Just a Little Lie (Shades of Deception, Book 1) by Rush Mallory

Author:Rush, Mallory [Rush, Mallory]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2012-06-12T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

"She might be at this awhile, Mariah. Dinner's already cold, so why don't we go ahead and eat, then check back on Besse in an hour or so?"

"But she could have the calf while we're gone." Stroking the long-suffering cow, who was bearing up stoically, Mariah glanced at Sol. His attitude had improved considerably since he'd returned to the barn, flowers in hand, several hours before. "Everyone else left once the last milking was done and I don't want her to be on her own."

"For heaven's sake, it's not as if you won't get another chance to see a calf born. They get dropped around here like flies."

"But they're not Besse's. She's special, and I'm not about to leave her in her time of need."

"'Her time of need'? She's just a cow," Sol insisted.

"Don't you listen to him, Besse," Mariah said, covering the cow's ears. Besse rolled her eyes to the side. "He's just jealous because you won't pay him any attention."

"If I'm jealous, it's because you're giving her more attention than you are me." When he nudged her behind with a crutch, Mariah spun around to see him quirk a brow and give a half smile.

In his own way he was trying to make up, she realized. LaVerne had probably given him the idea for the flowers, but stroking her with his crutch was typically Sol. Whether he was infuriating or gruffly sweet, she did find him irresistible—even when she didn't want to.

Looping her arms around his neck, she pressed her cheek against his chest. He embraced her, and she felt his heart thudding out a steady, reassuring beat. Moments like this, when she felt such completion, made her heart ache.

"I'm sorry we had words today," she said quietly. "I can't stand any distance between us." She hated her cowardice, the insecurities that created the invisible chasm he couldn't know was there.

"Neither can I, love." He held her tighter. "But it's up to us to close any distance that exists."

Mariah searched for a hidden meaning to his words, but his expression was unreadable. So she took him at face value and nodded.

"Marriage isn't easy, is it, Sol?"

"They say the first year's the hardest. We're still feeling our way around, and in some ways it's like the blind leading the blind. We'll get through it. It's just a matter of paying our dues. Nothing worth having is for free."

And having Sol meant paying up; the price could be his distrust, his distance, the end of the marriage. Digging her toes into the hay, she sighed wistfully.

"I know it's wrong to wish your life away, but sometimes, Sol, I can't help but wish we had this first year behind us."

"What? And miss out on all the discoveries yet to come?" He lifted her chin, and his smile was bittersweet. "Just think of all the moments like this we'll have to share. Even arguments have their purpose in the weaving of a marriage."

"Arguing is the pits," she interjected. "And it's one part of the tapestry I wish we could leave out.

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