Whispers of Moonlight (17 page)

"Another time. Angel, but thanks." Before Rebecca could even guess his intentions, he dropped a kiss on her cheek. "See you later, kitten."

The silence in the small kitchen was heavy, but Angel moved very casually to get the plates. Rebecca took her cue and put the flatware and bowls of food on the table. The women were halfway through their meal before Angel said kindly, "You'll get the hang of it, Rebecca. Don't worry about your job."

"Dan was a big help," she admitted.

"He's a nice guy."

"Yes. I appreciated his stopping."

"But not enough to go and live with him."

Rebecca's eyes flew to Angel's. "He said he was only kidding."

Angel smiled. "Of course; so was I."

Angel watched the younger woman go back to her food and wondered at herself. She was a plainspoken woman and brutally honest. She wondered what it was about Rebecca's eyes that had kept her from telling the truth about Dan's interest.

Rebecca was still bent over a washtub full of clothes when Dan arrived the next day. He walked in much as he'd done the day before, only this time he sat down at the table as if he lived there. In good spirits, he remarked, "Somehow I thought you would be burning potatoes by now."

Rebecca, who had greeted him absently, now looked full into his handsome face.

"What time is it?"

"Almost 4:00."

"Oh no!" she wailed. "I had no idea." She tore at the damp apron she was wearing and only managed to put the tic in a knot. Dan watched her calmly and wondered at his feelings. Never, not in 32 years of living as he pleased, had a person gotten under his skin so quickly. He was completely captivated by this woman.

"Here," he finally spoke, rising. "Let me help you."

He worked at the knot, gently easing it free, but as he'd done once before, he drew Rebecca close without warning and pressed a kiss to her brow, his head lowering still more, this time toward her mouth. Her eyes wide, Rebecca sprang back, hitting her seat on the stove.

"I can't pay you for helping me cook," she gasped.

"I'm not looking for payment," Dan told her, his hands still holding her waist.

"Yes you are. I can't pay you money, and I can't pay you with kisses."

"I'm not trying to collect payment, Rebecca."

"Then why the kiss?"

Dan's smile was tender. "How else does a man show a woman he's interested?"

"Interested in what?"

Dan blinked. Could she really be so naive?

"Why, in a relationship," he said calmly.

"But I'm not."

"Not interested in a relationship?"

"That's right."

Dan looked at her, forcing the hands that wanted to caress her waist to remain still.

"You haven't even given me a chance, Rebecca. You may find that you're very interested."

Rebecca shook her head in mute appeal. "I can't," she whispered. "I can't, and that's all there is to it."

Dan read the near panic in her eyes and knew he was going to have to back off. Tonight was his night off. He'd planned to come back when Angel went to work and get to know Rebecca more intimately, but he had never forced himself on a woman and certainly didn't plan to start now. He finally dropped his hands.

"Well, we'd better get started on supper."

"You're staying?" Rebecca asked in wonder.

"Of course. I think you still need a little help with this kitchen work."

"And you're willing to do that?"

"Certainly. That's what friends are for."

Rebecca could only stare at him. Dan caught the took.

"Unless you'd rather we weren't even friends, Rebecca. If so, I'll leave."

"No," Rebecca whispered. "I didn't know you'd be willing to be friends."

Dan knew very well that feeling as he did about her, friendship would never work, but he couldn't stand the thought of not seeing her again. If he walked out that door, he knew in his heart she would never call him back. Maybe this way he had a chance. He thought it might be a comfort to her to know mat he did not have marriage in mind, but for some reason he kept this thought to himself.

"Now." His voice was all at once businesslike. "Potatoes again tonight?"

"Yes, and there are some apples."

"Okay, you can start to peel the spuds, and I'll do the apples."

Rebecca complied without comment, but a thought niggled at the back of her mind. Could a man who wanted to kiss you really be just a friend? She hadn't had any experience with such things, but the idea seemed odd. However, the next few minutes spent working with Dan seemed to mock Rebecca's very thoughts. He was as friendly and unassuming as he could be. Angel was down to eat by the time they put the meal on, and Dan even joined them. He helped with the cleanup and kissed Rebecca's cheek much as he had the night before. His smile was kind as he left, and Angel followed an hour later. Rebecca spent the rest of the evening on the laundry.

"Oh, Angel," Rebecca said with surprise the very next day. The older woman had risen several hours ahead of schedule. "Did I wake
you?"

"No, I planned to get up early. We're out of food, and I think we should shop together."

"Oh." Rebecca felt awful. "I'm sorry I can't just do all of this on my own."

Angel smiled understandingly, but again she had surprised herself. Her mind told her that her new housekeeper was more trouble than she was worth, but Angel couldn't bring herself to tell her to leave. Angel never had tender thoughts toward anyone, but the idea of Rebecca taking a job at the Bell, or somewhere less respectable where she might be prey to men, made Angel feel anxious. She knew that Dan was interested in Rebecca but also that he was a decent guy.

Less than half an hour later they were in Pine Grove's general store. If was nothing like the one in Boulder, but Rebecca pushed the comparisons away. She liked the mingled aromas of leather and fresh goods, but the store was cold unless you were quite near the potbellied stove that sat in the middle of the room. The stove was surrounded by a selection of mismatched chairs, some occupied, some empty.

"Pick out some potatoes, Rebecca, and then look at those onions."

Rebecca wasn't certain exactly what she was looking for, but she picked out the ones that seemed to be freshest.

Angel did some wandering on her own and found pickles, tins of peaches, and some laundry soap. She scanned Rebecca's basket, and then they shopped together for a time before heading to the counter with enough food to last them several days if not a week. Angel had been kind enough to introduce her to the store owner, and Angel was still explaining things to Rebecca as they started toward the door.

"Hello, Angel," a deep voice spoke just as they left the building. "Working tonight?"

"Yes, I am, Cradwell. Not that it's any of your business."

Cradwell's smile was mocking. "Everything having to do with the competition is my business." His gaze shifted to Rebecca. Stark interest lit his eyes.

"I hadn't heard that the Bell had a new girl."

"It doesn't," Angel informed him baldly. "This is Rebecca Buchanan. You may call her
Miss
Buchanan, Cradwell, and don't get any ideas."

"My, my," Cradwell now mocked her in earnest. "This must be a little sister or a cousin to hear you talk like that. Why, you'd think she was a real
lady
the way you protect her."

"She is a real lady, but then you wouldn't know." Angel's voice was frigid. "You wouldn't know a real lady if she dropped a scented handkerchief on your filthy boots."

In fine humor. Angel was incredible; angry, she was magnificent. Head held high,
she turned and swept down the boardwalk as if she owned the boards herself.
Rebecca had no choice but to follow in her wake. It should have been a comfort
to her that Angel was ready and willing to protect and stand up for her, but it
wasn't. Why did everyone treat her like a child, or some delicate little flower
to cosset and protect? Aunt Hannah had been obsessed. Even Lavena and her father had tried to keep her world small and protected. Her thoughts made Rebecca boil. By the time they reached the house, she was in a fine fury.

"Why did you say all of those things?" She let Angel have it as soon as the door closed.

"All what things?" Angel was surprised but didn't show it.

"About my being a lady! You don't know anything about me, Angel. For all you know I've—" She cut off when Angel stepped forward and reached for one of her hands. Rebecca didn't resist but watched as the older woman turned it palm up, examined it, and let it go.

"I may not know'
you,
Rebecca, but I know what my eyes tell me." Her voice was soft and resolute. "Your hands are covered with blisters. You've never done a day's housework in your life. And your dress. It may have a stain and a small tear on the cuff, but you won't find any fabric in Pine Grove to equal it, I know a lady when I see one, Rebecca—even if she doesn't have a scented hankie."

Rebecca couldn't say a word. She might indeed be a lady, but she was tired of being protected.

"What is really bothering you, Rebecca?" Angel asked. She had watched the emotions chase across the younger woman's face but not found any answers.

"I think I can take care of myself."

"Is that why you ran?"

"No." Rebecca didn't pretend ignorance. "It's not why I ran, but now that I'm away, I think I can fend for myself."

"Can you, Rebecca? Are you sure about that?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"I mean, if you had met Cradwell on your own—if I hadn't been there—how would you have handled him?"

Rebecca shrugged. "I don't want to get involved with any man. Angel. Surely I have a right to that decision. I'd have just walked right on by."

Angel shook her head very slowly. "He's married to the sheriff's sister, Rebecca. He's been accused of attacking women on several occasions but never even arrested."

"Attacking women?" The words were nearly choked out.

"Yes, Rebecca. The eyes Cradwell turned on you were not trying to gauge the cut of your dress. They were trying to imagine you without the dress."

All color drained from Rebecca's face. Her eyes were huge as she stared at Angel. Dan chose that moment to walk in. He found the women facing one another in the kitchen. Confrontation was nothing new to him, so he did not shy away from it, but he never expected to find it here.

Without taking her eyes from Rebecca's face, Angel spoke to him.

"Dan, please take Rebecca into the parlor. I'll work on supper tonight."

Rebecca made no protest when Dan took her arm. He led her to the settee and then sat down beside her.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Rebecca looked at him and then away. It was beyond humiliation. She could never tell him what Angel had said about Cradwell's intentions.

"I think you'll feel better," Dan coaxed.

Rebecca looked down at the hands in her lap. "We met this man on the street, and Angel didn't think I could have taken care of myself if I'd been alone."

"Well, depending on the man, she was probably right."