Page 7 of Luna

“Long and hot, but I got the horse delivered. Jack said he’d likely have another horse for Dally to work with soon.” Hunter dried his hands, walked over to the new refrigerator, and opened the door, letting the cool air wash over him.

“If you aren’t fetching something out of there, close the door, Hunt. You’ll spoil the potato salad your sister made for supper if you leave the door open all day.”

He gave her a charming grin as he lifted a pitcher of lemonade and poured two glasses before he returned the pitcher to the refrigerator, lingering a moment longer than necessary and sticking his face inside before he shut the door, and Corni tossed him a scornful look.

Hunter set her glass on the counter near the stove. “Is that vanilla pudding?”

“It certainly is. I found a recipe in my latest issue of Woman’s World. It seemed simple enough that even I could make it without causing a disaster. I thought we could enjoy it with fresh whipped cream and strawberries. Dally and I picked enough early ripe berries this morning to serve for dessert this evening.”

“That sounds tasty. You know how much I love strawberries, Corni.” Hunter opened the lid on the cookie jar and fished out a molasses cookie. Since they were soft and not burned, he assumed his sister had baked them. Dally was a good cook when she wanted to be, which wasn’t often. He bit into the cookie, found it quite tasty, and fished two more from the jar before he returned the lid.

“Don’t spoil your dinner,” Corni warned, then smiled, knowing he wouldn’t. It never failed; each summer when he arrived in Pendleton, his appetite increased. Dally blamed it on the air and warm temperatures. Hunter attributed it to being so much more active than he was when he was at school or even at Bramble Hall.

“Where is Dally?” Hunter took a step toward the doorway into the rest of the house.

“She was exhausted, so I told her to take a nap. At first, she fussed and fumed, but she finally went to take a rest about an hour ago.”

He glanced back toward Corni, sure he’d misunderstood. “A nap? My sister, who can’t ever sit still, is taking a nap?”

Corni nodded as she removed the pudding from the stove and spooned it into pudding cups. “That is correct. She needs extra rest in her condition, despite what she might tell you and Nik. Now, leave her be. I’m sure you can find some work to do down at the barn or with the horses until suppertime.”

“I can. In fact, I have more work to see to than I care to think about.” Hunter drained his glass and set it in the sink, then walked across the kitchen toward the back door. He pulled on his boots, settled his hat on his head, and picked up his leather work gloves. “I’ll see you later, Corni,” he called before stepping outside.

As he walked to the barn, he thought about Luna Campanelli and sent up a prayer she would be well, and her time in Pendleton would bring her joy.

The last thing Hunter needed at the moment was for a pretty girl to turn his head, but he couldn’t get Luna’s sweet, expressive face out of his thoughts.

Chapter Four

Luna pointed her toes and stretched her arms over her head, then drew in a deep breath. The mouthwatering aromas of coffee and cinnamon filled her nose. She wondered what scrumptious thing her mother was making for breakfast, perhaps cinnamon muffins with the spicy sausages Luna loved so much.

Then she recalled she wasn’t home in New York with her adoptive parents and younger siblings. She was in Pendleton with her cousins.

“Oh!” she gasped, eyes popping open as she gazed around an unfamiliar yet elegantly appointed room done in shades of pale blue, white, and buttery yellow. White lace curtains let the morning sunlight stream in the windows and land on the polished oak floor.

Luna trailed her fingers across expensive sheets, and the beautiful matelassé weave bedspread in a hue of icy blue that featured a floral medallion in the center embellished with French scrollwork all around it.

She’d never slept on such fine sheets nor had such a big, beautiful room. Yet, her joy in being in Tony and Ilsa’s grand home was diminished by a feeling of mortification. She remembered the feeling of terror that had swept over her at the depot, then fainting. When she’d awakened, it was to find herself in a strange place with unfamiliar people.

Fear had washed over her until her gaze had landed on Hunter’s. The cowboy had eyed her with concern, and something she thought looked like pity. She hated pity as much as she disliked drawing unwanted attention to herself.

However, she’d been relieved and grateful to him when she had realized he’d brought her to Ilsa’s shop. By the time she’d roused, Ilsa and her sister-in-law, Marnie, had been hovering nearby. Caterina had arrived within minutes, hauling Luna into a hug that had felt warming and comforting and had made her think of her loved ones back in New York.

Caterina had insisted Luna come to the restaurant for dinner, and Tony had caught up to her there. After she’d eaten her fill at a table in Caterina’s busy, bustling kitchen, Tony had driven her in a newer automobile to the home he and Ilsa shared in a lovely neighborhood near the river, not all that far from downtown.

Weary beyond anything imaginable, Luna had somehow managed to remain awake long enough to take a bath in the deep tub Laila had filled for her, then dressed in a soft gown Ilsa had provided. She’d fallen asleep the moment her head had hit the pillow, even though it had still been light outside.

Now, a cursory glance at the clock on the bedside table assured her she’d slept longer than she’d intended. Likely, Laila would already be at school. She’d mentioned last night she only had two days left before the students were free for the summer.

Luna hopped out of bed and quickly made it, letting her hand linger a moment on the beautiful covering as she smoothed out a wrinkle. She hurried to dress, pleased to see her trunks sitting along the wall near the door. Although her skirt and shirtwaist were wrinkled, they were at least clean and presentable.

She dug into her leather traveling bag for her hairbrush and soon tamed her thick, sometimes unruly locks into a bun she fastened low on the back of her head. After jamming in enough hairpins to hold it in place, she took her toothbrush and tube of Colgate ribbon dental cream to the bathroom she would share with Laila. After brushing her teeth, washing her face, and seeing to her morning ablutions, she ventured down the back stairs, following tantalizing scents to the kitchen.

Luna walked into the sunlit room to find Tony at the stove, frying strips of bacon. A basket of muffins rested on the table by the window, along with butter, a bowl of fresh strawberries, and two place settings.

“Good morning, Cousin,” Tony said, grinning over his shoulder at her. “I’d ask how you slept but you were deep in slumber when I carried in your trunks earlier. Feeling better today?”

“Much,” Luna said, then walked over to the table to look out the window. Tony and Ilsa had a large lot with a barn and a magnificent yard bedecked with colorful flowers. Although it was splendid, the inside of the house was beyond anything Luna could have imagined, filled with expensive furnishings and marvelous works of art. What she loved most about the house, though, was the love she could feel there. Anyone could see Tony was deeply in love with his wife, even after several years of marriage. It was equally clear that Ilsa was thoroughly besotted with Tony. And they both adored Laila.

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