The Touch of Sage by Marcia Lynn McClure Read Free Book Online

mentioned that Uncle Buck once rented this acreage from yer daddy…I hope ya don ’ t mind me ridin ’ out here to look around, ” he said.
    Sage left the gravesite by way of the small gate, latching it carefully behind her. “ Of course not, ” she said.
    “ I ’ spect that ’ s yer horse down by the creek with mine, ” he said.
    “ Mmm hmm, ” Sage confirmed. She smiled and began walking toward the creek. Reb stepped aside so she could precede him.
    “ I was wondering…would ya consider rentin ’ yer acreage out to me when my herd gets up here? ” he asked.
    “ Oh! ” Sage exclaimed. His question was quite unexpected. “ I don ’ t see why not. ”
    “ I think I ’ d want to put up another fence ’ round little Ruth here, though, ” he said. “ Wouldn ’ t want to risk the cattle chewin ’ up yer pretty flowers and gravy fixin ’ s. ”
    Sage smiled, again delighted by his charm. It was impossible to keep her heart from fluttering madly in his presence!
    “ I ’ d certainly appreciate you doin ’ that for her, ” Sage said.
    “ It ’ s a nice piece of land ya got here, Miss Willows, ” he said, looking around as they walked. “ Nice and peaceful. ”
    “ Yes, ” was all she could think to say.
    Far too soon, or rather not soon enough, they had reached the creek. Drifter stood sheltering near a piñon tree. Sage smiled as she noticed Reb ’ s black gelding near another.
    Again, Sage ’ s heart twittered as Reb took hold of Drifter ’ s reins and walked him over to her. He reached out, holding the stirrup steady to assist her in mounting. Smiling at him, she settled into the saddle.
    “ Thank you, ” she said.
    Reb nodded, touched the brim of his hat , and said, “ Yer welcome. ” As he walked to his own horse and mounted effortlessly, he said, “ Aunt Eugenia invited me to supper tonight. Is that all right with you? ”
    In actuality, it wasn ’ t all right. Sage wasn ’ t sure she could endure any more wonderful minutes in his presence. Still, she nodded and said, “ Supper ’ s at five thirty…roasted chicken and potatoes. ”
    He smiled and rode his horse over next to hers. “ Any chance of there bein ’ some chicken gravy with just a touch of sage in it too? ” He chuckled. Taking the sage leaf from his shirt pocket, he waved it under his nose.
    A sincere smile spread across Sage ’ s face. The feel of it surprised her. “ I ’ m sure sage gravy can be arranged, Mr. Mitchell. ”
    “ Reb, ” he corrected, holding the sage leaf out to her. She smiled. Taking the leaf from him , she hoped he didn ’ t notice the way her hand trembled as her fingers brushed his.
    Pinching the leaf with her fingers, Sage inhaled its familiar fragrance and said, “ Very well…supper will be at five thirty, Reb. ”
    He smiled at her, smoothed his mustache with one index finger, touched the brim of his hat , and said, “ Five thirty it is, Sage Willows. ” Clicking his tongue he said, “ Let ’ s go, Ned. ”
    Sage smiled. She couldn ’ t keep from smiling! A ll the way back to the boarding house she smiled. What a handsome measure of a man Reb Mitchell was! Polite and kind too. H e was tougher than nails and a hard worker. The very stuff of any woman ’ s dreams , and Sage could not help dreaming of him. She would make him some sage gravy, all right. Cornbread stuffing too — the like he had never tasted!
     
    Reb pulled Ned to a stop just beside Ruth States ’s grave. How strange it had been to step over the hill and see Sage standing out in the rain, letting the moisture freely fall on her face and body. In those first moments she had seemed so free, yet wholly sad at the same time. Reb had watched her for a few moments, waiting until she had knelt before the tiny grave and begun plucking weeds from the soil before he had approached.
    It was obvious she was startled to see him there , and he hadn ’ t been able to discern whether her face was red from the rain or from