Sweet Words of Love

by Betty Brooks

  "But we'll expect a visit from you sometime soon,'' Eloise had said.

  Rainey hadn't seen Thorne all day. When she woke at dawn, she had found a note on her pillow. It had simply said, see you later.

  She could have cried with disappointment. She remembered last night and the way she had felt with Thorne holding her closely against him. How could he just leave like that after all they had shared together? Hadn't it meant anything to him at all?

  She sighed heavily. She had known from the beginning that he didn't care for her. Now she must learn to live with that fact. Last night hadn't changed anything at all as far as Thorne was concerned, but Rainey's own emotions were like coals. Once stirred, they flared to lifej threatening to consume her in their flames.

  Perhaps it would be wiser to keep away from him in the future, she decided. There was less chance of get­ ting hurt that way.

  That decision stayed with her on the long journey home. Rainey deliberately sought the company of Sarah Warner, an elderly lady whose mouth moved almost as fast as the train as she spoke continually of the loved ones that she was going to see.

  "There's little Janie," Sarah said. "She's just turning four, you know. And the biggest, bluest eyes that you have ever seen." She smiled at the memory. "One time she went to sleep beneath the shade of a bush and had the whole town out looking for her. Everyone was sure some wild Indians had left the reservation and come and stolen her away." She laughed softly. "Janie got her bottom smacked for that little prank. Not that I approved, of course. I think there are better ways of punishing a child than to strike them. But who am I to say?" Her voice was sad, mournful. ''But, after all, I'm only the grandmother." Her eyes filled with tears of remembrance. "She didn't mean any harm, you know. She just-"

  Rainey smiled and nodded her head and met Thorne's eyes from across the aisle. He grimaced and motioned to the empty seat beside him. She shook her head and pretended politeness kept her beside the woman, when all the while she was afraid to be near him, afraid her foolish heart would betray her.

  They reached Lizard Lick at dusk. Thorne left Rainey at the station while he went for the horses. Most of the luggage had to be left since Rainey had acquired so much during her trip, but the stationmaster promised to have it brought to her later.

  The cabin appeared the same. It stood in the clearing, a beacon of light that beamed through the darkness, seeming to welcome the weary traveler home.

  Suddenly the door opened and Grandpa stood in the opening. He looked out at them. "Rainey? Is that you, child?"

  Rainey flung herself off the horse and ran to him, hugging him close against her. He was so dear, so familiar. She was home again, home again, and that fact made her want to bawl like a baby.

  She was unaware of Thorne leaving. Only knew that when she looked up he was gone. Gone, just like that. Without oven telling her goodbye.

  Three weeks had passed since Rainey returned to the mountains, and during that time she'd not even had a glimpse of Thorne. But she would see him tonight, she vowed, as she prepared herself for Robert Golden's birthday party.

  Rainey dressed in a silk dress that clung lovingly in all the right places, displaying her curves to advantage. It had a narrow black belt that accentuated the full curve of her breasts, and the color was a deep shade of green that left her arms bare and flattered her tan.

  She brushed her newly washed hair until it fell like silken waves about her shoulders, gleaming with blue highlights. She carefully applied powder, not daring to question her reason for wanting to look as glamorous as possible.

  Rainey had chosen Sadie's oldest son for an escort, knowing that he wouldn't dare give her trouble on the way, something she couldn't say about Zeke or Willis.

  When they arrived at the party, they found it in full swing. Her pulse quickened at the sight of Thorne's horse, reins looped around the hitching post. As the door opened, lamplight spilled out, and Rainey wiped nervous hands down the sides of her gown as she exchanged greetings with Robert. It was only nerves, she told herself uneasily . . . but maybe she shouldn't have come.

  "Hi, Rainey." Willis waved as he danced by with a petite blonde in a soft, pink dress. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to make it. Save a dance for me." Rainey felt a glass pushed into her hand and turned to thank someone, but she saw nothing except a broad back and head carrying a tray, already halfway across the room making sure that everyone had something to drink.

  Sniffing suspiciously at the glass, she took a cautious sip. It seemed innocuous enough, but she'd heard the other women talking about the drinks served at parties. It was better to be cautious now, than sorry later.

  Rainey's eyes searched the crowded room until they found him. He looked distinguished in a black evening suit and snowy-white shirt. He looked even more attractive than she remembered.

  Her gaze slid over the tall, willowy brunette wearing a black dress that clung to her rounded bosom like a second skin. She was a stranger to Rainey, who took an instant dislike to the woman.

  Rainey felt a chill go down her spine at the sight of them together, and her hands tightened convulsively on her glass. She had a sudden impulse to confront them and claw the woman's eyes out. Taking a controlling breath, Rainey managed, somehow, to stifle the urge.

  Morosely, she watched Thorne and the dark-haired beauty. He appeared to be making quite an impression on her. Rainey reminded herself that she had no right to feel possessive about him. He certainly hadn't given her any reason to feel that way.

  Taking another sip of the punch, she frowned as the brunette clung tightly to Thorne's arm. "If she gets any closer, she'll melt all over him," she remarked aloud. Angrily, she finished her drink in one swallow.

  Rainey found herself a shadowy corner, where she could watch them while remaining unobserved. Thorne smiled at his partner often, encouraging the brunette to cling even tighter.

  Agonizing over the situation, Rainey wondered if she'd made a mistake by attending the party. She was only making herself miserable by watching them so avidly. And did he even care? No. It was obvious that he did not.

  But she cared. She loved him . . . loved every line of his face; loved the way his dark hair curled around his ears, the way his shirt stretched across his wide shoulders. She had become used to having him around on a daily basis. He was so big a part of her life that she could no longer bear the thought of being apart from him.

  Her eyes dulled with pain as she thought of how she

  missed him. Oh, God, how will I stand a lifetime without him?

  He looked up and saw her across the room. And she knew by the expression on his face that he'd caught a glimpse of the sadness that must still linger on hers. She felt her body tremble and her legs threatened to buckle at the knees, She wanted him, ached for him, and she was afraid he could read it in her eyes.

  Suddenly he was coming toward her, his partner seeming to be forgotten. His eyes were fierce with a blatant hunger that matched her own.

  "Rainey." Willis's voice came from behind her, shattering the intimacy of the moment. She made a visible effort to control her emotions and turned to face him. "That Mr. Golden, he sent me after you. Said you was to come to the library. Said he wants to talk private-like to you."

  "Thank you, Willis."

  Disappointment flooded through her. Thorne's progress had been stopped by seeing them together.

  "I ain't seen much of you lately," Willis complained. "How'd you like St. Louis?"

  "It was an enjoyable trip. But it's good to be home." "Enjoyable, you say? You come home talkin' like one of them educated dudes, Rainey. Did you go to school whilst you was away?"

  "Something like that." She smiled at him. It wasn't his fault that Thorne had turned away and become engaged in conversation elsewhere. "Thorne hired me a tutor."

  "What's that?"

  "A teacher." She turned away. ''I'd better see what our teacher wants with me." Moments later she was closing the wide double doors behind her, and the di
scontinuance of noise was blissful. She sighed with relief as she hurried along the wide hall until she reached the study.

  "You've changed the room," she said, as she saw him standing near the window. "The last teacher had yellow curtains on the window."

  He gave a delicate shudder. "They were horrible things. Do you like the change?" he asked, motioning her toward the black settee made of leather, which occupied one side of the room. A wide desk took up the other, its cleared surface showing the man 's liking for uncluttered things.

  She wondered again what reason he had for sending for her. He looked distinctly uncomfortable while she waited quietly for him to explain.

  Clearing his throat, he began, "Rainey, I guess you're wondering why I sent for you?"

  "Yes, I was wondering that."

  "Well, it's just that . . .I have a problem." He stopped suddenly, averting his eyes from her.

  "A problem you think I can help with?" she prompted.

  "Rainey, I know you have no reason to help me, but it's a fact that I've come to you for just that."

  "I'm afraid I don't understand."

  "This job . . . this position . . . is not what I expected it to be, and yet I see no way to get out of it."

  She slumped down on the couch. "You don't want to teach here any longer?"

  "That's right." He raked a hand through his golden hair. "I have come to the conclusion that I am not right for the position of teacher."

  "I'm not sure what you want me to do," Rainey said, her voice revealing her confusion.

  "I signed a contract, Rainey. And the board is likely to hold me to it, unless someone can speak on my behalf and make them understand."

  "Me?" she squeaked. "You want me to talk to the school board? Why me?"

  "Because your step-grandmother, Sadie, is the head of the school board. If you get her to listen to reason, then the others will follow suit. Of course I'll finish out the school year."

  "Of course," she said dryly. "Especially since it's just about over."

  "Yes. I know it's not much notice. But things have drastically changed since you were here. I'm afraid I've become involved with a young lady and . . . I've been thinking about taking a wife, and Rainey-"

  They were abruptly interrupted as the library door was suddenly flung open. Thorne stood there, his gaze hard, his hands clenched into fists. Rainey sensed a leashed energy about him, a turbulence that reminded her of a caged animal. She felt a momentary fear of the man who continued to watch them with gray eyes that appeared frozen.

  Twenty-four

  The fine hairs at the nape of Rainey's neck stood on end, and color slowly left her cheeks as she forced herself to meet the cold fury in Thorne's gray eyes.

  His gaze slid down her body, taking in every detail of the way she looked, and she blushed hotly. Had her dancing partners left her disheveled for him to look at her with such contempt?

  As he noticed her blush, his expression hardened. Then his eyes turned to Robert, who stood watching him with a puzzled expression.

  "Something I can do for you?" Robert asked with a frown.

  Thorne moved then, covering the space between them with frightening speed. And, before either of them could react, Rainey felt herself lifted off her feet and set down several feet away from the men.

  Then, while Rainey was still trying to catch her breath, Thorne drew back his fist and struck Robert Golden squarely on his dimpled chin. It happened so fast that Rainey could hardly take it in. One minute they had been staring at each other, then the next thing she knew, Robert was knocked across the room, where he landed heavily against the far wall.

  Suddenly, Ginny Lou was there. "'What're you doing?" she shrieked at Thorne. "Have you gone crazy?"

  She flung herself toward Robert, cradling his head in her lap. "Are you hurt?" she asked.

  "Of course I'm hurt," he muttered. "My head hit the damn wall."

  "How could you, Thorne?" Rainey's eyes were round with surprise and fury as she berated him. "What did that poor man ever do to with you?"

  "That poor man seems to be getting plenty of female sympathy without your support, Rainey. Look at him! Surely you can see what's been going on while you were gone."

  She gave him a hard glare. "I fail to see why anything he does should concern you." She looked at Robert, who was wiping at the blood that seeped from his split lip. “I’m sorry, Robert."

  "You have no need to apologize to him, Rainey. Just open your eyes and look at him. Look at them. That scoundrel was on the point of asking you to marry him, and it's obvious from the way Ginny Lou is acting what he's been up to while you were gone."

  "You are crazy," she said. "He was doing no such thing." She started toward Robert but found her wrist caught in a grip of steel.

  "Stay away from him," Thorne said through tight lips. His voice was low and dangerous, and his grip tightened as he pulled her to his side.

  "Thorne, he's bleeding," she said anxiously, eyeing the blood running from Robert's cut lip. 'Tm so sorry, Robert," she apologized again. She twisted her wrist, trying to free herself, but Thorne refused to loosen his hold on her.

  "You'll be a damn sight sorrier and he'll be bleeding a whole lot more if you don't keep away from him," Thorne told her savagely.

  She struggled furiously with him, kicking out at him. And when her foot connected with a shinbone, she heard him swear profusely, but he refused to turn her loose.

  She watched helplessly as Robert rose to his feet, his white linen handkerchief pressing against his cut lip. "You can turn her loose, Lassiter," he said calmly. "I'm not going to touch her."

  "She's fine where she is," Thorne said, his face still suffused with anger.

  "I don't see what your objection is, Thorne," Robert's voice was reasonable. "After all, Rainey's not wearing your brand. Or did I miss something somewhere along the way?"

  Rainey gasped at Robert's words. Why was he saying such things? There was nothing between them. Why make Thorne believe there was? It didn't make sense. None at all.

  Thorne was silent, seeming to be at a loss for words. He was white and breathing harshly. Unconsciously, Rainey held her breath until she felt his muscles begin to relax, then his hand reluctantly fell away from her. He stood there a moment, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. Slowly he seemed to take in Ginny Lou, clutching Robert's arm, staring at him as though he had gone mad.

  "Hell!" he said savagely, swinging around and striding to the door. He went out and slammed the door shut behind him.

  Rainey stared wordlessly at the closed door, then turned to spy a grin on Robert's face; a grin that was quickly suppressed. She looked at him quietly for a long moment, then asked, "Are you alright?''

  "Sure," he said cheerfully. "Alright as can be expected after being knocked down by a sledgehammer." "What are you so happy about, Robert?" Ginny Lou asked. "You just got knocked flat on your face by Thornton Lassiter."

  "That's what I find so funny," Robert said. "The unflappable Thornton Lassiter losing his temper over a woman. I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen . . . and felt it . . . with my own eyes and flesh."

  "I really don 't know what got into him, Robert," Rainey said. "I've never known him to be so angry with anyone." Then it began to dawn on her. Thorne had acted like he was jealous. Of Robert?

  She looked up to see Robert watching her intently. "I'm afraid he thought . . ." Rainey couldn't finish

  the sentence. It was too ridiculous to even put into words.

  "Yes, he did, didn't he?" Robert observed with a smile. "And I must confess I feel flattered by his suspicions."

  "Robert, would you please tell me what's going on?" Ginny Lou said plaintively. "What was Thorne so angry about?"

  “I’ll tell you later, love," Robert said, patting her hand.

  It was obvious to Rainey just who Robert had chosen to be his wife.

  "But, Robert," Ginny Lou persisted."Why-"

  "Later, love," he repeated firmly, and
Ginny quickly grew silent.

  "I think I'll go home now," Rainey said dispiritedly. The life had gone out of the party for her when Thorne had walked out the door. "I had a nice time, Robert," she said politely, like a little girl suddenly remembering her manners. "Thank you for inviting me."

  Robert burst out laughing. "Rainey, you really take the cake. After all that's happened here, you can still stand there and tell me you had a nice time?"

  "Well, at least the first part of it was nice," she said defensively. "And the part that wasn't nice most certainly wasn't any fault of yours."

  "I'm just teasing," he said, patting her shoulder gently.

  Rainey left the house and unfastened the reins of her mount from the hitching post. Thorne's horse was nowhere in sight. It was obvious he'd left before her. It was easy to find the trail leading to her cabin, for the bright moonlight came from a full moon. She'd only gone a short way down the trail when she reined her horse around and took the path leading to Thorne's farm.

  Half an hour later she saw his light in the distance. Her mount's hooves made only a soft thudding sound as she rode into his yard and dismounted.

  After tying the reins to the porch rail, Rainey turned to see a figure separating itself from the shadows. Her pulse leaped with fear, and her muscles tensed as she prepared to take flight.

  "Rainey." Thorne's voice was hesitant, as if he weren't sure of his reception. "I didn't expect to see you here."

  "I didn't intend to come," she said.

  "Well, why did you?" he asked.

  She despised herself for the way her pulse leaped as she followed him inside. "I wanted an explanation for your actions," she said grimly.

  "I have no explanation that would satisfy you," he said gruffly. "But I won't apologize for my actions, Rainey. I'd do the same thing over again under the same set of circumstances."

  "Why?" she asked angrily. "Robert has done nothing to offend you. You had no call to attack him that way." He seemed at a loss for words and turned away from her to move restlessly around the porch, picking things