Always a Lady

Always a Lady Read Online Free PDF Page B

Book: Always a Lady Read Online Free PDF
Author: Sharon Sala
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Contemporary, Ranch life, Accident Victims
couldn't help herself. Case was furious, and if man could have breathed fire, she'd have sworn she saw smoke pouring from his nostrils.
    "Well," she muttered in shock and embarrassment. "Thank you . . . I think."
    "You're damned well welcome," Case snarled. "Are you going to be all right?"
    "I think I'll probably be just fine. All in all, I think I'd rather be feeding your crew today than having a wedding anyway."
Case's silence was deafening.
    "Today was to have been your wedding day?" he asked quietly.
    Lily nodded, afraid that speaking would call back the pain.
    "If you'll excuse me," Lily finally said, walking quickly past him. "I've got to get busy or dinner will be raw. But the way the men eat, I doubt they'd notice."
    She was nearly running by the time she got to the kitchen. Case walked out right behind her and through the kitchen door before she had time to take another breath. She watched the stiff thrust of his shoulder as he pushed his way through the opening and shuddered as he slammed the door so hard behind him that the glass rattled in its frame.
    She heard him start a litany of curses that lingered in her head and heart long after she'd lost sight and sound of her boss. It did her soul a tiny bit of good to think that someone besides herself damned the ground Todd Collins walked on.
    A couple of hours later, the men entered in their usual boisterous fashion and Lily's attention was claimed by the hustle and bustle of feeding the starving crew. Case was in and out so quickly Lily wouldn't have even noticed were it not for the fact that he asked for some aluminum foil with which to wrap his food.
    "I want to take this with me or I'll have to skip the meal altogether," Case said. "Fix one for Duff, too. We need to go check on a herd of cattle on the back forty and see if we missed any weaning calves. I don't want to have to repeat this job at a later date."
    Lily wouldn't look him in the eye. She quickly prepared the sandwiches and wished she'd kept her mouth shut. At least when no one had known, they hadn't had to feel sorry for her.
    "Lily," he ordered softly so that none of the other men could hear, "don't ever turn your face away from anyone again. Do you hear me?"
Lily glared. He had no right.
    Case glared back. He didn't know what it was going to take, but before she left, he'd see a smile in her eyes as well as on that sexy mouth, or he'd die trying.
    "Oh," he said as he started out the door, "tomorrow is Saturday. After breakfast, just leave the fixings for sandwiches or the like. Make up a list of what you'll need for the coming week, and I'll have someone take you into Clinton to shop. Buy what you need. I trust your judgment. I have an open account at the supermarket. Just tell them you work for Longren. They'll know what to do."
    Lily nodded and watched him disappear with the sandwiches. In spite of the remaining men and the constant noise, the room felt empty. Lily bit her bottom lip and turned away from the window. She wouldn't stand like some love-starved pup and watch him walk away. She had no intention of ever putting her faith and trust in a man again, no matter how kind he pretended to be.
    Just after breakfast Lane Turney appeared at the back door with his hat in hand and a soulful expression on his face.
    "Miss Lily," he said, looking everywhere but at her, "I'm to take you to town to do the shopping just as soon as you're ready."
    Lane held his breath, hoping that she wouldn't challenge him and refuse to go. He'd overheard Case's orders yesterday and wanted this chance to make time with the fancy cook. He'd been mad as hell yesterday when the boss had jumped all over him for coming to the house. Where did the boss get off telling him what woman he could and couldn't see? And Lane didn't care if she did have a gash down the side of her face. Her beauty almost made up for it, and her body damned sure did. He'd heard Case tell Duff to take her to town within the hour. If his luck held, they'd
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