The Agreement by Regina McKinley

Author:Regina McKinley [McKinley, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-03-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

The cottage was nestled in a small copse of trees, near the small river Rachel had spied many times before. It was protected from the summer sun by tall trees that provided ample shade. Rachel was surprised to see that it was larger and more home than she could have imagined.

Warner dismounted beside her and lifted Rachel off Pudding’s back before tying both horses to the hitching post at the side of the house. He grabbed her hand and tugged her along with him as he walked around the back of the house toward the river. Rachel wondered if he would question her sanity overmuch if she dove into the water. She could think of nothing more appealing than going for a swim.

Warner led them to the edge of the river and sat down on a large rock that hung over the riverbank. He grinned boyishly as he lowered himself to sit on the rock and pulled off his boots and socks. He gestured to the space beside him. “I don’t want to offend your sensibilities, but I’m dunking my feet in the river. You should too. I bet it will cool you off.”

She shouldn’t, she knew it was indecent. The sight of his bare feet seemed oddly intimate to her. She sat beside him, tossed her hat aside, and started removing her own boots. Warner’s sigh of pleasure washed over her. She watched as he closed his eyes and leaned back to rest his forearms on the ground behind him. She had never seen him so relaxed.

She dipped her toes in the water and squealed with delight. “Oh, dear goodness, this water is cold,” she sighed, lowing her feet into the water up to her ankles. The cold water brought instant relief from the heat. Bless this man.

“The river is cold year-round. The water comes down off the mountains,” Warner said.

Rachel glanced away from him. She watched the ripples of the water as it washed over their feet. “So…Mr. Earley. He seems like an interesting fellow.”

Warner guffawed. “That he is. He’s going blind, too, and is hell-bent to deny it.”

Rachel lifted the hem of her dress, careful to keep the material from getting wet. Doing so revealed her legs nearly up to her knees. She half hoped that Warner would notice, half hoped that he would keep on sitting there with his eyes closed. “I’m sure he is worried about losing his job.”

“I knew he was losing his sight when I hired him,” Warner opened an eye and looked over at her. “I only give him pretty simple things to do around here. One of these days he might admit that he needs some spectacles.”

“You have a good heart, Warner,” Rachel said softly. “Your ranch is your business. Most other businessmen would cut him loose as soon as he was of no more use to them.”

Warner sat up and met her eyes. “I suppose I have a soft spot for people who are vulnerable and need a little help.

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