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That much wasn't a lie; Chad had cheated on her, just not with a woman.
"I can buy that. That is a tough one," He studied her through the darkness for a long moment. "But you very nearly started some big trouble in that saloon the other day. Maybe you need lessons in flirting."
"Lessons in flirting! Wow! Makes me feel like a very naïve and kind of stupid person. I guess I can't even do that right..."
"Oh I'd say you did it pretty right, alright. You just didn't know when to apply the brakes, so to speak."
She nearly laughed, but then it wasn't that funny. If he knew how terribly naive she had been, he'd laugh himself silly. And her ego would go down another notch.
"A friend of mine came out to the dude ranch. We'd planned on meeting up, as I called her from your place. But then things got complicated again, Ben....I told her....well, I told her...."
"What'd you tell her?"
She moved away now. Far away, back to the fireplace and safety, she thought.
"I told her you were crazy about me and we were dating." She coughed, hoping he didn't pay attention to her statement.
"You told her what?" he was beside her in an instant.
She backed against the fireplace, "It seemed the only way to shut her up. I love Janet like a sister, but sometimes ..."
When he made a strange face at her, she continued. "Don't look at me like that. I couldn't tell her the truth about Chad."
"So," he bent over her, pinning her. "I'm crazy about you, am I? I'm dating you, am I? And you just got dumped by your boyfriend? That doesn't even add up. She believe you?"
"It added up to Janet. She knows me too well. I had to lie, don't you see?" she shrank and felt near tears, but was determined not to cry in front of him.
A flash of lightening lit his face momentarily and she stared up at him. "Oh Ben, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I really didn't think it would do any harm. I certainly hadn't planned on running into you again, so I thought there would be no harm in it."
"I can't believe she would believe it. I mean, you did just run from a wedding, didn't you?"
"Yes, of course I did...but...Janet knows me better than I know myself. She never expected me to go through with the wedding."
A long finger reached out to curl a wisp of hair behind her ear, as he continued to lean over her, "And just how is this little romance supposed to end?"
She gulped, "Well naturally, I'll have to go back home, or get a job."
He nodded and backed off. She sighed her relief.
"And if I play along with this little romance, will it keep you out of trouble and mischief till you do go back home or find a job....or some kind of life again?" His back was to her, and she felt he might even co-operate with her on this.
"Yes," she jumped up and went to stand in front of him. "Yes, I promise. You don't have to do a thing. I'll handle it. I've already figured it out. Really. It won't even involve you personally; she'll just think it will. We'll meet at the movies, or the restaurant only we won't and no one will be the wiser. Since I'm staying at the ranch, it will be hard for her to check up on me. And my little lie won't have hurt anyone, you see."
Now it seemed so simple, and especially if he didn't mind so much.
He grew very silent. The expression she saw through the darkness was contemplating.
"Okay, I suppose there's no harm in it." He agreed almost too easily. "Especially since we won't have to act it out."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. Like I said, I hadn't planned on running into you again anyway."
"I'm not a bit worried Savannah, as long as the news of this doesn't spread any further."
Savannah bit her lip. "Oh it won't. I'll make sure of it."
"Fine."
She felt like jumping for joy, like kissing his cheek, but that would be a mistake. He'd agreed to help her keep the secret, but she couldn't throw herself at him. Even if it was tempting.
