Courtship of the Recluse, Linda Rigsbee [e novels to read online txt] 📗

and produced two keys still on theiroriginal ring. “Here are the keys. That door over there is yourpersonal bathroom.” He turned abruptly and left the room.

The sting of his cool hospitality was quicklyreplaced with awe as she turned back to the room. She gazed at theroom in rapt silence. The large room contained some of the mostbeautiful antique furniture she had ever seen. The wood appeared tobe cherry, and although it could use a coat of wax, it still had adeep luster. Instead of a closet, a large wardrobe stood at one endof the room, dwarfing a vanity desk with a large oval mirror. Achest of drawers with copper handles sat beside the bed - and whata bed it was. The carved headboard was beautiful but it was thelace canopy and matching bedspread that caught and held herattention. It was fit for a queen.

“I hope you don’t find all this tooprimitive,” Cade spoke behind her.

She swung around and stared at him.“Primitive?”

“The furniture - it was handed down to mymother and she left it to me. It’s old, but still in goodcondition. I recently put a new inner spring mattress on the bed,but the rest of it is exactly as she left it.”

“Left it? Did your mother pass away?”

“She died.” He answered in a brusque tone ashe deposited her things in the middle of the room. “I’ll show youaround a little before I turn in.”

They trekked back down the hallway to thefamily room and then into a spacious kitchen. The appliances weremodern but the cabinets were old and solid. The floor was as cleanas the counters. Copper-bottomed cookware hung from hooks on onewall. A small round table and two chairs were placed in a cornernear the doorway to the family room, providing a view of thefireplace.

“I eat in here,” he said. “I only use thedining room when I have company.”

The laundry room was also clean and an oldwringer tub still sat in one corner, as though unwilling tocompletely surrender to modern appliances.

Cade stretched and yawned. “Well, makeyourself at home. I’m going to turn in. If you need anything, myroom is at the end of the hall. You’ll find extra blankets in theentry closet if you need them.”

He turned and left the room, his bootsclicking across the tile floor and then fading as he moved acrossthe hardwood family room floor and down the hall.

She glanced around the kitchen, knowing sheshould familiarize herself before breakfast, but feelinguncomfortable about exploring so soon after her arrival. What wouldhe want for breakfast? The best way to decide was to find out whathe had in the refrigerator.

She opened the refrigerator - milk, eggs, andbacon - the usual supplies. A little more exploring revealed thatthe cabinets were stocked with sufficient supplies of dry goods andthe potato and onion bins were full. Was there anything Cade didn’tdo efficiently? The answer came to her so quickly that it brought asmile to her lips. Participate in conversation.

Returning to her designated room, she hungall her clothes in the cedar lined wardrobe and tucked herpersonals in the spacious dresser. At eleven she finally crawledinto the bed. She was exhausted, and morning would arrive all toosoon. She set the alarm and fluffed the pillows, but it did no goodto close her eyes. They kept popping back open. Her mind was up,wandering the huge house - and Cade’s mind. Why had he suddenlydecided he needed a maid - or was it sudden? Could there be truthto Mary’s suspicions. No. She couldn’t believe that there was anythought of romance going on in Cade’s mind. He had probably reacheda point that the ranch and house were too much work. Seeing her atthe diner probably gave him the idea of getting help.

She glanced at the door, realizing she hadforgotten to lock it. Not that it mattered. If he intended herharm, he would hardly have fixed the door so it would lock from theinside. Of course, he could have had more keys made - in whichcase, it wouldn’t matter if it was locked or not. She thought ofthe movie Psycho and immediately wished she had never watched it.The night was cold and she was cozy in the bed. There was no pointin freezing her buns off darting across the cold floor to lock thedoor. Her eyelids drooped and finally she slept.

The alarm clock buzzed insistently and shereached over to slap the snooze button, squinting at the iridescenthands. Five a.m. She threw the covers back and gasped. It wasmiserably cold in the bedroom. Tossing her gown aside, shehurriedly pulled on some sweats and made the bed. Opening her doorquietly she carried her shoes to the kitchen before putting themon. Then she lit the oven and washed her hands.

By the time Cade arrived in the kitchen shehad biscuits, gravy, bacon and eggs ready. Cade dropped into achair and immediately began to put away the food. She poured him acup of coffee and he glanced up at her.

“Sit down and eat.”

“I never eat this early in the morning.”

Still, she poured herself a cup of coffee andsat down at the table. “Do you want me to pack you a lunch?”

He shook his head, declining to answer untilhe had swallowed the food in his mouth.

“I’ll be in at twelve.”

He sipped his coffee. “Sandwiches will befine today. Spend some time exploring the house. Make a list ofanything you need and I’ll drive into town Monday.”

Would she be invited along, or would she beexpected to stay on the ranch? Always? She sipped her coffeereflectively and finally found the courage ask him a question thathad been nagging her since his offer.

“Mr. Cade, do you mind if I have a friendover now and then?”

His head lifted and he frowned at her. “Russ,or Russell. Don’t call me Mr. Cade. It makes me feel old.”

He swigged the last of his coffee and set thecup in his plate, carefully placing the flatware across the platebefore he continued.

“You may call or have friends over anytimeyou wish...as long as they don’t interfere with your work.” Hepushed his chair back and stood. “I’ve