A moment later,the gunshot startled them all, well, all of them except Chad Kinkaid, who fired it. The dogs that had followed him in had still been barking around his horse's feet. The shot hit the dirt near them and sent them hightailing it elsewhere.
Amanda had squealed in surprise,one hand had flown to her chest and was still there. "Was that really necessary?" she asked derisively.
Chad Kinkaid pulled his hat back down over his forehead,gathered his reins in preparation of riding off, and with a lazy smile,said, "No,ma'am. It was a pleasure though.
He was fiddling with the harness on the lead horse when she approached him, and asked, "Do you have proof that our aunt sent you to escort us?"
He glanced sideways at her,but then put his attention back on the horse. "I mentioned your aunt,you didn't," he pointed out,his tone indifferent.
"Well,yes,you did,but everyone in this town knows that we recently lost our father and are traveling to live with our aunt."
That got his eyes on her again with a narrowed frown. "I've never set foot in this town before."
"So you say,but-"
"Are you accusing me of sneaking into town in the last day or so,hearing your tale that 'everyone' knows about, and cooking up a plan to abscond with you and your sister?"
Put that way,it sounded really horrible. He'd have to be the worst sort of person to cook up such a plan. She winced mentally. She should nod in agreement. She couldn't bring herself to do it.She didn't need to.He was already furious with her.
He reached inside his vest to pull out a letter he had stuffed in a pocket there. He literally shoved the letter in Marian's face.
"This is how I knew where to find you, Miss Laton,and having not found you where you were supposed to be,I've spent every day since tracking you down.
The letter was the one that Albert Bridges had sent to their aunt. Of course, Marian hadn't doubted he was who he said he was.She hadn't needed proof.
But she pretended to be satisfied with the proof he offered and with a sniff and a shoveof her spectacles more tightly to the top of her nose,she said primly, "Very good.I'm glad we are in capable hands," and she walked away.
It was probably his annoyance that made him say to her back, "Capable? No,just my hands." At least,she hoped it was just his annoyance.
She was the kind of gal that if she set her sights on a man, he'd be running in the opposite direction real quick.
Johanna LindseyYou need to find yourself a new eye doctor. Trenton just happens to have one."
Her eyes moved to him,then back to the cup she'd managed to get hold of. "There's nothing wrong with my vision," she replied indignantly.
"You're as blind as a bat."
"What an unkind thing to say," she said with a humph.
"You get top honors on unkind remarks, Missy. I'm just stating the obvious."
"Which isn't the least bit true."
"Isn't it? How many fingers am I holding up?" When she said nothing, he added, "Uh-huh,I rest my case."
She lowered her head a bit,conceding, he thought, until she replied triumphantly, "Three."
He mumbled under his breath. "You were guessing."
"And you have trouble admitting when you're wrong,don't you?
You know,I think I'd rather freeze than continue this conversation. You've been warned.Proceed at your own risk."
He smiled. "I always do,darlin'.
And she was blushing a lot herself, for absolutely no reason other than she'd found herself sitting next to Chad at the table.
Their knees bumped. Their elbows collided. Marian whispered apologies each time,even for those that weren't her fault. He didn't seem to hear though, as he was too busy listening to every word out of Amanda's mouth. She stepped on his foot deliberately. Hard. He even missed that.
Dessert was being served when Chad said in an aside to her, "If I didn't already know how lacking in coordination you are,I'd think I was under attack.Now what the hell are you blushing for? I was only teasing.
You misplaced one of your men," Chad remarked.
"I did?"
"He'll be along shortly with the baggage. He'll need to be untied.
I suppose I could walk back.The house isn't that far away."
He lifted a black brow at her. "You'd rather walk a mile than ask me to take you back?"
The answer was absolutely yes, but she wasn't going to embarrass them both by saying it. At least she had an excuse to avoid such close contact with him, which she really didn't think she could handle. Being this close to him was bad enough because it was reminding her about that kiss the other night...
What is Chad short for?" she found herself asking out of pure nervousness.
"Short for?"
"It's a nickname,isn't it?"
"No,darlin',it doesn't get any longer."
She heard the humor in his tone,which annoyed her.It had been a natural mistake. The name didn't usually stand on its own.And she should take him to task over that "darlin'," except she'd heard for herself how common the use of that word was out here,no different than the old-timers calling her "missy," or the train attendant calling her "ma'am." It meant nothing. There wasn't a speck of endearment in it.
"Thank you for clearing that up for me," she said a bit stiffly.
"My pleasure."
She had a feeling he would have tipped his hat if he'd been wearing it just then rather than holding it in his hand. She'd like to tip his rocker over. He could be so damn irritating-no,it probably wasn't even him, it was her reaction to him,her nervousness, her-wanting him when she knew she couldn't have him.
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