Temporarily Texan. Victoria Chancellor

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СКАЧАТЬ dynamics of the Crawford family—not to mention the harsh realities of ranch life—for greener pastures.

      “Look, I don’t want to argue with you. I’m going to feed the calves. If you really want to help, you can give each of the five horses half a scoop of sweet feed and a scoop of oats.”

      “You keep them in the barn all the time?”

      “No, they’re in the stalls today so the ranching expert could see them.” He shook his head. “Normally, if they aren’t working, they’d be in the pasture.”

      “I’ll be glad to feed them,” she said. “Where do you keep their grain?”

      He pointed out the tack room, the feed room and the tiny bedroom that at one time had been occupied by a wrangler. Now, its single bed, nightstand and straight-back chair was even more dusty and dingy than the furniture in the house, and all the workers lived elsewhere. Even the bunkhouse, which at one time housed a half-dozen cowboys, was falling in on itself.

      Much like the economic structure of this ranch…

      Raven went off to see to the horses. Within fifteen minutes Troy had the calves fed, although the ungrateful beasts had managed to get milk and slobber all over his clean shirt and jeans. He closed their stall door and found Raven looking him over, a slight smile on her face.

      “Is there anything else I can help you with?” she asked. He seemed a little worse for wear. Maybe the calves knew he wasn’t all that sympathetic to their plight and had made him pay. Or maybe she was projecting a little.

      “Not in those clothes,” he said, eyeing her up and down, making her very self-conscious.

      “They’re comfortable,” Raven said in defense of her chosen style. Full skirts, sweaters or tunics and sandals were so pleasant to wear, even if she did look as out of place as…well, a New Hampshire Yankee in the heart of cattle country.

      “Did you bring something more practical for Texas?”

      “Of course. But these are some of my favorite things. Most of the clothes I’m wearing were made by friends or myself. I knit and weave, but someone I know crocheted this scarf. Another sews vintage fabrics into new garments and crafted my skirt.”

      “Nice hobbies, I suppose, if you have the time.”

      She suddenly felt she needed to defend more than her clothing choices. His flippant words denigrated a whole group of people who believed in creating something beautiful and functional from natural fibers, not manufactured in cookie-cutter style from synthetic materials. But it wouldn’t do any good to start a philosophical argument here in the barn, so she explained through clenched teeth, “It’s not a hobby for most of us, it’s a livelihood.”

      “So you’re part of an artsy-craftsy bunch back in New Hampshire? I thought you lived on a farm.”

      “I run a working farm, where we use what we produce. You’re making it sound as if we’re frivolous.”

      “No, I’m not,” he said with a smile.

      “Yes, you are, and I don’t appreciate your constant condemnation of my lifestyle.”

      He shook his head. “Lady, I don’t know enough about your lifestyle to condemn it, even if that was my intention, which it’s not. So don’t get on your high horse about my attitude. It seems to me that you’re just a little too defensive.”

      “Oh, so now my food, clothing and opinions are wrong!”

      “I didn’t say they were wrong. They’re just not…normal for Texas.”

      “The entire world does not revolve around Texas!”

      “I know that, but lots of folks down here don’t feel that way, so you might want to rein in your Yankee sentiments and eccentricities.”

      “I am true to myself, Mr. Crawford, and that’s not something that I can change.”

      “Well, good for you. I hope you aren’t planning on a long stay or forming a lot of close relationships with Texans.”

      “I came here to do a job, not to make lots of friends.” She paused, then lifted her chin. “Although, I must admit, I’m very good at making new friends. I have them all over.”

      He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Ever been to Texas before?”

      “No, I haven’t.”

      “Well, there you go.” He took off across the yard.

      “What do you mean by that?” She almost had to jog to keep up. White and red chickens scattered in their wake.

      “Stick around. You’ll see.”

      By the time she reached the back door of the house, he was holding it open for her.

      “I think it’s time for me to leave.”

      “Come on inside and we’ll talk about it.”

      She stepped into the kitchen. “It’s obvious we don’t get along. Besides, it’s going to be dark soon. I need to go into town and find a place to stay tonight.”

      “Um, it’s not that easy.”

      “What do you mean?” Was he forbidding her from leaving? Was he threatening her? She knew he didn’t like her, but really…

      “There’s not much in Brody’s Crossing.”

      “You mean there are no hotels, no bed-and-breakfasts?”

      “Not a one. There used to be a motel on the road toward Jacksboro, but it closed a long time ago. Of course, there are a few motels in Graham, if you want to drive over there. It’s at least fifteen miles.”

      “Well, that’s…unfortunate.” She sighed and resisted the urge to slump. She’d come so far today she couldn’t face driving to the next town. “Are you absolutely sure?”

      “To the best of my knowledge, there’s not even a room to rent in Brody’s Crossing.”

      “Maybe there’s something you don’t know about.”

      He shrugged. “You can stay here,” Troy said with a definite lack of enthusiasm.

      “Really, I don’t think you mean that, and besides, it’s not a good idea.”

      “Why?”

      “Because it’s obvious you don’t want me here. I’m not your ranching expert and I’m not a friend. You don’t approve of anything I do, of who I am, so I think it would be best if we parted ways.”

      “I was just joking about the tofu.”

      “And my vegetarian lifestyle? And my clothes? And my friends with the frivolous little hobbies?”

      “Okay, maybe I was a little hard on you, which I shouldn’t be. I…I kind of know what it’s like to be treated disrespectfully.” He shrugged again. “Let’s СКАЧАТЬ