She didn’t reply. He had no idea. She couldn’t tell him, either. She glanced at him. “I had a good time,” she said. She smiled. “Mr. Pendleton’s fiancée was a hoot.” She chuckled. “Do you think he’s really going to marry a woman who’s that blatant about social climbing?”
“I think, like me, he got into a physical relationship that blinded him to a woman’s true nature,” he said after a minute. “I hope he’s lucky enough to see the light in time.”
She frowned. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“I was watching Misty tonight,” he replied. “She was all over Boone, her eyes like dollar signs. She likes going first-class. She pretends to have money, but I don’t think she does. I think she’s putting on an act, to try to get Boone back. I hope he’s got better sense.” He gestured with his hand. “I saw myself when I looked at him. I was just as enchanted by Nellie. But what I saw was an illusion.” He glanced at her. “You won’t even let me give you emerald earrings, and you love them,” he said softly. “I’ve never known a woman like you.”
“Actually there are lots of them, and they all live in Jacobsville and Comanche Wells,” she teased. “Just plain unsophisticated little country girls who love animals and like to plant things and don’t think marrying a rich man is the greatest of life ambitions.”
He grimaced. “I’d never get one of those kind of girls past Boone,” he said with resignation. “He always expects the worst when I date anybody outside our own circles.”
That stung, but she didn’t say so. Clark had been kind to her. “I have to go,” she said. “I had a wonderful time tonight, Clark,” she added. “Thanks.”
“We’ll do it again.” He frowned. “I didn’t mean that like it sounded—about dating girls outside my own circle,” he added. “I always think of you as family.”
She smiled. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me.”
He looked sheepish. “I guess you’d rather I thought of you as an eligible young woman?”
She shook her head. “I like being your friend.”
“I like being yours.” He bent and kissed her cheek. “If you ever needed help, you know you could ask me.”
She chuckled. “Of course I do. But I can take care of myself. Good night, Clark.”
“Good night.”
He watched her go into the house before he drove away.
* * *
Her mother was unusually quiet. When Keely asked about the house, she only got evasive replies. Carly was nowhere in sight, and hadn’t been for some time. She was out of town for a while, Ella said finally, and didn’t refer to Carly again. There was also a disturbing phone call that Ella had answered with single syllable replies. She wouldn’t tell her daughter what had been said or even who had called.
When a car pulled up at the front door on a rainy Saturday morning, Ella actually gasped. Keely ran to look out.
“It’s Boone Sinclair,” she stammered, shocked.
“Thank God,” Ella said heavily. “Thank God.” She walked back down the hall, went into her room and closed the door.
Surprised, Keely went out onto the porch as Boone exited the car and took the porch steps two at a time.
He was in working clothes, jeans and boots and white Stetson with a checked Western-cut long-sleeved shirt buttoned right up to the neck. He looked down at Keely, his eyes dark and stormy.
“Come for a drive,” he said curtly.
She could have found a dozen reasons not to go. She wanted to come up with an excuse. Her mind agreed. But her body walked back into the house, grabbed her purse and a lightweight jacket and told her mother goodbye.
* * *
Boone opened the door of his car, helped her inside and went around to get in and start the engine. A minute later, they were speeding down the highway toward his ranch.
She was nervous, and it showed. Her hands played with her small purse while she listened to the rhythmic sound of the windshield wipers as they brushed away the pouring rain.
Despite all their recent turmoil, she felt safe with Boone. Safe, excited, hopeful, breathlessly in love. Her whole body ached to be held again as he’d held her at the charity dance. She hoped that didn’t show.
It did. Boone was far too experienced to mistake her body language. He smiled softly to himself. If she’d been involved with his brother, as Clark claimed, she wouldn’t be this nervous in Boone’s company. That meant there was still time. If he could convince her that he hadn’t meant to humiliate her.
He pulled out onto a pasture track that led to a closed gate, stopped the car and cut off the engine.
