Orchids in Moonlight by Patricia Hagan

Author:Patricia Hagan [Patricia Hagan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2011-06-29T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Jaime awoke to sunshine streaming across her face and the delicious aroma of hot coffee from downstairs.

For one drowsy instant, she could not remember where she was. But it all came quickly flooding back, along with painful awareness: Cord had not accepted her bold invitation.

She squeezed her eyes shut, commanding herself not to cry. It had been weeks since he'd held her and made her feel loved, cherished, in his wonderfully strong arms. He could have slipped in during the night. He'd always been adept at sneaking around without a sound. He could have come if he'd wanted to.

But he didn't, the torturing voice nagged from within. On the trail, he had no choice, but it's different now. He's probably thinking about the mistress he left behind. Maybe even a wife. You don't know anything about him, you know. He never told you one thing about his past: where he came from, family, nothing. He used you. You used him. It's over. Forget it, silly girl.

Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she dragged herself out of bed and dressed, then headed downstairs to join the others for breakfast.

As she descended the stairs, she could hear the excited babbling. No doubt, after a good night's sleep, spirits were even higher.

The long dining room table was crowded with the menfolk, but the children had been served and sat any and everywhere with their tin plates. The women stood with their food, and it was impossible to discern any topics of conversation, for everyone seemed to be talking at once.

Jerusha spotted her and came to take her hand, steering her to the back hallway. "I have wonderful news," she confided happily. "Lem met some folks who settled on Sutter's land ten years ago, and they kept on buying land and now they've got such a big spread they need help." She went on to explain how they had been offered a hundred acres and help in building a cabin, plus cows and chickens and pigs to get their livestock going.

"We can't turn it down," she said, giving Jaime an excited hug, "especially since we're almost out of money, so we're staying."

"That's wonderful. I'll miss you."

"Well, me and Lem don't have no family waiting, like Thelma. Her sister and her brood been out here fifteen years, she says. There's lots of others who've either got kin or know folks who plan to help them. Will you be able to find your daddy real easy, dear?"

"Oh, of course," Jaime lied.

Jerusha gave a girlish giggle and whispered, "What about Captain Austin? I should think, now the caravan is breaking up, he'd be coming around to get things started up between you two again."

Jaime laughed nervously, pretending to be shocked Jerusha could suggest such a thing. "Why, we were just traveling together."

"Oh, bosh." Jerusha waved her hands in protest. "I wasn't born yesterday, child. I got sense enough to know what happens sometimes between a man and woman when they're alone together, whether they mean for it to or not.

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