Page 35 of Texas Splendor
“Where’s your father?” she blurted, to distract herself from the heavenly sensation of his fingers sliding beneath her skirt.
He blinked, halting his hands behind her knee. “He died at Chickamauga.”
“So he fought in the war.”
“Yep.”
“Who raised you then?”
“My brothers.”
He had mentioned the one. “How many do you have?”
“Two. They’re considerably older than me. Both fought in the war alongside my pa. I don’t remember my pa at all, but my oldest brother supposedly looks just like him.”
He began to massage her knee.
“Aren’t you getting tired of kneeling?”
He smiled warmly. “Nope.”
“I’m getting tired of standing on one leg.”
He barely looked contrite as he apologized and rolled down her stocking. As soon as her stocking cleared her toes, she removed her foot from his thigh. He didn’t appear offended as he stuffed her stocking into her shoe.
Loree took a moment to relish the feel of the grass beneath her soles, but it somehow paled in comparison to his warm thigh against her foot. He grabbed her shoes and unfolded his long, lanky body.
“I’ll put these in the carriage,” he offered.
She watched him walk to the carriage, wishing she didn’t have so many mixed emotions where he was concerned. Dreading the feelings his touch stirred within her, desperately wanting the easing of the loneliness that his presence caused. As often as DeWayne visited, he never managed to take the loneliness away.
Austin scooped Two-bits out of the box and set him on the ground, laughing as the dog scampered after a butterfly. She liked the rumble of his laughter, the glow in his eyes as he walked to her, the slight curving of his lips, and the warmth of his hand as he wrapped it around hers before they continued their journey into his past.
Night had fallen by the time Austin brought the buggy to a halt in front of Loree’s house. He set the box containing the sleeping puppy on the table, lit a lamp, and walked through the house as though he owned it, checking all the dark corners and closets.
“Everything seems to be in order,” he said, his voice low, and Loree wondered why everyone always talked quieter at night.
Her gaze drifted toward the bedroom door, and she wondered what, if anything, he expected now. Once an intimacy had been shared, how did one establish boundaries?
“I appreciate that you went with me today.”
She snapped her gaze to his. “I enjoyed it.”
“Did you?” he asked, turning his hat in his hands.
She smiled softly. “Yes, I did.”
“Good.” He glanced quickly around the room. “I’d best get back to town, get the buggy and horses turned into the livery.”
With long strides he crossed the room and opened the door. Loree followed him onto the porch, the pale light from the lamp spilling through the doorway and across his face. Within the shadows, she saw his fingers working the brim of his hat.
“Loree …”
Her breath caught and held. She didn’t know where she’d find the strength to refuse him if he asked to come back inside. He took a step nearer and rubbed his knuckles across her cheek.
“Loree, I’m not courting you,” he said quietly.
“You told me that earlier today. I haven’t forgotten.”
