badly. Right then and there he made himself a solemn promise. He would move heaven and hell not to disappoint her.
"If this furniture dates back to the 1930s, then some of it is probably antiques. You could probably sell it to collectors."
"For now, it'll just go to the warehouse," Chase said. "We have a huge one just outside of the southern end of town, and it is full of stuff. We can go through the contents accumulated and pick out whatever furniture you think would fit - whatever you like."
"If you don't see what you'd like there, we can just take a run into one of the cities and buy new," Brian said.
"If I don't see what I like? You're the cowboys who've got to live here. It should be what you like."
She obviously didn't understand exactly how long term he and Brian were thinking. He and his twin shared a look. Brian came to the rescue which was a good thing, because Chase's brain refused to work.
"We're really just a couple of cowpokes at heart, darlin'. What do we know from styles and such? We're both perfectly content to let you pick what you like. We like you so we figure we'll be fine with whatever you choose."
"Wait a minute. Didn't the two of you work with your brothers in New York City for a few years? The same New York City that is known as the fashion capital of the nation?"
Chase gave Carrie the saddest look he could muster. "We did, sugar, we surely did. It was horrible." And he shuddered, just for good measure.
Carrie laughed, and when he took hold of her right hand, she knit her fingers through his. Brian ran his hand down her back and then took her left hand.
"Are you sure you're strong enough for this?" Chase brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. "It's a big house, with ugly-ass furniture in every room except our home office."
"I'm tougher than I look." Then she cocked her head to one side. "So you managed to fix up your home office?"
"There wasn't anything to that. A couple of desks, a couple of chairs, and a couple of computers. That part was easy enough."
Carrie looked around the parlor once more. "Okay, this has all got to go. Do you have any particular style preferences? Colors?"
"We just want furniture big enough we don't have to worry about breaking it when we sit on it," Brian said.
"And damn near any color would suit us as long as there is no red or gold involved."
"You guys are way too easy," Carrie teased. "Okay, let's get this party started."
Chase grinned at his brother. They'd managed to take the first step with their woman, and a significant step it was, too. She'd be here on a regular basis over the next while, and in that time they could court her. And since they told her to fix the place up to her own liking, she'd be sure to be comfortable here, once they asked her to move in with them.
Chapter 4
"Well, it's almost that time. Are you ready for the outside world, son?"
George Lockwood kept a tight rein on his emotions, and his polite face in place. He gave the pastor a gentle smile and a nod - what he believed would be the response of a humble man. He felt pleased when the pastor clasped his shoulder in turn.
Sucker.
Because he thought a few words were warranted and because he really was anxious to get the hell out of prison, he said, "I am, Pastor Jack. I'm looking forward to settling down right here in Huntsville and starting my life all over again. I'll find myself a good job, I promise you. I've been working hard, and I got my certificate from that computer course I took. I do appreciate you helping me out the way you have. I especially appreciate that you're here for me today. That's right kind of you."
"I'm pleased to be here for you. You're a good man, George. A changed man, I can tell. I've watched you these last ten years, and I know this to be true. The course upgrades you took and the time you've spent in Bible study are going to be a big help in securing employment for you. Learning how to use computers, how to write programs - that was a smart move on your part, accepting my counseling. You're living proof that it's just like I've always