Read The Touch of Sage for Free Online
Authors: Marcia Lynn McClure
earn myself a dog here, Miss Willows? ” Reb asked, chuckling. His smile was like nothing Sage ha d ever seen— white, bright , and dazzling. Reb was obviously pleased with the dog , and the dog was obviously pleased with Reb.
“ If you ’ re really willin ’ to take him on, Mr. Mitchell. He ’ s a terrible handful, ” Sage said. Bullet was far too restless and needed more training than Sage could provide. He was meant to be a man ’s dog, and she would be happy to see him as such.
“ Then I thank ya for the gift and for the breakfast, Miss Willows, ” Reb said, turni ng and striding to the kitchen— new best friend in tow.
Sage watched him walk away— noticed the way his Levi’s fit him so perfectly, the way his shoulders rocked back and forth as he walked. An odd, long-absent flutter filled her bosom , and she frowned. It had been a very long time since any man had caused her to have butterflies in her stomach merely by being in his presence. She wasn ’ t comfortable w ith the sensation. Besides, Reb Mitchell had made it very clear he intended to stay unattached . He had come to help his aunt run her ranch . Sage could sense he had no other agenda with him. It would be bad enough to dream of a man who would soon be the object of every woman ’s fancy, but to dream of such a man who had no interest in attaching himself to anyone— well, that would be just plain ignorant.
Sage returned to the kitchen and gathered up the plates from the table. The others w ere already involved in a light hearted discussion , and Sage felt somewhat irritated when she noticed the way Bullet sat obediently at Reb ’ s feet. After all the gr ief the dog had heaped upon her, it was exasperating to see it give its loyalty over so quickly.
“ Reb says he ’ ll play rummy with us, Sage, ” Livie announced. “ Are you up for a game? ”
Sage looked to Livie but couldn ’ t keep her eyes from wanderin g to Reb. He sat grinning— winked at her unexpectedly.
The gesture unnerved Sage , and she said, “ Oh, I don ’ t think so. I need to get some things finished and start the pies for dinner. ” Turning back to the sink , she added, “ You be careful , Mr. Mitchell. T hey cheat. ”
As every other woman in the room erupted into defense of themselves, Sage glanced out the kitchen window. Several dark clouds had moved in from the west , and she could only hope and pray for the rain to come. Oh, how desperately she needed it now with her heart in danger of being distracted by Eugenia Smarthing ’ s attractive nephew.
Eugenia paused in bantering with her friends. Something in Sage ’ s eye had caught her attention , and although she was happy to see it, her heart understood the battle beginning within the young woman ’ s heart and mind. She was a bit anxious where Reb was concerned to o. Oh, he was friendly enough— as playful and kind as he had always been. Yet something was missing from his countenance. Was it trust— compassion? Eugenia couldn ’ t quite grasp the difference in her nephew, but it did worry her. She had the best intentions for both Sage and for Reb. But what if— what if what was said about good intentions proved to be true? Still, she was hopef ul. Something had led Eugenia— prompted her to write to Bridie and allow Reb to come run the ranch. If the road to h ell was paved with good intentions— well then, she would just trot on down it and give the devil a piece of her mind!
Chapter Two
Sage stretched her arms out at her sides and turned her face up to the blanket of gray clouds in the sky. The rain mingled with the tears on her face. Cool and refreshing, the ear ly summer rain washed over her, soaking her hair, her clo thing, helping to purge the heartache she had secreted in her soul so long. It seemed months since the last rains had come, months since s he had been able to cry freely— to release the deep sobs of misery. She allowed emotion to wrack her body as her sou l ached,
“ If you ’ re really willin ’ to take him on, Mr. Mitchell. He ’ s a terrible handful, ” Sage said. Bullet was far too restless and needed more training than Sage could provide. He was meant to be a man ’s dog, and she would be happy to see him as such.
“ Then I thank ya for the gift and for the breakfast, Miss Willows, ” Reb said, turni ng and striding to the kitchen— new best friend in tow.
Sage watched him walk away— noticed the way his Levi’s fit him so perfectly, the way his shoulders rocked back and forth as he walked. An odd, long-absent flutter filled her bosom , and she frowned. It had been a very long time since any man had caused her to have butterflies in her stomach merely by being in his presence. She wasn ’ t comfortable w ith the sensation. Besides, Reb Mitchell had made it very clear he intended to stay unattached . He had come to help his aunt run her ranch . Sage could sense he had no other agenda with him. It would be bad enough to dream of a man who would soon be the object of every woman ’s fancy, but to dream of such a man who had no interest in attaching himself to anyone— well, that would be just plain ignorant.
Sage returned to the kitchen and gathered up the plates from the table. The others w ere already involved in a light hearted discussion , and Sage felt somewhat irritated when she noticed the way Bullet sat obediently at Reb ’ s feet. After all the gr ief the dog had heaped upon her, it was exasperating to see it give its loyalty over so quickly.
“ Reb says he ’ ll play rummy with us, Sage, ” Livie announced. “ Are you up for a game? ”
Sage looked to Livie but couldn ’ t keep her eyes from wanderin g to Reb. He sat grinning— winked at her unexpectedly.
The gesture unnerved Sage , and she said, “ Oh, I don ’ t think so. I need to get some things finished and start the pies for dinner. ” Turning back to the sink , she added, “ You be careful , Mr. Mitchell. T hey cheat. ”
As every other woman in the room erupted into defense of themselves, Sage glanced out the kitchen window. Several dark clouds had moved in from the west , and she could only hope and pray for the rain to come. Oh, how desperately she needed it now with her heart in danger of being distracted by Eugenia Smarthing ’ s attractive nephew.
Eugenia paused in bantering with her friends. Something in Sage ’ s eye had caught her attention , and although she was happy to see it, her heart understood the battle beginning within the young woman ’ s heart and mind. She was a bit anxious where Reb was concerned to o. Oh, he was friendly enough— as playful and kind as he had always been. Yet something was missing from his countenance. Was it trust— compassion? Eugenia couldn ’ t quite grasp the difference in her nephew, but it did worry her. She had the best intentions for both Sage and for Reb. But what if— what if what was said about good intentions proved to be true? Still, she was hopef ul. Something had led Eugenia— prompted her to write to Bridie and allow Reb to come run the ranch. If the road to h ell was paved with good intentions— well then, she would just trot on down it and give the devil a piece of her mind!
Chapter Two
Sage stretched her arms out at her sides and turned her face up to the blanket of gray clouds in the sky. The rain mingled with the tears on her face. Cool and refreshing, the ear ly summer rain washed over her, soaking her hair, her clo thing, helping to purge the heartache she had secreted in her soul so long. It seemed months since the last rains had come, months since s he had been able to cry freely— to release the deep sobs of misery. She allowed emotion to wrack her body as her sou l ached,