Courtship of the Recluse by Linda Rigsbee (ereader for textbooks txt) 📗

She leaned forward to examine his face, buthis expression told her nothing. She sighed and drew her knees upagainst her chest. “I think you’re trying to scare me.”

He gazed off across the hills. “You like ithere, don’t you.”

She nodded. “Yes. It’s a beautifulranch.”

“You don’t mind the loneliness?”

“Solitude,” she corrected. “And no, I don’tmind. I was raised on a farm, and being an only child, I learnednot to depend on others for entertainment.”

He stood and walked to the edge of the pond.“You don’t miss your friends?”

“I see Mary once a week.”

He stooped and selected several rocks. “Noboyfriend?” One by one he tossed the rocks into the pond.

She stood and picked up the blanket. “No.I’ve dated some guys, but...” She paused, folding the blanket. Howcould she explain in a delicate manner, why she had virtually givenup dating? He was watching her intently so she shrugged. “I gottired of being pawed.”

He glanced away quickly, his features gaininga rosy color. “You’re a nice looking woman. It’s only natural thatmen want to touch you.”

She stared at him. Was he including himselfin that statement? Was that why he had kissed her that day? No, hesaid he did it because he was angry. He was merely trying to gether to go out more. Maybe he would like a few evenings to himselfand she was always underfoot.

He glanced sharply in the direction of thedrive and swore under his breath. Following his gaze, Cynthia sawthe little green Ford coming up the drive. Why would he be upsetwith Mary for paying them a visit? Unless - Maybe he was upset atbeing caught picnicking with his housekeeper.

In the next few minutes she had reason tobelieve that wasn’t his only cause for concern. Mary strode downthe path toward them, a hand shielding the sun from her eyes. Shesmiled as she reached them.

“You must be feeling better, Cynthia. Russsaid you were sick last night.”

“Oh, it was nothing.”

So Cade had visited Mary last night. Had thatbeen the purpose for his trip to town? Why didn’t he simply say hewanted to go see Mary? Cynthia blushed. Were her feelings for Cadeso obvious that he had detected them? Was that what theirconversation had been about today? He wanted her to look elsewherefor romantic attention. Now his girlfriend had caught themtogether. It didn’t look good for him. She laughed nervously.

“I twisted Cade’s arm to get him to come outhere with me for a picnic lunch.” She picked up the blanket. “I’dbetter get this stuff back into the house before it’s crawling withants.”

With that, she left them alone. HopefullyMary wouldn’t be too angry with him. Mary had never been thejealous type, but then, where love was concerned, peoplechanged.

She had barely finished putting the thingsaway when Mary knocked on the kitchen door.

“Come in. It’s open,” Cynthia called.

Mary entered the kitchen and frowned. “Whydid you go running off like that? Did I interrupt something?”

Cynthia blushed again. “No. We were finishedwith lunch and having a discussion about the pond.”

Mary smiled knowingly. “The pond? Is thatall?”

Cynthia shrugged. “No, if you must know, hewas trying to encourage me to get out and date. I think he wants meout of the house so he can bring someone home.”

Mary quirked a brow. “And that doesn’t botheryou?”

“No, why should it?”

Mary threw her hands in the air. “Oh yes. Iforgot for a minute. There’s nothing going on here.”

Cynthia frowned. “That’s right - nothing buthonest work.”

Mary shrugged. “Whatever. I came out here toenjoy your company, not argue with you. So, how’s scruffydoing?”

Cynthia grabbed the opportunity to change thesubject.

“He’s a regular pet now. And he’s getting asfat as a hog on all the table scraps.”

They talked for several hours and when Maryleft, Cade was nowhere in sight. Had Mary accused him as well? Hecame in for supper and ate in silence. After supper he went to hisroom with a book. The evening was young and she had ruined hischance to spend it with Mary. She had to get out some so he couldhave a life.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Over the next couple of weeks, Cynthia made afew visits to town, once taking in a movie before she returned. Butif Mary and Cade met, there was no indication. Maybe they werehaving a fight.

One beautiful day followed another and shegradually wandered farther from the house exploring the ranch -sometimes on horseback, sometimes on foot. It was on one of theseoccasions that she wandered farther than she realized. A low rumblebrought her attention to the horizon. The clouds were low andmoving fast. In the distance they were dark and threatening. Sheturned to go back to the house and realized she wouldn’t be able tomake it before the storm caught up with her. Her heart in herthroat, she raced down the hill. She turned at the drum of hoovesbehind her and watched Cade plunge his horse down a steepembankment and turn toward her. He rode as if he were part of thehorse, his lean body swaying with the stride of the gracefulanimal. He drew his mount to a halt beside her and kicked one footfree of the stirrup, offering a hand up.

Wasting no time, she jabbed her left foot inthe stirrup and lifted her hand to be swallowed in his. He pulledas she lunged up, and as soon as she was settled behind him, heurged the horse into a lope. The storm kicked up dust behind them,but they managed to beat it to the corral. Tiny drops of rainspattered their faces as she took his hand again anddismounted.

She glanced up at him in surprise. Was sheimagining things, or did his fingertips actually linger to caressher palm? His solemn features gave no clue.

“Thanks,” she said breathlessly, and steppedaway from the horse. He touched his hat and turned the horse towardthe barn.

Wind and rain slashed at her as she reachedthe kitchen doorway and she hurried into the house. The chicken wasdone. She had set it in the oven to stay warm before she left thehouse. The salad was in the refrigerator and coffee was ready onthe stove. She prepared