Affair of the Heart by Joan Wolf Read Free Book Online Page B

beautiful.
    One of the two cats who lived at the ranch was stretched out on the terrace in the sun. “Well, how is the mother-to-be?” Jay asked in the special voice he used for animals, and the ginger cat stretched and gazed up at him out of golden eyes.
    “What a life!” Mary Anne said with a laugh.
    “She earns her keep. She catches at least one rat a day, don’t you, Marmy?” Jay rubbed a long narrow finger behind her ears and the cat’s eyes closed in sheer bliss.
    They walked in the big front door of the ranch house, and Ellen came out of the kitchen. “Here you are,” she said. “I’ve got dinner waiting. Go get washed up and come on down to the kitchen.”
    “Yes, Ellen,” they all chorused obediently and trooped upstairs.
    * * * *
    “I think I’ll come along to the Wilderness Society dance tomorrow night,” Joe said over a delicious beef casserole.
    Mary Anne smiled. “That would be great, Joe.”
    “I think Caroline would enjoy it,” the rancher went serenely on. “It would give her a chance to meet some Sheridan people.”
    Mary Anne’s smile never dimmed. “What a good idea.”
    “What kind of a dance is it?” Caroline asked. “I didn’t bring that many clothes.”
    “It’s not black-tie if that’s what’s worrying you.” Jay sounded irritated.
    Mary Anne’s voice was more pleasant. “It isn’t formal, Caroline. Any kind of a nice dress will do.”
    “I did bring my trusty white jersey,” Caroline told Mary Anne. “I’ve had it for years, but it still looks presentable. If I put some pearls on, it should be okay.”
    “Terrific!” Joe beamed. “We can all drive in together tomorrow then.”
    “What about Mary Anne’s dress?” Jay was the only one who hadn’t smiled at all during this conversation.
    Mary Anne laughed. “I brought it with me. Your father insisted.”
    Jay stared at his father’s genial face. “You think of everything, Dad.”
    His father’s eyes gleamed. “I aim to please.”
    Jay grunted and went back to eating his dinner.
    They left for Sheridan early the following evening. Caroline was the last one ready, and she was conscious of all their eyes on her as she swiftly descended the stairs. “Sorry,” she said. “I couldn’t find my earrings.”
    “My, my, my,” said Joe admiringly.
    “Is that your trusty old dress?” asked Mary Anne.
    “It’s traveled around with me for years,” Caroline said with perfect truth. “It packs like adream.”
    Jay put his hands into his pockets and stared at his stepsister. The dress in question was an ivory jersey, long-sleeved and long-waisted, with a soft full skirt. It had a deeply scooped neck that showed a tantalizing hint of cleavage. Jay was surprised by those high, full breasts, so apparent under the soft jersey material. She was so slim that such voluptuousness was unexpected. He realized suddenly that he was staring at her chest and raised his eyes to her face.
    She was flashing a gay, radiant smile to Mary Anne. “Your dress is super,” she said. “I love the color.”
    Jay looked at Mary Anne as well. She did indeed look charming, her pretty, vivacious face bright with expectation, her small figure bright in turquoise quiana. It was a new dress, he realized, bought especially for tonight’s dance. It had come, he knew unerringly, from the largest department store in Sheridan. His eyes traveled back to his stepsister.
    Caroline’s glorious hair was brushed back off her face and fell in a shining cloud around her shoulders. The light from the overhead fixture played on the exquisite bones of her face arid made her honey-colored skin seem to glow. He realized he was staring at her face and dragged his eyes away, downward, toward the floor.
    It was the first time he had ever seen her legs. Always before she had worn jeans or slacks. Like the rest of her, they were long and slim and elegant. He looked at the high-arched feet in their frivolous straps of leather, at the almost fragile tendon of