Fisher (Prince of Tigers, #3) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,31

terrible housekeeper.” Doing just what she wanted him to do, Buck was wondering how much longer he was going to have to wait. “They’ll be here when they get here, you old buzzard. Just calm down before you scare her off.”

He mumbled that he wanted to be the first to greet her. “You know, welcome her to the family. It’s not fair that everyone usually meets people before I do.” Sara asked him how old he was. “I don’t rightly know anymore. Why does my age matter right now?”

“Because I’d swear you’re a five-year-old without a nap. Gotta meet her first. Well, I have news for you, dummy, she’s met the only man in the world that is going to mean everything to her. And we’re just going to have to deal with it.” Buck looked at his wife. When she turned her back to him, he went to her and turned her so he could see the tears on her face. “I’m not sure why I’m upset. But this is the first daughter-in-law that’s come to us that isn’t being hunted down like a dog by her family. They might not care for her, but she’s not going to be killed off by any of them.”

“Why would that make you cry, Sara? Do you want her to be hurt?” She smacked him on the forehead. “Then I have no idea why you’re crying like you are. Perhaps if you explained it to me, you won’t have to hurt your pretty hand by smacking me around like a turnip.”

“I have nothing in common with the others.” He didn’t understand and told her that. “They’re so wonderfully smart and have businesses to go to. I have this house and making dinner once in a while when they come over.”

“Why don’t you have a job? I mean, you don’t have to work, but I don’t see any reason for you not to go and find yourself something to do if you want. I thought you was working on that there place that runs charity things.” She told him it wasn’t for all the time. “Why not? I mean, why don’t you work on it all the time? It sure would be bigger and bring in more stuff if you did it all the time instead of rushing things along in one month, don’t you think?”

“Yes, but what would I do about the house?” He didn’t know what she meant, so he asked her why she’d want to be stuck in the house all day. “I don’t want to be. Not all the time. But this is where they can find me if they want me.”

“Oh honey, I think you’re all mixed up about something. You need to push your way into what they’re doing. I’m thinking they have it in their heads that you’re a homebody, and they don’t want to take that away from you. You know, get you out of the house because you’re here.” He knew that it had sounded messed up, but Sara smiled at him, and he felt he’d done something right. “The next time you want to have lunch or go shopping, just call one of them up and tell them they’re going with you. Or all of them. I’m sure if you start it, they’ll understand you want to be out and about like they are.”

“Do you think so?” He told her he was sure of it. “Then I’m going to do it. I’m also going to try and be a lot more assertive when I’m around them.”

Buck wasn’t sure that was anything he wanted to witness. He thought his little wife was about as assertive as he wanted her to be. But if it made her happy, he’d be happy too. A smile from Sara could make him feel as happy as a toad on the pond.

When the door opened behind him, Buck stayed working on the mess he’d made. Sara dried her hands and made her way into the hall to see who it might be. He knew it was his son, Fisher, but didn’t want to take this from Sara. She needed to be there first a great deal more than he did. He turned around after tossing the hair away to look at the woman standing next to his son.

“My goodness gracious. You’re more beautiful than Fisher told us.” She flushed a pretty shade of red, which only made her more beautiful to him. “I’m Buck Prince. This here is my