Pioneer Passion by Therese Kramer Read Free Book Online Page B

face but was only
aware of those handsome lips that threatened her. She gulped, her
defiance crumbling a little seeing the lines on his face harden
when he had threatened to paddle her backside. Her eyes widened at
the thought of his big, tanned hands touching her there. Now, she
feared him for another reason. He had been standing too close, he
smelled of tobacco and brown soap. She was losing control of her
emotions, but she knew she mustn’t and squared her shoulders to
calm herself. Steady girl, he’s just a bully. Wise up, she
instructed herself, and for once she listened to her smart-self and
backed off. Not because she wasn’t wise, it just made her feel like
a coward. But this one time she’d swallow her pride.
    And, she had really enjoyed his company for a
change even though her brother had left leaving her despondent
again. Everything was changing too fast and though she tried to
accept all that happened, it was too soon to lose so much. And her
brother.

Chapter Eight
    As days passed Rusty made herself scarce,
except for meals. She took long walks with Biscuit, tended her
garden, fished and read the few books she owned. She looked forward
to their time together, convincing herself she needed a friend, and
decided the cowboy was her only prospect. But it was her heart that
was nagging her, trying to convince her that it was more than a
friend she needed in Guy because his nearness made her edgy. Then
one night at supper, she felt the need to talk; this aloofness
between them was nerve wracking. She wanted to open up to him more
but was scared to entrust her feelings to this stranger.
    However, the silence was maddening. Wanting
them to be at least friends, and, heaven knew, she needed a friend,
she decided to tell him a little about herself. She wouldn’t tell
him the whole story; just that Scott came home, then left again to
join a cattle drive. The cowboy listened to her explain about her
brother, Scott’s visit while he was in town taking care of his
business. Guy kept his features blank as he rubbed the rim of his
coffee cup with a tan finger appearing to be in deep thought.
    “I wondered where that old buckboard came
from when I pulled my new wagon into the barn. I thought a neighbor
borrowed and returned it while I was in town. I’m sorry your
brother didn’t stay, I could have used him. Why didn’t you tell me
about him sooner?” Rusty answered him with a simple shrug and the
cowboy didn’t probe further relaxing her somewhat.
    Instead, he asked, “Can you tell me something
about your neighbors? Tomorrow I plan to ride out to get aquatinted
with them.”
    Rusty stood and took the dirty plates to the
sink feeling a dreaded sensation in the pit of her stomach. Well,
what did you expect? her conscience scolded. Sooner or later he’d
seek out the neighbors. But she dreaded the fact that he’d find out
about her sex. Tell him, she chided but ignored her own advice
because she was too scared too.
    Clearing the lump in her throat, she answered
him. “The Browns are our closest neighbors; they live to the west
of here. Mr. Brown is a nice man and rides over here periodically
to check on me. When he comes, he brings me some bacon and a little
sugar. There’s an old man to the south, but I only met him once
when I was young. Pa said he was a hermit and didn’t like company.
The only occasion that I met him that one time was because pa took
me to his cabin to fetch Biscuit. Pa bought the mule from him. I
can’t tell if we have any other neighbors, I don’t ride far from
here on my own.” She busied herself washing the dishes, her senses
overwhelmed by his presence. Feeling heat seeping through her
shirt, Rusty suspected his eyes were boring into her back. He
looked at her so funny at times, she was sure he knew.
    “Can I help?” The sound of his voice made her
jump and she spoke without turning. “Err, that’s okay, err, you did
the cooking. I don’t mind cleaning up.” Her voice cracked and