by Lori Wick
"Am I going to make it?** Holly asked as they progressed slowly.
"I think so. Father wouldn't have let us come if he had thought it was dangerous."
Miles had not thought of this until just then, but saying the words out loud made them both feel better. Miles looked ahead to see that Sunny had already dismounted and was walking by the water. As they followed in her path, he wondered if there was anything of which she was afraid.
"How deep do you suppose this water is?"
*No!*Miles and Holly shouted in unison, having learned the way Sunny's mind worked. Their aunt scowled at them.
"I didn't mean I'd go in right now, but I thought maybe I could come back-"
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"It's over your head, Sunny." Miles cut her off with what he sure would be the final word.
"What does that have to do with it?"
"You'll drown," Holly told her as if she'd taken leave of i senses.
Sunny shook her head with complete confidence. "IVe be swimming since I was a baby."
"You have?** Holly was now captivated. "I didn't know that.** "It doesn't matter what you know," Miles interjected, wanting i nip this idea in the bud before Holly could unconsciously encourage i "No matter how well you swim, Sunny, it's not safe to come here c your own. If something did happen, we might never find you."
This was all said so kindly, showing how much Miles reallj cared, that Sunny didn't have an argument. They laid out the lunch] then and were just beginning to eat when two riders came into viewj and bore down on them.
"It's mother," Miles spoke when they were still for off.ij
"And Heather!" Sunny cried a moment later as she came to her] feet. She met them a good ten yards away, where Heather reined in her horse, jumped to the ground, and took her sister in her arms.
"So how is school?"
"It*s going well. I'll be glad to finish."
Miles looked at his best friend, Jordan Townsend, and wished he was as dose to completion, but Jordan was more than a year older than Miles and had started school that much earlier.
They had been the best of friends since the time they were young, mainly because of the close proximity of their homes. Nothing had ever shaken the foundation of that friendship, but they were as different in appearance as any two friends could be. Both were handsome, but where Miles was broad and dark, Jordan was slim and blond. Miles' eyes were brown, Jordan's blue. Their friendship was cemented by their mutual love of horses, reading, discussing Jesus Christ and His life on the earth, and, when they had time, courting some of the local girls.
With conflicting schedules and serious studies, there was not much time for seeing each other or courting, but both boys were
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interested in eventually finding wives. Because of their good 5, each enjoyed his fair share of female attention. They both led all-male schools, but whenever they did venture into town, i to the delight of many a young female heart. p Jordan, a bit more easygoing than Miles, would have laughed off if mentioned to him, but Miles was quite aware of the feet they took their looks for granted. This was why he decided to Jordan about Sunny. Since Jordan was his best friend, and he Sunny were becoming closer all the time, it was important to that the two hit it off. At the moment, they were both on horse-headed to Willows* End for lunch, and Miles knew that now as good a time as any.
"Before we get to the Willows, Jordan, I need to warn you >ut my Aunt Sunny."
"I'd forgotten about her coming back. I thought you said she living in London."
"She was, but now she lives at Willows' End." "Oh." Jordan seemed rather uninterested. "What about her?" "Well," Miles suddenly felt uncomfortable, as though revealing | something about Sunny would be destroying her privacy. However, Miles knew the same girls Jordan did, and he also knew that Jordan had never met anyone quite like Sunny Gallagher. "She's just a bit unusual," he spoke finally. "Unusual how?" Jordan pressed him. "Does she have four ears?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
"No, it's not that type of unusual. She's unique, and very beautiful," Miles added softly.
"Honestly, Miles," Jordan snorted with laughter. "You're always felling for an older woman. What was it you said last time, about one of your mother's friends? *She has the face of an angel.*"
Jordan's hand had come to his chest, and his voice had become highly dramatic. Miles laughed at being caught out, but that incident had occurred three years ago. He opened his mouth, ready to remind ' Jordan of that, but changed his mind.
Jordan could be altogether too sure of himself where girls were concerned. Miles decided to let him find out for himself that Sunny was not the age of his mother's friends.
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"A forage?" Holly asked with great reservation. "But there are only four of us."
**I know, but at Christmastime when I was here for a forage, I didn't know what I was doing. Chelsea wrote the lists for me this morning, so you take Louise and I'll take Diane, and the first team back wins."
Sunny grinned in triumph, and Holly was very suddenly taken with the idea. The twins were nearly jumping with excitement at the older girls' sides, and in the next instant Holly snatched her list, along with Louise's hand, and ran for all parts of the house.
Following on their heels Sunny and Diane ran pell-mell, and all four of them hit the kitchen in a wave of feminine laughter. They were back out in record time, but when Holly and Louise headed for the stairs, Sunny dragged Diane outside.
"It says we need a flower."
"What color?" Diane thought she knew just the place.
"Any color but red," Sunny told her.
"I know where. Come on."
The girls ran from the front of the house, around the side, and smack into Jordan and Miles.
"Get the flower, Diane; Til be right there," Sunny directed, thinking quickly.
"Miles," she went on, grabbing the front of his coat with both hands. "Give me your handkerchief."
"Sunny, what are you two doing?" he asked in amazement, taking in Sunny's flushed face and sparkling eyes.
"It's a forage, and if you don't give me the handkerchief, Holly and Louise are going to beat us back."
Miles began to search his pockets, but was sidetracked by the dumbfounded look on Jordan's face. He glanced at the other man's chest and spotted the handkerchief in his breast pocket.
"Here," he plucked it out with fast fingers. "Take Jordan's."
"Thank you," she said softly in her princess voice, scowling a bit since she'd just noticed Jordan's intense stare.
Sunny was on the verge of cutting him in two with a look and a few words, but Diane suddenly appeared at her side.
"I've got the flower."
"Good." Sunny forgot Miles and his rude companion. "Come on. We'll get the rock at the front door and finish up inside."
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They left the men standing in the path, Jordan staring down at the place where Sunny had been standing and Miles grinning at his friend while doing his utmost not to laugh. When Jordan realized Miles was still there, he turned and spoke thoughtfully.
"You did try to warn me, didn't you?"
"Yes I did," said a well-pleased Miles.
Jordan shook his head very slowly, still wondering if he had dreamt her, or if there really had been a girl as lovely as he had ever seen.
"Next time, Miles, plant your fist alongside my jaw, do anything you have to do, but make sure I'm paying attention."
Miles' incorrigible laughter could be heard all the way to the stables.
"So who won?" Heather wanted to know as the girls approached both her and Chelsea as they sat in the music room upstairs.
"They did," Diane offered. "But we still had fun."
Sunny hugged her niece, thinking how wonderful it was to have them here.
"Do you really have to go in the morning?" Sunny asked.
"I'm afraid so, love. We've been here a week, and I miss Foster."
"You four had better dean up for lunch," Chelsea in
structed.
They had all forgotten their stomachs in the thrill of the chase, and after the reminder, all were glad to file out and do as she bid.
While Christie was brushing her hair, Sunny remembered that Miles had brought someone with him, someone who had made her instantly uncomfortable. She thought Miles had called him Jordan. With this in mind, it was with measured tread that she went to the dining room, uncertain if he would still be there, andmostcertain she didn't want to see him if he was.
Much to her chagrin, Miles had her figured out. When she would have peeked in the door and backed quickly away, he had been watching for her and called her name. She had no choice but to enter, and when she did, the young blond man she had seen outside came to his feet in one graceful, confident move.
"Sunny," Miles began, his eyes sparkling with private amusement, "I'd like you to meet Jordan Townsend. Jordan, this is my aunt, Sunny Gallagher."
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Jordan smiled most charmingly. Having very much liked what | had seen outside, he was determined to get better acquainted wT the lovely Lady Sunny.
Upon seeing Miles* twinkling eyes, Sunny shot him a reprovii look, one that was old beyond her years. Bowing politely, she greet Jordan cordially, but her look and stance were frigid. As soon propriety allowed she turned away from him in what could only b considered a deliberate snub. A moment later lunch was called.
"What did I do?" Jordan whispered to Miles as soon as the rooi emptied and the girls were out of earshot.
Miles eyed his friend and felt bad that only minutes ago, he __ found the whole thing amusing. Jordan looked stricken.
**She doesn't like to be stared at," Miles told him, kindness nc filling his voice.|
"Are you serious?" Jordan had yet to meet a woman who didn't j like to be noticed.
"Yes, Fm serious. And once she's concluded that she doesn't like! you, she might take some time in forgiving you."
"She's already made up her mind not to like me?" Jordan was shocked all over again, and Miles thought how correct he'd been in thinking that Jordan took his "way with women** for granted.
"I might be wrong, but it looks to me as though she wants nothing to do with you."
"So what do I do?"
"You don't have toAoanything if you don't want to." Miles had suddenly become very logical.
Jordan's hands came to his slim hips in a gesture of impatience. "Not do anything, Miles? You must be joking. IVe offended your aunt, and I was rather hoping to know her better...much better. Now, will you please help me?"
Miles nodded. "Be kind to her, but don't make a big deal over her. If you do, she won't get anywhere near you.**
"Should I apologize for staring?**
"No, hold offon that. Wait and see if she'll even look at you."
Jordan grinned and opened his mouth to assure Miles that this would not be a problem, but Binks* voice broke into their conversation.
"Lady Chelsea is waiting for you, Lord Miles."
"Thank you, Binks. We'll be right along." Miles exchanged a last glance with the decisive-looking Jordan before leading the way to lunch.
it took jordan exactly five minutes to see that he'd been a conceited fool where Sunny Gallagher was concerned. During the entire meal, she never once looked in his direction. He had even directed a question to her, which she answered in a monosyllabic reply while looking down at her plate.
He planned to speak with her as soon as the meal ended, but Sunny slipped away so swiftly that all he saw was the swing of her skirts as she disappeared out the door. Jordan hung around for the better part of the afternoon, talking with Miles and Holly, but there was no sign of Sunny. Knowing that his mother would be expecting him at home, he left before five, telling himself that he would be back tomorrow, and every day thereafter, until he had a chance to speak to that girl.
"You and I need to have a little talk," Chelsea said gently to her young sister-in-law just after Jordan left for the day.
Sunny didn't have a due as to what Chelsea could want, and since she could think of no reason why she was in trouble, she agreed without compunction, flopping down on the bed as though she hadn't a care in the world.
"The Townsends have been our friends and neighbors for a long time, and I did not care for the way you treated Jordan today."
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Sunny's carefree attitude evaporated. She sat up on the side of! the bed and frowned intensely in Chelsea's direction. What she didn't know was that Chelsea was a kindred spirit, and Sunny's glare didn't daunt her in the least.
"Did Jordan say something to you that was offensive or that hurt your feelings?" the older woman wanted to know.
"No," Sunny had to admit.
"Did he touch you in some way, even casually, that bothered you?"
"No, Chelsea." Sunny was beginning to be confused.
"Then you were rude to him for no reason?"
"He stared at me," Sunny stated with haughty disdain.
"As I said," Chelsea went on, "you were rude to him for no reason. Hear me out!" Chelsea cut in, her hand raised in the air, when Sunny opened her mouth to protest.
Sunny settled back on the bed, and Chelsea continued.
"You're going to have to get over your aversion to being admired. You are a lovely young woman, and you're going to continue to grow more attractive as the years pass. Unless I miss my guess, the women in Darhabar were kept away from men, other than their husbands."
"That is correct."
"As you have noticed, it is quite different here in England. If you were drawing attention to yourself by wearing revealing clothing or throwing yourself at young men, then I would be talking to you about that. As it is, our culture is as you've witnessed. You must understand and begin to tolerate it when people admire you.
"Don't misunderstand me, Sunny; if someone is making improper advances, I want you to get away from him immediately and come to me or Rand. But where Jordan is concerned, well, he and Miles have been friends for so long that he is like my own son. He waited all afternoon for youtocome down so he could make amends, but your feelings were hurt so you were up here pouting."
"I do not pout!"
"It certainly looks to everyone in the household as though you do. When you can't handle something, you just run away from it."
Sunny had never been called a coward or told that she pouted, and she didn't like it now. But Chelsea was right. She had run away from Cecil, then Miles, and now Jordan. She had even done it weeks ago with Brandon, when she was still living with Heather. Because
she was angry, she had left the nursery and gone to the library without even speaking to him.
Sunny walkedtothe window and looked out, trying to deal with this newly revealed truth about herself. Each time it seemed that all was going well, someone or something appeared on the horizon, and her world became unhappy all over again.
Of course, Sunny had heard about Jordan Townsend, but no one had mentioned that he was extremely handsome and personable. Before meeting him, Sunny had hoped they could be friends, but the moment he gawked at her on the path, his mouth hanging open, her old anger reared up. This time, though, she had hidden behind that anger not only because of his rudeness but also to keep the fascination she felt for him at bay.
Sunny knew she wanted to see Jordan again, and in feet had felt tortured by her pride about staying in her room all afternoon, but now Chelsea had called her a coward, and that was something that had to be taken into hand first. She was not going to run away anymore.
"You want me to ignore people's stares?"
"Most times, yes, but not where Jordan is concerned, or when you have a situation like you did with Miles."
"What am I to do?"
"In your kindest voice and most gentle manner, say, 'Please do not stare at me,' or 'Is there some reason you're staring at me?*"
"What good will that do?"
"Most people probably don't know they're even doing it, so I believe it will do a lo
t of good. Sunny, I'm not saying that it's perfectly all right for people to stare and be rude, but itisgoing to happen, and you must not be rude in return. If you find you simply can't cope with someone, come to me on the spot. I believe Heather helped you in that way with Cecil, didn't she?"
Sunny nodded, glad the older women had spoken of it.
"I want you to come to me the same way. This is your home, and I want to do all I can to see you peaceful and content. That's why Rand and I are here."
Sunny felt as if a load had been lifted from her shoulders. She rose and kissed Chelsea's cheek, and the older woman stood in order to hold her close. Holly found them like this, and within moments had dragged Sunny to the upstairs salon to talk and work on their joint venture in tapestry. Sunny, feeling much like a caged animal,
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was more than happy to escape the prison she had made of her room, even if it meant she had to sew.
The next day dawned warm and beautiful, and Jordan, although busy at home through the morning, had plans for the afternoon. He was on the verge of telling his mother that he was headed to Willows* End until dinner, but before he could utter a word, he found his plans painfully dashed.
"Jordan dear," his mother began. "I'd like you to run some papers over to Bracken this afternoon. I could have the servants seetoit, but they are your father's documents and are quite important. You haven't seen Lady Andrea or the duke for some months, and I know they'd enjoy your visit."
"Yes, of course, I'll take care of it directly after lunch." Jordan had hidden his disappointment in an effort to please the mother he adored, but his thoughts were torn as he rode toward Bracken. He did love visiting Bracken and the duke, but he had worked hard all morning, thinking to reward himself with a visit to Sunny.
After some moments of reckoning with the truth, and not a young man to brood, he rode from his lather's stables, determinedtoenjoy the day and equally determined to see Sunny on the morrow.
"I would never have come here on my own, Grandmama, but Sunny would have. She wanted to come on horseback. When father heard her plans, he ordered a carriage to be brought around."