Beyond the Sound of Guns by Emilie Loring

Author:Emilie Loring [Loring, Emilie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2020-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

15

“Not here?” Kit was aware that she stared at the clerk incredulously. A hand seized her elbow.

“For Pete’s sake, move, Kit, you’re holding up the line,” a voice reminded.

“Shep! Where did you come from?” she demanded as propelled by him she left the desk. His mouth was set in grim disapproval.

“I was on my way to the Double H. Had to see you. Got to take a plane back Sunday night. Couldn’t get anyone here to drive me out. They’re all crazy about that confounded rodeo tomorrow.”

“So am I. That’s why I’m here.”

“Alone?”

“Of course not. The Carters are here.”

“Sure? You looked as if you’d been knocked on the head when the clerk answered your question.”

“Oh, that. I was inquiring for the housekeeper at the Double H. She’s been on furlough for a few days. Her sister told me she was here.”

“Why should you want to see her? Don’t you get enough of her at the ranch? What have you done to your hand? What’s that long dark mark? Gosh, Kit, it looks as if you had hired out by the day to scrub. Why are you so careless? Darn this ranch phobia you’ve picked up.”

She thought of Rex Danton’s tender, “My dear, my dear,” when he had seen the burn and then she thought, “Of course, it’s just his line.”

“Hullo, there’s Danton!”

“Where, Shep?”

“Shaking hands with the woman in the mink coat and red hat. He’s in civvies. When did he get out of the service? Boy, perhaps now I’ll get a line on his politics. Couldn’t sound him out at Mountain Lodge. There’s a soldier-vote act that makes it a criminal offense to ask a man in U.S. uniform how he intends to vote. Did you know he was coming?”

“You don’t know much about this country, do you, Shep? This ‘confounded rodeo’ is for the benefit of the local USO. Everybody who can ride, walk or crawl will come.” She wasn’t too sure of that but she had to say something. Rex had seen her. His eyes narrowed as he approached.

“Glad to see you back, Trask,” he welcomed. “Sally’s waiting in the room you are to share with her, Kit. Better make it fast. Some of the ranchers invited to meet you and Dick at Mountain Lodge are having tea and drinks in the Carters’ sitting room and you and she are expected. I’ve sent up your suitcase. This way.”

“Join the party at the Carters’, Shep, they’ll love to have you,” she called over her shoulder. “Split-second timing I call your arrival, Colonel. I was about to be put through the third degree. I feel as if I were being jet-propelled,” she protested as he hurried her across the lounge. “Have you seen Sally? Am I really to share a room with her?”

“What do you think I was doing while you and Trask were heart-to-hearting? What’s he back for?”

“To see me, probably.”

“Sure, ‘Je Reviens.’ I Will Return. I had forgotten. I looked up Mrs. Carter and told her you were here.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.