Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range Danica Favorite (warren buffett book recommendations .txt) 📖

kiss?” He swiped the towel from where it hung around his neck and tossed it to the chair. “It’s better to talk now than to hold things inside.”

The letter lay in her palm. She could throw it at him in some infantile display of temper. Demand he answer her. But she held back.

“Are you going to give me the silent treatment like you did the first year you were here? I tolerated it then, and even a few years ago when you got mad about your mama, but I certainly won’t take it now.” He advanced, dangerous intent sizzling in his expression.

Before he could completely crowd her against the wall, she squared her shoulders, summoned self-will and shoved the paper between them. He stopped. Glanced at it, then to her, his face shuttered.

“Where did you get that?”

“Does it matter?” she managed to squeeze out from beneath stiff lips.

“Sure it does.” Faster than the pop of bacon in a pan, he snatched it from her fingers and opened the page. He looked at it briefly before returning it to his shirt pocket. His eyes found hers. The intensity of them disturbed her. “Did you read this before or after our kiss?”

She shook her head.

“Before or after?” he repeated.

“After.”

“Good.” He started to turn away.

“Good?” she said needlessly.

“Yep.”

She reached for his shoulder but he kept going. Desperate with rage, she darted in front of him. The door waited behind her.

“How dare you,” she said.

“Me?” He had the audacity to look surprised. “It’s not against the law to apply for new employment.”

“We rely on you. And this letter references your inquiry over two months ago.” Suddenly words filled her mouth and she did not dare let them dry up like the desert outside, unsaid, unplanted. “Plans needed to be made, then. How much time do we have now? Have you any clue how long it takes to start a business? The money involved? The time and effort and ingenuity?”

His brows lowered. “I never planned for you to not be taken care of, Mary. And you bought Trevor’s house, so I didn’t see the problem in selling the ranch. I’m happy to give you whatever money you need.”

“Yes, I’m sure you are. So that you may gallivant off to wherever you’re going. Asia, correct? And what will you do there?” Her hand flung through the air, narrowly missing his chin. He stepped back, a bewildered expression on his face. She didn’t care. “You must realize what sort of position you have put us in. It was unthinking and...and unfair.” Her voice caught.

Oh, no, she was going to cry. Swallowing hard, she fought the angry tears.

“Mary, everything is going to be okay. You don’t have to worry.” He moved as if to hug her, but she put out a hand to stop him.

“I am not worried. I am angry. Very, very angry.”

Shaking and not sure how much longer she could hold her inopportune tears, she turned and fled.

Lou’s wound pulsed with pain. He pressed on the scarred area with his palm. With his other hand he shoved the letter farther into his pocket, wincing when the front door slammed shut.

Leaving that letter in his pocket hadn’t been the smartest thing, but at least today’s telegram hadn’t fallen out. For a second he’d thought Mary was going to hit him.

Sweet, docile Mary.

Lately the woman acted as though something had been set on fire behind her. Anger and defiance marked everything she said. A natural occurrence as she grew more comfortable expressing herself, but still, it was uncomfortable for him.

Unbidden, the memory of her arms around him crept past his defenses. He blinked, willing the sensation away.

“James,” he shouted.

No answer. Shrugging, he gathered up the shaving supplies and stomped out of the sitting room. The hallway gleamed in the darkening evening, thanks to Mary’s cleaning skills. She kept up the house better than most.

Shining floors, delicious dinners. She’d make some man a fine wife. His mouth soured at the thought. He put the shaving supplies away, then called for James again.

Still no sound. Had the old man gone home? He lived in a little house down a ways on the property, near the bunkhouse where hands stayed when they’d been doing more ranching. Not anymore.

With the way people were clearing out in this county, the town of Burns might be lucky to survive. Logging seemed to be going well, however, especially with the railroads spreading across the country.

Mary should thank him for pushing her out of the nest, so to speak.

Yet, as he opened the front door and stepped into the approaching dusk, twinges of conscience pinged him. He closed the door and then clomped to the stairs. In the distance, two silhouettes stood against the horizon.

The shadows turned and he noticed the skirts. Mary and her mother? Another problem he wished he could solve for her. If Mary knew her mother had been the one who’d told Mendez where she lived twelve years ago, the one who’d made the kidnapping possible, then she wouldn’t let Rose live here. He debated telling Mary about her mother’s part but decided against it. What good could come of exposing such a thing? Only more hurt for Mary. Best to just keep an eye on Rose and make sure she didn’t put Mary in harm’s way.

He went down the porch steps.

Maybe the ladies had seen James. Besides, he needed a reason to look Mary in the eyes again, to reassure himself that her feelings weren’t hurt by his dismissal of the kiss.

After all, he had plans. So did she. There was no room for fickle emotions. Heart thumping, he strode toward Mary and her mother. They began running to him. As they neared, his stomach plunged at the expression on their faces.

“What’s wrong?” he asked quickly, noting the glazed appearance of Rose’s eyes.

“It’s Josie.” Mary’s features were drawn. “She’s missing.”

Chapter Fourteen

“Missing?” A dumbfounded expression slacked Lou’s handsome features.

“Yes,” Mary snapped. “Mother and I are going to mount up and