“I don't want to talk to you now,” she said, aware of how petulant she sounded. “Or ever again. Just arrange for someone to take me back to town, and I'll marry the first man who asks me. I'd marry one of the ranch hands here, but then I'd have to see your ugly face every day.” She'd been trying to insult him, so it irked her to hear him chuckle. It was a somewhat strangled sound, as if the laugh surprised him, and she turned to scowl at him. “I'm not joking. The sun was in my eyes before. You really did grow up rather hideous. I can see that now.”

“Oh, Val,” he said with a grin, his eyes softening. “There you are.”

Her nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed. “What's that supposed to mean?” she demanded.

With a slight shake of his head, he answered, “That's who you are to me...an annoying little sister, a pest who follows me around and gives me grief at every turn. I was afraid you'd changed into some pretentious fine lady.”

“Thank you very much,” she replied with a frown, crossing her arms and glaring at him. “I'll be sure to write those beautiful words down in my diary when I get home so that I can cherish them when I'm old and gray.”

Now he laughed with complete abandon. She thought some of it was from nerves, but it was still a joyous sound and the corners of her mouth twitched a little in response. She had to bite her cheeks to keep from laughing herself.

When he recovered, he wiped his eyes and extended his hand. She scowled at it and crossed her arms. “Do you really think I would ever touch you?”

With a sigh, he dropped his hand and motioned toward the barn. “Can we talk in there? I don't think you want to stay out in the blazing sun all day.”

Head tilting back a little, she pretended to drink in the sun as an act of defiance. “Why not? It's most inviting.”

“Come on, Val,” he cajoled. “You know your mom would not approve of the freckles that are bound to appear. Let's go into the barn.”

She wanted to dispute his claim, but there was no point. Her mother would frown at the notion of her daughter gallivanting around without a parasol, but she'd never give him the satisfaction of saying so. Instead, she flounced ahead of him to the barn, her full skirts swishing as she went.

“I want to see the animals,” she declared as though it was her idea to go there in the first place. “Especially the horses.”

“Sure thing,” he replied with a bit of a snort. “Because you're such an animal lover.”

Her mouth tightened but she kept her face impassive otherwise. It was true that she had no great affection for animals, but that was only because she'd never been permitted to have a pet, so anything bigger than a kitten stirred fear in her stomach.

“It's been a long time, Thomas Wellington,” she answered back tartly. “Don't presume to know anything about me now.”

The inside of the barn was cool and dark. She was glad of the relief from the sun, but her anger still burned brightly. With pursed lips, she strode toward one of the horses, determined to prove to Thomas that she was a different person now and nothing like the young teen he'd left behind.

Extending her hand, she approached a large black horse saying, “Hello there, big fellow. Aren't you beautiful.”

“Val, no!” Thomas shouted.

She saw the horse open its mouth and bare its teeth just as Thomas raced forward, wrapped his arms around her middle, and swung her out of the way just in time.

The sight of those large teeth caused such a strong tremor to go through her that her knees nearly gave way.

“I thought horses were supposed to be friendly,” she whimpered, turning to Thomas and burying her head in his chest. All anger and resentment fled as fear coursed through her and she sagged against him.

His arms wrapped around her and he stroked her hair as though she were a young child. “Most of them are, but this one just gave birth. She's being protective of her foal, especially since you're a stranger.”

The fear that had risen in her chest subsided quickly upon the realization that she was exactly where she wanted to be, safe in the circle of his arms. Turning her head up toward his face slightly, she wondered what he would do if she reached up to kiss him. Of course, she would never be so brazen and hadn't ever kissed a man, but the temptation was there. What would he do?

Almost as if he could read her mind, his arms dropped and he lowered his head. “If you want to see a horse, I'll show you mine. She's gentle. You could even ride her if you wish, but we don't have any side saddles.”

“I don't think I could ride a horse by myself, but if you were to ride with me?” she asked coquettishly.

Her mother would probably have slapped her face for being so forward, but she was feeling desperate. Her claim that she would marry some stranger had been an act of bravado. Without the hope of marriage to Thomas, she truly was lost. Once her parents found out what she'd done, the arrangement with Montgomery Bainbridge would be off the table, but for that, she wasn't sorry. However, rumors would spread and soon she would be an outcast. No one back East would have her now, so she had to do everything within her power to make this work.

She didn't regret her words when she saw redness creep up his neck at her nearness. He did feel something for her besides brotherly affection. She was sure of it.

“Uh, I don't know about that.” He stepped away from her and turned toward the exit. “I—I don't really have a lot of free time. Work and all.”

She swallowed her disappointment. Perhaps she wasn’t quite the temptress she believed herself to be. “I see. Well, I'm going to go back up to the house and apologize for my behavior. You do what you have to.”

“We'll talk more later, Val. I promise.”

As she walked up to the house, her mind ran this way and that, searching for a new plan. Her initial hope that Thomas would fall in love with her on sight had vanished, but she now thought perhaps there was still potential for them. The prayer that she'd been struggling to utter had now left entirely. Until she heard differently from God, she would do what she thought was best.

“Hello?” she called out, pushing on the door a little. It had been partly left open, presumably to let in the breeze. It seemed silly to knock, but she felt unsure of herself, not a feeling she was accustomed to. “May I come in?”

Kate rushed forward, concern written on her face. “Of course! Please. How are you feeling? Oh, I could box that man's ears for being so thoughtless. He knows nothing about women.”

Valerie's heart contracted in her chest at the sympathy Kate expressed. She'd never had a sister, but if she could choose one, it would be this woman with the sweet smile and gentle eyes.

“That's okay,” she replied with a grimace. “He was just being Thomas.”

Kate frowned a little. “I'm not sure what that means,” she said, taking Valerie's hand in her own. “But I don't think it's any excuse.”

Valerie allowed herself to be led back to the kitchen where the other women were busy cleaning up. At the sight of her, they turned and offered kind smiles.

“Oh, well, he just speaks his mind no matter what. I used to appreciate it, but not so much when it's about me and negative besides.”

They all laughed a little. “There's not a woman alive who likes to be criticized,” Marge agreed heartily. “My Walter had a nice way of doing it, but not too many men are like him.”

“Your husband criticized you?” she asked curiously, taking the seat that Kate all but pushed her into. She likewise accepted the coffee that was placed in front of her.

“Ah, but not really. He'd just smile and compliment me on the opposite of how I was behaving. Like when I was being fussy about cleanliness, he would say something about how he loved that I was such a patient woman to put up with a slob like him. That would make me feel so bad about being impatient, I would forgive whatever crime he'd committed.”

The women all shared a chuckle.

“He sounds lovely,” Valerie said with a little sigh. “But you're right. There aren't too many men like him these days.”

She felt a little too pampered sitting at the table drinking coffee while these women worked so hard, but exhaustion overwhelmed her and all she wanted to do was sleep. The realization that she had forced herself upon these lovely people shamed her, but for at least one day, she would have to presume on them.

“I'm so sorry, but is there somewhere I can lay my head for a moment? I'm quite tired suddenly.”

“Of course you are,” Kate tutted. “Come along with me. Until we can arrange something, you can lie in my bed.”

“Oh, you won't have to arrange anything for me,” she protested, but without any real conviction. “I should be on my way tomorrow if one of the men can take me back to town.”

Three sets of eyes turned to her. “Are you really giving up?” Elise questioned, her eyebrows drawing together in concern. “Do not rush off so quickly. You must find out what God's plan is first. Perhaps He did bring you here after all.”

“I agree,” Marge added. “I may not seem like it, but I'm kind of a romantic, and I think that boy is real lucky to have someone like you chasing after him, if you'll pardon my expression.”

Valerie wanted to protest, but she couldn't. That was exactly what she'd done, chase him nearly all the way across the country. Instead, she laughed a little. “Yes, you're right, but I can't make him love me, and I thought perhaps I should give him a little space for now.” Although she had no desire to leave the ranch, neither did she want to impose on these women. She surprised herself by saying, “Well, I may not look it, but I don't really need much. A mat on the floor would be fine.”

The words came out of her mouth quite easily considering she'd never slept on anything but a fine bed her entire life.

“I'm sure that won't be necessary,” Kate replied, chuckling. “But for now, come with me and we'll sort something out later.”

Again, she allowed herself to be led from the room like a small child. Kate sat her down on the bed and even stooped to help remove her boots.

“You don't have to do that,” she started to protest, but Kate merely shushed her and pushed her back. The moment her head touched her pillow, exhaustion overwhelmed her. Shutting her eyes, she barely felt Kate cover her with a light blanket before she fell fast asleep.