Three days had passed since the debacle in town. She and Rusty had not spoken more than a few words to each other, and then only when necessary. He tried several times to talk to her, but she always found something to occupy her attention.
“You won’t be able to ride much longer with him anyway. It’s getting close to time for school to start. I want you to spend more time with your schoolbooks.”
A sharp rap on the front door drew their attention. Rusty opened the door and smiled in her direction. “Good morning, Mrs. Stevens.”
“Morning,” she mumbled as she moved to the sink and began washing dishes.
Rusty moved further into the kitchen and tugged on the brim of Will’s hat. “You
ready to ride, partner?”
“Ma?” Will pleaded with his eyes.
Why did the man continue to plague her so? She wanted nothing to do with him, didn’t want her son to have anything to do with him. Her heart hurt too much. She closed her eyes and sighed. “What about your schoolwork?”
“I’ll do it tonight. I promise.” He waited all of two seconds before he added, “So can I go?”
Unable to speak the words, she merely nodded.
“Yippee!”
“Will, wait for me in the stable, I want to talk to your ma.” Why his voice—deep and seductive—still had the capability of setting her heart to fluttering, and rendering her senseless angered her. Which was better. Anger she could handle.
Once Will slammed out of the house, she whirled around, arms crossed under her breasts. “I have nothing to say to you, Mr. McIntyre.”
He took off his hat, tugging on his hair, then placed it back on his head, tugging the brim over one eye. Her heart flutters turned to thumps as if it would choke her.
“I have quite a bit to say to you.”
She swept past him, headed to the parlor. “I’m not interested.”
He grabbed her by the shoulder and swung her around, encircling her with his arms, the warmth from his body a torturous prison. “I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry I am.”
“Fine, if you can’t begin, then let me go.”
“Rachel—”
“Mrs. Stevens to you.”
“Darlin’ I know I was wrong and said some awful things. My lack of trust is—”
“Is your problem.”
“I know it’s my problem, and I know I can get over it. Just don’t turn away from me. Give me a chance to make it up to you.”
She shook her head. “It’s too late. If you don’t trust me, then I can’t trust you. It’s very simple, really.”
“I can trust you. I do trust you.”
She leaned back and regarded him with raised eyebrows. “Really? Then what was that scene in the hotel room all about?”
He released her and paced. “You must admit it did look a bit suspicious.”
“See, that’s what I mean! If you trusted me, nothing would look suspicious. You would assume whatever was going on was completely innocent. But instead, you focused on the worst.”
“I love you.”
All the breath left her body in one huge exhale. How could this man think he loved her and then accuse her of lying and cheating? The words he’d hurled at her still had the ability to cut through her like a well-honed knife.