High Country Hearts by Glynna Kaye

Author:Glynna Kaye
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2011-10-25T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Rob kicked a fist-size stone and sent it sailing as sunset approached Thursday evening. He loved the still, quiet nights in the high country, but this one didn’t have the usual makings for a customary sense of peace.

He hadn’t shared his Singing Rock ideas with Paulette.

Not a one.

But she’d asserted she hadn’t seen the rearrangement of the lodge in what she called his property plan. He hadn’t even drafted a plan, let alone submitted one for her review. He’d promised Olivia she’d be the first to see his ideas, and from the wounded look on her face when Paulette made that comment, she remembered his promise, too. Which would reinforce her impression that he didn’t take her seriously, didn’t respect her opinions.

From the conversation he’d overheard between the two sisters before he’d retreated to the office, his perceptions were renewed that Paulette harbored animosity toward her youngest sister. Judged her. Was much too hard on her. But Olivia hadn’t lashed out at Paulette’s criticism. She’d responded respectfully—and with a maturity and wisdom that caught him off guard. Maybe he’d misjudged Olivia a time or two himself.

“Rob!”

He glanced up to see a waving Olivia sitting on the steps of her parents’ porch. His heart surged at the sight, but it was with acute reluctance that he diverted from his intended path and approached the house. He’d managed to keep one step ahead of her for days. While that hadn’t kept him from thinking of her, wondering what she was up to, at least he’d stayed fairly focused on Singing Rock business. Found time to touch base with his sister about the availability of a sitter for Angie. Man, he missed his little girl. Daily phone calls and once-a-week visits didn’t cut it.

Propping her elbows on her knees, Olivia cradled her face in her hands. “Sorry you had to hear that sister stuff the other day.”

With her hair pulled back in a ponytail, he was reminded of the cute, lively freshman of his NAU days. A little too lively on occasion. Like when she’d accepted a dare to jump off a bridge on a missions trip. He’d been in charge of the spring break expedition and nearly went into cardiac arrest when he caught her making the leap. He’d chewed her out— and the guys involved—but that didn’t make a dent in the daring gleam in her eyes. Thank goodness she seemed to have outgrown that phase.

He scuffed the toe of his work boot in the dirt. “Your sister gives you a hard time, doesn’t she?”

“Understatement.” Leaning slightly back, she rested her elbows on one of the steps behind her.

“My older brother does that to me, too. Thinks he has all the answers to things I never asked for his opinion on.”

Her eyes brightened with interest. “Like what?”

“Oh, like he thought I should follow in his footsteps and go into the military.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Didn’t want to get shot at, for one.” He grinned, remembering the sometimes-heated brotherly altercations. “And I guess I had a stubborn streak in me, as well.

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