inside,” she answered softly. “Of course, if we don’t want something back in the house, we can store it in the barn. I don’t really know where you want things, so it might be nice if you had a part in the sorting through.”
“I’m not sure what’s even in there,” Nicholas admitted. He stared at Daughtry’s back for a moment before continuing. “I bought the place as is from a widow woman who wanted to move back East to live with her daughter. She’d let the place run down to this state and was barely able to feed herself. I heard from the sheriff in town that they were considering trying to force her out for her own good, so I came out here and we made a deal. She left a lot behind, but I have no idea whether it’s useful stuff or just junk.”
Daughtry nodded and finally turned to meet Nicholas’s gaze. “I uncrated the dishes,” she said, “but I didn’t go through much else. I guess we can do that together, if you like.”
“It would be my pleasure. Now, why don’t you tell me about our grove of trees. Did you see anything of value there?”
“There were several apple trees, and I think I recognized a plum or two. Would you like to walk down there?”
“Yes,” Nicholas replied. “I’d like that.”
Daughtry began to walk at a fairly good pace. She was disturbed for some reason by the feelings Nicholas brought about. She thought back to the days she’d spent with nothing more than his picture and realized how much she’d lost her heart to him. He can’t possibly feel the same way, she scolded herself. Men are much more level-headed about such matters. Nicholas obviously needed a hard-working wife, and he probably hadn’t wanted to waste his time with romantic notions and courting.
Daughtry was so lost in these thoughts that she didn’t pay any attention to the ground she was covering. Before she could tell what was happening, she lost her footing on a large rock and fell forward.
Nicholas’s arm shot out in a flash and encircled her waist protectively. He pulled her upright, then, as though he were doing the most natural thing in the world, he pulled her close against him.
Daughtry stared up into his face, knowing he would kiss her. She saw the questioning look in his eyes, as though he were asking permission. Without thought, she reached her hand up to the back of his head and pulled his face down to meet hers.
Nicholas needed no more encouragement. He quickly captured her lips with his own and kissed her so ardently that Daughtry forgot for a moment who and where she was. When he pulled away, Daughtry uttered the first thing that came to mind.
“I love you, Nicholas! I have ever since seeing your picture.” Daughtry no longer cared that the declaration sounded like that of an infatuated teenag er. She meant the words with all her heart. She really did love this man.
Nicholas held her at arm’s length for a moment. The troubled look on his face brought Daughtry back to reality. Somehow, she had offended him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered and walked backwards a step. “That must sound insincere. After all, we’ve known each other for such a short time.” She turned to go back to the house, wanting to run away and hide from her feelings and the man she’d so clearly startled.
Nicholas crossed the distance between them and halted Daughtry from going any farther. “I don’t believe you could be insincere if you tried,” he whispered.
Daughtry lifted her face, revealing all the emotion and misgivings she felt. “Please don’t be angry with me. It’s just that I haven’t had much practice at things like this. Maybe it’s because I’ve never felt this way before.” She shrugged her shoulders before continuing. “My mouth gets a little ahead of itself sometimes, as you’ve witnessed before.”
Nicholas shook his head. “I’m not angry. Surprised, yes, but not angry.”
Daughtry nodded and tried to think of something she could say to negate her declaration
“I’m not sure what’s even in there,” Nicholas admitted. He stared at Daughtry’s back for a moment before continuing. “I bought the place as is from a widow woman who wanted to move back East to live with her daughter. She’d let the place run down to this state and was barely able to feed herself. I heard from the sheriff in town that they were considering trying to force her out for her own good, so I came out here and we made a deal. She left a lot behind, but I have no idea whether it’s useful stuff or just junk.”
Daughtry nodded and finally turned to meet Nicholas’s gaze. “I uncrated the dishes,” she said, “but I didn’t go through much else. I guess we can do that together, if you like.”
“It would be my pleasure. Now, why don’t you tell me about our grove of trees. Did you see anything of value there?”
“There were several apple trees, and I think I recognized a plum or two. Would you like to walk down there?”
“Yes,” Nicholas replied. “I’d like that.”
Daughtry began to walk at a fairly good pace. She was disturbed for some reason by the feelings Nicholas brought about. She thought back to the days she’d spent with nothing more than his picture and realized how much she’d lost her heart to him. He can’t possibly feel the same way, she scolded herself. Men are much more level-headed about such matters. Nicholas obviously needed a hard-working wife, and he probably hadn’t wanted to waste his time with romantic notions and courting.
Daughtry was so lost in these thoughts that she didn’t pay any attention to the ground she was covering. Before she could tell what was happening, she lost her footing on a large rock and fell forward.
Nicholas’s arm shot out in a flash and encircled her waist protectively. He pulled her upright, then, as though he were doing the most natural thing in the world, he pulled her close against him.
Daughtry stared up into his face, knowing he would kiss her. She saw the questioning look in his eyes, as though he were asking permission. Without thought, she reached her hand up to the back of his head and pulled his face down to meet hers.
Nicholas needed no more encouragement. He quickly captured her lips with his own and kissed her so ardently that Daughtry forgot for a moment who and where she was. When he pulled away, Daughtry uttered the first thing that came to mind.
“I love you, Nicholas! I have ever since seeing your picture.” Daughtry no longer cared that the declaration sounded like that of an infatuated teenag er. She meant the words with all her heart. She really did love this man.
Nicholas held her at arm’s length for a moment. The troubled look on his face brought Daughtry back to reality. Somehow, she had offended him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered and walked backwards a step. “That must sound insincere. After all, we’ve known each other for such a short time.” She turned to go back to the house, wanting to run away and hide from her feelings and the man she’d so clearly startled.
Nicholas crossed the distance between them and halted Daughtry from going any farther. “I don’t believe you could be insincere if you tried,” he whispered.
Daughtry lifted her face, revealing all the emotion and misgivings she felt. “Please don’t be angry with me. It’s just that I haven’t had much practice at things like this. Maybe it’s because I’ve never felt this way before.” She shrugged her shoulders before continuing. “My mouth gets a little ahead of itself sometimes, as you’ve witnessed before.”
Nicholas shook his head. “I’m not angry. Surprised, yes, but not angry.”
Daughtry nodded and tried to think of something she could say to negate her declaration
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