Page 10 of Jonathan

“I am a mother, darling, first and foremost and the weather is nasty. Trouble?”

He shook his head and decided against telling her that he had diverted to the cabin.

“Just some things I had to do.” He glanced out the window. “if it continues, we’re in for some flooding.”

She nodded. Placing a bookmark between the pages, she put the book away. “We had the tea party planned.”

“Was it for tomorrow?”

She nodded. “The ladies from the church are planning on restructuring the library.”

“What is it now – the third time?” He asked dryly.

She laughed at his wry expression. “The fourth time. Jennifer is determined to stock the place with all the popular titles. She has been reading up on the different libraries in the big cities and is striving to rival them.”

“A little too ambitious. We are not a big city and it’s time she realizes that. Is she still seeing that twenty-year-old?”

His mother shook her head at him reprovingly. “He’s forty.”

“And she’s in her sixties.” He pointed out.

“They seem to be great together.”

“For now.” Leaning over, he kissed her cheek. “I am beat, and we’ll have to see what happens when the dawn breaks.”

“Get some food and then some sleep….”

“Helen already sent up something for me.”

“Good. See you in the morning, darling.” She watched him stride out of the room and sighed softly. He looked so damned tired. Returning to her reading, she opened her book.

*****

Dropping his clothes at the foot of the bed, he walked naked inside the green and gold bathroom. By passing the sunken bath, he headed for the large shower install. Adjusting the jets, he stepped under the crisscrossing sprays and closed his eyes as the hot water beat down on his head and warmed his body.

But closing his eyes brought her image to the fore. Cursing lavishly, he opened his eyes and turned off the water. He would not wonder if she was going to be safe out there all by herself. She was an adult and certainly not his responsibility. He had done his duty and warned her of the impending storm. It was up to her to stay indoors.

He knew firsthand that the cabin was solid and the area where it sat did not flood easily. The roof was intact – all of the cabins were given a thorough inspection before they were rented out. The fireplace was in excellent condition and the wood and chips had been stocked before her arrival.

Dragging a towel off the shelf, he dried his hair and wrapped another one around his narrow waist.

Walking to the floor to ceiling window, he stood there watching as the rain lashed out in all its fury. The animals should besafe, and the greenhouse, his mother’s pride and joy had been reinforced just last year.

He watched for a few more minutes before going to the closet to select a pair of sweats and t-shirt. The scent of beef stew reminded him that he had not eaten since noon. Shrugging away thoughts of the woman staying in the cabin, he sat down to his meal.

*****

It was late, but she could not sleep. Kamilah had poured herself a glass of wine and with her legs curled beneath her, a thick throw blanket wrapped around her, she sat with the fire blazing in the hearth and stared out at the water lashing the window.

She had expected to be a little afraid of the jagged lightning and boom of thunder, but to her surprise, she was more fascinated than anything. And the isolation was not getting to her. She had tried calling her friends and her grandfather, but the cell service was down.

Now, she sat there just watching the storm.

A smile touched her lips as she thought back to the encounter with the cowboy. There was definitely something there. And even though the last thing she had expected was a holiday romance, she was open to it happening.

A chuckle escaped her as she recalled the look on his handsome face when she touched him. She was going to get him into her bed, before too long. And enjoy the side benefits of the vacation.

Her smile faded as she thought back to the past year. She had had some bumps in terms of relationships. Bowing to pressures from several sources, she had tried to make it work with Brian. Taking a sip of wine, she brought to memory the conversation that had decided the fate of their relationship.

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