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they d never get away.
While he was debating that, John came down the hall and spotted Kasie. He grinned from ear to
ear.  You re back! Great! Now maybe Mrs. Charters will cook something we can eat again!
 That s not a nice way to say hello, Kasie chided with a smile.
 Sure it is! What good is a man without his stomach? John asked. He moved closer to Kasie and
the girls and bent to kiss Kasie s wet cheek.  Welcome back! It s been like a ballpark in January.
Nobody smiled.
 I m happy to be back, Kasie said.  But what about all those herd records that need putting into
the computer? she asked, realizing that Gil never had answered her when she d questioned him about
them.
 Oh, those. It turns out that Miss Parsons is a computer whiz herself, he said to Kasie s
amusement.  She s got everything listed, including the foundation bloodlines. And remember that
Internet site you suggested? It s up and running. We re already getting three hundred hits a day, along
with plenty of queries from cattlemen around the country!
 I m so glad, Kasie said sincerely.
 So are we. Business is booming. But the babies have been sad. He glanced at his older brother
meaningfully.  We missed you.
 It s nice to be back, Kasie said.
 Are we ever going to have lunch? John asked then.  I m fairly starved. Burned eggs and bacon
this morning didn t do a lot for my taste buds.
 Mine, either, Gil agreed.  Go tell Mrs. Charters Kasie s back and is having lunch with us, he
suggested.  That might get us something edible, even if it s only cold cuts.
 Good thinking, John said, smiling as he went out to the kitchen.
 Our eggs wasn t burned, Bess pointed out.
 Mrs. Charters wasn t mad at you, sweetheart, Gil told her.  You two need to run upstairs and
wash your hands and faces before we eat.
 Okay, if Kasie comes, too, Bess agreed.
Kasie chuckled as both girls grabbed a hand and coaxed her to her feet.  I gather that I m to be
carefully observed from now on, so I don t make a run for the border, she murmured to Gil.
 That s right. Good girls, Gil said, grinning.  Keep her with you so she doesn t have a chance
to escape.
 We won t let her go, Daddy, Bess promised.
They tugged her up the staircase, and she went without an argument, waiting in their rooms
while they washed their hands and faces.
 Daddy was real mad when we came home, Bess told Kasie.  So was Uncle Johnny. He said
Daddy should go and get you and bring you home, but Daddy said you might not want to, because
he d been bad to you. Did he take away your toys, Kasie, and put you into timeout?
 Heavens, no, she said at once.
 Then why did you go away? the child insisted.  Was it on account of Pauline said you left us
alone? We told Daddy the truth, and Pauline went away. We don t like her. She s bad to us when Daddy
isn t looking. He won t marry Pauline, will he, Kasie?
 I don t think so, she said carefully.
 Me and Jenny wish he d marry you, Bess said wistfully.  You re so much fun to play with,
Kasie.
Kasie didn t dare say anything about marriage.  You can t decide things like that, sweetheart,
she told Bess.  People don t usually marry unless they fall in love.
 Oh.
The child looked heartbroken. Kasie went down on her knees and caught Bess gently by the
waist.  What do you want to do after we have lunch? she asked, changing the subject.
 Could we swim in the pool?
She d forgotten that the family had a swimming pool.  I suppose so, she said, frowning.  But
it s pretty soon after your accident, Bess. Are you sure you want to?
 Daddy and me went swimming the day after we came home, Bess said matter-of-factly.  Daddy
said I mustn t be afraid of the water, after I fell in, so he s giving me swimming lessons. I love to
swim, now!
So some good had come out of the accident. That was reassuring.  Let s go down and eat
something. Then we have to wait a little while.
 I know. We can pick flowers while we wait, can t we? There s some pretty yellow roses in a
hedge behind the swimming pool, Bess told her.
 I love roses, Kasie said, smiling.  But perhaps we d better not pick any until someone tells us
it s all right.
 Okay, Kasie.
They went downstairs and Kasie helped Mrs. Charters set the table. She was welcoming and
cheerful about having Kasie back again. John talked easily to Kasie and the children. Gil didn t. He
picked at his food and brooded. He watched Kasie, but covertly. She wondered what was going on in
his mind to make him so unhappy.
He looked up and met Kasie s searching eyes, and she felt her stomach fall as if she was on a
roller coaster. Her hands trembled. She put them in her lap to hide them, but her heartbeat pounded
wildly and her nervousness was noticeable. Especially to the man with the arrogant smile, who
suddenly seemed to develop an appetite.
Chapter 10
For the next few days, Gil seemed to watch every move Kasie made. He was cordial with her, but
there was a noticeable difference in the way he treated her since her return. He was remote and quiet,
even when the family came together at mealtimes, and he seemed uncomfortable around Kasie. She
noticed his reticence and understood it to mean that he was sorry for the way he d treated her before.
He didn t touch her at all these days, nor did he seem inclined to include her when he took the girls to
movies and the playground, even though he asked her along. But she always refused, to the dismay of
the children. She excused it as giving them some time alone with their father. Gil knew that wasn t the
truth. It made matters worse.
John left Thursday for a conference that Gil had been slated to attend, and Gil stayed home.
Kasie noticed that he seemed unusually watchful and he was always around the ranch even when he
wasn t around the house. He didn t explain why. Kasie would have loved thinking that it was because
he was interested in her, but she knew that wasn t the reason. There was more distance between them
now than there had ever been before.
Mrs. Charters mentioned that there was some uneasiness among the cowboys because of a threat
that had been made. Kasie tried to ask Gil about it. He simply ignored the question and walked away.
He was missing at breakfast early one Monday morning. The girls were sleeping late, so Kasie
walked into the dining room and found only John at the table.
 Pull up a chair and have breakfast, he invited with a grin.  I have to move bulls today, so I m
having seconds and thirds. I have to keep up my strength.
 If you keep eating like that, you could carry the bulls and save gas, she said wickedly.  I
thought you had to go to Phoenix to show a bull this week?
He averted his eyes.  I thought I d put it off for another couple of weeks. He sipped coffee and
studied Kasie quietly.  There s a new movie showing at the theater downtown. How would you like to
pack up the girls and go with me to see it?
Her eyes lit up.  I d love to, she said at once. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]