Page 25 of Willing to Wed the Rancher
Given Franz’s angle, she couldn’t see his reaction, but if he were behaving like every other man in Summit County, then he was probably grinning and nodding and agreeing to do whatever Clementine suggested.
Because that’s how Clementine was. She was flirtatious even when she didn’t realize it, and Franz would have no power to resist her. Not if she laid on her full charm. No man could resist her.
Clarabelle had only to think back on all the boys and young men who’d come and gone from their lives during the fourteen years their family had lived in Colorado. Without fail, everyonehad fallen for Clementine first, hadn’t even really seen Clarabelle standing in her sister’s shadow.
Clarabelle shifted into a patch of fading sunlight. This time was different, wasn’t it? Franz was hers. She’d been the one to meet him first, and Clementine had no right to have him.
With a nod, Franz nudged his horse onward. Clementine watched him for several heartbeats, as though waiting for him to turn around and look at her again. Thankfully, he didn’t and kept going without a backward glance.
Clarabelle eased the tension from her shoulders, relieved he hadn’t lingered with Clementine the same way that he had with her and the children.
As soon as she felt the relief, she silently rebuked herself. Hadn’t she just admonished the children that nothing could happen with her and Franz, that he had no interest in a wife—her or any other woman?
He most certainly wasn’thers.
As Clementine started forward again, she caught sight of Clarabelle and the children and waved with an excited shout. A minute later, Clementine had dismounted, given Bianca and Dieter hugs as well as a piece each of hard candy, and was ambling slowly toward the cabin alongside Clarabelle.
“So, Franz is quite the dreamy fellow, isn’t he?” Clementine released a sigh that sent needles pricking along Clarabelle’s spine. She’d heard that sigh before and knew exactly what it meant—that Clementine was already enamored.
Clarabelle didn’t want her twin to think Franz was dreamy or anything else. Did he have any negative characteristics? Anything at all to turn Clementine against him? “He’s a very practical man. Studious. Serious. And old... he’s twenty-eight.”
Clementine peered up at the dusk sky, a soft smile curving her lips—one that said none of the negative traits had dissuaded her from liking Franz. “He’s so handsome.”
Clarabelle shrugged as if she hadn’t noticed exactly how handsome Franz was. But of course, she’d done nothing but notice his striking features all day. Every time he’d smiled or laughed, she’d wanted to stop time and simply stare at him, but she’d done her best to act as normal as possible so that she didn’t send him running back to Germany to get away from her.
Clementine released another happy sigh. “His blue eyes are so beautiful and piercing.”
“He wears spectacles when he reads.”
“I’m sure they make him look distinguished.”
“Or stuffy.”
Clementine laughed lightly. “That man is anything but stuffy. There’s something about him that just oozes manliness.”
Her sister was absolutely right, but Clarabelle couldn’t say so. “He isn’t planning to stay here. He’s going back to Germany.”
“I’d go with him anywhere.”
“And be uprooted from everyone you love and everything you know?”
“Think of all the adventures I’d have.”
Clarabelle halted, frustration mounting with each of her sister’s comments. Clearly, Clementine liked Franz, and none of the negative comments were changing her mind.
“He’s not the type of man you can trifle with, Clem. Not like all the other men.”
Clementine stopped too. “I realize that. It’s one of the things that appeals to me. He’s different.”
Franzwasdifferent. Clarabelle had already established that. But why did Clementine have to see that too? And why did she have to be attracted to him?
Clarabelle scrambled to find any other way to discourage her sister and landed on the best excuse of all. “He told me he’s a confirmed bachelor, so you should put him from your mind, or you’ll only get hurt.”
Clementine’s smile turned smug. “He’s calling on me Friday night.”
Clarabelle’s heart dropped to the bottom of her chest. Franz was calling on Clementine? Really?
Of course he was. Why wouldn’t he be more interested in Clementine than he was in her? It was bound to happen. Even though Clarabelle had felt something with him that she’d never felt with anyone else, apparently he hadn’t felt the same in return, or at least in the same measure.
