Hidden in a Heartbeat (A Place Called Home, Book 3) by Patricia McLinn

Author:Patricia McLinn [McLinn, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-11-13T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

“What I want to know is how come you got all that education and now you’re puttin’ all your time and heart into fussin’ about dead men instead of live ones you got right in front of you.”

The tilt of Luke’s head took in the other denizens of this bar and somehow excluded himself, even though he was the live man most right in front of her.

He slanted her another of those looks from under the shadow of his cowboy hat that made her want to snatch it off or pull it hard down on his nose

“Because,” she snapped, “the dead men are more interesting.”

When he’d ordered a burger and fries, she’d declined to get anything to eat, hoping her restraint would convey that she was here strictly on business. She’d steered clear of family issues, but he’d pulled a good deal of information out of her about her education and professional background.

“Well now,” he drawled, “I’d never have figured you for kinky. Not – ”

“Kinky?” she sputtered.

“ – with that prim kind of look, and those careful clothes.”

She opened her mouth to dispute those assessments, then stopped herself. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“Thank you,” she said, making a show of folding her hands precisely on the table. “I strive to give an impression of professionalism and decorum.”

“Always said you couldn’t judge a book by its cover,” he murmured. “And you’ve proved my point.”

Anyone who spoke in such a low tone deserved to have their words ignored.

“In the interest of broadening your mind, I will say that I am interested in what you call dead men and others call history because the choices people made three hundred or two hundred or one hundred years ago affect what our lives are like now. Look at Far Hills Ranch.” She leaned forward. “Imagine how different things might be if Charles Susland had stayed with Leaping Star instead of pushing her aside and marrying a rich white wife. There probably wouldn’t be a Far Hills Ranch today, or a town. I’m not saying he was right – not at all – but his actions, his personality have an effect, even now. Or what if he had listened to Leaping Star? If he’d taken care of their child and that child had survived, what might have happened then? Would his marriage to Annalee have endured? Maybe the Susland line would have died out a hundred years ago.”

The corners of his mouth tucked in like he might be fighting a grin. “You sure there’s nothing kinky about this? You get awfully worked up about it.”

She became aware that she was leaning so far forward that her breasts nearly brushed against where her hands were still crossed atop the table. She straightened with assumed ease.

“People make a mistake when they look at history. They see it as a straight line. They see what did happen and they think that’s what had to happen. But each step was filled with choices. And the people living then – just as we do now – had to make choices.

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