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it, she figured he’d prefer showing her where she’d be staying rather than having to socialize with her.
    Which was probably how it should have been anyway, she told herself through the wave of disappointment she knew was totally inappropriate.
    So, again thinking to give him what she assumed he wanted, she said, “I’m fine. I mean I don’t need anything to eat or drink. You can just show me the cabin.”
    He didn’t argue. He just picked up her suitcase and led her out the back door.
    Terese paused a moment to look around when she got outside. An industrial-sized light on the barn illuminated the entire area.
    The grounds were divided into the plain dirt patch and fenced-in paddock that were immediately in front and to the side of the barn, and a small, grassy yard like any suburban backyard. There was a jungle gym waiting to be played on beneath a tall oak tree, a brick patio complete with a barbecue, several trucks andtoys here and there, and, about eight or nine feet off the south side of the house, there was, indeed, a log cabin.
    â€œThe cabin was the first house here,” Hunter informed her as he led her down the brick path that connected it to what was now the main house. “My great-great-great-grandfather built it when he bought the land and he and my great-great-great-grandmother and their three kids lived in it their whole lives. There’ve been a few amenities added over the years—you have heat and electricity and plumbing now—but most of it is original and rustic. Nothing like what you’re used to, I’m afraid.”
    The door was unlocked when they reached the cabin and Hunter opened it and flipped a switch that flooded the space with light. Then he waited for Terese to go in ahead of him and followed her in just enough to set her suitcase down.
    He hadn’t been joking about it being rustic. The walls were log and mortar and it was a single open space that, while not cramped for one person, was impossible to imagine for five.
    But there was a four-poster double bed, a dresser, an easy chair and a television, a café-sized table with two chairs, and a black woodburning stove that had probably been the only source of heat for the place originally.
    â€œIt’s rustic but nice,” Terese said, meaning it.
    â€œThe bathroom is through that door over there,” he said then, pointing it out. “There are some mugs andtea bags and cocoa and instant coffee. You can heat water in that microwave over there if you want any of that. But there’s no kitchen otherwise. I leave the mudroom door open, though, so you can raid the fridge even in the middle of the night if you get hungry. Otherwise, we’ll be eatin’ regular meals together.”
    â€œI don’t usually raid the refrigerator at night, anyway.”
    â€œWish I could say the same thing. Anyway, we usually have breakfast around eight but I’ll be up and about doin’chores long before that, so if you hear anything, don’t think there are burglars or something, and don’t feel as if you can’t stay in bed a while longer. I’m usually up before dawn but Johnny’ll be sleepin’ later than that.”
    â€œBefore dawn? Really?”
    â€œRancher’s hours. It isn’t so bad. You get used to it,” he said. “So, anything else I can do for you or get you?”
    â€œNothing I can think of.”
    â€œAll right, then.” Hunter took two steps to get back out the door and Terese went to the threshold behind him.
    â€œI want you to know how grateful I am for this,” she said, not wanting him to get away without telling him that. “When I didn’t hear from you until Friday, I thought you might have had second thoughts.”
    â€œI did do some thinking before I made the call,” he admitted with a half smile that was a little guilty and only more charming because of it.
    â€œBut you let me come,