For a few minutes they walked side-by-side, listening to the cicadas sing in the apple tree by the pond. Somewhere in the distance a Bob-White quail called. Dust drifted down the road from a passing car. Josh must be working in the field today. For her, the lazy days of summer hadn’t changed much since she was a child. Except for a few years of working at Wal-Mart, she had been able to stay on the farm. The mornings and evenings had been packed with chores, but there had usually been time during the middle of the day to enjoy some time outside.
The soothing sound of water running over stones greeted them as they neared the creek. Brutus wandered upstream, pausing to lap at the cool water. The bleached skeleton of a huge old Sycamore tree lay near the creek. Carmen tossed the towel on a branch, kicked off her sandals and walked down the creek to the rope swing. It was nothing but a long rope with a piece of broomstick tied to the bottom, but it was functional. Grabbing the rope, she pulled it back a little way from the creek. Reaching high and taking a firm grip on the rope, she lifted herself, clamping the rope between her knees and letting her feet rest on the piece of broomstick. The deep part of the pool was small, but years of practice had taught her where to land. She swung out and at the precise moment, let go, holding her nose and plunging into the water feet first.
The water was icy and she gasped as she came to the surface. The pool was only wide enough for a few strokes, which she covered quickly. Grabbing the worn roots of an old tree, she climbed out of the pool. It wouldn’t take more than a few minutes in this heat before she would be ready to jump back into the water. Pulling her hair back, she squeezed water out of it and then fluffed it with her fingers to release the natural curls.
On the other side of the creek, Brutus plodded his way over to a tree. If he hadn’t done so, she might not have seen the lean figure lounging against the tree. Alex’s expression could only be described as awed.
She recovered from the shock of finding him there, and laughed.
“By the expression on your face, I’m guessing you’ve never used a rope swing.”
His eyes warmed. “No, I’ve used swings before.” His gaze traveled over her body. “I wish you wouldn’t do that when I’m not here.”
“I know the creek pretty well,” she said. “It isn’t as dangerous as it looks.”
His amused gaze met hers. “No, I suppose the possibility of snakes does pose a bigger threat.”
“Snakes?” She giggled. “Why Alex, I do believe you have a phobia about snakes.”
He continued to watch her without comment, but the amusement had left his eyes. That was it. Everyone had something they feared. Snakes were his weakness.
He shrugged, a slow fluid moment that was somehow sexy.
“You’re not afraid of snakes?”
“No. I have a healthy respect for them, though.”
“What about people?” His expression was unreadable.
“People?” she asked with a frown. “Am I afraid of people?”
He shook his head, pushing away from the tree. “What about someone with a camera? There are some people who would pay good money for a video of that.”
She laughed without humor. “Of a country hick using a rope swing? It’s not like I was doing acrobatics.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and surveyed her body. His sober gaze came back to her face.
“You can’t be that naïve.”
Warmth invaded her face when she realized his intent. Well, actually she could, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Who would come clear out here in the boonies to take a video of me?” She glanced down at her swim suit. It wasn’t as if she were wearing a bikini, and her only physical attributes were a flat abdomen and smooth curves…well, those and her breasts, but they were over proportioned, out of balance, so to speak. Other than that, she was short and a little underweight. If popular models were an accurate indication, people preferred tall women. Her gaze lifted to Alex.
His smile was wry and his eyes mocked her. “I know I won’t need a video to remember.” He dropped his hands. “I was concerned when you didn’t answer your phone. Didn’t you bring it with you?”
Avoiding his curious gaze, she walked over to her towel. “I was afraid it might get wet.” Actually, it never crossed her mind, but that wouldn’t sooth him, and if she had thought about it, that would have been her reasoning. She snatched the towel down and wrapped it around her body.
“You left work and came over here just because I didn’t answer the phone?”
He shook his head, his attention finally leaving her torso. “I was coming home for lunch. Next time, take your phone. It’s replaceable…you’re not.”
She smiled to herself. That was how he got away with giving orders. If he had left it at ‘next time, take your phone’, she would have felt compelled to argue. No one would argue when someone was telling them they were irreplaceable. Besides, had she known he was coming home for lunch, she could have fixed him something to eat. If she hadn’t left her phone in the bedroom all morning, she would have known.
“I’ll fix you something to eat.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll make a sandwich. If you come over here dressed like that, I’m going to wind up in trouble again.”
A warm flush crawled up her neck. She shrugged. “Well, I’ll go back to the house then. I’ll see you tonight.” She turned toward the house.
“Carmen,” his voice followed her.
She turned back to him and he lifted a hand, beckoning.
“Come on. You can wear one of my shirts.”
She laughed as she splashed through the creek to join him. One of his shirts would certainly be unattractive on her body.
At the house, she abandoned the towel and put her arms into the sleeves of one of his shirts while he held it for her. Fastening the snaps, she rolled up the sleeves and washed her hands. Alex was already putting sandwich meat on the table, so she got the condiments from the refrigerator.
They ate in comfortable silence for a while before he finally spoke.
“They’re going to bring the buffalo over tomorrow. Is that alright with you?”
“Fine,” she said. “What do I need to do?”
“Nothing, yet. I’ll have them in the small pasture for a while until they get accustomed to their new surroundings. I’ll feed them for now. I’d rather you didn’t get too close to them until they adjust to the change.” He started to take a bite of his sandwich and then stopped. “Oh, and Princess is seven months pregnant.”
Carmen grinned. “That’s wonderful! Our first little foal. I can hardly wait.”
His brows lifted. “Do you realize that’s the first time you said ‘our’ anything?”
“Well, it’s my mare and your stud. That would make it our foal.”
He stared at her for a moment. “You sure sucked the fun out of that moment.”
Carmen made a face and continued eating, her mind on the information he had given her.
“The gestation period for a horse is eleven months, so this can’t be Ed’s foal.”
He grinned. “Actually, it is. I knew about Princes because I took Ed to her for stud service back in January. I talked the owner into selling her to me.”
Three horses in one sale. She put the sandwich on her plate. “That must have cost you a pretty penny.”
He shrugged and swallowed the last bite of his sandwich. “Not really. I heard the owner was in a bind, and that’s what made me think of it.”
She sighed. “I can’t imagine you taking advantage of a person down on their luck. You gave them a fair price. I’m betting better than fair.”
His brows lifted. “Thanks. And you’re right. But I could afford it.”
He stood and leaned down to kiss her lips. “I’ve got to get back to work. I’ll see you tonight.”
Being able to afford it had little to do with it. Lots of people, wealthy or not, would take advantage of a situation like that. Alex would see it as an opportunity to help…sim
ply because that was his nature.
She stood and followed him to the door. There he paused and looked down at the shirt. A twinkle came into his eyes.
“I think I like that shirt better on you.”
She glanced down at the shirt, her face warming again. When he reached out and started unsnapping the shirt, she gave him a quizzical look.
“What are you doing?”
His sigh was exaggerated. “Taking one last look before I have to leave.” Pulling the shirt open, he surveyed her swimsuit, oblivious to her embarrassment. Finally he slipped a hand around her waist and drew her close.
“I’m still wet,” she warned.
He didn’t falter, and when his lips met hers, she melted in his arms. Such wonderful moments they had when he was leaving and no harm could be done. It would be so exciting once they were married.
He held her close with one arm while the other slid up her side, following the curve of her hips and waist. It tentatively paused below her swimsuit top. His lips caressed hers and the hand began its assent again, the thumb catching under the suit, lifting it to expose the bottom of her breast.
She stiffened and brushed his hand away.
He groaned, his lips leaving her mouth and starting down her neck.
“Carmen,” he moaned against her neck.
Belatedly realizing he was fully aroused, she gently pushed away from him.
“You’ll be late getting back to work.”
He made a face. “Yeah, I guess.” Reluctantly he released her and started through the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”
She watched as his truck left the yard. The brake lights came on briefly as he slowed down for the bridge and then the truck disappeared into a cloud of tawny dust.
Chapter Three
After Alex left, Carmen threw the sheets in the dryer, washed dishes and cleaned his kitchen. It had all the modern conveniences; dishwasher, garbage disposal, and even a built-in oven. It was going to be delightful cooking in this kitchen.
Patio doors gave access to a small courtyard at the back of the house. The broad arches allowed fresh air and the clear fiberglass roof let the sunshine in while keeping the rain out. It wasn’t a grand place, but it was a mansion next to what she was accustomed to. Still, Alex seemed at home in her old house. She would have been perfectly content to keep him there. Waking up to a cold house wouldn’t be near as bad after a night sleeping next to his warm body.
Warmth crawled up her neck at the thought. Here she was, thinking improper thoughts again. She paused…or was it? After all, he was her fiancé and they would soon be married. She had to start thinking like a woman. He didn’t want to marry a little girl. Come to think of it, would he have been content to live in her house? Would he be content to live with the farmer’s daughter or would he expect her to change?
She sighed heavily and opened the door to the porch. She was willing to change for him…some things, anyway.
Brutus jumped up from the porch where he had been waiting for her. She patted him on the top of the head.
“You’re spending a lot of time over here now.”
He licked his face and went back to panting, his eyes half open as he waited patiently beside her.
Locking the door, she snapped the shirt again and walked down the porch steps. Behind her, claws clicked on the concrete as Brutus followed. She walked down to the creek and waded through the water. Climbing the other bank, she headed across the field to the old house. Brutus stopped to anoint a bush and then took out ahead of her.
She walked through the grass with her head down. Of course Alex would expect her to change in some ways. In the last few years she had been making all the decisions about her farm. It would be a relief to turn all that stress over to him. He had the money to take care of it and he was confident. She would be taking care of the animals and house. He had his job at the clinic as well as the responsibility of two properties. That hardly seemed fair. Being a stay-at-home-mother had always been her career choice, but that wasn’t going to be an option, unless they adopted children. She wasn’t ready for that yet and hadn’t completely given up the idea of biological children. If God meant for them to have children, they would…no matter what the doctor said.
So absorbed was she in thought that she didn’t notice the gray truck parked in her yard until she opened the gate.
Josh was glowering at her. “Are you just getting home?” He made no attempt to hide the disgust in his eyes.
Warmth rushed to her face. “I met Alex for lunch…not that it’s any of your business.”
“And he gave you his shirt? Where are your clothes?”
Anger washed over her in a bold wave. She grabbed the front of the shirt and jerked the snaps open to reveal the swimwear.
“I was at the creek swimming when he came home. And I repeat…not that it’s any of your business.”
Josh stared at her swim suit, his expression swinging back and fourth from surprise to embarrassment.
In a belated modest moment, she clamped the shirt shut and headed for the house. If it was none of his business, why had she explained…given him proof? And why had he looked at her that way? He was married now. After a few steps, she ran the rest of the way to the porch. Unshed tears of embarrassment were starting to burn her eyes.
“Carmen!” he called after her.
She didn’t stop until she was inside the house and had the door locked. Racing to her room, she changed into jeans and a light shirt. Hopefully he hadn’t come over to walk her up to the mountain.
Later, when she glanced out the window, he was gone. Maybe he realized how inappropriately they had both acted.
She was cleaning the oven when the phone rang. Pealing off her gloves, she headed for the phone. Her cell phone was in her pocket, but Alex probably figured she didn’t have it with her. She caught it on the fourth ring.
“Hello?”
“What took you so long?” It was Josh.
“I was busy cleaning the oven.” Again with the unnecessary explanations. “What do you want?”
“Well, that’s not very friendly,” Josh said with a note of indignation in his voice.
“I’m hot and tired, and I’m right in the middle of something. I’m not feeling too friendly right now.”
He snorted. “Yeah? I’ll bet you don’t talk to him that way.”
She pulled the phone away from her ear and glared at it. Without another word, she hung up. If he wanted to talk to her, he’d have to stop referring to Alex as him. In fact, she’d just as soon not talk to him at all. She marched back to the kitchen, but didn’t even get through the door before the phone rang again. It crossed her mind not to answer it at all, but maybe he had learned something from the last call and would get to the point. In any case, it could be Alex.
“Hello?” Her voice was controlled, just in case it was Alex.
“Carmen, don’t you ever hang up on me again!” Josh snarled.
She lifted her brows and lowered the receiver, hanging up again. No, he hadn’t learned a thing. This time she marched toward the kitchen, her temper rising with every step. Who did he think he was, ordering her around that way?
Again the phone rang. With every step toward the phone she told herself she shouldn’t answer it…shouldn’t lose her temper. But when she lifted the receiver, her mouth had a mind of its own.
“Leave me alone! I’m trying to get something done around here!” She started to hang up, but the silent line piqued her curiosity. She lifted the receiver back to her ear. “Josh?”
For a moment the silence continued, and then a deep voice stated flatly, “Alex.”
Blood rushed to her head in a painful flush and one hand shot to her mouth.
“Oh my gosh! I’m sorry, Alex.”
“What’s going on over there? Why is Josh calling you, and what’s he bothering you about?”
“I don’t know. He came by earlier and…didn’t say.”
“So what are you two fighting about?”
She might as well tell him. If she didn’t give him some explanation, he’d really be suspicious. She sighed.
“He was here when I came back from your house wearing your shirt. I guess he thought I didn’t have anything on under it and asked if I was just now getting home.”
For a moment Alex was silent. “So you proved to him that you had something on,” he said dryly.
Her face was burning. “Something like that…and then I ran into the house and locked the door.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I was embarrassed, I guess.” She sat down on the couch. “So why were you calling?”
Silence again. “Do you have your cell phone with you?”
“Yes,” she said triumphantly. “It’s right here in my pocket this time. It’s been there ever since I came home.”
“Is it on?”
Once again blood rushed up into her face. She pulled the phone from her pocket and glanced at the blank display. “No.”
“Well, I guess that’s why I called.”
“Why, to catch me with my phone off?”
He chuckled. “No, I can do that any time. That’s why I called your house phone. I called to find out if you needed me to pick up anything at the store on the way home.”
“No, I have everything. I’m going back over to your house as soon as I finish cleaning my oven.”
He groaned. “We’re back to yours and mine again.”
At the moment she wanted nothing more than to be in his arms. She leaned forward on the couch.
“Alex?”
“I’m still here.”
“I love you…so much.”
“I love you too, sweetheart. I’ll see you in a few hours.” He paused. “Turn your cell phone on and ignore the land line. I won’t call you again on it tonight.”
“All right.” He was telling her to let it ring, which was an excellent idea. Josh was the last person on earth she wanted to talk to right now.
After she hung up, she made sure her cell phone was on and then headed for the kitchen. As she pulled her gloves on, the phone rang again. She smiled devilishly and shoved her fingers the rest of the way into the glove. Grabbing the scrub sponge, she started cleaning the oven again. The phone rang six times and then stopped. So much for that irritating situation.
Something Old, Something New Page 4