Read Online Taking the Bull by the Horns by MJ Fredrick - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: MJ Fredrick
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have me."
Lavender buried the hope those words raised. Hope that she could visit Taylor in Alpine, hope that she could move forward with her life, give some of her responsibilities back over to her mother.
She set the glass down on the counter. “Well. The sheets on your bed haven't been changed in awhile, but otherwise the room is ready. Church is at nine.” Lavender crossed the room to kiss her grandmother's cheek, nodded to her mother, and headed up the stairs.
* * * *
Lavender dropped into the pew at church the next morning. Eleanor's sudden appearance had one benefit. She commandeered the gossip that would have focused on Lavender and her behavior at the Blue Bug last night. She had no illusions her actions would remain secret from Gertrude, but she was grateful for the reprieve.
Eleanor made her way to the seat beside her and Lavender struggled to balance her emotions. The little girl in her was excited to see her mother, more a fun relative than parent. Another part of her also held a childlike hope that her mother would step in, take over her own responsibilities, freeing Lavender.
For what? To chase Taylor to Alpine? She wouldn't do that, even if she could.
Who was she kidding? They'd had one night, that was it. No telling if he ever wanted to see her again, if he even wanted her to come to Alpine.
Still lost in her own thoughts after the service, Lavender wandered out of church with vague greetings to her neighbors and the minister. Her focus sharpened on a white horse trailer hitched to a battered blue Ford pick-up. And the long, lean cowboy with his arms folded over his chest, leaning against the fender. Her heart kicked hard, but she schooled her steps, excusing herself from her mother and grandmother to cross the lot toward him.
He'd had his gaze on her since she walked out of the church but he only straightened when she was a car length away. She wanted to throw herself against him but was too aware of her family no doubt watching. His eyes flicked behind her, confirming her suspicions.
"I thought you'd be on the road already,” she said, stopping a few feet away, close enough to smell him but not close enough to be tempted to touch.
"I thought you might want to say goodbye to Angelina.” He inclined his head toward the far side of the trailer, away from the curious eyes of the congregation.
"Yes, I would,” she murmured, her pulse picking up as she followed him.
Once they were out of sight, he spun and caught her in a fluid move, scooping his hand under her hair and covering her mouth with his. Only a moment passed before she overcame her surprise and parted her lips, sliding her palms across his shoulders, pressing against him, wanting the feel of him against her.
"I wanted to say goodbye,” he said, easing back just enough to look into her eyes, his fingers still threading through her hair.
She tilted her head and smiled. “You said goodbye last night."
"That was last night."
"How did you know where to find me?"
"I checked each of the churches until I saw your car.” He inclined his head toward her Toyota.
Surprise and pleasure bubbled up in her. She hadn't even realized he knew her car. They'd only known each other three days.
"Who's that with Gertrude?"
She followed his gaze between the truck and the trailer to where Eleanor stood on the steps, in the same clothes she'd been wearing last night. Lavender hadn't even seen her bring in any luggage, but then, Lavender had other things on her mind.
"My mother showed up last night."
He raised his eyebrows. “Not good news?"
She sighed. “That remains to be seen. Usually, no."
He stroked his fingers down her cheek and kissed her again, slowly, regretfully. “I've got to go."
She squeezed his shoulders, not wanting to release him. “It's harder to say goodbye today than it was last night."
Something flickered in his eyes and she instantly wished she hadn't said anything.
"I'll be back in three weeks,” he said, releasing her
Lavender buried the hope those words raised. Hope that she could visit Taylor in Alpine, hope that she could move forward with her life, give some of her responsibilities back over to her mother.
She set the glass down on the counter. “Well. The sheets on your bed haven't been changed in awhile, but otherwise the room is ready. Church is at nine.” Lavender crossed the room to kiss her grandmother's cheek, nodded to her mother, and headed up the stairs.
* * * *
Lavender dropped into the pew at church the next morning. Eleanor's sudden appearance had one benefit. She commandeered the gossip that would have focused on Lavender and her behavior at the Blue Bug last night. She had no illusions her actions would remain secret from Gertrude, but she was grateful for the reprieve.
Eleanor made her way to the seat beside her and Lavender struggled to balance her emotions. The little girl in her was excited to see her mother, more a fun relative than parent. Another part of her also held a childlike hope that her mother would step in, take over her own responsibilities, freeing Lavender.
For what? To chase Taylor to Alpine? She wouldn't do that, even if she could.
Who was she kidding? They'd had one night, that was it. No telling if he ever wanted to see her again, if he even wanted her to come to Alpine.
Still lost in her own thoughts after the service, Lavender wandered out of church with vague greetings to her neighbors and the minister. Her focus sharpened on a white horse trailer hitched to a battered blue Ford pick-up. And the long, lean cowboy with his arms folded over his chest, leaning against the fender. Her heart kicked hard, but she schooled her steps, excusing herself from her mother and grandmother to cross the lot toward him.
He'd had his gaze on her since she walked out of the church but he only straightened when she was a car length away. She wanted to throw herself against him but was too aware of her family no doubt watching. His eyes flicked behind her, confirming her suspicions.
"I thought you'd be on the road already,” she said, stopping a few feet away, close enough to smell him but not close enough to be tempted to touch.
"I thought you might want to say goodbye to Angelina.” He inclined his head toward the far side of the trailer, away from the curious eyes of the congregation.
"Yes, I would,” she murmured, her pulse picking up as she followed him.
Once they were out of sight, he spun and caught her in a fluid move, scooping his hand under her hair and covering her mouth with his. Only a moment passed before she overcame her surprise and parted her lips, sliding her palms across his shoulders, pressing against him, wanting the feel of him against her.
"I wanted to say goodbye,” he said, easing back just enough to look into her eyes, his fingers still threading through her hair.
She tilted her head and smiled. “You said goodbye last night."
"That was last night."
"How did you know where to find me?"
"I checked each of the churches until I saw your car.” He inclined his head toward her Toyota.
Surprise and pleasure bubbled up in her. She hadn't even realized he knew her car. They'd only known each other three days.
"Who's that with Gertrude?"
She followed his gaze between the truck and the trailer to where Eleanor stood on the steps, in the same clothes she'd been wearing last night. Lavender hadn't even seen her bring in any luggage, but then, Lavender had other things on her mind.
"My mother showed up last night."
He raised his eyebrows. “Not good news?"
She sighed. “That remains to be seen. Usually, no."
He stroked his fingers down her cheek and kissed her again, slowly, regretfully. “I've got to go."
She squeezed his shoulders, not wanting to release him. “It's harder to say goodbye today than it was last night."
Something flickered in his eyes and she instantly wished she hadn't said anything.
"I'll be back in three weeks,” he said, releasing her
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