Raindance©

Free Online Short Love Story

Written by American Author Sky Taylor

Story Starts Here

"Easton Trevor is a wealthy man.  Bandera is at least twenty times larger than the Horseshoe.  And there's not a rich man in ten with a satisfied mind - Trevor included," he told her.  "Your uncle refused to sell out to him."

"I see.  And Custar?"

"His tongue is worse than a weasel bite and his mouth is wider than the Grand Canyon."

Chasity giggled with amusement, holding a small hand over her pink lips regarding his statement.

"You are pretty when you laugh," White Feather commented seriously.  "Tell me.  Why didn't you come to visit your uncle more often?  He spoke of you in an adoring way."

"I was very fond of him, too," she told him, turning on, and then off the faucet.  At least the sink was in working order.

She turned and addressed him, wanting him to know just how much she cared for her dear uncle.

"My mother had a terrible spat with him on my fifteenth birthday.  He tried to give me a pony and she wouldn't hear of it."

"Why not?"

Chasity lifted her brow as she rethought the incident, telling him, "My father died because of a horse riding accident when I was a very young child. Whenever I visited Uncle, she always had a fit.  They just never got along, and I always seemed to be caught in the middle." She paused, then continued, "Mother died this Spring - just a few short weeks ago."

"Yes.  I remember your uncle going to the funeral."

"Yes.  It's unfortunate that they never mended the rift.  Nonetheless, I am grateful for the times that I did spend with my uncle, and for him leaving his ranch to me. It's a bit difficult to believe that they are both gone now - dying so close together, yet eons apart because of their stubborn nature."

"Nature has a way of righting the wrong," he eased out in a wooden tone through the strained silence.  Then,  "I know of a woman who would cook and clean for you. She used to work here - many years ago.  Shall I call her?"

"Oh that would be fantastic!  I'll need to place my focus on the workings of the ranch books as well as learning about the operation.  How soon do you think she could come?"

"A few days," he echoed, searching her beautiful face.  "She is not young, like you.  But, she is a good worker."

"That's fine," Chasity smiled, licking dry lips.  "We'll also need to call some contractors to put the ranch house right again."

"Hum.  Perhaps it would be best if you stayed in the bunkhouse for a few days - until things are more orderly," he suggested.  "You can have my quarters and I'll bunk with Hal.  His area is large, so there is plenty of room to set up a cot.  Hal can take the cot," White Feather suddenly decided.

"Hal?"

"The foreman.  He has a weak mind but his back is strong," White Feather went on to inform.  "You have about fifty good cowboys, too. And of course you know that I'm in charge of the over all operations of the ranch.  The overseer."  He paused, then thoughtfully threw in, "I hear that Custar might be promoted to an executive overseer."

She fanned a quick glance over the room, choosing to ignore his comment regarding Custar.  "Is your room cleaner than this?"

"No scalps hanging up to dry at the moment," he told her as his blue eyes pierced her shocked face.  "A little dust, but much better than this.  Your uncle was a hog."

She smiled, relaxing a notch - deciding that White Feather was a huge teaser.  "Yes he was."

"I'm glad that you will be staying," he told her.

"You didn't think that I would, did you?" she asked, serious now.

"No.  I thought that you would sell out to Trevor - that you'd put the Horseshoe out of order and send fifty good men to their graves. But I wonder if you will be so brave once you meet Easton Trevor," White Feather speculated aloud, thrusting his tongue in his leather cheek as he went to collect her bags.

There were only two; everything else had been sold.  Her uncle's untimely passing coupled with her mother's passing had placed other emphasis on her life. The ranch was a huge opportunity for her and even now, she couldn't grasp how gracious her uncle had been to her.  It was almost overwhelming.

As they exited into the front yard, the threat of a storm had passed leaving a handsome cowboy in its wake.  Chasity assumed that he worked for the ranch which was unfortunate because she was immediately attracted to him.  It wouldn't do for her to become involved with the cowboys.  No mixing of business and pleasure for her.

The cowboy had an amused smirk planted on his well-shaped lips and his hands were gloved in leather, the faded jeans looped with a tooled leather belt.

She met his dark eyes and she flinched as he tilted his Stetson head back revealing sub-bleached hair which feathered about his chiseled face.

"I've seen you from somewhere," Chasity eased out thoughtfully.  Then, "Uncle's funeral.  You-you were among the mourners."

"Like most women, you possess the memory of an elephant," the stranger drawled, White Feather laughing deeply at the mocking comment. "But I didn't come here for a house warming, Ms. Summers," he ground out tightly, his words cutting her nerves like a jagged tin can.

"And just what did you come here for?" Chasity eased out, thinking that she'd never met anyone so arrogant.  

"To buy you out of course-"

"I'm staying," she cut him off, wishing that he'd just vanish.  Obviously, this was the next door neighbor, the Easton Trevor person that White Feather had semi-warned her about.

"I'm offering double what it's worth - fair market value," he offered, his face still as cold as stone.

"Mr. Trevor," she began and she was instantly thrilled when she noticed a flash of surprise cross his face because she'd guessed who he was - then, "I'm staying regardless."

"You won't last a week with that pale hide of yours," he assured.  "Needlework would better suit you."  At her viscous look, he tried a different tactic.  "Look. Ranching is difficult - back breaking at its best."

"I like challenges," she assured, not missing the invisible current that flowed between them.  And to think that a few moments ago she had found him attractive. Right - like a poisonous toad.  His face resembled a mountain of ice and it showed no sign of thawing anytime soon.

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