Duncan's Bride by Linda Howard Read Free Book Online Page A

light from the sun eight minutes and twenty seconds to reach earth.”
    â€œThe common housefly flies at the speed of five miles an hour.”
    â€œAn ant can lift fifty times its own weight.”
    She paused and eyed him consideringly. “Were you lying about the bird nests?”
    He shook his head. “Are you giving up?”
    â€œNever use all your ammunition in the opening salvo.”
    There wouldn’t be much opportunity for follow-up salvos, he thought. In about eighteen hours he’d be putting her on a plane back to New York and they would never meet again.
    The silence that fell between them was a little awkward. Madelyn got up and smiled at him. “I’ll leave you to your baseball game, if you don’t mind. I want to sit on the porch swing and listen to the frogs and crickets.”
    Reese watched her as she left the room, her hips rolling in a lazy sway. After a minute he heard the squeak of the chains as she sat down in the swing; then the creaking as she began pushing it back and forth. He turned on the television and actually watched a little of the ball game, but his mind was on the rhythmic creaking. He turned the television off.
    Madelyn had been swinging and dreaming, her eyes closed, but she opened them when she heard the screen door open and close, then his boots on the wooden porch. He stopped a few feet away and leaned his shoulder against one of the posts.
    His lighter flared; then the end of the cigarette glowed as it began to burn. Madelyn stared at his dim figure, wishing she had the right to get up and go to him, to slide her arms around his waist and rest her head on his shoulder. When he didn’t speak, she closed her eyes again and began drifting in the peaceful darkness. The late spring night was comfortable, and the night creatures were going about their business as usual. Thiswas the type of life she wanted, a life close to the earth, where serenity could be drawn from nature.
    â€œWhy did you answer the ad?”
    His rough-textured voice was quiet, not disturbing the night. A few seconds passed before Madelyn opened her eyes and answered.
    â€œFor much the same reason you placed it, I suppose. Partly out of curiosity, I admit, but I also want to get married and have a family.”
    â€œYou don’t have to come all the way out here to do that.”
    She said, “Maybe I do,” and was completely serious.
    â€œYou don’t have any boyfriends in New York?”
    â€œI have friends, yes, but no one I’m serious about, no one I’d want to marry. And I don’t think I want to live in New York. This place is wonderful.”
    â€œYou’ve only seen it at its best. Winter is frozen hell. Every place has its drawbacks.”
    â€œAnd its advantages. If you didn’t think the positives outweighed the negatives, you wouldn’t be here.”
    â€œI grew up here. This is my home. The Eskimos are attached to their homes, too, but I wouldn’t live there.”
    Madelyn turned her head and looked out into the night, sensing what was coming and wishing, praying, that he wouldn’t say it. She could tell from the way he’d been throwing up those subtle obstacles and objections what he was going to say.
    â€œMadelyn. You don’t fit in out here.”
    Her right foot kept up the slow, steady rhythm of the swing. “So the visit has been a failure?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œEven though you’re attracted to me?” In the darkness she could be bolder than she would have been otherwise. If faint heart ne’er won fair lady, she was sure that the fair lady ne’er won with a faint heart, either.
    â€œThe spark goes both ways.” He stubbed out the cigarette on his boot heel and flipped it out into the yard.
    â€œYes. So why am I unsuitable for your purposes?”
    â€œYou’re real suitable for the purposes of bed,” he said grimly. “I’d like to take you there right