Jonas gave his son's shoulder a squeeze. The men exchanged another pointed glance before Edgar grunted.
"Excuse me," Edgar mumbled.
Before the other man could leave, Adam stepped toward him. "If Breanna's gone, then you'd better make this a gift to your wife." He handed off the kitten, shirt and all, and received a grudging, "thanks," in return.
The man strode away, taking his horse with him, which left Adam with Jonas.
"You and Breanna were out walking pretty late last night. Anything happen I should know about?"
"No, sir." That kiss was between him and Breanna. They hadn't done anything wrong, and the last thing he needed was Breanna's father standing in his way. She was doing a fine job of getting in the way herself.
Had Adam pushed for too much, too soon? He remembered the way she'd responded so sweetly. She'd felt something for him. He knew it.
Jonas nodded toward the corral. Adam joined him at the railing. Inside, two half-wild fillies trotted and paced at the opposite end. Jonas seemed content to watch them, or maybe he was just thinking hard.
While Adam was vibrating with tension. "Are you going after her?"
Jonas shook his head. "She's stubborn. If she's set her mind on racing, there'll be no talking her out of it."
A race like that would be dangerous for a woman alone.
"What about the danger?" He was a little surprised to feel the anger throbbing in his chest, just behind the fear. She was putting her family—and him—through a bucketload of worry.
"Breanna can handle herself. She's resourceful. And tough. She's probably armed."
That didn't relieve Adam's worry. She might be all of those things, but she was a woman. Small-boned and petite. She could easily be taken advantage of.
Of course, there was the fact that she was fast, especially on that horse. Likely no one else would catch her when she was horseback. But she’d have to dismount sometimes. That’s when she’d be vulnerable.
If Jonas wasn't going after her, it would be at least ten days until she returned.Ifshe returned.
Adam couldn't stay and wait. He'd promised Father and Clarence he'd be back within the week. Foolish, he now knew. And short-sighted. He'd been completely arrogant believing she'd instantly fall for his charms.
Time was short.
He knocked his hat back slightly, let his head fall back as he looked up at the wide blue sky.
Should he just go home?
After meeting her properly, after that kiss,couldhe just go home?
Jonas spoke, his tone quiet and measured. "Breanna has always had a tender heart. But she doesn't let just anybody see it."
Adam supposed he should be thankful for that, but it was hard to feel thankful for anything today.
"She was all of five when I married Penny. Until then, I guess I'd let her run a little wild out here on the homestead. Didn't have much choice without a woman around." The older man sighed. "I guess she's still got some of that wildness in her."
Untamed. That was a good word for Breanna. Like the land around them.
"I'm not sure she'd cotton to someone wanting to change her."
"I don't want to change her," Adam was quick to say. It had been true yesterday.
Today... today, he wasn't so sure. The Breanna he'd created in his mind for the past three years wouldn't have run off on him.
Yesterday he'd thought her independent spirit was something to admire.
Was it that spirit that had sent her to Sioux City? Or his kiss?
