to say without ever saying it.
He motioned with his head toward a grassy spot on the riverbank. “Care to sit a spell ’fore I take you back to the house?”
She nodded, a hint of pink returning to her cheeks.
He waited until they were settled. Then he cleared his throat. “Ingrid, I been driftin’ ever since I left Iowa back when I was a kid. I liked movin’ around, seein’ new things. Never thought of settlin’ in one place ’til I met Hawk.”
“You are a good friend to Mr. Chandler.”
“He’s about the best friend a man could ask for. I’d trust him with my life. I’ve had to a time or two.” He glanced at her, then looked away again. “Anyways, I got me a piece of land near the mountains. Nothin’ to ranch with. Just a spot to build me a house and barn of my own. Plenty of trees and a fine view of the range.”
“It sounds pretty.”
Not as pretty as you are .
A fleeting smile crossed her lips, as if she knew his thoughts.
“I haven’t built nothin’ there yet. Seemed just as easy to go on bunkin’ with Hawk and the other boys at the Circle Blue.” He cleared his throat again. “But, here lately, I been givin’ it some thought. Seems like a good idea to get busy while the weather’s good. Wouldn’t be too fancy. Just a log cabin, but a place I could call home and . . . and the sort of place a woman might not mind callin’ home too.” His last words came out in a rush.
A lengthy silence followed. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Ingrid. He figured he’d made a mistake, that he’d spoken too soon. What would she want with some log cabin anyway? Look at the fine house where she lived. Why would she want to settle down with him?
It was as if she’d read his mind. “My papa and mama came to America from Sweden. We had a farm in Minnesota where I was born. When my mama died, my papa did not want to stay there. So he sold the farm. I have missed it. It was hard work, farming, but it was a good life.” She drew a deep breath and sighed. “The Silvertons have made me a part of their family, and I love them. But sometimes I feel too idle. I wish I were building something for myself as you are going to do.”
Their heads turned. Their gazes met. There was a glimmer of light in Ingrid’s eyes, a gleam that told Rand she understood what he hadn’t been able to say, that told him she wanted the same things too. It was all he could do to keep from letting out a whoop and grabbing her and kissing her smack on the mouth. But he couldn’t do that. Not yet. He had to have something more to offer her before he proposed.
He got to his feet and held out his hand. “I better get you back before the reverend comes lookin’ for us.”
She placed her hand in his and allowed him to draw her up from the ground.
He would start work on the cabin this week.
Bethany opened the door. When she saw who stood there, her breath caught. She’d given up hope, but now he was here.
“Mr. Chandler.”
“Miss Silverton. I’m looking for Rand. His horse is tied out back.”
“He . . . he and Ingrid went for a walk. They should be back soon.”
He glanced behind him. “Maybe I’d better go back without — ”
“Don’t go.” She hated the pleading sound of her voice, but she didn’t want him to leave. “I’m sure they’ll return any minute. Won’t you wait for him here? You could sit on the porch if you like.” Before he could answer, she slipped by him, pulling the door closed behind her. “There’s more shade on the side porch.” She led the way. Please make him follow me .
He did.
She settled onto a cane-backed chair and took a moment to smooth the skirt of her floral-embroidered dress. Hawk chose to lean against the porch railing. Although he appeared relaxed, she sensed an undertow of tension, of power barely leashed.
“I looked for you in church this morning.”
“I told your father I wasn’t much on churchgoing.”
Disappointment sluiced through her. “Yes, I
He motioned with his head toward a grassy spot on the riverbank. “Care to sit a spell ’fore I take you back to the house?”
She nodded, a hint of pink returning to her cheeks.
He waited until they were settled. Then he cleared his throat. “Ingrid, I been driftin’ ever since I left Iowa back when I was a kid. I liked movin’ around, seein’ new things. Never thought of settlin’ in one place ’til I met Hawk.”
“You are a good friend to Mr. Chandler.”
“He’s about the best friend a man could ask for. I’d trust him with my life. I’ve had to a time or two.” He glanced at her, then looked away again. “Anyways, I got me a piece of land near the mountains. Nothin’ to ranch with. Just a spot to build me a house and barn of my own. Plenty of trees and a fine view of the range.”
“It sounds pretty.”
Not as pretty as you are .
A fleeting smile crossed her lips, as if she knew his thoughts.
“I haven’t built nothin’ there yet. Seemed just as easy to go on bunkin’ with Hawk and the other boys at the Circle Blue.” He cleared his throat again. “But, here lately, I been givin’ it some thought. Seems like a good idea to get busy while the weather’s good. Wouldn’t be too fancy. Just a log cabin, but a place I could call home and . . . and the sort of place a woman might not mind callin’ home too.” His last words came out in a rush.
A lengthy silence followed. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Ingrid. He figured he’d made a mistake, that he’d spoken too soon. What would she want with some log cabin anyway? Look at the fine house where she lived. Why would she want to settle down with him?
It was as if she’d read his mind. “My papa and mama came to America from Sweden. We had a farm in Minnesota where I was born. When my mama died, my papa did not want to stay there. So he sold the farm. I have missed it. It was hard work, farming, but it was a good life.” She drew a deep breath and sighed. “The Silvertons have made me a part of their family, and I love them. But sometimes I feel too idle. I wish I were building something for myself as you are going to do.”
Their heads turned. Their gazes met. There was a glimmer of light in Ingrid’s eyes, a gleam that told Rand she understood what he hadn’t been able to say, that told him she wanted the same things too. It was all he could do to keep from letting out a whoop and grabbing her and kissing her smack on the mouth. But he couldn’t do that. Not yet. He had to have something more to offer her before he proposed.
He got to his feet and held out his hand. “I better get you back before the reverend comes lookin’ for us.”
She placed her hand in his and allowed him to draw her up from the ground.
He would start work on the cabin this week.
Bethany opened the door. When she saw who stood there, her breath caught. She’d given up hope, but now he was here.
“Mr. Chandler.”
“Miss Silverton. I’m looking for Rand. His horse is tied out back.”
“He . . . he and Ingrid went for a walk. They should be back soon.”
He glanced behind him. “Maybe I’d better go back without — ”
“Don’t go.” She hated the pleading sound of her voice, but she didn’t want him to leave. “I’m sure they’ll return any minute. Won’t you wait for him here? You could sit on the porch if you like.” Before he could answer, she slipped by him, pulling the door closed behind her. “There’s more shade on the side porch.” She led the way. Please make him follow me .
He did.
She settled onto a cane-backed chair and took a moment to smooth the skirt of her floral-embroidered dress. Hawk chose to lean against the porch railing. Although he appeared relaxed, she sensed an undertow of tension, of power barely leashed.
“I looked for you in church this morning.”
“I told your father I wasn’t much on churchgoing.”
Disappointment sluiced through her. “Yes, I
Similar Books
