genuinely good person. Her

concern over Stacy and all of us before her own safety and well-being

is a perfect example of her selflessness. You and Ben are good at the

coddling stuff, not me. I just don’t think a ménage relationship with

her will work.”

“That’s crazy thinking. You’re just scared because you are

attracted to her, you admire her character and her good looks.”

“I didn’t say I was scared.” Wyatt pushed away from the post and

walked up the stairs as if ending the conversation.

Charlie stopped him by touching his shoulder.

“There’s no need to rush this. She may not even be interested in

us or ever have considered a ménage relationship. It’s going to be new

for all of us, so let’s just focus on making her feel safe and making

her want to remain on Triple C.”

For the Love of Anna

73

Wyatt released a sigh instead of giving an answer as he walked

into the house.

* * * *

A week had passed, and Anna was feeling more comfortable with

everyone on the Triple C. Especially Ben, Charlie, and Wyatt.

She had enjoyed a stroll along the walkway and gardens, meeting

Ben along the way.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” Anna returned the greeting as Ben stopped to speak with

her. She was sitting on a bench where three initials were etched inside

a heart. She had been tracing the letters when Ben arrived.

“How are you feeling today?” Ben asked as he placed his hands in

his front pockets.

“Good, thank you. I was just enjoying the gardens again. I love

how the flowers are growing so full and beautiful already.”

She watched as Ben looked around them, absorbing her

description and agreeing. “You can cut some flowers if you want to.”

“Oh, really?” She sat forward on the bench and glanced around.

“There are cutters and a basket by the shed out front. My mom

used to pick flowers all the time.”

Anna smiled in response.

“Matter of fact, that heart with the three sets of initials on the

bench is my parents’.” He pointed to the bench, and Anna glanced at

the initials she had traced earlier.

She realized that there were three sets. Two wives and one

husband or two husbands and one wife? The thought stirred

something inside her.

“Our dads made sure they kept this garden beautiful for our mom.

She loved picking flowers.”

74

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

She wasn’t quite sure how to respond. She had never been

exposed to multiple partners and sharing in a relationship. Not until

her phone call from Stacy and her best friend meeting Eric and Max.

Stacy had said the town had many families just like theirs.

Anna had yet to go to town again, but now that Stacy got her an

interview for tomorrow with the restaurant, she would have to take

notice.

“You look real pretty today, Anna. I like your hair down.”

“Thank you. So where were you off to?’ she asked, trying to avoid

the awkward and more intimate subjects for a conversation. Ben made

her nervous. All the Cantrells did.

Ben had a look about him. He was very outgoing and attractive,

and he knew it. Not that he walked around saying “I’m hot” or

anything like that, he just had a star quality about him. It made her

smile.

“I was heading to the stables to check on some newborn colts. Do

you want to come along?” He reached his hand out for her to take it.

She took a deep breath and carefully reached for his hand. When

they touched, she felt the instant attraction.

He smiled as he held her hand and led her toward the stables.

* * * *

“Come over here, Anna. You have to see this,” Ben exclaimed,

pulling her along with him through the stables.

They came to a stall that had a large horse Anna guessed was the

mother and a newborn colt. It was wobbling on shaky legs and fell a

few times. Anna covered her mouth.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and tensed a moment until she

realized it was Ben’s.

“It’s okay. He was only born about an hour ago.”

For the Love of Anna

75

“That’s amazing!” Anna watched as the mother licked her baby’s

fur and then nudged it to continue to try and succeed in standing and

walking.

“It’s beautiful to watch, isn’t it?”

Anna turned toward Charlie’s voice behind her.

He looked handsome today, as usual, in his forest green checkered

shirt and dark blue jeans. His hat had hay on it, along with his shirt.

Quickly, she turned away and back toward the sight in front of

her.

These men were so lucky to be able to witness this all the time. It

was touching to see the mom guiding and protecting the colt. It made

Anna feel good to have witnessed it.

“Were you in the garden today?” Charlie asked, and both Anna

and Ben turned their attention towards him.

She nodded.

“Did you pick any flowers?”

“No,” she replied then wrung her fingers together in front of her.

Being in such an enclosed place with both Charlie and Ben made her

fidget.

“Well, next time, bring along a basket and some clippers to take

some flowers. That’s why we planted them and continue to grow so

many. Did Ben show you the bench?”

“She was sitting there when I found her.”

Charlie smiled.

“Our mom used to sit out there and enjoy the garden before she

picked her flowers. Our dads told us she was the one who carved their

initials in the wood.”

“That’s nice. The garden is lovely. Next time I will pick some if

you’re sure it’s okay?”

“Definitely,” Ben replied.

They stared at her a few moments, and she felt awkward. It was

hard enough to breathe and not stumble through her words, let alone

maintain a conversation. Both men were so appealing.

76

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

Before she made a fool of herself, she made an excuse and headed

back toward the house.

* * * *

“What did you think?” Ben asked.

“I think she’s sweet.”

“But timid.”

“You’d be, too, if you survived what she has. I’m glad you had a

chance to spend some time with her. She seemed comfortable with

you.”

“She did, and I was glad that I found her in the gardens. I was

worried when Stacy said she hadn’t seen her.”

“Well, as long as she stays on the ranch, we can keep an eye on

her. I’m glad she’s finally talking to us more.”

“Me, too,” Ben replied then walked over to the corral to take

another look at the colt.

* * * *

Anna borrowed a dress from Stacy. She knew she needed to

impress the owner of Francine’s Restaurant if she wanted a job there.

Stacy helped her with a fancy updo, and she gave her some makeup

and lip gloss.

“Now, Jack is a flirt and a half, but he’s harmless. His wife, Mary,

is a sweetheart, and as long as you work hard, respect their orders,

and show them respect, you should be fine. Once they try your

cooking, they won’t want to let you go. So, be confident,” Stacy told

her before they left the room and headed downstairs.

When they arrived in the kitchen, the whistles and comments

began.

Anna froze in place and lowered her head.

For the Love of Anna

77

“Hot damn, woman, you are a sight!” Ben exclaimed as he

approached her, took her in his arms, and twirled her around.

Anna grabbed a hold of him and laughed at his response. When he

finally set her down, he held her in his arms and locked gazes with

her.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered then kissed her cheek.

“Let me get a look at her, you hog!” Charlie exclaimed, pulling

her out of Ben’s arms and into his own. He held her at arm’s length

and slowly took in the sight of her from head to toe. “Stunning, Anna.

Absolutely stunning,” he whispered then kissed her lips softly and so

quickly she didn’t have time to let his action sink in.

“Give the woman some room. We have to leave now,” Stacy

exclaimed, grabbing Anna by her hand and pulling her out the door.

* * * *

They headed into town, and Anna touched her fingers to her lips.

She felt her cheeks burn, and her stomach quivered.

“What’s wrong, y’all feeling nervous about the interview?” Stacy

asked as she exited the Triple C Ranch.

“What the hell just happened back there?” Anna whispered, still

caressing her lips and feeling Charlie’s touch. Ben had kissed her as

well, and she was shocked.

Stacy looked over her shoulder and pretended she didn’t

understand, but Anna knew she did.

“Don’t play dumb with me. You saw them back there. Ben and

Charlie…”

“Kissed you. So what? Didn’t you like it?”

“Stacy?”

“Oh, come on, Anna. I know you’re a virgin in the bedroom, but a

woman’s intuition should be kicking in. They’re hot for you, and so is

Wyatt.”

78

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

“Wyatt?” Anna felt her insides coil up tight, and her hands began

to sweat. She was having trouble breathing and wondered if this was a

panic attack. She figured at some point she would have a nervous

breakdown. Why now? Why on the way to the potential job. She

needed this. She needed to make money to buy clothes, to find a place

to live.

She lost all focus as she felt the truck stop and Stacy grab her

hand.

“Calm down, honey. Just relax and breathe. Little breaths then

release.” Stacy kept talking to her until finally Anna was breathing

normally.

Her eyes filled up with tears.

“I can’t do this.”

“Yes, you can, honey. You’re going to grab that inner strength of

yours, put on your tough girl confident face, and land you a job. Then

you’re going to take things slow with the men. I’ve already had Eric

and Max talk to them. They know to take things slow.”

“A talk with them? About me? Why?” Anna asked, feeling the

panic attack begin again.

“Calm down, and just focus on the job. The men won’t hurt you,

honey. They were attracted to you immediately. The more that they’re

around you, the more their attraction grows.”

“Oh, my Lord. They’re so…they’re so big and gorgeous and

older. Much older than I am. They could have their pick of women.

Look around you,” Anna exclaimed, encompassing the town with a

hand gesture.

“Nonsense. They want you. Now hush up and fix your eyes. I’ll

introduce you to Mary and Jack then, when you’re done, you can

meet me at Doc Jones’s office.”

“You didn’t say that you had an appointment.”

“I didn’t want the men to fuss. They would get all serious and

wind up following me here. No worries. Everything is fine.”

For the Love of Anna

79

Anna fixed her lip gloss and eyes then exited the truck. This was

it. It was time to take control of her life, her destiny, and make a new

start.

* * * *

“There’s no time like the present, doll. Why don’t ya show us

what ya got?” Jack Boslow, the owner, stated as he crossed his arms

over his large chest. His wife, Mary, gave Anna a wink before she

stepped out of the kitchen to seat more people for lunch.

Ann looked around at the unfriendly faces, taking notice that they

were all men. No problem for her. She was used to running a kitchen.

Male or female, as long as they did their job, it was fine with her.

“What’s your favorite dish?” she asked Jack as she grabbed an

apron and washed her hands by the sink. Lunch orders were being

called out around her.

Jack eyed her suspiciously, then said, “Let’s start off real simple. I

want to see what a New York cook can do with my chicken salad.”

Anna smiled then quickly went in search of ingredients she could

use. While she did it, she introduced herself to other staff in the

kitchen and thanked them for the stuff she took.

Before long, she was chopping, dicing, sprinkling, and combining

what she could find to make a gourmet chicken salad. “Are you

allergic to anything?”

A nod of his head was all she got, so she began to add the

chopped grapes, the diced walnuts, and chopped cranberries. Next,

she added a little bit of mayo mixed with a tad bit of horseradish

sauce and a few spices.

She toasted some thick-sliced Italian bread and seasoned it with

some more stuff before placing it on the plate. She topped the bread

with her chicken salad concoction, added the top slice, then cut it in

half. She then added a fresh strawberry on top of each slice. To the

side, she added pickles and Francine’s famous fries.

80

Dixie Lynn Dwyer

She handed the plate to Jack just as his wife entered.

Anna waited as Jack eyed the dish, as if concerned that the food

might kill him.

“I’m not a fruit kind of guy,” he stated.

“Doc Jones said you need more fruit in your diet. Now, try the

damn thing then move over so I can have some.”

Anna hid a smile at Mary’s tone.

Jack took a bite then chewed. He made some humming noises