A Daisy Grows in Wylder by Sarita Leone

A Daisy Grows in Wylder by Sarita Leone

Author:Sarita Leone [Leone, Sarita]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Wild west; frontier life; Wyoming territory; female writer; 1870s author; romance;
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-06-22T00:00:00+00:00


Chapter 26

Sunlight shimmered on the stream’s surface, sending arcs of light onto the rocks and its stone-and-sand shoreline. The spot they came upon looked wide but downstream it narrowed.

The sound of water cascading over rocks, a tinkling noise came as a perfect complement to the buzzing of hummingbirds darting among the flowers. Buzz and splash, a western symphony she’d never expected to hear.

A small log building faced the creek. As they neared, she noticed a front walkway running from cabin to creek.

“What is this place?” Daisy opened her eyes as wide as they would go, swiveling her head and trying to take in the whole enchanting scene in one sweep. “It is gorgeous.”

The chuckle sounded pulled from his feet and the smile he sent her way rivaled the sun’s rays. “You like it? My little hideaway?”

An outhouse tucked discreetly near a stand of cottonwoods. The hand pump and bucket on a wooden platform, showing the place had its own well. A weathered table and chairs in the shade of a branchy pine tree.

Everything anyone might want, and right here in the middle of the frontier.

Magic does exist, she thought.

She imagined herself sitting beneath the tree, with only the buzz and babble to distract her, working on her novel. Right out in plain sight, too, rather than hidden away at night, with the flicker of a candle seeping through the darkness to shine on her ink-stained fingers. It would be paradise, to be able to follow her heart without trying to hide her calling.

Daisy met Addison’s gaze and shook her head. A smile turned her lips up at the edges. She got so caught up in the joy of the spot that she forgot to consider her words. “This place is amazing. I could stay here forever.”

When the sentiment tumbled from her mouth, she realized her mistake. How could she have spoken so carelessly? When the truth of what she did came out, Addison would probably never invite her back to his retreat. Her secrets were not acceptable to most men, and she shouldn’t expect him to be an exception.

They stood beside the table in the cool shade of the pine. A tin can sat in the center of the table, so he reached for it and held it near the flowers she clutched. When she released them, she heard the tiny splash as their stems touched down in the rainwater collected in the can. He placed the arrangement on the table.

Then, when he pulled out a chair and motioned for her to sit, she did. Her legs ached but only a little bit, and just where the worst of the bruises were. In a few days she expected to be back to normal, but now the rest was welcome.

He sat in the other chair, leaned back, and crossed his long legs at the ankles. His black leather boots were dusty but the look of contentment on his face made everything about the man shine. His gaze swept slowly, lovingly across the buildings, the stream, and everything in the clearing.



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