Monroe, Marla - The Hired Hands' Dilemma [The Men of Space Station One #3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read Online Free Page B

around the house as soon as possible. We’ll have days off where we can work on it.” Boyd led the way as they circled the house and stopped at the garden.
    “They sure set up a nice-size one. Do you think Ashley can deal with something this large?” Keeton asked.
    “I guess we’ll find out. She’ll have to start planting it in the next week or so. Nights are still too cold right now.”
    “Well, the fence has to encompass the garden as well. It’s going to be a big one, that’s for sure.” Keeton ran a hand over his face.
    “What is it?” Boyd asked.
    “We have to protect her, Boyd. I’ve never been responsible for anyone but us and a bunch of cows. I’m not sure how I like worrying about someone else.”
    “You’re not in it alone. I’m there with you. We’ll keep her safe together, Keeton. Stop thinking you’ve got to do it all alone. We’re partners, remember?” Boyd would never have believed that something so small as a virgin would throw the big man off his game.
    Keeton was truly worried and messed up over Ashley’s virginity. Boyd sighed. What was the big deal? He’d pop her cherry and that would be that. Right? Deep inside he knew that wasn’t all there was to it, but for now, it was all he could handle thinking about. He would worry about the rest when the time came.
    They explored the area until lunchtime, then hurried inside to clean up. They found sandwiches in plastic wrap already made up waiting for them on the table, along with glasses for tea. Ashley was nowhere to be found. Keeton panicked.
    “She’s already missing. How are we going to work and take care of her, too?”
    “She’s not missing. She’s probably in the bedroom pouting. I’ll go see.”
    Boyd washed his hands, then climbed the stairs to the bedroom, but she wasn’t in there or in the bathroom. He checked the other bedrooms and bathroom with no sign of her. He bounded down the stairs and searched the living room, then ducked into the office, all to no avail. Where could she be?
    He walked back into the kitchen and shook his head. “Hell, I don’t know where she is.”
    “Do you think she walked over to see Danny and Andrew’s wife, Rachel? I would have thought we would see her, but she might have slipped past us.” Keeton stood up, his sandwich half-eaten. “We’d better go check and see. Then I’m going to spank her ass for scaring us like that.”
    Just as they were getting ready to walk out the door, a noise came from below them. Then another noise sounded inside the pantry. Boyd exchanged puzzled looks with Keeton before going over to the pantry and pulling open the door. About the time he opened the door, a door in the floor swung open and a stick placed to hold it up. Ashley’s head emerged from the hole. She gave a little squeak at seeing both men looming over her.
    “W–What are you doing in the pantry?” she asked.
    “Looking for you.” Boyd reached down and grabbed her hand to pull her up.
    “Um, thank you.” She turned around and settled the stick back in its clip before letting the door shut softly. “Have you already eaten?”
    Keeton shook his head and turned around and stalked to the other side of the room. Boyd just stared at her, totally astonished that she could be so oblivious that they were worried about her. Instead of lighting into her, he asked her what she was doing down there.
    She washed her hands then wiped them off with a towel before taking a seat at the table to eat.
    “I was looking for the canning supplies, so I’d know what was available. I really think I’m going to need more, though. I have to put up enough for three of us to last the winter. That’s going to take a lot of jars,” she said, then took a bite from her sandwich.
    “Have you seen the garden yet?”
    “No, but I figure it has to be big.”
    “I’ll show it to you after lunch,” Boyd said.
    “How much do you know about gardening and canning, anyway?” Keeton asked.
    “Only what I’ve been