This Loving Land - Dorothy Garlock [48]
“Or yours.” His eyes teased her and he reached out to touch the coils atop her head.
“I think if it was mine, she would have told me. I know it isn’t Papa’s. His hair was reddish-brown.” She folded the necklace in the paper and returned it to the box. Slater didn’t move. She could feel his eyes and looked up. He smiled at her with amused tenderness in his eyes. His voice had reached into her heart with a thrill of joyful recognition so strong that it caused her to catch her breath. She knew him! She knew him with her heart, her soul, as if he was the other half of herself and they would never be content until united.
It was a highly emotional moment, everything else in suspension, till Slater reached out a hand and stroked her forearm.
“Get something for your head. I want you to come with me to the Keep.” It was a softly-spoken request.
While Summer tied on her sunbonnet, Slater spoke to Sadie.
“Decide where you want your outdoor cook-spot, Sadie. I’ll send Jack down with a load of rock and an iron grill. lack’s good at rock work. He’ll fix it up high, so you won’t have to be bending all the time.”
Sadie flushed with pleasure. “That’ll make things real handy.”
John Austin looked from his sister to Slater. He was clearly puzzled as to why Slater preferred her company to his. When Slater spoke again, it was to him.
“I’m taking your sister over to the Keep, John. You keep a sharp eye out here and look after Sadie and Mary. If you think there’s a need, you climb up on a chair and get this handgun off the shelf. It’s loaded, so be careful. Point it up and pull the trigger. It kicks like a mule and will probably knock you down, but by the time you get up someone would be on the way over. Remember that? Don’t get it down unless you mean to fire it.
“I won’t, Slater. And I’ll take care of things while you’re gone.”
To Summer’s startled eyes, her brother seemed to grow inches.
“I know you would, John, or I wouldn’t leave you in charge.”
Out in the yard, Summer started walking toward the creek and the footbridge. Slater took her elbow and turned her toward the corral.
“We’ll ride over.”
“Oh, but. . . .”
He laughed. “Oh, but . . . what?”
“I can’t ride in this dress.”
His mouth twitched and humor came into his eyes “We’ll have to get you one of those fancy riding skirts that’s split somehow. I never did like a side-saddle. They just don’t do for this country.”
Summer looked up at the tall black gelding, her voilet eyes full of apprehension. As if guessing the sensation, Slater stepped close to the horse’s head and the animal nuzzled his hand.
“Estrella’s gentle, but won’t tolerate a heavy hand or a sawing bit.”
“Estrella? What does it mean?”
“Means Star. When I got him, his name was Esteril, which means sterilized, but I thought it rather cruel to keep reminding him of what had been done to him.” He turned her face toward him with a gentle finger under her chin. His dark eyes, as they watched the crimson flood her face, glinted devilishly. Weakened by the pulsing flame traveling from his hands through her, Summer tried to turn her face away, but he held her with tender strength. “The only thing that’s keeping me from kissing you is John. He’s watching from the door.
“You wouldn’t?”
“No, but I want to.”
Before she could retreat, he swept her up and placed her in the saddle sideways, thrust a foot in the stirrup and swung himself up behind her, his arms encircling her as he held the reins. Summer gripped the saddlehorn. The horse’s movement brought her in rhythmic contact with him—there was no way she could escape his closeness, not that she wanted to. She longed to melt back against him, to feel his broad chest against her back, but she held herself erect.
“I wish 1 hadn’t told you to wear that damn bonnet.” His voice was close to her ear. The horse stopped in the middle of the creek. “Take it off.”
Her hands were gripping the saddlehorn so tightly, she doubted if she would be able to loosen them. He laughed softly and she thought it the nicest sound she had ever heard.
“Don’t be afraid. I won’t let you fall.