Heaven in a Wildflower by Patricia Hagan Read Free Book Online

chilling thought evoked a shiver from head to toe.
    Wanting to prolong the inevitable, as well as attempt to get her thoughts together, Anjele quickly headed to her private spot on the river.
    Above a sloping bank, the draping fronds of a large weeping willow tree offered a secluded umbrella where she could hide from the world and still observe it.
    She loved to spend time there daydreaming as she watched the opulent pleasure boats, the river packets loaded with cotton, and the flatboats carrying grain. The nights were best, when she would sneak away from the house after dark to sit for hours in hopes of catching a glimpse of the eerie gleam of a torch flaring on a craft moving silently through the dark waters. She could smell gardenias and jasmine from the gardens behind, and it was here she dreamed the romantic fantasies she did not yet understand, while contemplating the puzzling emotional void that was Raymond.
    She sat on the lush grass, drew her knees up to her chest, propped her chin on them, and tried to figure out what she was going to tell her mother about those clothes. As much as she hated to lie, admitting the truth was going to wreak havoc, for sure. Maybe she could get by with saying she’d wanted to go for a walk in the swamps so she’d borrowed some clothes from the Cajun girls to keep from ruining her own. She gave her head a vehement shake. That sounded hollow, even to her. No one would believe it, especially her mother, who would imagine the absolute worst.
    Suddenly the draping fronds parted, and a shadow fell across her.
    Startled, she leaped to her feet to gasp in recognition of Gator. He further surprised her by tossing a bundle at her feet.
    Her missing clothes.
    “I thought you might be looking for these.”
    In mingled astonishment and anger, she asked, “What …what are you doing with them? How did you find them?” Then, composure returning, she challenged icily, “And how did you know I was here?”
    He laughed softly and easily lowered himself to the ground, leaning back against the tree. Bare chested, he crossed his legs as his heavy-lidded gaze moved slowly over her. She was even better looking than he’d thought. Always seeing her from a distance, he had wondered what color her eyes would be and now saw they were a shade of misty emerald green, with tiny flecks of gold. He could also denote a sparkle of rage, which he found enchanting. “Which question do you want me to answer first?”
    She bit back a sarcastic retort. Obviously, he wanted to goad. With exaggerated patience, as though speaking to a child, she said, “First, I would like you to tell me how you found my clothes.”
    He hoped he could keep a straight face, for he was enjoying himself. “Simona told me.”
    “And why did she tell you?”
    “Because I asked her.”
    Anjele’s teeth ground together. She would not let him make her lose her temper. “So why did you take them?”
    He yawned, feigning boredom. “So I could bring them to you.”
    “And how did you know where I was?”
    “I was watching, and I followed you.”
    Exasperated, she sat down beside him, threw up her hands in defeat. “All right. So get to the point. Why are you here? To rail at me all over again for daring to go into the bayou?”
    He truly astonished her then as he looked at her and said quietly, “I was wrong. Simona told me the whole story. I realized you were there because you were invited, so I decided to go get your clothes before somebody else found them, to keep you from getting in trouble.”
    Anjele felt her anger washing away like the crumbling riverbanks during spring floods. “And you wanted to apologize,” she said in wonder.
    At that, he threw back his head and laughed. “Not hardly. I said I came to say I was wrong. I didn’t say anything about an apology. That would be saying I regret it. And I don’t. I’m glad it happened. Maybe it taught you a lesson.”
    Anjele started seething again, all the while helplessly