Page 24 of Just Imagine
“Because it is.”
“You tell me why!”
“I’m your stepbrother.”
“Bein’ my stepbrother doesn’t mean a damn thing. It’s purely a legal relationship.”
“I’m also your guardian. I couldn’t find a single person in this county who was willing to take you off my hands, and judging by your recent behavior, I guess that’s no surprise.”
“I’ll do better! And I’m a real good shot. I can put all the meat on the table you want.”
That started him cussing again. “Men aren’t looking for somebody who can put meat on the table when they’re choosing a mistress, damn it! They want a woman who looks and acts and smells like a woman.”
“I smell real good! Go on. Smell me!” She lifted her arm so he could get a good whiff, but all he cared about was being mad.
“They want a woman who knows how to smile, and say pretty things, and make love. Now, that leaves you out!”
Kit swallowed her last morsel of pride. “I could learn.”
“Oh, for God’s sake!” He stalked to the other side of the overgrown gravel path. “I’ve made up my mind.”
“Please! Don’t—”
“I’m not selling Risen Glory.”
“Not sellin’ . . .” Kit couldn’t seem to find her breath, and then a great wave of happiness washed over her. “Oh, Major! That’s . . . that’s the most wonderful thing I ever heard!”
“Hold on. There’s one condition.”
Kit felt a sharp prickle of warning. “No conditions! We don’t need any conditions.”
He stepped into the amber pool of light spilling out from the dining room. “You have to return to New York and go to school.”
“School!” Kit was incredulous. “I’m eighteen years old. I’m too old for school. Besides, I’m already self-educated.”
“Not that kind of school. A finishing school. A place that teaches deportment and etiquette and all those other female accomplishments you don’t know a damn thing about.”
“Finishing school?” She was horrified. “Now, that’s the stupidest, most puerile—” She saw the storm clouds gathering in his expression and changed tack. “Let me stay here. Please. I won’t be any trouble. Swear to Jesus. I can sleep out back, and you won’t even know I’m around. I can make myself useful all kinds of ways. I know this plantation better than anyone. Please let me stay.”
“You’re going to do as I say.”
“No, I—”
“If you don’t cooperate, I’ll sell Risen Glory so fast you won’t know what happened. Then you won’t have a prayer of ever getting your hands on it.”
She felt sick. Her hatred of him coalesced into a hard, tight ball. “How . . . how long would I have to go to this school?”
“Until you can behave like a lady, so I guess that’s up to you.”
“You could keep me there forever.”
“All right. Let’s say three years.”
“That’s way too long. I’ll be twenty-one by then.”
“You’ve got a lot to learn. Take it or leave it.”
She regarded him bitterly. “And then what happens? Will I be able to buy Risen Glory back from you with the money in my trust fund?”
