Wild and Wonderful Read Free Page A

She wasn't aware she had murmured the aching question aloud.
    Approaching her from behind, Bruce rubbed his hands over her arms. "Glenna, I'm sorry. I wish there was some way I could help…something I could do to prevent this."
    She heard the echo of futility in his voice, the forlorn emptiness of his offer. When his arms curved around her and his jaw rested against her hair, there was no comfort in his embrace.
    "I haven't got much money, but when the mine closes—" he began.
    "If the mine closes, not when, Bruce," Glenna quickly corrected him and moved out of his arms and away from the window. Her back was ramrod straight when she turned to regard him. "It will be thirty days, you said, until the injunction takes effect. A lot can happen in thirty days."
    "You sound like your father." He eyed her sadly. "Don't be a fool, Glenna."
    His remarks only served to make her more determined. If her father hadn't given up hope yet, neither would she. Her patrician features took on an air of resolve. The sunlight glinting through the window set the deep auburn hue of her brown hair afire, as if reinforcing her purpose.
    "A Reynolds doesn't give up without putting up one helluva fight first. Dad isn't the type to lie down and let the world step on him. And neither am I."
    "I don't think you understand what you are up against." Bruce shook his head, but didn't attempt to argue too strongly. "There is a time for pride…and a time to be sensible. I should know, Glenna. I've fought this day for a year and a half. You can think what you like about me, but after a year and a half of butting my head against a stone wall, I know when to quit."
    "Is that what you are going to do? Quit?" Her lip curled in a contemptuous challenge.
    "Not literally. No, I'll see this thing through to the bitter end." There was absolutely no doubt in his expression about what the end would be. Turning, he walked to the desk and picked up the briefcase lying atop it. "I think it would be better if I took a rain check on the dinner invitation tonight. I don't think either of us would be very good company. Make my apologies to Orin, will you?" he murmured quietly.
    "Of course." Glenna accepted his decision with a curt nod and made no attempt to walk with him to the front door.
    His glance was faintly mocking when he crossed the room and paused at the sliding oak doors. "I'll show myself out," he said, taunting her lack of courtesy.
    "I know you will," she replied coolly.
     

 
    Chapter Two
     
    THE TINGLING SHOWER SPRAY drummed out some of her tension. The raking wire claws of the hairbrush eliminated more of it while untangling her wind-snarled hair. Makeup and a floral, silk shirtwaist bolstered her spirits.
    When she met her father in the dining room she felt capable of taking on any obstacle—including the stone wall Bruce had referred to. Which was just as well because she was subjected to her father's sharp-eyed scrutiny the minute she entered the room.
    "Hannah tells me Bruce decided not to stay for dinner. Did you two have a lover's quarrel?" He sat in his accustomed chair at the head of the claw-footed dining-roomtable.
    "We aren't lovers so that isn't possible," She pulled out the chair on his right and sat down. She denied his allegation with ease, not at all upset by the presumption he had made concerning her relationship with Bruce.
    An iron-gray eyebrow was raised. "You obviously had a difference of opinion about something."
    "We did." Glenna agreed with a quick smile as she spread the Irish-linen napkin across her lap. "It was over the closing of the mine. He regarded it as inevitable. I didn't." She saw the look of consternation spread across his face and turned her attention to thehousekeeper entering the room with a tureen of soup. "Hmm, that smells good, Hannah." She sniffed the air appreciatively, the warm aroma of chicken stock wafting from the china serving bowl.
    "Homemade, I spent all afternoon fixing the noodles," the plump woman retorted