Robin Lee Hatcher by When Love Blooms Read Free Book Online Page B

as a fancy dress ball, is it?” He pushed off from the house and walked toward her.
    She turned away and grabbed the shirt on top of the basket of clothes. “I told you before that I’m not afraid of hard work.”
    “I can see that.”
    His tone caused her to look at him again. Was that an apology of sorts? She couldn’t be sure. And what did it matter, even if it was?
    Only it did matter. She wanted him to think better of her.
    She gave the shirt in her hands a good shake, wanting to slough off thoughts of Gavin Blake at the same time, then held it against the clothesline and slipped the split wood pin over one sleeve. As she reached to fasten the other sleeve in place, the pin dropped into the thick grass at her feet.
    Without a word, he leaned down, picked up the clothespin, and held it out to her.
    “Thank you.” She closed her fingers around it, feeling suddenly clumsy beneath his gaze.
    He didn’t release the clothespin immediately, and after a moment she was forced to look at him a third time. His hard, searching gaze made her feel like a bug under a microscope. How she wished he would go study someone else for a while and leave her in peace.
    “Thank you,” she said again.
    He let go at last. “You’re welcome, Miss Harris. And just so you’ll know, I’m grateful for the help you’re giving Dru.” With a tip of his head, he turned and walked away.
    It took several seconds more before Emily could breathe easily again.

    Twilight had settled over the basin, bringing with it a bank of clouds in the west.
    “Looks like we’re in for some rain.” Gavin turned from the window. “You girls better get your animals in the barn fed.”
    “Okay, Pa.” Sabrina set aside the square of embroidery fabric. “Come on, Pet.”
    “Put on your jackets,” Dru said before the girls reached the door.
    Gavin sat on a chair near the fireplace. “Where’s Miss Harris?”
    “Lying down. She’s exhausted after all she did today.” Dru leveled a reproachful gaze on him. “It’s your fault, you know. She’s trying to prove she can do everything because you don’t think she can do anything .”
    “Wait a minute. I never said — ”
    “Don’t argue with me. You know it’s true. I didn’t hire her to clean house or wash clothes. I want her to teach the children, to get them to trust and care for her so that when I . . . when I’m not here, they’ll have a woman they can turn to. They’ll need her. More than you know.”
    His jaw tightened. Despite his words of thanks today, he didn’t think Emily Harris would last a month, let alone stay around after Dru passed on.
    “It’s not like you to be unfair, Gavin.”
    Unfair? He hadn’t been unfair. Had he? Well, maybe he had. She might prove him wrong. There could be more to her than he’d first thought.
    He pictured her as he’d seen her earlier. There she’d stood by the clothesline in that yellow dress — fitted bodice and flounced skirt — her hair hidden beneath a matching scarf. She’d looked like a wilting sunflower. Her face had been flushed, damp wisps of hair clinging to her nape. Her hands had looked like the hands of a rancher’s wife, red and rough.
    “All right, Dru. Maybe I haven’t been fair.”
    He turned his gaze on the fire, wishing he’d never let his wife talk him into hiring a governess. Especially not Emily Harris. Bitter experience had taught him not to trust a beautiful woman just because she did one good deed. And whatever else Emily was, she was first of all beautiful.
    Gavin would be wise to remain on guard.

Seven
    Dru closed the cabin door behind her and walked to the center of the yard, pulling the shawl close across her chest. The air was still. Nothing stirred. All was quiet. Overhead, stars winked down upon the earth, but she wouldn’t be able to see them for long. A storm was coming. She could feel it. She could smell the rain. Soon the wind would rise and clouds would roil across the sky.
    If only the storm would