No One But You Read Free Page A

man who enjoyed a woman’s company. She was certain women were equally charmed by his company. He had a way about him that was dangerous because it made a woman feel all manner of things were possible even when she knew they weren’t.
    â€œMa’am, I think you just accused me of being a purveyor of untruths.”
    Sarah couldn’t resist laughing at his mock chagrin. “Nothing so serious. Just a matter of exaggeration.”
    â€œBut only a slight exaggeration.”
    His assumed look of hopefulness, like a little boy hoping to escape punishment for some small transgression, almost made her laugh again. This man could have turned her head if she weren’t a serious woman in need of a capable and responsible husband. It must be wonderful to be able to wake up each morning knowing that your world was unthreatened, that the day would provide you with reasons to be glad you were alive.
    â€œIt would be ungracious of me to disagree with you so I won’t. Now you’d better introduce me to Mrs. Randolph before you give me reason to go back on my word.”
    â€œYour mother is a hard woman,” Salty said to Ellen.
    His accusation provoked Jared into breaking his silence. “No, she’s not. She’s nice to everyone, even the men who left us.”
    Sarah could tell from Salty’s sudden lack of expression that an explanation was required. “Two of the men who worked for us left before fulfilling their agreement. It caused us to lose most of our crops last year.” Which was the reason she was in such a desperate situation.
    â€œI must apologize for my gender,” Salty said. “Only a low-down skunk would do something like that.”
    â€œArnie wasn’t a low-down skunk,” Ellen protested. “I liked him.”
    â€œYou liked him because he let you ride with him everywhere he went,” Jared said. “I told you he wasn’t nice. I just didn’t know to call him a low-down skunk.”
    Salty’s glistening eyes were at work again. “It seems I’ve made an addition to your son’s vocabulary,” he said to Sarah. “Do I have to apologize?”
    If she didn’t get away from this man, she was going to do something foolish. He probably wasn’t married after all. He enjoyed flattering women too much to settle down and get serious with anyone. Yet there was something genuine about him that made her believe a woman could depend on him. Despite the flattery and the laughter, he seemed solid, unshakable. Still, she couldn’t afford to be dazzled by his smile or thrown off balance by his kindness.
    â€œI won’t ask you to apologize if you’ll stop dragging your feet and introduce me to Mrs. Randolph. I could almost believe you didn’t want me to meet her.”
    â€œWhy would I want you to meet her when it means I’ll be denied the pleasure of talking to you?”
    She didn’t know why Mr. Randolph had hired this man, but she doubted it was for the amount of work he got done. It would be nice to be with someone who had the power to make her feel her life wasn’t such a burden, but she couldn’t afford that luxury. She needed a man who knew how to fix things, to make things work, who wouldn’t be put off by the hours of backbreaking labor it would take to put her ranch in order. She needed a man who could fill the role of a father to her children. She needed a man who would honor his commitments and respect her.
    She needed a miracle.
    â€œSomehow I think you’ll survive. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll introduce myself to Mrs. Randolph.”
    â€œI said I’d walk up with you, and I will.” He ambled to the horse’s head, secured a grip on the bridle, and clucked for him to start walking. “Rose—that’s what Mrs. Randolph insists everybody call her—doesn’t get around much these days, so she’ll be tickled to see another woman she