men, the ones we haven’t seen?”
“I won’t wear it when they’re around.”
“Your father would never approve.”
“He probably wouldn’t look up from his books long enough to notice what I had on.”
“Your mother would say it’s quite improper,” persevered Augusta, remembering her sister’s very strict notions. “And I promised her I’d be responsible for you.”
“I’m the only one responsible for me. You’re here because I love you and couldn’t think of going anywhere without you.”
“Folks will say I’m older and should know better.”
“According to Burch there aren’t any folks about here to say anything. He informs me that I have to learn to ride if I wish to see anyone other than himself.”
“What about the people we stayed with?”
“I don’t think he counts people unless they live in Cheyenne or have a ranch as large as the Elkhorn. Now stop worrying about me. I’ve got to learn what goes on on this ranch, and I can’t do it if I’m confined to the house or a wagon. I have to see things for myself instead of waiting to be told what somebody else thinks I ought to know.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go home and forget all about this ranch? Your cousin will pay you generously. You could live comfortably for the rest of your life.”
“I could have taken his money a month ago, but I can’t leave now without admitting defeat. I didn’t like running Daddy’s farm at first, but eventually I learned to enjoy it. I have a feeling I’m going to learn to enjoy living out here too. I don’t know why; it’s certainly nothing like what I expected, but I refuse to run away. Now I’ve got to hurry. Burch is probably waiting for me already.” She picked up some soft leather gloves and a hat she had already set aside. “How do I look?”
“I dare not say” lamented her beset aunt. “I don’t think I could bear to have the words pass my lips.”
Sibyl giggled and kissed her aunt. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
Chapter 6
Only a slight feeling of self-consciousness betrayed Sibyl’s uneasiness as she came downstairs. She had spent quite some time in choosing her clothes for this first ride, and she was unsure of Burch’s reaction.
He was waiting in the ranch room when she came down, and Sibyl could tell as soon as his eyes rested on her that she had chosen well. His body tensed and any intention he had of treating her with cool detachment evaporated. His blood was up and hot.
“Am I dressed correctly?” she asked in a demure voice neither Kendrick nor Moreton would have recognized. “I’ve never been riding in Wyoming before, and it looked like your aunt hadn’t worn any of these clothes.” Sibyl was wearing a suede jacket over a red blouse, and both were cut low, revealing the whiteness of her skin. The jacket buttoned tightly over her bosom and at her waist, accenting the thrust of her young breasts.
“Aunt Ada never filled out those clothes like that,” Burch said, giving voice to his thoughts rather than answering her questions. Sibyl was pleased with his admiration, but she was not yet able to admit that she would dress to please any man, even one as disturbingly handsome as her infuriating cousin. It took an effort to keep the sharpness out of her voice.
“I was dressing for utility, not for looks,” she said somewhat untruthfully.
“It’s a pleasure to see them so favorably combined,” he replied with one of those magic smiles that transformed his face and destroyed Sibyl’s composure. A barbed reproof rose to her lips as he boldly spun her around, drinking in every detail of her appearance, but his touch sent such shivers of excitement through her body that she felt hot and tonguetied. “One look at you riding through the sagebrush and the boys won’t be able to concentrate on anything less than a stampede.”
“Thank you for the compliment,” said Sibyl, trying to laugh, “but that’s a terrible
“I won’t wear it when they’re around.”
“Your father would never approve.”
“He probably wouldn’t look up from his books long enough to notice what I had on.”
“Your mother would say it’s quite improper,” persevered Augusta, remembering her sister’s very strict notions. “And I promised her I’d be responsible for you.”
“I’m the only one responsible for me. You’re here because I love you and couldn’t think of going anywhere without you.”
“Folks will say I’m older and should know better.”
“According to Burch there aren’t any folks about here to say anything. He informs me that I have to learn to ride if I wish to see anyone other than himself.”
“What about the people we stayed with?”
“I don’t think he counts people unless they live in Cheyenne or have a ranch as large as the Elkhorn. Now stop worrying about me. I’ve got to learn what goes on on this ranch, and I can’t do it if I’m confined to the house or a wagon. I have to see things for myself instead of waiting to be told what somebody else thinks I ought to know.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go home and forget all about this ranch? Your cousin will pay you generously. You could live comfortably for the rest of your life.”
“I could have taken his money a month ago, but I can’t leave now without admitting defeat. I didn’t like running Daddy’s farm at first, but eventually I learned to enjoy it. I have a feeling I’m going to learn to enjoy living out here too. I don’t know why; it’s certainly nothing like what I expected, but I refuse to run away. Now I’ve got to hurry. Burch is probably waiting for me already.” She picked up some soft leather gloves and a hat she had already set aside. “How do I look?”
“I dare not say” lamented her beset aunt. “I don’t think I could bear to have the words pass my lips.”
Sibyl giggled and kissed her aunt. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
Chapter 6
Only a slight feeling of self-consciousness betrayed Sibyl’s uneasiness as she came downstairs. She had spent quite some time in choosing her clothes for this first ride, and she was unsure of Burch’s reaction.
He was waiting in the ranch room when she came down, and Sibyl could tell as soon as his eyes rested on her that she had chosen well. His body tensed and any intention he had of treating her with cool detachment evaporated. His blood was up and hot.
“Am I dressed correctly?” she asked in a demure voice neither Kendrick nor Moreton would have recognized. “I’ve never been riding in Wyoming before, and it looked like your aunt hadn’t worn any of these clothes.” Sibyl was wearing a suede jacket over a red blouse, and both were cut low, revealing the whiteness of her skin. The jacket buttoned tightly over her bosom and at her waist, accenting the thrust of her young breasts.
“Aunt Ada never filled out those clothes like that,” Burch said, giving voice to his thoughts rather than answering her questions. Sibyl was pleased with his admiration, but she was not yet able to admit that she would dress to please any man, even one as disturbingly handsome as her infuriating cousin. It took an effort to keep the sharpness out of her voice.
“I was dressing for utility, not for looks,” she said somewhat untruthfully.
“It’s a pleasure to see them so favorably combined,” he replied with one of those magic smiles that transformed his face and destroyed Sibyl’s composure. A barbed reproof rose to her lips as he boldly spun her around, drinking in every detail of her appearance, but his touch sent such shivers of excitement through her body that she felt hot and tonguetied. “One look at you riding through the sagebrush and the boys won’t be able to concentrate on anything less than a stampede.”
“Thank you for the compliment,” said Sibyl, trying to laugh, “but that’s a terrible
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