The Widows Choice by Hildie McQueen

Author:Hildie McQueen [McQueen, Hildie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Western Romance, Western Historical, cowboy romance, Historical American Romance, Historical romance
Publisher: Pink Door Publishing
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

"Eeek!" At Charlie's scream Rafe raced to where she ran to the side of the house. At once he ascertained something in her garden had spooked her and he waved off Joe and Jerrick who looked toward him from the corral.

She was laughing when he reached her and looked up to him with cheeks flushed and eyes bright. "Darn snake scared me half to death. It crawled over my hand. They are out to get me. I feel silly making such a fuss, please go back to whatever you're doing."

"That would startle anyone." He moved to the garden and toed around the plants with his boot. "It's gone, you must have ran it off with your screams."

Charlie moved with caution to stand beside him. She looked down. "I'm normally not so squeamish, have seen plenty of snakes at a distance. Never had them so close like the one on the road and now this one. It touched me." She shuddered before kneeling onto a folded mat and lifting her small spade. "I'm fine, sorry to have bothered you."

Seizing the opportunity, he lowered next to her and began pulling weeds. "Don't have much to do now. Day's pretty much gone."

Charlie couldn't figure out what to do once Rafe began weeding with earnest, clearing neat paths between her plantings. He worked efficiently, not seeming to mind the mundane chore.

"Did you ever think you'd end up living in a small town in Montana?" Charlie asked him.

He scratched at his jawline in thought. "No, always figured I'd live and die in Texas on my family's farm. Never aspired to go anywhere until just recently. Then for some reason I felt a pull to move on. When Pa died and all I had was the house and land, I didn't think twice about selling." He looked to her and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. "What about you? What did you envision for yourself?"

"A quiet life as a wife and mother. Thought I'd remain in my hometown near Boston in a small house, with a bunch of children, married to a man who worked during the day and joined us for supper." In spite of herself, she let out a sigh. "But I love it here. Colter Valley has grown on me. It is such a beautiful place, I can't imagine going back to the city. Yet, it can be lonely."

Rafe continued to work. She'd not seen her garden so orderly in a long time. "I can't imagine living in a city."

She smiled. "It has its good points. Activity, people, culture. There are so many gatherings, balls, dinners and such. A very busy life."

"It must have been an adjustment for you."

"Not as hard as I expected," Charlie stood and dusted her skirts. "Now I must see about supper. Thank you for helping me. The garden looks better than ever."

He sauntered away while she followed his progress. He was a sight, with a broad back that narrowed to slender hips and a slight bow to his legs, she could not help but admire Rafe Preston.

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