explain."
While she contemplated his words, he stepped outside.
Kasie glanced about the cabin, squaring herself for her new fate. Quickly she went to the sink, pumped some water, and washed, then slipped into the big flannel shirt. Being in Amory's shirt made her shiver. Not from the cold, but from being in something that he wore. It felt as if his arms were around her now, holding her, protecting her. Foolish girl, she opened her eyes.
When Amory returned, she faced him as he rolled up her sleeves, and stared down into her startled face. He was doing it again, treating her like a child. She wanted to push him away, slap his face, and make him realize she was no child. Not any longer.
But his nearness affected her more than he could know, and she practically held her breath until he backed away. It was the way he looked at her, like a man starved. But what for? "Why didn't dad just come to California himself, if his intentions were well meant? We could have talked about it, and it would be over with. Now he's ruined everything. I can't help but be bitter about that."
"It would have been better, and faster, I agree, but you know your father. He does things his own way. Arranges things. Good or bad, you can't change him either."
"But Mother went to so much trouble over the wedding, now it's ruined. Just when things were smoothing out in my life, he has to come along and stir up trouble for me. Well, I won't have it. He's not ruining this for me. He's not running my life anymore."
"What kind of trouble is he stirring up?" he asked, and moved away from her abruptly.
"Mother, Rick, and my career, my life."
Amory stared at her again, as though reconsidering things. "Your mother will be mad, no doubt. This Rick character might be a little put out. But if he really cares—. And your career might be on the shaky side. So—maybe you have a little leverage now to work with, to make him see the light. Use that when you talk with him."
"Father has never seen the light. He thinks he has all the answers to everything."
"Look, I tried to talk him out of this, but he wouldn't have it. So if you really want independence, you're going to have to do battle with him. You know that."
"Yes, but how many times?"
"Until you win."
She shrugged and walked about slowly. "So, how long have you had this place?" she asked, going to the big chair in front of the fire as she changed the subject. It did no good to talk about her father, he wasn't about to change.
"About two years. I built it right after the big fire. I'd planned on finishing it this summer," he added, not looking at her.
"It's beautiful," she said, with a sigh of resignation, her eyelids becoming heavy as she stared into the flames of the fire.
"If you're not going to eat, you better turn in, and get some sleep."
"Fine, I'll just curl up here."
"No. You'll take the bed," he instructed, turning down the covers.
"I'd rather not. Thank you," she snapped, curling her feet under her, and relaxing into the confines of the lounger. The intimacy of sleeping in his bed sent a warm flush through her.
"Don't be difficult," he said, as his voice softened. Bending down and scooping her up in his arms again, his eyes burned into her. For a long drugging moment, time stood still. His head bent just a little, and she felt her body wanting to go to his.
Then suddenly he tossed her onto the bed. He glared down at her, as though he had second thoughts about his own actions.
"Get some sleep!" He stomped out the door again.
What was wrong with him, she wondered? Just when they seemed to be reaching an understanding, he got hostile again. Why?
She sighed heavily as she sank into the comfort of the bed. She closed her eyes, willing herself not to think any longer. The war was over for today; she'd start fresh again, tomorrow!
________________________________________
Chapter Four
The next morning, Kasie stole a biscuit from the counter. She had poured herself a cup of coffee,
While she contemplated his words, he stepped outside.
Kasie glanced about the cabin, squaring herself for her new fate. Quickly she went to the sink, pumped some water, and washed, then slipped into the big flannel shirt. Being in Amory's shirt made her shiver. Not from the cold, but from being in something that he wore. It felt as if his arms were around her now, holding her, protecting her. Foolish girl, she opened her eyes.
When Amory returned, she faced him as he rolled up her sleeves, and stared down into her startled face. He was doing it again, treating her like a child. She wanted to push him away, slap his face, and make him realize she was no child. Not any longer.
But his nearness affected her more than he could know, and she practically held her breath until he backed away. It was the way he looked at her, like a man starved. But what for? "Why didn't dad just come to California himself, if his intentions were well meant? We could have talked about it, and it would be over with. Now he's ruined everything. I can't help but be bitter about that."
"It would have been better, and faster, I agree, but you know your father. He does things his own way. Arranges things. Good or bad, you can't change him either."
"But Mother went to so much trouble over the wedding, now it's ruined. Just when things were smoothing out in my life, he has to come along and stir up trouble for me. Well, I won't have it. He's not ruining this for me. He's not running my life anymore."
"What kind of trouble is he stirring up?" he asked, and moved away from her abruptly.
"Mother, Rick, and my career, my life."
Amory stared at her again, as though reconsidering things. "Your mother will be mad, no doubt. This Rick character might be a little put out. But if he really cares—. And your career might be on the shaky side. So—maybe you have a little leverage now to work with, to make him see the light. Use that when you talk with him."
"Father has never seen the light. He thinks he has all the answers to everything."
"Look, I tried to talk him out of this, but he wouldn't have it. So if you really want independence, you're going to have to do battle with him. You know that."
"Yes, but how many times?"
"Until you win."
She shrugged and walked about slowly. "So, how long have you had this place?" she asked, going to the big chair in front of the fire as she changed the subject. It did no good to talk about her father, he wasn't about to change.
"About two years. I built it right after the big fire. I'd planned on finishing it this summer," he added, not looking at her.
"It's beautiful," she said, with a sigh of resignation, her eyelids becoming heavy as she stared into the flames of the fire.
"If you're not going to eat, you better turn in, and get some sleep."
"Fine, I'll just curl up here."
"No. You'll take the bed," he instructed, turning down the covers.
"I'd rather not. Thank you," she snapped, curling her feet under her, and relaxing into the confines of the lounger. The intimacy of sleeping in his bed sent a warm flush through her.
"Don't be difficult," he said, as his voice softened. Bending down and scooping her up in his arms again, his eyes burned into her. For a long drugging moment, time stood still. His head bent just a little, and she felt her body wanting to go to his.
Then suddenly he tossed her onto the bed. He glared down at her, as though he had second thoughts about his own actions.
"Get some sleep!" He stomped out the door again.
What was wrong with him, she wondered? Just when they seemed to be reaching an understanding, he got hostile again. Why?
She sighed heavily as she sank into the comfort of the bed. She closed her eyes, willing herself not to think any longer. The war was over for today; she'd start fresh again, tomorrow!
________________________________________
Chapter Four
The next morning, Kasie stole a biscuit from the counter. She had poured herself a cup of coffee,
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