Page 527 of Conveniently Wed
“Yes, I’m sure.” She sat up as straight as she could...with his arm around her shoulders.
When had he put it there instead of on the back of the seat? Lorinda was more unsettled than at any time since she came to the ranch. Maybe she should have taken her money and gold and fled instead of agreeing to marry him.
They couldn’t get home soon enough for her, so he’d move.
Home?Yes, she felt at home on the Rocking V, and Franklin had said the ranch belonged to her as much as to him.
At least her son would have an inheritance that was worth more than two small pokes of gold pebbles.
With his arm lightly touching Lorinda’s shoulders, Franklin wanted more. Every spot on his arm where they touched tingled with the connection. Half of his heart wanted to cling to her until he could convince her to be his completely, the other half, to keep his distance. What a dichotomy! Yesterday and today must be an aberration. The sooner they got back to the ranch, the sooner things would settle down to what they’d been before the wedding...with a few modifications. Modifications that shouldn’t affect the way he ran his ranch...or his family.
“Franklin, can we go to Stella’s and pick up Michael?” Lorinda’s quiet words penetrated his thought processes, bringing them to a halt. “I really miss him.”
Why not?“Rusty, keep driving to the Morgan Ranch. That should still give you plenty of time to get us home and back to town before Mrs. Oleson is finished with...whatever she’s doing.”
“Sure, Boss.”
Franklin didn’t want to make a fuss in front of Lorinda about Rusty calling him that, so once again he let it slide. Was everything in his life changing, just because he made a business-like deal with...his wife?
Someone saw them driving up, because Stella came out on the front porch before they reached the house. She held Michael, and the baby’s hands swatted through the air in a way that touched Franklin’s heart. He was glad Lorinda wanted to come get her...their son. He’d missed seeing the little man. He wanted to get back to their rituals at mealtime when he played with Michael while the women got the food on the table.
He jumped down from the buggy, then reached back to help Lorinda. Her waist was tiny for a woman who’d had a babyless than four months ago. She practically ran toward the front porch.
Stella met her at the bottom of the steps and handed off Michael. “I was just about to feed him.”
Lorinda turned toward Franklin. “Do we have time for me to feed him before we head to the ranch?”
He glanced at Rusty.
His ranch hand nodded. “I won’t have to be back to town until mid-afternoon.”
“Rand is out in the barn checking on a new colt.” Stella held her hand up to shade her eyes from the sun.
“Let’s go.” Franklin nodded at Rusty, and the two men headed toward the large red building that housed the growing herd of Thoroughbred horses.
Rand’s horses were known all over Colorado and even out of the state. He sold to the U.S. cavalry and other ranchers. His choice to change from cattle to raising the horses had carried him through the slowing economy so far. He didn’t own as much land as Franklin did, so he hadn’t been able to sustain as many cattle as were needed to keep a ranch afloat. Franklin was thankful his father and grandfather had the foresight to add so much land to the Rocking V. All the viable ranch land in the area was owned by someone, and people didn’t decide to move away very often.
Now he had something else, besides his pretty new wife, to capture his thoughts...at least, he hoped so.
What bliss, sitting in a comfortable rocking chair, nursing my wonderful son.Lorinda didn’t plan to spend another night awayfrom him. Especially not a night and early morning that was as awkward as this last one had been.
“I’ve made us lemonade.” Stella bustled in carrying a tray with a pitcher and two glasses. “We didn’t use all the lemons at the wedding.”
“Thank you. Today is already plenty hot.” Lorinda cast another glance at her son, nestled in her arm, before she took the cold glass. “Where did you get the ice?”
Lorinda knew they had an ice house in town, but by the time they would try to bring it to the ranch, the block would be melted.
“When Rand built the ranch house, he also turned a cave not far from the house into ice storage.” Stella took a sip before continuing. “A cave is naturally cooler, and he layers sawdust to cover the blocks of ice the men cut from a small lake we own. We have ice all summer long.”
“I wonder why Franklin doesn’t have an ice house.” She set her glass on the pie crust table beside her chair and snuggled Michael even closer.
Stella glanced out the window toward the barn. “I’m sure he’ll make one for you if you ask him. From what we all saw yesterday, the man’s completely crazy about you, as he should be.”
Yes, he should be, but he isn’t.“He’s done a lot for Michael and me, so I don’t want to be too demanding.” That should end this conversation about ice...and heat.
A merry, lyrical laugh burst from Stella. “Honey, after the way that man kissed you yesterday, in front of God and everyone...”
Lorinda couldn’t stop a blush from rushing heat to her cheeks. Probably part of the fire the man lit inside her.
