What Price Paradise (7 page)

A light breeze ruffled the curtains from both open windows and washed across her. With a tiny murmur of sound, she pulled in both arms and tucked both legs up tight against her body.

Smiling at his action, Tate reached down and pulled the blankets up over her, tucking them in around her shoulders. With one final glance at her face, he slipped from the room and back downstairs.

* * * * *

Abby took the mop out to the back porch and propped it against the wall to dry. She’d spent the entire morning cleaning the bottom story of the house and now it shone like a new dime. Everything but Tate’s office. She’d left it alone, afraid she might misplace something he needed.

It was amazing how much pleasure she got from cleaning something that actually looked good when she finished. And how much pleasure she’d gotten when she saw the biscuits and coffee were gone.

She hadn’t been at all sure she was doing the right thing when she’d gotten up early to make the food, but he’d taken them. That had to mean she hadn’t done anything wrong. She had eaten several before returning to bed and what was left after Tate departed, Buddy had polished off in short order.

She glanced toward the barn before going back inside. Occasionally, a faint noise drifted from that direction and she knew Buddy was still tending the stock. Maybe this would be a good time to do some of her homework. She had several lessons due later in the week and she didn’t know when she’d have another chance.

Back in her room, she got down on her hands and knees and slid the cardboard box out from under the bed, piling the contents in orderly stacks on the mattress. She selected the history and math books, some paper and pencils, and then glanced around the room. There was nowhere to set up the cheap typewriter she’d spent two dollars on at a garage sale. She’d just have to take them downstairs to the kitchen table and hope no one came in.

Carrying the books and supplies in one arm, she picked up the typewriter by the white handle. The blue case was made from cheap plastic, as was the rest of the typewriter. It wasn’t much more than a child’s toy, but it worked and that was all that mattered.

She went back down the stairs, pausing in the kitchen door for a quick look. The house was still empty. Treating it like it was made of solid gold, she lifted the top off the typewriter and rolled the answer sheet under the carriage. History first, she decided, opening the book to the chapter on World War II. Soon she was so absorbed that she lost track of time.

“What are you doing?”

A small squeal of surprise erupted from Abby and she almost threw the book across the room.

Buddy was looking at her with a great deal of curiosity.

“Nothing.” She finally started to breathe again. “Just reading.”

“Reading what?” He strolled casually to the table and glanced down at the cover. Abby caught the faint scent of horses drifting from him. “History? Why are you reading this stuff when you don’t have to?”

Abby could feel her face turning red even though she fought it. “I do have to. I’m trying to get my G.E.D.”

“G.E.D.?”

She nodded. “General Education Diploma. I’m taking correspondence courses.”

“Oh.” He hesitated. “You any good at this stuff?”

Abby looked down at the book and gave a small shrug. “I like history and science, but I’m afraid the math is getting away from me.”

“Really?” He seemed to brighten. “I’m pretty good at math but I suck at history. I’ll make you a deal. I’ll help you with your math if you help me with history. I’ve got to turn in a final report in a couple of weeks.”

“On what?” She couldn’t stop the spark of interest that ran through her.

“Chivalry.” Buddy rolled his eyes. “About the only thing I know about the topic is that guys used to throw their clothes in mud holes for women to walk on.”

Laughter bubbled out of her. “I think there’s a little more to it than that. Here, there’s a whole chapter on chivalry and it even has a list of books at the end for further reading.” She offered him the book, wondering why he was looking at her with a dazed expression on his face. “Is something wrong?” She was starting to get embarrassed again.

Buddy cleared his throat. “Uh, no.” He took the book and looked over the list. “Wonder if they’d have these at the library?”

“Probably. At least some of them.”

“We could go after I get out of school some evening. The library stays open until nine.”

Abby paused. “You want me to go with you?”

“Sure. I’ll need all the help I can get finding these books. And we can pick some up for you on algebra while we’re there.”

“Well, I guess it would be okay.” She hoped her voice sounded surer than she felt. What if someone made a remark about her being there with Buddy? She was used to the humiliation. He wasn’t.

“Great. I may as well get my books and start working too. Keep Tate from yelling at me again.”

“He yells at you?”

Buddy grimaced. “Only when I don’t do my homework. Tate’s a real stickler for education. Guess he got it from Mom. She was the same way.” He left the room, returning shortly with a stack of his own books and sat down next to her.

* * * * *

Tate left his fishing rod in the tack room of the barn, then carried the stringer of trout to the back door. Voices drifted through the screen as he deposited the fish in a cooler full of water and he leaned to one side to look into the kitchen.

Abby and Buddy were sitting side by side at the table, their heads so close together they were almost touching as they studied a paper in front of them. Books were spread out everywhere.

“Show me how you got that answer,” Abby said.

“It’s easy. Just remember to do all the operations inside the brackets first. See? XY squared plus X equals 2XY squared. Then you multiply that by the numbers outside the bracket.”

Abby’s pencil scratched for a second then she laughed in delight. “I did it!”

“And you got it right.”

Buddy was staring at her with rapt attention and Tate grinned wryly. Apparently his little brother had discovered the same thing he had last night. When Abby smiled the whole world seemed to light up with her. All he needed was for Buddy to develop a crush on her, but if he was any judge, it was already too late to head him off at the pass. Buddy definitely looked smitten.

Leaving his muddy boots on the porch, Tate opened the door and stepped inside, catching it before it could slam. “This must be a first. You’re actually doing homework before I force you into it.”

Buddy looked up and grinned smugly. “Abby and I are studying together. She’s getting her G.E.D. you know. I’m helping her with math and she’s helping me with history.”

“Is that right.” He glanced at Abby.

She had leaped to her feet at his first words, her face a deep pink. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was that late.”

“It’s not that late. Go ahead and finish what you’re doing.” Even he could detect the trace of irritation in his voice. With Buddy she seemed comfortable, even laughing out loud. But let him walk into the room and she panicked. What did she think he was, some kind of monster?

No
, the logical part of his mind answered.
You’re the stranger who took her virginity and
got her pregnant
. He couldn’t blame her for being easier around Buddy than she was around him. He barely caught the sigh that was trying to escape.

Abby was already gathering up her books. “I’m finished. I’ll just put these upstairs and then start supper.”

It sounded like she ran all the way and irritation hit him again. When Buddy started closing his books, Tate glowered at him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Putting these up. I’m almost done. I thought I could help Abby with supper.”

This time the sigh made it all the way out. Buddy never volunteered for kitchen duty. He could see where this might get to be a problem. “If she needs help, I’ll help her. Since you’re so close to being done, you might as well go ahead and finish your homework.”

“Aw, Tate. I can do it later.”

He shot him a glare that had Buddy settling back into his seat with a grumble. After waiting a second to ensure there would be no more protest, he pulled open a drawer and rummaged until he found his cleaning knife.

By the time he’d cleaned, gutted and filleted the fish, Abby was back in the kitchen, stirring something in a bowl. “What’s that?”

She glanced up. “Cake. I thought it could bake while the rest of the food was cooking.”

Buddy’s head came up like a pointer who’d scented a covey of quail. “Chocolate? With icing?”

She gave him a quick smile. “Yes.”

Tate arched an eyebrow. “At the rate you’re cooking, none of us are going to be able to fit through the door in six months.”

Abby froze, her eyes huge as she stared at him. “I can cook less.”

He stopped her just before she dumped the batter in the sink. “Abby, it was a joke. You aren’t cooking too much.”

She kept her gaze on the bowl in her hands. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. You’re doing fine.” He waited a second, but when she didn’t go on stirring, he turned to the door. “I’m going to run upstairs and take a fast shower. I’ll put the fish on to cook when I get done.”

“Okay.”

Tate started up the stairs in deep thought. He’d told her yesterday that things would get better, even promised they would. At the moment they seemed to be deteriorating rapidly. Maybe it was time they had a talk. Somehow, he had to convince her that she didn’t need to be afraid of him.

* * * * *

Tate waited until the last dish was put away after supper and the kitchen was again spotless. Buddy had gone to his room earlier and the sounds of Country Western music now drifted down from the floor above. Alone with her, he’d had to squelch the urge to offer to dry the dishes. The way things stood right now, she’d probably believe he thought she was doing it wrong.

“Finished?”

She looked at him warily and nodded.

“It’s a nice evening. Why don’t we go sit on the front porch for a while?”

The idea seemed to startle her. “I was going to clean the upstairs bathroom.”

“It can wait.” Tate stood and held out his hand. He would have sworn he could hear the clock in the living room ticking while he waited for her to take it. She finally did, but left him with the impression that she was ready to bolt at a moment’s notice.

Retaining his grip on her hand, he led her out onto the porch and sat on the swing, pulling her down next to him. Even when she tugged slightly, he continued to hold her hand.

“The courthouse opens at nine tomorrow. I thought we’d leave here about eight-thirty, if that’s okay with you.”

She gave a slight nod, her gaze focused on the horizon.

“You don’t have to fix breakfast. We’ll get something to eat in town.”

This time there wasn’t even a nod and Tate felt his irritation rising again. So far, subtlety had gotten him nowhere. It was time to be blunt. “Abby, are you afraid of me?”

“No.” Her voice was low and she still refused to look at him.

“Then what’s wrong?” He hesitated, not quite sure how to say what he wanted to, except to just say it. “I know I must have hurt you that night, but I didn’t intend to. It always happens the first time.”

He’d seen her blush before, but now her cheeks were bright scarlet.

“I know. It’s not that.”

“Then what?”

It was her turn to hesitate. He waited.

“It’s just that I don’t know what you expect from me. And now I don’t have a job or a house to go back to.”

Good Lord. No wonder she was a nervous wreck. She was afraid if she made a mistake he’d toss her out. He looked down at their hands. Hers was swallowed in his and, to his shock, he realized his thumb was gently caressing the soft skin on the inside of her wrist. He forced himself to stop.

“Abby, I know I said we needed help with the house, but I didn’t mean you were going to be a servant. You’re going to be my wife. I don’t expect you to do anything you don’t want to do. This is your home now. Everything in it is yours. The food, the furniture, everything. You aren’t going to make a mistake and, even if you did, I wouldn’t throw you out. I don’t expect you to spend every minute of the day working. I want you to be comfortable here, do the things you want to do. For instance, what would you like to do right now?” Hastily he added, “Besides clean the bathroom, I mean.”

She gave a half smile, but at least she was looking at him now. “It’ll sound silly.”

“No, it won’t.”

“Well, I’d like to go for a walk. Just to see what’s here, you know? The only place I’ve been so far is the house and the tractor shed.”

Mentally, Tate kicked himself. He should have thought of that, and not have made her have to ask. The truth was, he didn’t know how to treat her anymore than she knew how to react to him. “That I can do.” He pulled her to her feet.

“You’re going with me?”

She sounded surprised and he shrugged. “I don’t have anything better to do right now. Might as well give you the grand tour.” Not to mention, the more time they spent together, the faster they’d both get over this case of nerves. “Were do you want to start?”