If the Prospect Pleases Page 12

  “Sorry, Miss Rosemary,” Amy said weakly.

  With scarcely more than a pointed glare at the child, the woman continued sponging her skirt.

  “Accidents happen,” Lucas told his daughter in a consoling tone. He touched Rosemary’s shoulder. “Come on, I’ll drive you back to town before the stain sets.”

  “I–I wouldn’t want to put you out,” she hedged.

  “No problem. I’d feel better about it if I at least knew you got home safe. I’ll go saddle Chesapeake and tie him behind your buggy.”

  “Well, I really would appreciate that,” she said, warming immediately to the suggestion. “We could continue the conversation we started a little while ago.”

  He nodded and took her elbow to assist her outside but glanced over his shoulder at his brother. “Make sure the stock is looked after before I get back, will you? I shouldn’t be too long.”

  “Right.” Claiming another drumstick from the platter, Noah continued eating as though nothing untoward had happened.

  Thoughts of Lucas sharing seven cozy miles with Rosemary Evans was not exactly comforting to Annora, but she knew she had no claims on the farmer herself. He was a grown man and more than able to make his own choices—no matter how unsuitable she might deem them personally. Returning her attention to Melinda and Amy, she noticed they appeared a bit subdued. Annora smiled at them. “Here, let me take your plates, girls. Ready for some applesauce and warm scones?”

  They dragged their worried gazes from the doorway their father and his guest had so recently exited.

  “Everything will be fine,” she said gently. “Miss Evans will wash and iron her dress and it will be good as new. I promise.”

  Their troubled frowns disappeared, and Amy gave a huge sigh. “I really didn’t mean to spill my milk.”

  “I know, sweetheart. Now, stop fretting. I’ll get some dessert, and we’ll finish our meal.”

  Noah chuckled. “Sure can get mad, that one,” he said with a tip of his dark head in the direction of the door. “Least little thing, and she’s like a chicken that got dunked in the crick.”

  Melinda sputtered into a giggle, but Annora shot the young man a scathing glower. “Now, now.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said in acquiescence. “Must remember not to gloat over somebody else’s misfortune, and all that rot.” But his mischievous gaze held hers and wouldn’t release.

  Annora finally looked away. “I’d better clear the table.” Telling herself he was naturally forward and didn’t mean anything by his ungentlemanly ogling, she hastened to make room for the end-of-meal sweets.

  But as the sound of the departing buggy drifted in from the lane, she realized the scones and applesauce no longer held any appeal for her.

  ❧

  The sun sank below the horizon, spilling the sky’s pastel hues in a muted glow over rocks and bushes in the gathering dusk. Lucas drove the rented buggy toward Cheyenne at an unhurried pace, his spirited sorrel plodding patiently behind.

  Rosemary turned toward him. “It was very sweet of you to insist upon seeing me back to town, Lucas.”

  He shrugged one shoulder but felt no need to comment.

  “And I appreciated the supper invitation,” she continued. “A pity the evening came to such an abrupt end.” Her wistful expression brightened with a glorious smile. “Or perhaps one might term it a blessing, since it provided a chance to spend some extra time alone.” She shifted her position slightly, bringing herself a little closer to him.

  “You’ve always been good company,” Lucas admitted. “And the girls think the world of you.”

  “Yes, well, the little darlings are at such an adorable age,” she gushed a little too brightly. “Who can resist those girlish. . .charms?”

  He grinned appreciatively. “Thanks for the dresses you made them, by the way. They’ll count the hours till Sunday.”

  “Young ladies need to have new pretty things from time to time—especially when they’re growing so quickly.” She paused, toying with one of the fine curls framing her face. “I must say, I was pleasantly surprised to see you at church last week.”

  “It was. . .time.” But even as he admitted that truth, Lucas had to wonder if he’d ever have gotten around to attending services if it hadn’t been for Annora’s gentle prodding. The housekeeper had a way about her that made it hard for a man to refuse whatever she asked. . .considering how little she actually did ask.

  “You’ve done an amazing amount of work on your place since my last visit,” Rosemary said, cutting into his reverie. “It really looks nice.”

  “Thanks.” Lucas knew that most of his accomplishments were a direct result of having Annora there to look after the domestic end of things. He hadn’t known that kind of freedom since Francie’s death. Amazingly, rather than the customary tumult caused by thoughts of his loss, an unusual peace settled over him instead.

  A sudden breeze rifled the buggy’s framework, and Rosemary snuggled nearer. She laid a hand on his sleeve. “Since you’ve decided to fit church services into your busy life again, why don’t we plan a picnic afterward this Sunday, before all the pleasant weather has passed?”

  Lucas feasted his eyes on her delicate beauty. The notion did have some merits.

  Then she added specifics.

  “The four of us, I mean. You, the girls, and me. After all, it’s obvious that Noah is completely enamored by your little housekeeper. I’m sure the two of them would appreciate an opportunity for some time together without so many chaperons around.”

  Lucas turned his attention forward again. A month ago a picnic with Rosemary might have been a trifle more tempting. But at the moment, he wasn’t all that sure he was ready to encourage the bonnetmaker’s attentions. . .to say nothing of the hazards of giving his younger brother liberties with Annora that had purposely been withheld until now. “Oh, I don’t know, Rosemary,” he hedged. “A lot depends on the weather and other things.”

  “But will you at least think about it?” She swept a yearning look at him through her lashes. “For the sake of the girls? They’re getting a little too attached to your maid—whose time there, as I understand it, is almost over.”

  Rosemary was trying to shove him into a corner, he realized as he made an effort to retain his casual demeanor. “I’ll think about it,” he mumbled, then clammed up so she’d quit talking.

  Lucas needed no reminder of the passage of Annora’s trial period. But somehow, hearing those words from someone else sent a cold jolt of reality through him. How could a month have flown by so fast?

  fifteen

  After Annora read the girls a story and tucked them in bed, she finished straightening the kitchen and went out to her quarters. Lucas had not returned from town as yet, which disturbed her more than she cared to admit. But keeping in mind that her employer was old enough to choose his own special friends, she lectured herself on the hazards of becoming overly concerned with the man’s personal affairs.

  But does it have to be Rosemary? Recalling the vexatious glare the bonnetmaker had leveled on poor Amy after the unfortunate accident with the milk, Annora had to wonder what sort of a stepmother the woman would make—assuming Lucas was considering establishing a permanent relationship with her. Surely other far more suitably eligible females were in town. Perhaps now that he had taken the first step in attending church again, someone more pleasant might catch his eye.

  You have no right to be jealous of her, an inner voice pointed out.

  Jealous! Annora gave a disdainful huff. Why, I have never been jealous of anyone in my entire life.

  Not even Mirah? On the day of the picnic? her conscience persisted.

  “Well, that was different,” she muttered under her breath. “Mirah was after Jason.” The remembrance of that past disappointment appeared trivial in the light of her current circumstances. Annora shook her head in astonishment; she had severed so many emotional ties upon leaving Philadelphia, the doctor’s son had scarcely entered her mind sinc
e the day of her departure. After all, she assured herself, Jason was nowhere near as mature or compelling as. . .Lucas Brent.

  What are you thinking? Annora felt her cheeks flame with guilt. All those fluttery sensations that teased her insides in his presence, the peculiar need she felt to restore what he’d lost, the simple joy she found in watching the care lines softening around his eyes whenever he spent time with Melinda and Amy. . .were those proper feelings for a mere housekeeper?

  Taking a closer look at them in the quiet solitude of her room, Annora had to admit that no, they were not. In fact, if anything, they were quite the opposite.

  She could no longer avoid the truth. The impossible had happened. Somewhere along the way, she had grown to love Lucas Brent. With the inward admission of that surprising truth, Annora’s heart soared into the darkening sky. . .only to plunge immediately back to earth like a falling star. It was all for naught. Lucas thought of her as one more little girl.

  Well, there was nothing she could do to alter her age. Or his. But one thing she could do was keep these newfound feelings to herself for the remainder of her time here—which she now realized she must terminate on her own when the final day arrived. No use in setting herself up for real heartache.

  As always, when beset by things beyond her control, Annora reached for her Bible and opened it to the Psalms. A sound interrupted her, and she glanced up at her door just as someone rapped.

  “Annora?” Noah asked.

  Wondering what might have brought the young man to her lean-to, she lay the Scriptures aside and got up to open the latch. “What is it?”

  The expression he wore seemed a curious blend of mystery and mischief as his lips slid into a lazy smile. “I, er, need you to sew a button on this for Sunday. That is, if you would be so kind.” He held out a striped shirt.

  “Oh. Of course. I’d be happy to take care of it, Noah. I don’t suppose you saved the button, by any chance?”

  He shook his head, his eyes imprisoning hers.

  “Oh, well, I’m sure Mrs. Brent must have had a button tin. I’ll check with the girls tomorrow.” Smiling, she turned to set the garment down while Noah took his leave.

  He didn’t leave.

  He followed her inside, giving the door a slight kick with his boot. It clicked shut.

  Slanting him a glance, Annora felt little prickles of alarm skitter up her arms. “Is there something else?”

  “You might say that.”

  She gave a perfunctory nod. “Well, tell me what it is. I’m rather busy just now.”

  “Are you?”

  Annora leveled a stare on him, hoping she appeared more confident than she actually was. She opened her mouth to rattle off a list of duties needing her attention, then thought better of it. She didn’t have to answer to her employer’s younger brother. When he took a bold step closer, she inched backward, knowing she was quickly running out of room in the tiny lean-to.

  Still regarding her with that too-penetrating gaze of his, Noah reached out and took a tendril of Annora’s long hair, toying with it in his fingers, feathering it past his nostrils. “Nice,” he murmured. “Soft, like you. Smells real pretty.”

  Annora pulled free and set her shoulders. “Stop it, Noah. You’ve brought me the shirt. Fine. I’ll fix it for you. Now, please go.”

  “Why?” he crooned suggestively, cocking his head to one side. “For once in our lives, nobody is around to order us to go here, do this, do that. Why don’t you and me get to know each other a bit?”

  “No. It’s not proper,” Annora retorted.

  “But I’m sure a city gal like you must know your way around.” He leaned so close his warm breath feathered her neck.

  Startled, shocked at his brazen attitude, she placed her hands on his chest and shoved with all her might.

  Noah yelped in reflex as he toppled over the corner of her cot. He scrambled to his feet again, rubbing his backside. A lopsided grin added a dangerous gleam to his eyes. “So, that’s how you wanna play it. . .”

  “Noah!” she scolded forcefully, her arms out in front of her like a shield. “Stop this. You’re scaring me. Think about what you’re doing.”

  “What I’m doing,” he drawled, “is just—”

  The door burst open. Lucas towered in the portal’s space.

  Annora had not heard her employer return, but she was never so relieved to see anyone in her entire life. Completely unaware of how frightened she had actually been, she felt her knees give way, and she sank onto her bed.

  “I told you to keep your hands off her!” she heard Lucas bellow as he yanked his brother bodily outside. “But no, the minute I turn my back, you’re all over her like fleas on a dog.”

  “So what?” Noah returned defensively. “You expect us to believe you didn’t just get done smoochin’ with Rosie? I figure I’m entitled to—”

  One well-directed blow sent the younger man sprawling.

  Annora, utterly stunned by the unexpected altercation, could only gawk in horror as Noah crawled to his unsteady feet, rubbing his jaw. He shot a sizzling glower at Lucas, then without further word, he spun on his heel and stalked away in the direction of the barn.

  Lucas watched him for a few seconds, then turned and entered the lean-to.

  Still shaken, Annora didn’t quite know how to react. “I–I’m. . .sorry,” she stammered.

  “There’s nothing you need to be sorry about,” he said gently, concern making his straight brows all but meet. “If anybody should apologize, it’s me—for that dunderhead brother of mine. I can’t let him out of my sight for two minutes.” He grimaced. “You all right? Did he hurt you?”

  Annora shook her head and smiled thinly as she rose. “I’m fine.” But her wobbly knees belied her words.

  Lucas reached out and clamped his strong fingers around her upper arms, steadying her. “You’re fine. Right. Look at you—you’re shaking like a leaf.” Without further word, he swept her up into his arms and turned for the door.

  The fluid motion rendered Annora speechless as a fragment of memory brought another similar moment to her mind. . . one so faint that she wondered if she had only dreamed it on her first night in Lucas’s house.

  “Come on,” he was saying as his long strides carried them to the house, “I’ll fix you a cup of tea. It’s gonna be all right, Annora. I’ll never let him—”

  Before he finished the statement—before the fact registered that his heart was hammering every bit as erratically as hers—the clatter of horse hooves broke in on them.

  Lucas relaxed his hold a measure and whirled around. “Chesapeake!” he gasped, going rigid with fury. “Noah! You! Noah!” he hollered. “Get back here! Now!”

  But the younger man did not so much as slow down as he galloped away.

  Annora felt Lucas’s shoulders sag, and he mumbled something under his breath as he set her on her feet. She didn’t know whether or not to say anything. Besides, even if she could come up with some profound reply, her emotions were so jumbled she couldn’t trust her voice. The events of the last several minutes were beyond anything she would ever have dreamed.

  “If he harms Ches, I’ll tear him limb from limb,” Lucas muttered. Staring uselessly up the now-empty lane for a few seconds, he exhaled a whoosh of defeat. Then, as if coming back to his senses, he took Annora’s hand and led her through the door and to the table, where he drew out a chair for her.

  “Thank you,” she breathed.

  Neither spoke as Lucas dumped some tea leaves into the pot and added hot water from the kettle atop the stove. His posture and impatient motions more than revealed his controlled agitation—as did the set of his jaw.

  A short time later when he crossed the room with two cups of the rich brew, Annora smiled tentatively as she accepted one and watched him sink heavily onto the seat opposite her.

  “I. . .I didn’t mean to cause trouble for you,” she finally managed in the uncomfortable silence.

  “You’re not the cause of t
he trouble,” he grated. He took a gulp of tea, then set down his mug with a clunk and got up to pace to the door.

  Annora felt his worry as she watched him standing there with his fingers in the back pockets of his jeans, gazing helplessly at the darkened lane. “Can’t you go after him on one of the mares?”

  He shook his head. “They’re not saddle-broke. The hothead will mosey home eventually. . .and when he does, I’ll be waiting for him.”

  Not even daring to imagine yet another confrontation between the two men, Annora nibbled her bottom lip. She could only pray that the Lord would take control of the whole mixed-up situation and keep everyone from getting hurt.

  Lucas, a decided droop to his bearing, finally went outside, his steps fading as he trudged away.

  Annora stood and took the cups to the sideboard before returning to her haven. Aware of her employer’s misery and concern for his fine mount, she was too agitated to sleep, but she changed into her night shift and got out the lap desk. Perhaps a visit with Lesley would calm her spirit.

  How long she sat cross-legged on her bed, tapping her pencil on that blank sheet of writing paper, Annora couldn’t estimate. But after a time, she put away the writing equipment and blew out the lamp, then crawled between the sheet and light blanket on her bed. There she lay with nothing to do but pray.

  Another hour or more dragged by. And one more after that one. Finally, the faint sound of horse hooves drifted from far away. Annora thought at first the noise was her imagination, until the hoof falls grew louder. Something about the pattern did not quite seem right, she realized, and she strained to listen more closely.

  There it was again. . .that uneven, halting sound. Her heart thudded to a stop.

  Apparently Lucas, too, had detected Chesapeake’s return. She heard him come running from the barn.

  Hoping against hope that nothing was amiss, Annora swung her legs over the side of her cot and slipped into her silk wrapper, tying it hastily about her waist. Then she padded outside barefooted, anxious to put her mind at ease.

  But coming within sight of the lane, she saw Lucas was already kneeling at one of Chesapeake’s forelegs, and a jolt of alarm shot up her spine. She picked up her pace, realizing that the horse had no rider. Noah was not to be seen.