A Stranger in the Family (Book 1, Bardville, Wyoming Trilogy) by McLinn Patricia

Author:McLinn, Patricia [McLinn, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Patricia McLinn
Published: 2011-04-02T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“Cambria, as long as you’re heading out, could you take these clean towels to Boone’s cabin?”

Irene’s request stopped Cambria in midstretch. She and Ted had been going over financial figures after dinner, while Irene folded laundry. Pete and Boone had gone out together right after finishing Irene’s apple pie and clearing the table. Cambria had wondered where they were going off to, but hadn’t been about to ask.

Besides, her mind had been divided between mulling over Pete’s studiedly casual comments at dinner that he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to go to college next year, and wondering exactly how the Weston coffers would stretch to tuition, room and board, if he did.

“Irene, I don’t think—”

“His car’s gone.”

“Oh.”

She couldn’t think of any reason to refuse with the cabin empty. But she didn’t particularly care for Irene’s knowing smile, or the look that passed between her and Ted.

Cambria frowned over that as she crossed the moonlight-washed porch of the darkened west cabin.

Juggling the double armload of towels, she rapped perfunctorily on the door. Irene was right—the spot in front of the cabin where the rental car usually sat was conspicuously empty. She let herself into the cabin.

The lack of artificial light didn’t bother her. She’d cleaned these cabins often enough to walk through any of them blindfolded, and with the moonlight filtering in, she easily passed through the outside room and into the bedroom, on a path to the bathroom.

Halfway across the bedroom she jolted to a stop with an audible gasp.

“What are you doing here?”

A low chuckle reached her from the bed before Boone unclasped his hands from behind his head and lazily propped himself up on one elbow.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

She hitched an arm to indicate the towels.

He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. When he stood and came toward her, Cambria made herself remain where she was. She had no reason to think he’d do anything...other than take the towels from her.

“Thanks.” Two strides took him to the bathroom, an instant to put the towels down, then two strides back. That gave her a head start. “Hey, where’re you going? Stick around awhile, keep me company.”

Once she left the dim bedroom behind, curiosity slowed her exit.

“What are you doing sitting in the dark?”

“No—” he stepped between her and the lamp she’d been reaching for “—don’t turn the lights on.”

“Then I’m leav— No, wait, you’re trying to distract me from the point, aren’t you?” Hands on hips, she considered him. “What’s going on? And where’s your car?”

Even in the splintered moonlight she saw his slow grin. “Pete’s got it.”

“Pete!”

“Let’s go sit outside. It’s a nice night.”

She let him guide her out the door and take the pile of towels for her cabin from her, setting them on the camp table next to a rocking chair on the porch. “Boone...”

He held his hands up in classic sign language for innocence. “You have nothing to fear from me.”

Without touching, they moved to sit side by side on the single step from the small porch to the path.

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