“What do you mean?”
“I told you the ranch is yours.”
Her sigh was loud and long. “Will you stop talking like you have no interest in this place?”
“I—”
She didn’t let him continue. “I know you feel bad about Chet dying, but that in no way negates the fact that this land is in your blood. I knew that this afternoon as you said things that made the place so real to me.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” Except he did.
Her narrowed eyes said she knew he understood. But rather than pursue it, she turned her attention to the bookshelf. “I started reading last night. But I was too tired, and the words swam before my eyes.”
“I shouldn’t be keeping you up.” He burnt his mouth as he drained his cup of tea.
“Oh no. Don’t leave. It’s too early for me to go to bed. I’ll just lie there, staring into the dark.”
“I have an idea. Do you play checkers?”
“The board game? Sure, I know how.”
He pulled the pieces from the shelf, set up the board, and held out the checkers to her. “Red or black?”
“I’ll take red.” She watched him position his pieces before she put hers in place. “Like this?” She waited for his nod of approval.
“I thought you said you’d played this before.”
“A time or two. But I’ve always found men smug if they win, as if that proves they are superior. They’re also generally poor losers.”
“I am neither of those two things.” He explained the tenets of the game. “You can go first.”
Her fingers hovered over a button, and she moved it, and checked with him. “That’s a good move, isn’t it?”
“About the only thing you can do at the moment.” Winning was going to be easy. He planned his strategy as she tentatively made each move. He jumped one of her pieces and took it off the board.
“Are you sure that’s fair?” She waited for his nod. “Can I do the same thing?”
“Of course.” And she took three of his checkers.
“Like that?”
Was her innocence real, or was she faking it?
He kinged his checker.
“Wait. You can king yourself? You mean like this?” She kinged her own man and proceeded to clear the board.
At his groan, she gave him a wide-eyed look. “Wait, did I win?” And then she hooted. “You should see the look on your face.”
“I demand a rematch.”
“You’re on.”
“You won’t fool me this time. I’m prepared.”
She set her pieces back in place and beamed with such confidence he narrowed his eyes and studied her intently enough to make her squirm.
Her eyes widened, but he wasn’t fooled. She knew how to play like a champ. But he would beat her. Fair and square.
