Sweet Words of Love

by Betty Brooks

  "Thorne." The man Rainey believed to be a butler spoke, his voice and expression expressing his surprise. "You've come home, Son."

  Rainey's jaw dropped. The man she'd thought to be a butler was Thorne's father. Even as she realized that fact she wondered at his swift recovery. She'd been led to believe he was on his deathbed. But the man who stood before them was surprisingly healthy.

  The elder Lassiter held his hand out to Thorne, who appeared not to notice. “I’m only here because I thought you were dying," Thorne said coldly. "Since you're obviously not, judging by the way you were shouting at Rainey, then I'll leave."

  The elder Lassiter's hand dropped to his side. "So you thought I was dying, did you?" he asked coldly. ''I suppose you came back for the pickings."

  "You have nothing that interests me," Thorne said shortly. "I came because of Eloise." He held out his hand toward Rainey. "Come, Rainey. We have no more business here."

  The elder Lassiter looked at Rainey with some confusion, then his gaze returned to his son. "The young woman came with you?"

  Rainey set the vase carefully on the table. The room was thick with tension and she had no intention of breaking the vase and making things worse than they already were.

  "She came with me and she's leaving with me," Thorne said in reply to his father's question.

  "I-I, but; you can't blame me for what happened, Thorne?" His voice was loud, blustering. "What in hell was I supposed to think? After all, the window was open and she was standing beside it, and I naturally assumed that—“

  "It matters little to me what you assumed." Thorne gripped Rainey's forearm and urged her down the stairway. "We'll be at the Hotel Carmichael tonight, Eloise. If you want to see me, then you'd best come this evening because I intend to leave for home on the first available train."

  "Thorne," Eloise said, "please wait. Just talk to Father. Listen to what he has to say. You could work past your differences if both of you tried."

  "I have no wish to work anything out with him. He sent me away and it hurt at the time, but not now. I'm convinced it was the best thing that ever happened to me." Thorne stopped in the doorway. “I’d appreciate it if you’d send our baggage to the hotel.

  “At least wait until the carriage is brought around,” she cried. “You can’t walk back!”

  “We’re used to walking. He strode swiftly from the house, pulling Rainey along beside him. The heels of her shoes beat a rapid tattoo against the brick walk as they began the long walk back into town.

  Under different circumstances Rainey would have enjoyed the fresh air. But she felt the tension that vibrated

  through Thorne like a banjo string that had been wound too tightly. She knew he was under a strain, knew as well that it was caused by seeing his father again. What had happened between them to cause such enmity between father and son?

  "I know it's none of my business," she finally said. "But don't you think you should of talked to your pa?"

  "Nol I don't!" he said shortly.

  His strides lengthened so that she had to run to keep up with him. She tripped over her long skirt and cried out sharply. "Wait, Thorne! Don't go so fast. I ain't used to runnin' in a skirt." When his footsteps slowed, she continued her argument. "Think about your sister. She prob'ly sent for you because she hates the bad feelings betwixt you an' your pa. He ain't gonna live forever, you know. Think about that, Thorne, an' how you'll feel when he's dead and buried. It'll be too late to make amends then."

  "You don't know anything about it, Rainey." His voice was gruff, hard. 'Tm sorry you had to bear the brunt of his anger. It wasn't personal, though. And don't take it like that. It's just his way. He's like that . . . with most people."

  "Then, he didn't mean what he said about throwin' me in jail?"

  "Oh, he meant what he said," he replied. "He would have done it and had no qualms about it. I just meant his harshness . . . the way he spoke to you . . . wasn't personal. He's like that ·with everyone . . . mean and hateful."

  Rainey realized Thorne must have had a miserable childhood with a father like Eugene Lassiter. She won­ dered if he was still tormented by the past. "You don't like him, do you? Your own pa." She hated to see this side of Thorne. He'd always appeared so strong, able to overcome any odds. But seeing his father again had opened up old wounds which he'd tried to keep hidden. "It wasn't all his fault, Thorne. My temper is some­ thin ' terrible. You know that. And he reckoned I was a thief, makin' ready to steal his valuables." She looked down at her gingham gown. "I reckon I ain't dressed fine like your sister. Even the maids in that house back yonder looked finer dressed than me. I guess I never put much stock in things like that before. Guess I should expect city folk to look at me like I ain’t much better'n ol' catfish bait."

  He stopped abruptly and gripped her shoulders firmly. "You stop that, Rainey," he said harshly, giving her a hard shake. Then, before she could recover, he tilted her face upward and pinned her with a hard gaze. "You always look beautiful, Rainey. Even when you're wearing your breeches and shirt. And in that gingham dress you're wearing, you outshine the sun itself. You'd be as good as anyone-even if you were buck naked."

  She flushed at the heat in his eyes. "You're a nice man, Thorne Lassiter."

  "No, Rainey, I'm not. If I were so nice, you wouldn 't be forced to walk to the hotel."

  "You like walking, Thorne. And so do I. You got plenty of reason to know that."

  He uttered a harsh laugh, then squeezed her shoulders lightly. "Are you sorry I brought you here?"

  "Of course not! I'm havin' lots o' fun," she protested. "An' you would, too, if—“. She broke off, hearing the sound of carriage wheels rattling along the gravel road behind them. A quick look told her it was the same carriage that had taken them to the Lassiter home.

  Following her gaze, Thorne swore under his breath. “If that old devil has followed us, thinking to sway me, he can go to hell!" The carriage stopped beside them, and Eloise stuck her head out the window.

  "Oh , Thorne, I'm so glad I found you!" She sounded near tears. "Please let me take you to the hotel."

  Grudgingly, Thorne relented. He helped Rainey into the carriage, then settled back against the seat.

  'Tm sorry I caused a ruckus in your house, Eloise," Rainey said softly."I never meant to. And if I’d of knowed that old man was Thorne's pa, I woulda let him call me whatever he wanted without answering back." Her lips thinned. I ain’t sayin’ that I’d of liked it, though. Just that l'da kept my mouth shut."

  Eloise flushed deeply and wrung her hands, obviously distraught. “I’m so sorry, Rainey. He shouldn't have spoken that way, but-no!” Her eyes flashed as though with fury. "I won't apologize for him. He's an old devil. Nobody should be spoken to that way! "

  Rainey's anger drained away. "He thought I was a thief," she said. “I’spose he can't be blamed for treating me like that."

  "Don't make excuses for him, Rainey," Thorne said tightly. "He always says what he thinks, no matter the consequences."

  Deciding the subject needed to be changed, Rainey pointed out the window. "Would you just look at that, Thorne. Ain't that the most beautiful house you ever seen? And the people .. ." She pointed toward a man and woman who were dressed in the latest fashion. He, wearing nankeen trousers and a brown woolen sack coat, she, in an ankle-length walking dress of navy-blue cloth. "Those two are dressed up real fine, just like the folks who was ridin' on the train." She frowned across at Eloise. "Come to think of it, that lady's dress is like yours, Eloise, and the man's outfit is sorta like Thorne's." She didn't realize Thorne's attire had been stylish six years before when he'd left St. Louis for the mountains. But then, men's fashions didn't change as quickly as did feminine attire.

  Rainey looked down at her own gingham dress, the only one she possessed, and was again discomfited. It was no wonder the elder Lassiter had looked at her as though she were a lowlife bent on stealing his posses­ sions. He would have thought the same if he'd seen her come through his fr
ont door. Feeling embarrassed that she'd been too birdbrained to notice how ill-kempt she appeared to others, she sank back against her seat and clasped her hands together. As though guessing her thoughts, Thorne covered her hands with his own. "Those who judge people by their outward appearance are usually lacking themselves, Rainey. There's not another woman in St. Louis as courageous as you are."

  Her lower lip trembled at his tender words, but they did little to soothe her embarrassment. He hadn't said she was dressed well, only that she had courage. Well, she didn't want that to be the only thing about her that he noticed. And, somehow, she felt betrayed by his words. As though guessing the state of her thoughts, Eloise said, "People won't be judging her by her appearance and finding her wanting, Thorne. Not after tomorrow."

  "Tomorrow?" he queried.

  "Yes. Tomorrow morning we're going shopping." He gave her a sharp look. "You're wrong there,

  Eloise. Tomorrow morning Rainey and I are going home."

  "Pshaw!" she exclaimed. "You're staying here long enough for Rainey to see St. Louis. And if I have my way she'll be wearing new gowns while she's doing it." "Oh, can we, Thorne?" Rainey pleaded, wide-eyed at the thought. "The gowns don't matter. I’ll just pretend folks don't notice me . . . no matter how hard and mean they look. But I would sure enough like to see St. Louis whilst we're here. I ain’t likely to ever come again. Especially if Robert's gonna stay in the mountains for good. An’ I need to know somethin' about St.

  Louis, an' the way folks here live, so's we can jaw about it on long winter nights."

  "Robert?" Eloise looked confused. "Who is Robert?"

  Rainey smiled at her. "He's my intended. Only he don't know it yet."

  "He doesn't?" Eloise looked at Thorne, whose expression had become grim.

  "No," Rainey replied. "And it's kinda funny in a way 'cause I plumb forgot all about him since we left the hills behind."

  "You forgot him?" Eloise smiled widely. "That's quite unusual, Rainey. One doesn't usually forget about one's fiance."

  "It ain't really my fault, you know. Thorne drove him right out of my head."

  "How did he do that?" Eloise asked.

  "It's always been that way," Rainey explained. "Ever since he come to the hills. When I'm with Thorne I don't never think of nobody else. Guess it's a good thing, too, or I'd sure enough be having the miseries right now from bein' so long without Robert. You sure enough oughtta see him, Eloise. He's a right sprightly­looking man . . . looks so fine it makes my stomach all hot and trembly when I'm lookin' at him."

  Eloise laughed out loud. "That's quite a speech, Rainey. You have such a quaint way of speaking I could listen to you forever."

  "You best get an earful now then," Rainey said. " 'Cause I already decided I gotta change my way of jawin', or he'll never cast his eyes towards me."

  "Your jawin'?"

  "Yeah. My speech-makin'. Robert don't jaw like us hill folks. Thorne don't, neither. I figure that's the reason Robert ain't been paying me no heed. But that's afixin' to change. Thorne's gonna help me learn feminine wiles." She leaned closer to Eloise. "That's kissin' and such, in case you didn't know." She slanted her eyes toward Thorne. "He's mighty good teacher, too." "I think I'm beginning to understand the situation." Eloise sent a sideways look toward her brother. "I'm quite surprised that you're willing to help Rainey in this endeavor, Thorne.''

  His face had darkened slightly, as though flushed with color. But when he spoke, his voice was cool. "Why should you be surprised, Eloise? Rainey knows she can count on me for whatever she needs."

  She chuckled lightly. "Especially if it happens to be exactly what you need, as well," she said with amuse­ ment.

  Rainey's gaze flickered between brother and sister. They seemed to have a secret from which she was excluded. But never mind, she thought. It was only natural. They were family . . . blood related. And they were entitled to their family secrets.

  A shout from outside caught her attention and she stuck her head out the window and saw a boy playing amidst a field of green. And ·there, just a little farther on, she saw a ribbon of silver and realized it was the river.

  Perhaps she'd be allowed to explore the park later, she thought. After they had filled their bellies. That thought made her realize how hungry she was.

  She pulled her head back into the carriage and stared accusingly at Thorne. 'Tm starved enough to eat a buzzard, Thorne. When're we gonna eat?"

  Ten

  The next few days were a whirlwind of confusion for Rainey. Most of her time was spent in the hotel room, where she was poked and prodded and measured for new gowns, and laced into a corset that was so tight that she could hardly bend in the middle, let alone take a deep breath. Several hours of each day were filled by the tutor Thorne had hired to teach her what a lady of society should know. Although Rainey saw some sense in the elocution lessons, since hill-folk and city-folk speech were worlds apart, she didn't understand why they wanted to teach her how to walk and eat.

  Rainey had little time to spare for Thorne during those hectic days. But, since they rarely saw each other except for the evening meal--she guessed he was tending to family affairs.

  It was on the fourth day that he entered their suite late one evening and, with hardly a glance at her, strode across the room to the window. She could tell by his expression that something was bothering him. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

  He looked at her and sighed. "Not really. I just don't like being here again. Nothing has changed. I doubt if I ever will. I don't know why I expected Father to—“ He broke off and struck his forehead with his palm.

  "Dammit! Will I never learn? He almost convinced me he'd changed."

  "We can go back now if you've a mind to leave, Thorne,” she said. “I already learned-shucks! I mean. . .I have already learned so much." She enunciated the words slowly as she had been taught, then said quickly, "Heck, I'd haveta be plumb stupid to mislearn anything that ornery tutor you hired for me teaches. He makes me so dadblamed mad[ But he says, the quicker I learn, the faster I'll get rid of him, so I just purely take in every word he says whilst he's there and,”

  "Promptly forget it when he's gone," he concluded with a chuckle.

  She ducked her head, then looked up at him with impudent mischief. "Well, it takes too dadblamed long to think about what I'm agonna say afore I say it, that I just purely forget what I had in mind by the time the whole things done thought out."

  "Never mind," he said, squeezing her shoulder gently. "I wouldn't have you any other way, kitten."

  "You wouldn't?" She heaved a long sigh. "It's just too bad I ain't smitten with you 'stead of the teacher back on Thunder Mountain. Then I wouldn't have all these lessons crammed down my throat."

  "Yes. It is too bad." His eyes were doing funny things to her, she realized, making her feel that upside-down possumlike feeling that she'd experienced before, and he wasn't even touching her. Having been reminded of the only lesson she'd ever had in kissing, she said, "When are we gonna-going to start the other lessons again, Thorne?"

  "The other lessons?" His eyes twinkled. "What other lessons, Rainey?"

  "You know," she mumbled, lowering her eyelids to hide her expression. "The kissin' lessons, Thorne." "We could practice now if you'd like?"

  "I guess we should," she said, trying to hide her eagerness. "Since that's a mighty big part of courtin'. It is, ain’t-isn’t it?” When he nodded, she lifted her face, pursed her lips and closed her eyes, readying herself for his kiss.

  "Look at me, Rainey." His voice was gruff yet incredibly gentle.

  Opening her eyes, she stared at him with a mixture of confusion and disappointment. "You ain't gonna kiss me, Thorne?"

  "I am going to kiss you, Rainey," he said gruffly. "But I want your eyes open when I do." He tilted her head back farther, then gently ran his thumb over her lower lip in a sweetly caressing gesture. "Open your mouth, Rainey." His breath whispered across her forehead. Wordlessly, unable to speak if her life had
depended

  on it, Rainey opened her mouth. And when his lips parted, then lowered to cover hers, she swallowed his breath.

  Thorne's tongue slid smoothly inside the moist cavern of her mouth, and her eyes widened as she felt a tingling sensation that traveled from the pit of her stomach to the tips of her toes. The kiss was even more intense than the last one had been, and the feeling of weakness even more pronounced. His tongue searched out every nook and cranny in her mouth, even sliding over her teeth and gums, and the look in his eyes as they held hers was so heated that her senses reeled and her legs threatened to buckle.

  Rainey wanted to lean against him, needed his strength to hold her upright but resisted the temptation since he seemed to deliberately hold his body away from her own. Although she'd always thought kissing meant touching bodies as well as mouths, she had obviously been mistaken. Thorne was the expert on such things.

  By the time Thorne released her, Rainey was shaking like a leaf. Only then, did he take her in his arms. And surprising as she found it-even though he ran his hands soothingly over her back and shoulders, he managed to keep their lower bodies apart. When she looked down, she realized why. His maleness was apparent, as was his urgent need. And Rainey felt intrigued by that fact. She supposed he would have reacted in the same manner if he'd kissed any other woman.

  Somehow, the thought of Thorne kissing anyone else was hateful to her. She had always considered Thorne her own special friend, and she had never seen him pay attention to another female. Except, she corrected herself, at that dadburned square dance.

  Even as heat spread through her body from his warmth, she remembered how angry she had been at the woman he'd been dancing with. That in itself was peculiar since there hadn't been that same degree of feeling about the woman that had occupied Robert Golden's time. Was it really love she felt for Robert? she wondered. Had it only been his outward appearance that she'd been smitten with. She had no way of knowing what he was like beneath the surface, could only judge him by appearances, by the face that he showed to those around him.