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She opened her mouth, keeping her eyes on Michael.
His eyes slid to hers. She ate, staring into his beautiful blue eyes. “These are right tasty.” She took the fork from him and dove into the stack.
Michael chuckled. “That good, huh?”
“Sure are.”
“When you’re done eating, get dressed. You can even wear your trousers if you want.”
Her eyes darted open. She slammed her fork down on the tray. The dishes rattled and coffee sloshed over the side of her cup. “Okay, what’s goin’ on? You can’t stand my trousers.”
“I know. But I thought we’d go for a ride today and I figured you’d probably be more comfortable wearing pants instead of a dress.”
“Goin’ for a ride? Where?”
“It’s a surprise. Now finish eating and get dressed. I’ll see you downstairs.” He pushed the chair back near the window and headed out the door.
Selina watched him disappear.
He was acting mighty strange. She’d better hurry and eat and get dressed so she could find out what that polecat of a husband of hers was up to.
Michael whistled while he tossed two apples, a chunk of cheese, leftover biscuits, ham slices and gingersnap cookies into a flour sack. He had just finished filling the canteens with water when Selina glided down the stairs. Shock barreled through him. The woman wasn’t wearing trousers, but a lavender skirt, a yellow blouse and cowboy boots. Cowboy boots. He shook his head and chuckled. Now that was what he was used to seeing.
He met her at the bottom of the stairs and took her hand.
Just like she had when he served her breakfast in bed, she eyed him suspiciously. Well, let her be suspicious. She had every right to be because he was up to something. But he wasn’t telling her what—he’d show her instead.
“Sure you don’t want to wear your pants? We’ll be doing a lot of riding today.”
“Nope. See.” She pulled one side of her skirt off to the side, revealing the split down the middle. “They’re as good as britches. Rainee told me about them. Showed me hers. She even helped me make them.”
Michael laughed. He should have known. “Well, they look very nice on you, Selina.”
“Thank you. That’s mighty nice of you to say so.”
“Well, I have everything ready. So let’s go.”
“Don’t you have chores to do?”
“Nope. I already did them. Sound familiar?”
She frowned. “Oh, so that’s why you’re doin’ this. To pay me back. Well, I don’t want to be paid back. I did it ’cause I love you.” She gasped and slammed her hand over her mouth. “Um, we’d better go iffen we’re a goin’.” She darted away from him, slapped her cowboy hat on her head and grabbed her rifle, which was leaning against the bench near the door. Then she was out of the house before he could even pick up the canteens and flour sack filled with their lunches.
When he neared the door, he heard her mumbling. “Can’t believe I up and said that. The man doesn’t love you, so why’re you tellin’ him you love him, Selina girl? Ain’t you got no pride left? Or did you throw it all away on that man?”
While Michael smiled at her antics, at the same time he felt bad that he did not reciprocate her sentiment. All he could do was keep praying someday he would. He walked up beside her. “I didn’t get the horses ready yet. We’ll have to do that first.”
“Where we goin’?”
“Now, what did I read the other day about patience and letting it have its perfect work?”
“And what did I say about not havin’ any?” she shot back.
Was she ever fast at those comebacks. “You got me there. Come on. Let’s hurry.”
“Michael.” She laid her small hand on his arm and warmth spread through it, landing in his heart. “Can we check on Rainee first?”
“Already did. Haydon said she was resting and that she was doing very well. We’ll go by and see her later, okay?”
“Okay.”
He could tell she was disappointed, but he didn’t want to wake Rainee.
They hustled down to the barn. The familiar smell of horse, grain, hay and dust greeted his nose.
“Hi there, Abbers.”
Abby whirled and tossed her hip-length braid behind her. “Selina! Hi.”
His little sister hugged Selina.
“What about me?”
“Oh. Hi, Michael.” Abby hugged him with less enthusiasm than she did Selina.
“Hi yourself. I see how I rate.” He winked at Abby and she wrinkled her nose up at him.
Leah stepped out of the stall, leading her horse.
“Hi, Selina. Boy don’t you look nice.”
