A Cry at Midnight by Chancellor Victoria

Author:Chancellor, Victoria [Chancellor, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
Publisher: BooksForABuck.com
Published: 2010-09-03T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Randi felt lucky that Jackson hadn't made a very unpleasant scene over their encounter last night. She'd been half afraid that he'd accuse her of being a loose woman, or scheming in some way, or come up with another reason to distrust her. He hadn't. Apparently he wasn't as narrow minded as she'd once thought--although he wouldn't exactly qualify as a sensitive nineties male.

Of course, not many men she knew would fit that description. Sometimes she thought those guys were dreamed up by magazine editors and talk show hosts.

With a sigh, she picked up Rose from the quilt they'd spread on the floor earlier. Rain kept them indoors, making Randi nervous about the water level. Time was running out, and despite the belief the river wasn't going to rise very far or very fast, she knew differently.

"Your daddy is too cocky for his own good," she told the baby, holding Rose high over her head and twisting her gently side to side. Rose squealed in delight, drooling on the bodice of the lavender dress.

"Oh, you stinker," Randi said, smiling at the baby's apple cheeks and pink bow mouth as she settled the infant on her hip. "You just love to get me dirty, don't you? Do you know how much trouble it is to change out of these dresses? And I can't just throw them in the washing machine, either, like I can my jeans and sweats. Somebody has to wash these with their very own hands."

Randi tickled Rose's tummy until she giggled and wiggled. Only when she looked up did she notice Suzette standing in the doorway, a look of confusion on her face.

"Oh," Randi said. "How long have you been there?"

"I heard what you said," Suzette answered cautiously. "I don't know what those words mean, but it sounds to me like you're talkin' 'bout things I never heard of."

Randi took a deep breath. "You're right. You haven't heard of washing machines or jeans or sweat suits. They exist only where I come from."

"Where's that, Miss Randi?" Suzette asked tentatively, easing into the room with an armload of folded diapers.

"Far away from here," Randi answered, looking out the window at the pounding rain as she bounced Rose on her hip. "I wish I could go back home, too. I'm afraid . . ."

"What's you afraid of?"

"The river," Randi said softly. "The rising water."

"Birdie said the water ain't gonna come as high as the house, but we're gonna have wet fields and poor crops. She knows 'bout things like that."

Randi shook her head. "I think the river will get as high as this house, Suzette. I know we're all in danger if the planters don't build high levees and watch carefully every day."

"Mas'r Jackson will take care of us," Suzette responded automatically.

Randi smiled as reassuringly as possible. After learning that Suzette had been raped by her former owner, Randi found the girl's faith in any man incredible. "I know he'll try. At least he's aware of the problem. He seems to be more concerned than the rest of the men around here.

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