Prairie Cowboy by Linda Ford

Author:Linda Ford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2011-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Virnie knew Conor turned to her for comfort only because of Rachael. As soon as the child was better, he’d realize he didn’t need her and they would slip back into their roles—he the strong one who needed nothing, no one; she the weak female who somehow, despite her perceived weakness, managed on her own.

But until Rachael was better, Virnie would spare no energy on such thoughts. For three days the child’s leg remained swollen. Then slowly the swelling began to subside. The wound began to heal though she would have a very ugly scar.

Virnie spent Saturday at the farm, doing the homemaker things that gave her so much satisfaction. She did the laundry, scrubbed the floors and made a chocolate cake hoping to tempt Rachael’s appetite.

Rachael was allowed up for lunch though both Virnie and Conor deemed it best she allow her father to carry her to a chair and ordered her to keep her leg elevated.

Virnie tried not to be nervous around Conor. But remembering how they had held each other made it difficult especially when he seemed to watch her. And every time she caught him looking at her he held her gaze for a moment then shifted away slowly. She guessed he was as confused about what happened as she.

“Pa,” Rachael said. “Can we go to church tomorrow?”

“No.” Conor blurted out the word in explosive surprise. “You won’t be going anywhere until your leg is completely better.”

“Aww.” She shifted her gaze to Virnie. “Are you going?”

“I expect so.” Though she hated to be away from Rachael any more than she had to be. Her gaze shifted toward Conor. Yes. She wanted to share her time with him, too, even though she knew it was only until Rachael was better. “Why?”

“I want to see Alice.”

“Can I take her a message? Or better yet, why don’t you make a card and write a letter?”

Rachael brightened up at that.

Conor squeezed Virnie’s hand. His silent approval filled her with a warm glow.

He went out to work and Virnie set up paper and a pencil for Rachael who drew a picture of Tippy and wrote a note before she agreed to go back to bed.

While Rachael slept, Virnie continued to work. The sound of pounding came from the barn and she paused often to stare that direction. Occasionally she glimpsed Conor swinging a mallet or carrying a piece of lumber.

She jerked her gaze back to the basket of dry laundry. Admitting her attraction to Conor scared her. Especially given how he viewed weakness. Why would letting herself care about Conor be any different than caring for her father—she was bound to disappoint him, and she knew too well the pain of rejection.

As she ironed clothes, her back to the door, Conor stomped in. “Where’s Rae?”

“Sleeping.” She concentrated on removing the wrinkles from a shirt Rachael wore to school often.

“She is on the mend, isn’t she?” His voice sounded almost directly behind her, sending shivers of warning up and down her spine.

“I would say so.

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