Heartstrings by Rebecca Paisley Read Free Book Online

me on my journey, Mr. Montana.” She rose from the ground, careful not to crush her phlox. “I haven’t had the slightest difficulty with my travels as of yet.”
    “No? I thought you wanted to get to Templeton.”
    “That is precisely where I am—”
    “Templeton’s near the coast.” He retrieved his hat from the blanket of phlox and slid it on his head. “Keep traveling north, and in about nine or ten days, you’ll cross into the Oklahoma Territory.” He waited for her reaction to his revelation. Surely someone as smart as she was would be embarrassed by having made such a dumb mistake.
    “How do you know I’m traveling north? Are you carrying a compass?”
    “No, I just know.”
    “But how—”
    “For God’s sake, I’ve lived in Texas all my life! I know what it looks like, smells like, sounds like, and feels like. Hell, I can even taste it! I know what is where, and where is what. Rivers, animals, rocks—everything has a way of telling me where I am. Now, get back to the wag—”
    “But what if you were lost outside of Texas? How would you—”
    “I’d study the trees and wind!” Totally irritated, he started toward the embankment.
    “The trees and wind, Mr. Montana?” She hurried to join him, her insatiable curiosity not to be denied. “But what would it be about the trees and wind that would aid you?”
    He spun to face her, instinct telling him that she, wasn’t going to give up until he answered her question. “The tops of tall trees lean toward the strongest sunlight, which comes from the east. Trees felled by strong winds—and not by rot, lightning, or human hands—fall toward the south because it’s usually a norther that’s felled them. And last, the direction of wind doesn’t normally change during the day. If a southern wind is at my back in the morning, it’s probably a southern wind at my back in the afternoon. All right? Satisfied?”
    She deliberated upon his explanation, finding it quite sound. “How interesting. And what—”
    “Can we start for Templeton now. Miss Worth?” Roman demanded. “Or would you rather keep beheading this flower family and then continue on toward the Oklahoma Territory?”
    Lifting her skirts, she started up the hill. “I assure you, Mr. Montana, that by nightfall I would have realized my error in direction. I would have understood immediately that I was following the North Star, which, of course, would have alerted me to the fact that I was traveling north. To find the North Star, I would simply have had to locate the constellation Ursa Major. Across from said constellation is another, Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia is composed of five stars. The North Star is located between the middle star of Cassiopeia and the star at the end of Ursa Major’s bowl. So you see? I would not have even come close to the Oklahoma Territory.” She reached the top of the slope and continued into the dim thicket.
    Following her, Roman decided that the three would-be gold thieves presented no danger to her. She was perfectly equipped to defend herself by attacking them with her intellect.
    They’d die of sheer boredom.
    And he had no doubt that he would meet the same fate before reaching Templeton.

Chapter Three
     
     
    T ugging at the neckline of her thick flannel nightgown, Theodosia emerged from the private spot she’d found in the woods.
    Roman decided her nightwear was about as sexy as a burlap sack. Irritating though she was, she did have a few nice curves he’d hoped to get a peek at.
    “I’ve never bathed in a moonlit stream before, Mr. Montana. Nor have I ever eaten rabbit cooked over an open fire.”
    How like a woman, he thought. No matter what a man did, they were never satisfied. “The nearest hot-water-filled tubs and restaurants are in Wild Winds, a town about five miles northwest of Templeton. A cool stream and charred rabbit are the best I can provide. If you don’t like it—”
    “My goodness, Mr. Montana, I voiced no complaint. What