hired hand.”
They stared at her.
“Your hands are precious,” Cane said gently, and with feeling, because he only had one left and he knew better than any of the other brothers how precious they truly were. “You mustn’t risk them on physical labor.”
“I’ll buy her a pair of damned gloves, then!” Mallory snapped. “Want me to hire a companion for her, to do the hard jobs, while I’m at it?”
Morie felt sick. She lowered her eyes and moved away. “I’ll get back to work,” she said in a faint tone. “I never meant to cause trouble. I’m really sorry.”
She went out the door before they could stop her.
“Oh, you’re a real prince,” Cane shot at his older brother. “Now she’s upset!”
“I should go after her,” Tank agreed.
“I’ll go after her,” Cane replied curtly, starting for the door.
“What the hell is the matter with you two?” Mallory demanded hotly. “She’s an employee! She’s a hire!”
They glared at him.
“You’ve already forgotten Vanessa, have you?” he asked with a cold smile.
They sobered at once.
“She was handing our family heirlooms out the window to her lover, when we caught her,” he reminded them. “She was sweet and caring, and the best cook in two counties. She pampered us. Brought hot chocolate and cookies out to the barn in the snow when we couldn’t leave sick bulls. Made soup for us when we had to take turns staying in the line cabins, before market prices shot up. Treated us like princes. And all the while, she was pricing the stuff in the cabinets, the paintings, the silver services, the china, the crystal that was in our family for a hundred years.”
They looked shamefaced.
“She came with excellent references, too,” Mallory continued. “Except when I finally got around to checking them out, they were bogus. She lied even when we caught her red-handed. Her lover had made her do it. She was innocent. She loved working for us. She’d do anything if we’d forgive her and let her come back. She’d testify against her lover, even.”
“But she had a record as long as my leg,” Tank put in quietly.
“And a real talent for lying.” Cane nodded.
“And we almost lost the ranch because she sued us for defamation of character and sexual harassment, of which we were totally innocent.”
“Good thing the jury believed us,” Cane replied.
“Good thing we had the best damned attorney in Wyoming,” Mallory agreed. “We can’t afford to trust people we don’t know. Gelly is already suspicious of Morie, and she’s come to me twice with stories that Morie denies and makes light of.” He shifted. “I don’t trust her.” He didn’t add that his own great physical attraction to her was one of his biggest issues. It made him vulnerable. He couldn’t afford to trust his instincts, when they might be leading him down a dark road. “She knows how to make canapés and plan society dos, and play the piano like a professional. It doesn’t jibe with her job description.”
“Then what do you think is her real background?” Cane asked curtly.
“Think about it,” Mallory replied. “A woman who wanted to insinuate herself into a rich household, without drawing attention to her background, would pretend to know nothing about wealthy people. But underneath, she’d be clued in about how they lived, what they did. She’d know their habits and their tastes. She’d have to, to play up to them. Then she’d bring out those talents, a little at a time, to deepen the mystery and make herself acceptable.”
“You’re reaching,” Tank said shortly. “Gelly’s poisoned you against Morie.”
“I was already headed in that direction,” Mallory replied. “She isn’t telling us the truth about her background. I’m sure of it.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s a shady background,” Cane replied. “Vanessa poisoned all of us against women for a while. It’s why we hired Mavie, who isn’t young or beautiful or interested in us. But Morie might be the genuine article.”
“And she might not be,” Mallory said grimly. “I just think we need to keep an eye on her and not trust her too far. Just like any other new hire.”
They had to agree. They’d gone in headfirst, because she seemed sweet and helpful and kind. But it could be an act. They knew from experience how gullible all three of them could be.
“I guess you’re right,” Cane said solemnly.
“I’m always right,” Mallory said, tongue-in-cheek. “I’m the eldest.”
Tank glared at him. “Only by two years. Don’t get conceited.”
Mallory chuckled. “Better get back to work.”
MORIE WAS DISCONCERTED by the argument.