Her eyes widened. “A sling-shot competition?”
“Sure, that or any kind of competition.”
Mixed emotions crossed her features, but then she stood straight and lifted her chin a notch higher. “Name the place. I’ll compete with you anywhere, doing anything you like.”
It surprised him to see such confidence. Now he couldn’t wait to prove her unequal to the challenge.
Chapter Four
Summer sat in the parlorreceiving a horde of guests the next day, coming to welcome her home or to congratulate her on being the town’s newest hero by saving the passengers on the stagecoach. It was good to see friends she hadn’t seen since leaving to live at Aunt Lydia’s etiquette school, and she promised her friends they could get together and catch up on old times.
Finally, the parade of visitors slowed down considerably, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully, that would be the last of them. She had wanted to spend more time with her parents today. After all, they should know about her marriage plans. So, why was she hesitant to say anything? But she must. It wouldn’t be good to hear news like this from someone else.
A knock came upon the door, and she groaned. Perhaps she should make a sign that saysthe Bennett household is not receiving anymore visitors.
She grudgingly moved to the door and opened it. A nice-looking man who looked to be a few years older than her stood on the porch, holding his hat with one hand and a small bouquet with the other. His brownish-blond hair was slicked back on his head.
“Good day,” he said. “Are you Miss Bennett?”
“Well, considering there are two Miss Bennetts at this residence, I’m definitely one of them. My name is Summer.”
His smile widened. “Then you are just the woman I came to meet.”
She wanted to think he was here because of her heroism with the stagecoach, but she didn’t want to mention it first, just in case there was a different reason for coming. “And you are?”
“I’m Adam Fairbanks.”
She gasped in surprise and moved her focus over his attire. He certainly fit the bill of coming from a wealthy family because not many men wear such nice clothes or shiny shoes. “Oh, Mr. Fairbanks.” Panic filled her, and she didn’t know what to do. Because she hadn’t told her parents yet, having him meet them at this time was unacceptable.
She quickly stepped out to the porch, closing the door behind her. Confusion filled his expression as his gaze jumped back and forth between her and the door.
“You must forgive me,” she said in a rush. “Because of the situation that happened to me yesterday as I rode to town, I wasn’t able to tell my parents about our marriage plans.”
The tightness in his face relaxed, and he nodded. “That’s completely understandable.” His gaze slid over her from the top of her head to her shoes, then rested on her eyes. “I must say, I didn’t expect you to be this lovely.”
She held in a laugh.Lovely?That was just great. She was going to marry a man who couldn’t see well. “Um, thank you, Mr. Fairbanks.”
