Page 10 of Wrangling Her Heart
Rex’s heart sank as George announced he would join them for the day. He didn’t want to disappoint George, but he yearned for the chance to be alone with Tillie and get to know her better.
“Are you sure you want to go, George?” Tillie asked.
“I suppose I could just stay here and ask Annie a hundred questions about the ranch, couldn’t I? Unless it isn’t too much trouble for me to come along?”
Rex couldn’t help but notice the calculating glint in George’s eyes. It made Rex uneasy, as if George was trying to wedge his way into their plans, despite not being fully wanted. Tillie, sensing the tension, shifted from one foot to another and avoided eye contact with both Rex and George.
Despite hoping for a quiet moment alone with Tillie, Rex was now torn. He didn’t want to leave Annamae alone in George’s manipulative ways, but he also didn’t want to spend the day with him. With a heavy heart, he nodded at George, forcing a smile onto his face. This wasn’t how he had envisioned his day going.
“Sure thing.” He handed Tillie the coat she was wearing earlier. “When you are ready, head out to the barn.”
As they stepped outside, Tillie hesitated, glancing at the darkening clouds above.
“Are you sure it’s safe to go out there with the storm coming?” she asked, her voice betraying her nerves.
Rex nodded confidently, his eyes scanning the horizon. “We’ll be back before it hits. Don’t worry, I know this land like the back of my hand.”
Her footsteps echoed softly on the rocky dirt as she trailed behind him to the stable. His mind raced with thoughts, wondering if she had been hoping for some alone time with him as well.
“Hey Rex!”
He looked up to see Petunia riding across Annamae’s garden. The garden was bare, but there were still a few pumpkins along one edge. “Don’t let Annamae catch you doing that,” he called. “She’s saving those pumpkins to make pie.”
“Sorry.” Petunia moved her horse to the side. “I’m going hunting. Looks like it might rain. Wanted to see if I could borrow your rifle.”
“Not right now, Pet. I’m going over to the pasture to get Sawyer.”
Petunia grinned. “Well, ain’t you in luck. I was headed that way, too. You see, I saw a complete jumble of rabbits just hopping along the creek on my way over here.”
“Pet? What kind of name is that?” Tillie asked.
“Short for Petunia, ma’am.”
Tillie grabbed Rex’s arm. “Oh, my goodness. You’re a girl.”
Petunia’s eyebrows furrowed, pulling her forehead into a deep crease. She scrunched up her nose and took a sharp inhale, as if catching a whiff of something putrid. “Of course I’m a girl,” she exclaimed incredulously. “What else could I be?”
“I just thought…” Tillie put a finger up to her mouth and captured her nail between her teeth. “Well, you look like one of those mountain people with the buckskins and that vermin on your head.” Perched on top of Petunia’s short hair was a raccoon hat, with its beady black eyes peeping out from behind its black and white mask. Its fur was matted and dirty, blending into Petunia’s own unkempt appearance.
“Who? Conrad?” Petunia reached her hands up to pat her head, as if she was afraid the creature had disappeared. “Took him right outta a tree.”
“You named him?” Tillie raised an eyebrow, surprised by the girl’s audacity.
“Yeah, sure did.” Petunia’s tone was matter of fact, with no remorse in her voice. She casually swung off her horse and tied it to the post outside the stable. “I needed a hat for hunting. Conrad is a good name.”
Rex watched the interaction between Tillie and Petunia with a mixture of amusement and concern.
“Pet’s a crack shot with that slingshot of hers. And she’s going to be the best hunter on this side of Flat River.”
Petunia beamed at the praise from Rex, adjusting her raccoon hat proudly. “That’s because I have the best teacher.” She fisted her hand and socked him in the shoulder. “You said you’re headed out to the pasture?”
“The west one. Sawyer is out there, and Annamae wants him back before the storm.”
Petunia looked at Tillie. “You like huntin’?”
Tillie pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and placed it in front of her nose. “No. I dislike hunting and shooting and any such nonsense.”
“How do you eat then?” Petunia asked, hiking up her buckskin britches that were a bit too big.
