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
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
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