Alone in Austin by Patricia PacJac Carroll

Author:Patricia PacJac Carroll [Carroll, Patricia PacJac]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PacJac Publishing
Published: 2020-08-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Jacklin sipped the punch and waited for Harlen to finish talking with a couple of men. She should call him out and order him to take her home or better yet take the reins and drive herself. But she didn’t. She waited. Like a lady.

She glanced at Nick. He’d danced with Florence and then a couple other women. She’d saved the last dance for him, but he’d ignored her and danced with Sylvia McAllister. That girl was all woman.

Everything that Jacklin was not. From head to toe, Sylvia was dainty and feminine. Her voice, the way she moved, and the gestures she made put men on notice that they were in the presence of a real lady.

Jacklin hoped that when Marianne came, she could help her learn some ladylike things. There was no way she was going to catch a man by acting like one. The advice column had said as much.

Well, she’d done the first thing, and that was to go to the social in a dress and dance with men. Really, only two. Harlen and Nick. Harlen treated her fine, but the man seemed to bounce from holding her like a woman one minute and then stumbling over her name as he wondered if he should call her Jacklin or boss the next.

Plus, she was beginning to wonder about Harlen. She’d always trusted him without question. And he’d never given her reason to doubt his character until recently. She wasn’t even sure why, but she had a troubled nagging in the back of her mind about her foreman.

Although, Jacklin wondered if it was because she was beginning to look at him differently. Not only as a hired hand but perhaps as something more. They would make a formidable couple.

Harlen turned to her and smiled. “You’re ready to go. I’m sorry. I should have been paying closer attention.” He went to her and took her arm, but not as a hireling. He held her like a man escorting a woman.

“Yes, I’m ready. Tomorrow I have much to do to get the place ready for Marianne.”

Harlen nodded. “I should have paid more attention to the time. Forgive me.” He looked genuinely sorry.

“I want things to look nice for Marianne. It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen her.”

Harlen helped her in the buggy. “We’ll be home before too long. Unless you want to spend the night at the hotel. It is late.”

“There’s a full moon. I think we’ll be all right to drive home.” She settled herself in the rig.

Harlen nodded but drove her to the hotel. “It’s late. I really don’t like driving in the dark. Coyotes have been bad, and one of the boys spotted a cougar roaming close to the ranch. I’ll make sure to get you back first thing in the morning.”

“But I don’t have my things.”

Harlen grinned. “I had Linda pack you a bag just in case we stayed late.” He held up a satchel from the back of the buggy.

Jacklin smiled. “You thought of everything.

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