Page 16 of Fool's Gold

"We could be." Rafe gazed at her intently before exiting the room.

Chapter Four

Rafe wandered into the kitchen for a cool drink. He'd been going over his books, a job he didn't relish, and he was wiped out. He'd been having bad luck the last few months, ranging from broken equipment to torn fence lines that hurt his bottom line.

If his plan to open the ranch to tourists went through, he'd be sitting pretty. Everything hinged on an acceptance of an expansion loan from the bank. Things were looking up now that he had a more stable home life.

Sarah and Mandy were making sandwiches, their heads bent together as they worked, and Mandy giggled at something Sarah said. It made him smile.

"Hey, what are my two girls up to?"

Sarah's head shot up. "We're packing a picnic lunch." Her radiant smile lit up the room.

Mandy grinned and skipped up to him. "Aunt Sarah's teaching me how to use her camera. And we're going to take a picnic lunch with us."

Rafe sidled up to the table and grabbed one of the peanut butter cookies they had packed. He nibbled on it as he glanced at the top of Sarah's bent fiery head. She studiously ignored him. She'd been more watchful around him lately, and he wasn't sure why. It was as if she was waiting for something.

"It's nice of you to teach Mandy photography, Sarah. Maybe I can take a few lessons from you, too."

Mandy tugged on Rafe's sleeve, her cherubic face beaming. "Aunt Sarah is lots of fun. She's an excellent teacher, too."

"I'll just bet she is. I wonder what else she could teach me."

Sarah's eyes narrowed at the sexual undertone. She was still fighting the attraction between the two of them.

Rafe stood, watching Sarah put the sandwiches into the picnic basket. He studied her beautiful face. He didn't know her as well as he thought he did. "So, where are you ladies headed?"

Sarah picked up her camera from the counter and hung it around her neck. "The north pasture. There are some interesting rock formations and a nice big shade tree to have our lunch under."

She looked relieved to be on a safe subject.

Rafe narrowed his eyes. He liked having her on edge. It made her more aware of him. "That sounds fine."

Mandy tugged on his sleeve. "Hey, Uncle Rafe, why don't you come with us?"

He grinned at the horrified expression that washed across Sarah's expressive face. The tension had been building between them and was at the boiling point. He had to admit he hadn't been the easiest guy to live with of late. Being in a state of constant semi-arousal when she’s around made him cranky. "Sorry, Mandy. I, for one, have to work on Sunday." Sarah's shoulders relaxed, and the predatory male in him made him add, "But I might join you for lunch."

Mandy grinned. "Promise?"

He laughed and picked her up. "Promise." He looked over at Sarah, standing by the back door, camera slung around her neck, picnic basket in hand. She smiled as she watched him nuzzle Mandy's neck. His heart melted at her poignant expression. "I'll see you both at noon."

Rafe rode his bay gelding over the ridge at quarter to twelve and found Sarah and Mandy lying on their bellies facing aprairie dog mound. He dismounted and tied the reins to a tree. He walked the rest of the way, not wanting to disturb their concentration.

Mandy held the camera, patiently aiming it at the burrow. "Is this right, Aunt Sarah? I don't want to mess it up."

"That's right, honey. And don't worry about messing anything up. Trying new things is good. Now I'm going to show you how to adjust the lens." She reached over and took Mandy's little hand, placing it on the mechanism. "See? You slide it like this to bring it into focus. Now look through the viewfinder and tell me when it gets clear."

"That's good right there," Mandy replied excitedly.

A prairie dog sat on its haunches and looked around.

Sarah and Mandy grew still.

Sarah whispered, "Okay, honey, now hold your breath and snap the shutter."

Mandy pressed her finger down on the shutter, and several shots whirred off rapidly. The alarmed prairie dog ducked back underground.

Mandy jumped up, grinning. "Thanks, Sarah, that was so much fun."

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