"It's a guarantee," Jeff replied. "Come on, Adeline."
She hesitated, looking back at Ben uncertainly. "Ben… "
"Hmmm?" There was nothing but indifference in his face.
She wanted to thank him-for what, she wasn't certain. "I… I'll see you at dinner, I guess," she stammered, and the comers of his mouth deepened with the trace of a smile.
"Only if you don't forget how to ride Jessie on the way back."
She glared at him. Seeing her impotent anger, Ben chuckled, clicking to his horse and riding away.
"What did he mean?" Jeff demanded, looking nettled, and Addie stared ruefully after Ben's retreating figure.
"He's just being nasty," she said. "As usual." There was a short silence before Jeff reached over and took her free hand, lifting it to his mouth. "I missed you," he said softly. She didn't know how to reply. To her he was a stranger, but he looked at her as if they had shared many private moments together. "Good Lord, you're beautiful. More beautiful than I've ever seen you. What is it about you that makes my heart ache so much?"
Addie stared at him in wonder. He sounds as if he's in love with me, she thought in alarm. Just how close have I been with him? … I mean, how intimate have he and Adeline been? Oh, I wish he wouldn't look at me that way!
"Let's go to our place," he said, his blue eyes seeming to swallow her whole, and she nodded slowly, drawing her hand away from his.
"Their place" turned out to be a secluded spot near a gently rushing stream that just bordered the Sunrise Ranch. While the horses drank downstream, Addie allowed Jeff to seat her in the shade of a hardy tree.
"I was afraid you wouldn't be here this morning," he said, sitting beside her and slipping his arm around her back. Her spine stiffened at the familiar gesture, but he seemed not to notice.
"What would you have done if I hadn't been?"
"I would have ridden to the ranch and gotten you myself." Jeff smiled crookedly. "I couldn't have let another day go by without seein' you."
"Exactly how long has it been?"
"An eternity. Seven days, two hours, thirty-seven minutes. "
Addie laughed, and he bent to kiss the tip of her nose. Surprised, she jerked her head back. "Are you turnin' shy on me?" he asked tenderly. "You've never been shy with me before, sweetheart." As he bent over and pressed his lips against the side of her throat, she colored and pulled away from him. For heaven's sake, what was the matter with these men? She'd been manhandled more in the past twenty-four hours than she had ever been in her life! "I should've expected you to turn skittish on me," Jeff grumbled. "You know it only makes me want you more."
"Maybe I just want to talk a little."
Immediately his blue eyes were grave. "'Bout what? The stuff I told you about the other night?"
"I… I don't remember what that was."
"You Oh, God's sake, Adeline. Isn't there anything you won't tease me about? If you don't want to talk about it, there won't ever have to be another word. It's enough for me to know you won't stand in the way. "
Addie frowned, staring at him curiously. Was he referring to a marriage proposal? Or some kind of plan they had hatched up?
"No, I won't stand in the way," she said, hoping that would encourage him to drop some more clues.
"You think Leah understood what she heard?"
"I… I don't know."
"Just keep an eye on her, that's all."
"I w-will-"
"Aw, honey, don't look so worried. It's all gonna work out fine. We'll get it done in time. You trust me, don't you?"
"Yes, I… Jeff!"
He had taken her by the shoulders and pulled her halfway across his lap. "Enough talkin', Adeline. I'm gonna die if I wait one more second."
His mouth covered hers in a kiss that lasted for a long time. After her initial surprise, Addie lay passively in his arms, answering the pressure of his lips. My Lord, I never dreamed I'd be kissing 0l' Man Johnson, she thought nervously, and suddenly it was hard not to giggle. His hand slid to her breast, cupping lightly, and she tensed at the intimate touch, finding it anything but arousing. They were supposed to be familiar with each other-but she didn't know him at all, and she couldn't pretend to enjoy his roving hands. It was difficult to hide a sigh of relief when his hand slid to her waist and stayed there. At last he lifted his head and smiled down at her, apparently satisfied with her response, lackluster though it had been.
"I love you," he whispered, causing her to cringe inside. She couldn't make herself say it back. She had never told any man that she loved him, and she didn't want the first time to be a lie. Feeling horribly guilty, she tried to look at him as he looked at her.
"Oh, Jeff," she said, her voice trembling, and he didn't notice that the betraying quiver was caused by agitation, not love.
He held her silently, clasping her against his chest, and she discovered with some surprise that it was rather soothing to be held by him. How different this was from the torment and excitement she had found in Ben's arms. The hair on the back of her neck rose as she remembered Ben's mouth so close to her ear, his hand resting lightly on her body… Oh, how could she have let him? Now he'd never allow her to forget it.
The rest of the morning was strangely relaxing. They were quiet for long stretches of time, curled up together as they watched the gurgling stream. Although Jeff seemed to feel she belonged to him, he didn't paw her, and he wasn't heavy-handed. He kissed her often, but he was gentle with her, as if he were afraid she might break. Many times Addie would tum her face to find him staring at her raptly, apparently mesmerized. What had Adeline Warner done to cause this obsession?
"Adeline Johnson," he murmured as he held her, and she jumped slightly.
"What?"
"That's who you'll be, pretty soon. Adeline Johnson. Sounds good, doesn't it?"
"It sounds different," she said cautiously.
He drew his knuckles down the side of her face. "Witch," he whispered. "You have the face of an angel. And the heart of a witch. I'll never be free of you-I couldn't be if I wanted to. You own my soul, Adeline. "
"I don't want to own anyone."
"You're a mystery. I'll never understand you. I guess no one ever will. You get a grip on a man's heart, and every now and then you give it a little twist… but always so sweetly. And it's only because you're so beautiful that I let you tie me in knots the way you do. "
The intensity of his stare made her uneasy. "Don't, you'll make me conceited," she said, and laughed in an effort to break the tension. Jeff followed her lead, breaking out into a low laugh.
"I've got to see you tomorrow," he said, watching her as she stood up to brush the leaves and dirt off her skirt.
"I don't know." Addie smiled at him. "Something tells me I'll be very busy."
"I miss you, Adeline. And I'm gettin' tired of the way your father and his bulldog keep such a close eye on you. I never get to visit you without them hangin' over me like-"
"His bulldog?"
"Ben Hunter. Lord knows why your father has taken to him, or why he trusts him. It's not safe for you to be around him."
"Why do you say that? “
"He's up to no good, honey. Just think about it. Stranger comes to Sunrise, talkin' like an easterner and carryin' a forty-four. Has a reputation as a maverick hunter and a gambler. Somehow finds his way to Sunrise Ranch and hornswoggles your daddy into hiring him on. Anyone with eyes can see he 's on dodge from the law. You can always tell when a man's lyin' low."
"I guess you can." Addie stared into the stream and frowned thoughtfully. Then she asked him to take her home.
Russell decided to talk to Addie in the library before dinner that night-for what reason, she couldn't guess. As she sat down in a deep leather chair and watched him puff on a cigar, she found it comforting to be near him. Having been raised by a maiden aunt, she'd never been accustomed to a masculine presence in a home. She liked Russell's scratchy, deep voice, the scents of horses, leather, and the trace of strong drink that clung to him. He had the same vigor that she had admired in Ben, the same robust appreciation of life, and his roughness appealed to something inside her.