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.”“Don’t be silly.You’ll talk about the mountains and the sunshine.You will simply enjoy yourself.”“I don’t think I will.” Her breakfast had rolled into a knot in her stomach.Lorena handed her a gauzy parasol.“Protect your lovely fair skin from the sun, dear.And enjoy yourself.”Olivia greeted Marcus with a nervous smile.He swept his hat from his head and ushered her up to a seat before climbing up beside her and urging the single horse forward.From his position on the roof of the new house, Jules watched Marcus Stone’s sleek black Bavarian warmblood pull the buggy past the corral, then squinted at the trail of dust.He was going to pair his Cleveland mare with Marcus’s stud in the spring and have some fine-looking warmbloods like that, too.Likely even sturdier.Marcus didn’t have a barn like Jules’s.None of the other ranchers had a barn that could hold a candle to it, either.He hammered a shingle into place with unnecessary force.If his mother hadn’t shown up when she had, he would have asked Olivia to stay and help him take care of Emily.He would’ve needed a teacher for his niece and, in a couple of years, for the Roland children.Having the two of them here would have worked out.He didn’t want to think about Emily leaving.And it made his gut ache to think of Olivia marrying Marcus—or anyone else.But he wanted what was best for both of them.Emily would have a better chance for a good life and a future marriage in Cincinnati.Still, he wouldn’t be such a bad choice for Olivia.He nearly had a fine house finished.With Tanis nearby, she’d have companionship.And eventually…they’d have children.Marcus already had a house, he recalled with a sick feeling.He’d ordered lumber from somewhere up north and built a wood-frame structure with a porch along two sides.At the time, Jules had thought the man should be focusing on his spread and his barns.Their priorities had been different.Jules caught himself daydreaming.He hadn’t hammered a nail for ten minutes.He glanced down at the pile of remaining lumber on the ground.Probably enough to make a couple of chairs for the porch.Definitely enough to keep his hands occupied, if not his mind.Supper was more festive than usual.Lorena used one of her shawls for a tablecloth, and they ate quail with stuffing made from Olivia’s bread.Lorena had managed to talk Wayland out of carrots, which she baked with a maple glaze.Dessert was a golden-crusted pie made from a jar of blackberries Tanis had offered.“Emily and I will leave next Monday,” Lorena told them as they ate.“Once we reach Cincinnati, I will take you to my seamstress,” she said to the girl.“We’ll have you fitted for dresses for school and church.”“But I have dresses,” Emily told her.“I know, dear, but won’t you be excited to have all new?”Emily nodded, though her expression showed her uncertainty.“We’ll make you something from velvet for the holidays.A deep green perhaps.Have you ever had a velvet dress? There’s nothing like the feel of the luxurious fabric.You will love Christmas in the city.There are holiday parties and Christmas programs.You will likely sing with the children’s choir.We’ll bake pumpkin and mince pies and shop for gifts.We will find a special tree this year.One as high as the ceiling in the parlor, and we’ll decorate it with beads and glass ornaments.Doesn’t that sound like fun?”The girl glanced at Olivia, who gave her an encouraging smile.Olivia imagined the holiday the woman described, a holiday unlike any they’d ever celebrated.Everything they’d ever dreamed of would now belong to Emily.Lorena had seen the look pass between them.She folded her napkin.“The two of you have been together for many Christmases, haven’t you?”Olivia fought back a flood of emotion to nod.She did feel joy in her heart for the new life and experiences Emily would enjoy.The child’s happiness was all that mattered.“Your plans sound lovely.Emily will enjoy herself.”Lorena reached across the table to place her hand over Olivia’s.“Why don’t you come with us?”Olivia raised her gaze in surprise.“For Christmas?”“No.For good.We have a big home, with plenty of space.You would have your own room.Emily will need a teacher, and who better than the one she already knows and loves?” Lorena’s enthusiasm for the idea snowballed.“The two of you have a special connection and a history.I would feel terrible tearing you apart.When Emily is older, you can remain my companion, if you wish [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.”“Don’t be silly.You’ll talk about the mountains and the sunshine.You will simply enjoy yourself.”“I don’t think I will.” Her breakfast had rolled into a knot in her stomach.Lorena handed her a gauzy parasol.“Protect your lovely fair skin from the sun, dear.And enjoy yourself.”Olivia greeted Marcus with a nervous smile.He swept his hat from his head and ushered her up to a seat before climbing up beside her and urging the single horse forward.From his position on the roof of the new house, Jules watched Marcus Stone’s sleek black Bavarian warmblood pull the buggy past the corral, then squinted at the trail of dust.He was going to pair his Cleveland mare with Marcus’s stud in the spring and have some fine-looking warmbloods like that, too.Likely even sturdier.Marcus didn’t have a barn like Jules’s.None of the other ranchers had a barn that could hold a candle to it, either.He hammered a shingle into place with unnecessary force.If his mother hadn’t shown up when she had, he would have asked Olivia to stay and help him take care of Emily.He would’ve needed a teacher for his niece and, in a couple of years, for the Roland children.Having the two of them here would have worked out.He didn’t want to think about Emily leaving.And it made his gut ache to think of Olivia marrying Marcus—or anyone else.But he wanted what was best for both of them.Emily would have a better chance for a good life and a future marriage in Cincinnati.Still, he wouldn’t be such a bad choice for Olivia.He nearly had a fine house finished.With Tanis nearby, she’d have companionship.And eventually…they’d have children.Marcus already had a house, he recalled with a sick feeling.He’d ordered lumber from somewhere up north and built a wood-frame structure with a porch along two sides.At the time, Jules had thought the man should be focusing on his spread and his barns.Their priorities had been different.Jules caught himself daydreaming.He hadn’t hammered a nail for ten minutes.He glanced down at the pile of remaining lumber on the ground.Probably enough to make a couple of chairs for the porch.Definitely enough to keep his hands occupied, if not his mind.Supper was more festive than usual.Lorena used one of her shawls for a tablecloth, and they ate quail with stuffing made from Olivia’s bread.Lorena had managed to talk Wayland out of carrots, which she baked with a maple glaze.Dessert was a golden-crusted pie made from a jar of blackberries Tanis had offered.“Emily and I will leave next Monday,” Lorena told them as they ate.“Once we reach Cincinnati, I will take you to my seamstress,” she said to the girl.“We’ll have you fitted for dresses for school and church.”“But I have dresses,” Emily told her.“I know, dear, but won’t you be excited to have all new?”Emily nodded, though her expression showed her uncertainty.“We’ll make you something from velvet for the holidays.A deep green perhaps.Have you ever had a velvet dress? There’s nothing like the feel of the luxurious fabric.You will love Christmas in the city.There are holiday parties and Christmas programs.You will likely sing with the children’s choir.We’ll bake pumpkin and mince pies and shop for gifts.We will find a special tree this year.One as high as the ceiling in the parlor, and we’ll decorate it with beads and glass ornaments.Doesn’t that sound like fun?”The girl glanced at Olivia, who gave her an encouraging smile.Olivia imagined the holiday the woman described, a holiday unlike any they’d ever celebrated.Everything they’d ever dreamed of would now belong to Emily.Lorena had seen the look pass between them.She folded her napkin.“The two of you have been together for many Christmases, haven’t you?”Olivia fought back a flood of emotion to nod.She did feel joy in her heart for the new life and experiences Emily would enjoy.The child’s happiness was all that mattered.“Your plans sound lovely.Emily will enjoy herself.”Lorena reached across the table to place her hand over Olivia’s.“Why don’t you come with us?”Olivia raised her gaze in surprise.“For Christmas?”“No.For good.We have a big home, with plenty of space.You would have your own room.Emily will need a teacher, and who better than the one she already knows and loves?” Lorena’s enthusiasm for the idea snowballed.“The two of you have a special connection and a history.I would feel terrible tearing you apart.When Emily is older, you can remain my companion, if you wish [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]