Hunter's Prize by Marcia Gruver

Author:Marcia Gruver
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781620290026
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-09-02T14:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

Addie sat quietly in the parlor, the first peaceful moment she’d had all day. Muted sunlight, peeking around the edges of the drapes, a single lantern, the wick turned down low, and a waning fire in the fireplace provided meager light in the heavily shaded room.

After the meal, the others retired to the coolness of the garden. Addie hurried upstairs to relieve Delilah. Finding her napping on the floor by Ceddy’s bed, she’d covered her with a blanket then tiptoed out and shut the door.

Addie tried hard to match the mood of the house, but her restless heart was anything but quiet. She didn’t want to ache for Pearson Foster’s plight, didn’t want her mind consumed by thoughts of a man attracted to a married woman.

The parlor door swung open. Pearson stood on the threshold, blinking against the dimness. His squinted eyes came to rest on her then widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize anyone was in here.”

He began to back out the way he came, but she held up her hand. “It’s all right. Can I get you anything?”

He smiled, the sight of it stirring her heart. How could a man with such an appealing face be capable of any wrongdoing?

“They’re asleep.” He pointed toward the garden. “The reverend nodding in a chair, Miss Whitfield in the swing, and Theo sprawled on the ground in the sun. I didn’t want to wake them, so I thought I’d wait inside.”

She motioned. “Won’t you come in?”

He cocked his head. “You don’t mind?”

“It’s a little too quiet in the house. I could use the company.”

The shock on his face pained her, but why wouldn’t he be surprised? She’d been anything but cordial. “Besides, there’s a matter I’d like to discuss with you.”

He propped the door open with the stop and crossed the room. “Fancy that. There’s a matter I’d like to discuss with you, too.”

“I suppose the only question now is who shall go first. Have a seat, please.”

Settling into Priscilla’s overstuffed chair, he stretched out his long legs and crossed his ankles. “No question there.” He waved in invitation. “Ladies first.”

Not nearly so confident with him sitting so close, she folded her hands in her lap. “This is awkward. I’m not sure where to begin.”

“If you start by apologizing for last Sunday’s outburst, it will save us a lot of time. Then we could dispense with both of our topics at once.”

She gaped at him. “You’re joking.”

He shook his head, not a hint of teasing on his somber face. “That’s my first rule. When it comes to my reputation, I never jest.”

Scowling, Addie crossed her arms and sank against the sofa, at a loss for words.

He suffered no such impediment. “What is it with you, Miss McRae? How have I so thoroughly offended you?”

Her chin jerked up. “I should think it would be apparent.”

“Well, it’s not in the least.”

The passion in his tone startled her. She pressed deeper into the cushion.

“If I knew what I’d done”—suddenly smiling, he drew in his feet and sat forward—”I would shower you with apologies until you forgave me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.