Read Online Mary Jo Putney by Sometimes a Rogue - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sometimes a Rogue
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your side and I apply myself to your backbone?” she suggested.
He smiled. “You won’t be able to keep much of me warm, but it would be safer.”
“Well, then,” she said brightly.
He rolled over so that his back was toward her. There was a rustling of hay as she inched closer. Then he felt delightful female warmth settle along his back and thighs. A small hand slid between his arm and side and came to rest on his chest. She gave a happy little sigh and relaxed.
He did the same. Who would have guessed that he and a fluffy little golden chick could so quickly become friends?
Chapter 9
T o Sarah’s regret, Rob was gone when she woke. She understood now why sharing a bed was so popular—she couldn’t remember when she’d slept so well.
She wistfully contemplated what it would have been like if Rob had been the sort to seduce the females he rescued, but she was grateful for his good sense. Though she didn’t want to die a virgin, a casual romp in the hay was not the solution.
Rob was her knight in shining armor and seriously attractive, but she understood why the “best of companions” had left him. He’d probably make a fine bedmate for a brief encounter, but he was so self-contained that it was hard to imagine him wanting or needing anything more.
She stretched lazily, then climbed out of the hay. It was early morning and the rain had stopped. Enough light entered the barn to outline the horses. No, one horse. Rob must have taken the lame one away, leaving his own mount placidly chewing hay.
She stood and brushed straw off her clothing. She was finding trousers odd but very liberating.
She was heading to the door when Rob swung it open and entered, leading a different horse and carrying a basket. “We’re in luck.” He tethered his new acquisition. “I walked to the farmhouse up the road and told the farmer, Mr. Connolly, a version of the truth—that my young cousin and I are being pursued by villains and we needed transportation. He liked the looks of the lame horse and traded me this one.”
Sarah surveyed her new mount. “So he gave you an elderly hack in exchange for a younger, stronger horse that’s much more valuable and will be healed in a week or two.”
“Exactly. But this old girl isn’t lame, which is what matters for now.” Rob patted the new horse on her bony rump. “Connolly felt guilty enough to invite us to the farmhouse for breakfast.”
“Hot food?” Sarah asked hopefully. “Maybe even hot tea?”
“Very likely—the farm looks prosperous. But I refused. Better they not see you clearly.” He studied her with narrowed eyes. “You’ll barely pass as a boy at a distance. Close up will be impossible even if you darken your hair and smudge your face.”
Sarah sighed. So much for being clean and well fed any time soon. “Is there any of that good cheese left?”
Rob handed her the basket. “No, but Mrs. Connolly packed some fresh bread and a couple of boiled eggs as well as a jug of tea. I’ll drop the basket off as we leave.”
Sarah dived into the basket. There were two thick slabs of buttered soda bread and a pair of eggs still warm from the boiling. She’d never been so happy to see an egg in her life.
She handed one piece of bread and an egg to Rob, then carefully cracked her egg and turned it onto the bread. It was mostly cooked with a soft yoke, just as she preferred. She took a bite and made herself chew slowly rather than wolfing it down. After a swallow of hot, milky tea, she said happily, “Ambrosia! I shall never meet a finer egg.”
Rob actually laughed out loud, which made him look like a different man. She stared at him, thinking he needed to laugh more often.
“I’m glad you’re so easily pleased,” he said.
She bit off another piece of bread and egg. “Small pleasures are the best because they’re everywhere. Anyone who needs grand spectacles is destined to be disappointed much of the time.”
“That’s a good philosophy.” Rob
He smiled. “You won’t be able to keep much of me warm, but it would be safer.”
“Well, then,” she said brightly.
He rolled over so that his back was toward her. There was a rustling of hay as she inched closer. Then he felt delightful female warmth settle along his back and thighs. A small hand slid between his arm and side and came to rest on his chest. She gave a happy little sigh and relaxed.
He did the same. Who would have guessed that he and a fluffy little golden chick could so quickly become friends?
Chapter 9
T o Sarah’s regret, Rob was gone when she woke. She understood now why sharing a bed was so popular—she couldn’t remember when she’d slept so well.
She wistfully contemplated what it would have been like if Rob had been the sort to seduce the females he rescued, but she was grateful for his good sense. Though she didn’t want to die a virgin, a casual romp in the hay was not the solution.
Rob was her knight in shining armor and seriously attractive, but she understood why the “best of companions” had left him. He’d probably make a fine bedmate for a brief encounter, but he was so self-contained that it was hard to imagine him wanting or needing anything more.
She stretched lazily, then climbed out of the hay. It was early morning and the rain had stopped. Enough light entered the barn to outline the horses. No, one horse. Rob must have taken the lame one away, leaving his own mount placidly chewing hay.
She stood and brushed straw off her clothing. She was finding trousers odd but very liberating.
She was heading to the door when Rob swung it open and entered, leading a different horse and carrying a basket. “We’re in luck.” He tethered his new acquisition. “I walked to the farmhouse up the road and told the farmer, Mr. Connolly, a version of the truth—that my young cousin and I are being pursued by villains and we needed transportation. He liked the looks of the lame horse and traded me this one.”
Sarah surveyed her new mount. “So he gave you an elderly hack in exchange for a younger, stronger horse that’s much more valuable and will be healed in a week or two.”
“Exactly. But this old girl isn’t lame, which is what matters for now.” Rob patted the new horse on her bony rump. “Connolly felt guilty enough to invite us to the farmhouse for breakfast.”
“Hot food?” Sarah asked hopefully. “Maybe even hot tea?”
“Very likely—the farm looks prosperous. But I refused. Better they not see you clearly.” He studied her with narrowed eyes. “You’ll barely pass as a boy at a distance. Close up will be impossible even if you darken your hair and smudge your face.”
Sarah sighed. So much for being clean and well fed any time soon. “Is there any of that good cheese left?”
Rob handed her the basket. “No, but Mrs. Connolly packed some fresh bread and a couple of boiled eggs as well as a jug of tea. I’ll drop the basket off as we leave.”
Sarah dived into the basket. There were two thick slabs of buttered soda bread and a pair of eggs still warm from the boiling. She’d never been so happy to see an egg in her life.
She handed one piece of bread and an egg to Rob, then carefully cracked her egg and turned it onto the bread. It was mostly cooked with a soft yoke, just as she preferred. She took a bite and made herself chew slowly rather than wolfing it down. After a swallow of hot, milky tea, she said happily, “Ambrosia! I shall never meet a finer egg.”
Rob actually laughed out loud, which made him look like a different man. She stared at him, thinking he needed to laugh more often.
“I’m glad you’re so easily pleased,” he said.
She bit off another piece of bread and egg. “Small pleasures are the best because they’re everywhere. Anyone who needs grand spectacles is destined to be disappointed much of the time.”
“That’s a good philosophy.” Rob
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