A-d Sentence Examples
He walked down the hill, pausing a reverent moment at the headstone, and then ducked under a limb as he continued down the hill.
A sudden gust of wind circled them and whispered words in her mind.
Taking her in his arms, he held her close for a moment and then planted a kiss on her forehead.
Reluctantly she pulled away, her pulse and respiration in a race.
Her sigh was a mixture of contentment and relief.
I'm going to make myself a sandwich and get back to work.
Are you opposed to a break now and then?
After dressing and freshening up, she found him in the kitchen wolfing down a sandwich.
We've got a meeting at two and it's almost one-thirty now.
No one could deny that Alex was a devoted husband and father.
AdvertisementIn a way, Carmen and Alex had adopted a family.
Carmen rinsed a dish and sighed.
Alex got a relief when the conversation turned to something else and stayed there for the rest of the evening.
They circled the room twice before a hand reached up and tapped Alex on the shoulder.
Such a pleasant day and evening should have ended with a restful night and happy dreams, but it didn't.
AdvertisementShe grabbed the coffee cup and took a sip as she stepped around him.
She stopped in the kitchen when she spotted the skillet of scrambled eggs and a pan of biscuits beside it.
Of course, if you prefer, we can wait until you come home from work and make it a fun family event.
A few minutes later they all marched in and took their places at the table.
I already have a son and daughter.
AdvertisementI should get rid of this and buy something a little more feminine.
He had indicated enough times that he would like to see her in something a little more feminine and fashionable.
She lifted a hand and caressed his cheek.
You always look neat and clean - even if you are a little out of style.
When they finally got on the plane, she and Jonathan had a window seat - Jonathan in front of her.
AdvertisementStrong warm fingers touched her hand and a palm slid under hers, forcing her hands apart.
Felipa looked to be in her early twenties and had a sunshine smile that made Carmen feel welcome.
I have a mare; and we have a five-year-old mare with a colt, a four year-old filly, and a two-year-old filly... oh, and my mare is going to foal again in January.
It was a hacienda, not a ranch, and Señor Medena was the patrón.
A wide porch stretched the length of the building, and above it were two balconies with black wrought iron banisters that curved out gracefully.
A tall perfectly formed and decorated Christmas tree stood beside the staircase.
His gaze sought Carmen and the sides of his mouth turned up in a warm smile.
Carmen met his gaze for a moment - long enough to reunite, and then they both turned back to the others.
Jonathan and Destiny's room had two twin beds in it, as well as a television.
You could wear a feed sack at a formal dinner and not look underdressed.
I don't want her to wake up in a strange room and not be able to find us.
Someone knocked on the door and when she answered it, a man brought in their luggage.
That pleased smile was on his lips again and his eyes held a glint of humor.
For a moment she surrendered to his warm lips and secure embrace, clinging to him as her heart stepped up pace.
The idea of making love in a strange bedroom was disturbing enough, but with only a door between them and the children, locked or not, it didn't feel right.
Carmen grabbed a napkin and began wiping the mashed potatoes from her hand.
Why is it good when you adopt a baby that isn't yours, but bad if it's yours and you don't give birth to it?
He rested a hand on her shoulder and sighed, gazing down at her tenderly.
A slow smile spread over his mouth and spilled into his eyes.
She rolled over and sat up, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm.
Felipa kicked her horse into a lope and rode up beside him.
He made a face and stopped his horse.
Normally it was a raised area, dark pink, but now it looked red and angry.
Alex looked surprised for a moment and then his lips clamped together firmly.
Christmas was only a few days away, and yet it didn't seem like Christmas.
Alex had asked one of the men go into town and rent a car for them.
Ultimately it had cost them a child and her ability to have more.
A coloring book and crayons kept her busy while they worked and talked.
No, it is a welcome home party - for you and Alex.
If she was invited, it was as a guest of Alex, so he would tell her when and if he decided to go.
Carmen drew a slow breath and glanced self-consciously at Dulce and Alondra.
Alondra watched Carmen reflectively for a while and finally spoke.
Felipa considered the question a moment and then her brows resumed their normal position.
I want what you have - a husband who loves me - and children.
Carmen put a foot on the first step and then heard voices.
As she glanced up, Morino and Alex started down the stairs, the tall lanky foreman taking two at a time.
For a moment she lay waiting, and then realized he had fallen asleep.
Then we will all go down together and Maria can get acquainted with her while you are measured for a dress.
As they approached the building, a large group of people came out whooping and yelling.
From there the horse dashed in and out of the poles and came to a stop on his haunches.
How could he do such a thing in front of Jonathan... and where was Jonathan?
Alex handed the reins to a caretaker and dusted himself off as he headed for the gate.
Alex obliged and then the four of them continued to a lot where some horses grazed.
They admired the new foal and a few other horses.
A stop for lunch and then a drive over the biggest bridge Carmen had ever seen - and then they were in Galveston.
Alex shot her a stern look and she made a face.
Do me a favor and don't listen to Dulce.
Señor Medena came out and watched for a while.
Felipa was wearing a perky red satin gown with spaghetti straps and full skirt.
Nina returned with a dress made of dark purple velvet and satin.
A live band started playing a waltz and he dropped a hand to her waist.
For a minute there I thought you were going to bolt and run.
A tall young man tapped his shoulder and Alex surrendered her to the second dance of the evening.
He looked to be about her age and his blond hair was neatly combed into a fashionable style.
She rested one hand on his upper arm and surrendered her other to a hand that engulfed hers.
They danced for a few minutes in comfortable silence, and finally he spoke again.
I guess the only thing he wanted more than that was a good woman and children.
He turned and walked away, his head nearly a foot above the others.
Dulce regarded her reflectively for a moment longer and then walked away without saying another word.
For a moment her heart beat overtime and it looked as though she might fall, but Alex smoothly caught her and stepped around, covering her fumbling so well that no one appeared to notice.
He just turned twenty-one and he thinks he is a man now.
It was far too sweet and had a bitter aftertaste.
They mingled with the guests a little longer and then Carmen excused herself.
For a moment he looked confused, and then turned away.
Dulce motioned to Carmen from a hallway, so Carmen told Alex to take the children up and she would be up shortly.
It was a picture taken at the party and the focus was on Carmen and Alex.
Carmen was looking at someone behind the camera and Alex was looking at a girl who stood about five feet from him.
She tossed the picture in his lap again and made a face.
A slow smile worked its way across his face and into his eyes.
Marked on it in bold letters were the words "Baby A" and "Baby B".
When you bring the babies home, can I come stay with you for a while and help take care of them?
A chair scraped next to her and Alex swore softly under his breath.
Alondra walked into the room with some tissues and a damp rag.
Carmen wiped Destiny's face and eyes with the cool rag and used a tissue to wipe her nose.
A part of her might never forgive him for what he did... and that was a dark part of her personality that she didn't want him to see.
It might cross a person's mind now and then that their spouse might be unfaithful, but insisting on it for months was another thing.
A piñata had been hung from one of the banisters above and the children of some of the employees joined them.
Jonathan knocked a lamp off the table and it shattered.
A man takes ownership of his deeds and acts responsibly.
He sank into the chair and let out a long breath.
A few minutes later Dulce and Alex joined them at the table.
Dulce remained in a sour mood, and left the group as soon as possible.
There will be one from each of us to the other, and then a couple for the children from Santa.
I had grand plans to build and run a large-scale horse ranch.
Sometimes Alex and Jonathan play soccer, and sometimes we all go for a ride in the buggy.
The children played and they all talked for a while longer.
Alex rolled his eyes and made a face.
His jaw tightened and his eyes flashed a warning.
Finally he looked down at his lap and let out a long weary sigh.
Dulce and Alex had such a strange relationship.
She went upstairs and changed into Jeans and a fitted blouse.
Alex didn't answer and it went to his voice mail, so she left a message.
He says it's only a few miles away and we'll be right back.
The table and chairs were made of a dark rich wood, and the tiles on the floor looked like polished bricks.
A couple of wing-backed chairs and sofa sank luxuriously into that thick wine carpet, but what caught her full attention was the wide curving staircase.
The wooden banisters were polished to a high finish, and the hardwood stairs were covered on the walkway with more carpet.
Carmen turned and lifted a hand to shade her eyes from the sun.
Carmen accepted the outstretched hand and placed a foot in the vacated stirrup.
They talked for a few minutes and then Carmen left to take Destiny to their room.
Carmen shoved a wide-eyed Destiny into his arms and turned to follow Dulce.
Dulce turned, and for a moment Carmen thought she might strike her.
Still, if Señor Medena adopted Dulce when she was a baby and raised her, then he was her father - blood relative or not.
She waved a hand at the house and leaned toward Carmen.
She felt as though a cold hand grasped her stomach and squeezed hard.
No matter what she said, getting him back meant financial security - a roof over her head and everything that went along with it.
Apparently he found what he was looking for, because a smile touched the corners of his mouth and his eyes warmed.
When did that start - and was it a good thing?
Maybe they were both a little wrong... and a little right.
He was a good husband and father.
Alex wore a light blue sweater that accentuated his dark complexion and Jonathan was dressed likewise.
Breakfast was a quiet meal, with Dulce absent and Señor Medena lost in thought.
The morning passed in a pleasant way and soon it was time to leave.
Alex was in a good mood and it was a pleasant trip - until Felipa made a comment about Tessa's visit the night before.
They probably had a lot to discuss and most likely were not alone.
Within a few minutes the plane was dipping and rising in a way that made her stomach roll uncomfortably.
She put a hand to her mouth and glanced around for something to be sick in.
Alex instantly provided a little white bag and she made use of it.
Alex sat up and leaned over her, speaking softy in a voice that was little more than a whisper.
He slid an arm under her and gently took her hand in his, planting a warm moist kiss in the center of the palm.
When she re-entered the bedroom, he was propped up on a pillow, his eyes closed and the blankets tucked around his neck.
A strong hand shot out and grasped her arm.
His expression was a blend of question and concern.
But we're married - and have been for a long time.
For a moment he simply gazed into her eyes, and then he drew a deep breath.
We're probably all a little hypocritical at times - and we're all sinners, so I hear.
Why would a good looking wealthy man move to the country, become a veterinarian and marry a country hick?
It was a sobering and unpleasant question.
He sat down in a chair and methodically placed the cup on the table, his gaze fixed to it.
A flush crawled up his neck, across his face and hid behind flashing dark eyes.
A cold wind tore at her hair as she stomped across the courtyard and out to the chicken coup.
Jonathan put the last fork beside a plate and smiled up at her.
He stabbed a fork into the roast and cut a small slice off.
Then he put a few chunks of carrots and potatoes on the plate.
He worked quietly for a few minutes and then finally turned his attention to Carmen.
That sweet chocolate gaze softened and a smile touched the corners of his mouth.
It was unrealistic to think two people could spend a lifetime together and never squabble about anything.
There was no immediate need for a van and if they did need one, they... he, obviously had the money.
A few days later when Carmen and Destiny were visiting Katie, the issue popped out of her mouth in another conversation.
I was thinking about buying a new vehicle and wondered if we had the money, so I looked at his financial information on the computer.
Actually, I would have thought it was a lot more - but then, he did pay cash for the house and clinic.
She threw the potato into a pan and eyed Carmen reflectively.
Katie piled the potatoes in another pan and picked it up, along with the knife and a bag of peals.
Sit down and I'll fill you in a little.
Carmen sat Destiny on the floor and picked up the pan of pealed potatoes, along with a paring knife.
Carmen picked up a potato and started pealing it.
Katie snorted and grabbed a potato.
I always wondered if that was why Mom and Dad split up for a while - because Mom was used to a different lifestyle and social circle.
Anyway, Mom had a brother and a sister.
Aunt Paulette, (we all called her Aunt Paulie) married a real estate agent and moved to Arkansas.
Mom always had a good relationship with her sister and brother.
Katie made a face and then winked at Carmen.
Considering her own feelings about Alex, and the fact that he was a lot like his father, it wasn't hard to imagine that his mother never got over Señor Medena.
I'm sure that had a lot to do with it - that and the connections.
He came back from a trip down there one time and was upset because he said Uncle Fabrice treated him like a dunce in front of customers.
Sometimes, but it's a long way to a restaurant and a lot of hassle to go.
It was a pleasant escape from the dust and noise of the building going on above them.
Carmen fed her a light lunch and she lay down to sleep for a while.
It's been almost a week and she hasn't been coughing today.
The x-rays were conclusive and indicated a bad infection in the lower lobe of one lung.
Alex patiently consoled and distracted her while the nurse taped a padded board to her hand and wrist so she couldn't move it.
Her eyes were large and imploring as she was wheeled down the hall to a room in the pediatric ward.
Carmen sat one side of the bed and Alex on the other, each holding a tiny hand.
Carmen sat in a chair next to the bed and prepared for a long night.
After they left, Carmen sank into the chair and picked up a horse magazine.
Carmen dozed in the chair a few times off and on until about midnight.
By that time she was hungry and decided to make a deal with the night shift.
Destiny woke and ate a few bites before going back to sleep.
That wasn't easy to do when a person was physically and emotionally exhausted.
A few minutes later they came in and got Destiny to take her for more x-rays.
If he was coming down with a cold, he needed rest - and Destiny didn't need to be exposed to it.
Carmen woke to a crackling sound and sat up, trying to identify it.
Destiny coughed and sat up with a wale that sounded more like a broken growl.
Destiny stiffened with a fit of coughing and then drug a deep rattling breath.
Carmen grabbed a tissue from the table next to the bed and wiped Destiny's nose.
Carmen swallowed a lump in her throat and blinked tears from her eyes.
He lifted his hand and displayed a doll to Destiny.
There was a long silence and then Señor Medena spoke.
Carmen asked, and then made a face.
There was a fine line between protecting and smothering, though.
For a moment she envisioned him and felt a pang of loneliness.
It was the middle of the day, and Alex never took a nap.
He said Destiny's fever had broken and if she continued to improve, they would take the tent off her bed in a few days.
She was cleaning the coffee pot and Alex was reclining in a chair at the table, enjoying the last cup of coffee.
There was a fine line between being frugal and being a miser.
She wiped the pot with a dishtowel and carefully placed it on the coffee maker.
Nor did he say anything when she exchanged the guitar for a violin and paid for lessons.
Even Mrs. Reynolds pitched in with some stuffed animals - a giraffe and horse.
She gathered it in a hug and smelled deeply of it.
He had a lot on his plate right now... the twins, his father and who knew what else?
It didn't take long for him to get home, and when he came in from the garage, he went directly to his gun cabinet and took out a rifle.
Pulling gloves and a bag from his pocket, he proceeded to collect the grisly specimen.
Maybe she was right, and if Alex hadn't been such a perfect husband in every other way, she might have done it.
He had a family to support - and two more children on the way.
I know, sweetheart, and that is a comfort, but it won't be that bad.
Corn seasoned with red bell peppers and black beans made a colorful vegetable.
She helped Destiny into a frilly white dress with yellow trim and they both finished up with white sandals.
When Destiny wanted to wear a ring like mommy, Carmen tied a yellow ribbon around her finger and made a bow of it on the top.
Alex divided his attention between a very attentive Destiny and a reserved Carmen.
Throughout the meal she led the subject a weaving path around the animals, the weather, and work on the nursery.
His lips held a faint smile and his eyes twinkled.
A warm hand caressed its way up her back and around to cradle her breast.
He held a hand up to her and then guided her down to his lap.
Without a word, she slipped into his arms and fell into the rhythm of his step.
He was watching her, a wry smile on his face and an amused twinkle in his eyes.
Carmen read to her from a book for a few minutes until she fell asleep and then turned the light off.
If you don't stand up and demand a change, he'll keep on doing it.
She was slicing some left over pork roast for a recipe tomorrow when Alex walked in and announced that Destiny and Jonathan were asleep.
Finally she put the knife down and started putting the sliced meat in a plastic container.
Finally he took down a couple of cups and poured them some coffee.
He took a few sips and finally broached the subject.
Her stomach contracted and then twisted into a knot.
The wound opened again and the salt he threw into it drew a sharp response from her.
You're a wonderful husband and father.
She gave him a final squeeze and released him.
Why would she hide him from me all this time and suddenly ask for a fortune?
You're Carmen, and that's a lot.
He planted a lingering kiss on her lips and drew back.
He wants you because you would do a good job, and because you are his son.
The only business experience she had was the goat dairy, the non-functional farm and a horse ranch that had been in the fetal stage for years.
Carmen set her jaw and challenged them each with a stern look.
She paused, sucking in a deep breath, and then threw her hands in the air in defeat.
Everyone was watching her with a horrified expression - even Jonathan and Destiny.
Alex's mouth twisted into a wry smile and the dark eyes that sought hers held a trace of humor.
Everyone relaxed and the conversation did a one-eighty.
June leaped into July and Random gave birth to a little filly for Jonathan.
Eureka was a dark Appaloosa with dark spots on white loins, quarters and croup.
She glanced down at the straining bodice and made a face.
She watched him as he answered it and then headed toward her at a brisk pace.
There had been two cancellations on a flight and Alex grabbed them.
Finally he sucked a couple times and then began searching again.
It felt like a sudden and painful swelling.
A lump formed in her throat and tears spilled from her eyes.
The nurse knocked on the door and then came in carrying a crying Natalie.
Natalie needed little encouragement - or maybe it was because Carmen was a little more relaxed and experienced.
Carmen glanced at Alex and did a double take.
When a female voice answered, he pressed the speaker button and the phone call became theirs.
Carmen was breast feeding Matthew and Felipa was feeding Natalie with a bottle.
He set the tray down on the table and handed a steaming cup of coffee to Señor Medena.
They sipped their coffee in silence for a few minutes and then Señor Medena spoke.
Father and Dad are two different things to a son.
Alex ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck.
Lightening flashed in the east and thunder rumbled a posthumous threat.
As he turned, the lights of a silent ambulance bounced across the long stretch of pasture between the highway and the mangled car.
Officer Lathum met him half way to the car and lifted a bushy gray brow.
Lathum walked beside him to their patrol car and picked up a tablet.
That wide-eyed innocent look and those full lips reminded him of a fairytale princess.
Even the way she wore her hair, with those braids wrapped around the top of her head like a crown and the long shiny blond curls falling around her shoulders and down her back – she wasn't simply beautiful.
According to Lisa, they were the closest thing to a family that she had other than her parents and siblings.
He pressed his face against the window and managed a forlorn goodbye wave.
Howard was a good ten years older and had far more important things on his mind – like his new position as partner at the law firm.
They would all get together and wash her old car, winding up in a gleeful water fight.
She pondered a few minutes and then smiled.
A few weeks wouldn't mean the difference in paying for college, and she could use the time to relax.
Her heart skipped a beat and then began to pound in her ears.
The blue skirt and sweater were a little dressy for jail, but they'd no doubt give her some fashionable stripes to wear anyway.
He looked startled for a moment, and then composed himself.
Headlights flashed on the curtains briefly and a car door slammed.
Len's face was pasty white and for a moment she thought he was going to throw up.
Her mouth felt dry and her voice was barely a whisper.
Candy spilled across the coffee table and a glass bowl was shoved in front of her mouth.
Codes mingled with names and addresses in a request for medical assistance.
Connie returned with a cool damp rag which she placed on Lisa's face and then the back of her neck.
Feeling returned with a vengeance and her head pounded mercilessly.
He grabbed a rag and wet it before wiping her mouth.
Howard hesitated and shot a questioning glance at Connie, who shrugged and turned away.
Lisa came home from the hospital the day before the funeral and Connie insisted on staying with her for a while.
They hadn't seen her in church for a while and they were worried about her.
I could be a room mate – help you with the bills and pay rent.
A 24-hour guard wasn't possible and arresting him would only make him more dangerous.
For a moment she hesitated, and then accelerated.
Ahead was nothing but a narrow dirt road lined with mature Oak trees and brush.
Acquaintances were shallow and many, but if a person had one true friend in a lifetime, they were blessed.
Only low brush could grow in so small a space... no trees to prevent a vehicle from plunging into the forested mountain ranges below and beyond.
She tentatively lifted a foot into the front seat, and knew a moment of panic when her sandal heel caught in the hem of her dress.
She closed her eyes and said another prayer before she clamped a sweaty hand around the cold door handle.
Once free of the vehicle she took a deep breath and turned to face her rescuer.
The man lifted his hands gently from the trunk, and the rear wheels of the car lifted a few inches from the ground.
A gust of wind whipped at her full skirt and tossed her long blond curls into the air.
Beginning at his dusty oxfords and indigo blue jeans, her scrutiny continued up to a neatly tucked in worn white cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up to mid arm.
I'll ride back to the house and get my car and a chain.
Without another word, he turned the horse and kicked it into a trot in the opposite direction.
It was nearly dark and she was a good fifty miles from home.
It was getting late and the air was taking on a chill.
It poised for a moment and then took a dive off the cliff.
Yeah, you could get to it, but it would take a while, and you'd be subjecting yourself to thorns, ticks, snakes and about ten miles of the roughest country you can imagine.
Her spirits did a roller coaster as she desperately watched his retreating back, and then comprehended his words.
His voice was gruff, and his brows were drawn together in a frown... and yet the blue eyes twinkled with humor.
The grass had been mown short for about five feet on either side of the narrow drive, and a tangle of underbrush and trees lay beyond... freedom, or a barrier?
Paintings hung on every wall and expensive looking pottery lamps with hand painted shades gave the room a warm glow.
Her large brown eyes took in Lisa with surprise and she threw her son a questioning look.
It's a long way to drive from Fayetteville, and then they'd have to bring you back in the morning.
A curly blond head peeked around the corner and large blue eyes studied the stranger cautiously.
Tammy half skipped and hopped down the hall, throwing a shy smile over her shoulder at Lisa before disappearing into a doorway.
He said, and dropped into a recliner.
He picked up a newspaper and snapped it open, his attention instantly captured by something he found in its crinkled pages.
So you threw your clothes in a suitcase and ran away.
She pulled the blanket around her shoulders and curled into a shivering ball, staring through the window into the darkness.
The room lit up with a bright flash of lightening, and thunder rattled the windowpane.
The car was a loss anyway, but her purse and clothes would be ruined.
She dressed hurriedly in the clothes Sarah had loaned her and ran fingers through her hair, wishing she had a comb.
The movement caught Giddon's attention and he glanced from Tammy to Lisa with a puzzled expression.
I said I'd take you and I'm a man of my word.
A four wheel ATV was parked next to the porch and Giddon stepped over it, seating himself as he turned the key.
Apparently this was a favorite haunt for Giddon... and how many others?
Giddon swung his arm out and pointed to a patch of flowers.
Such an unlikely spot for a home site, and yet, the remains of a chimney gave indisputable proof that one had existed at some point.
Giddon exclaimed sharply and clawed a spider web from his face.
Far from the grouchy expression he had put on at the beginning of the ride, now his eyes flashed with humor, and his lips were twisted in a friendly smile.
Giddon paused at a mud hole and pointed at a track.
But then so was the scream of a mountain lion, and she had never seen one of those, either.
She glanced around for some kind of weapon as they walked, and soon came up with a walking stick.
On the other hand, if he wanted to harm her, he might snatch the stick from her and use it as a weapon against her.
The stored tears continued to flow and the sobs wracked her body, robbing it of the ability to speak – barely allowing a breath to be drawn.
Even so, it was as if a something had been lifted from her chest, allowing the flow of oxygen and blood to a starving brain.
Opening it, she removed a tissue and wiped the tears from her face.
Exhaustion left her feeling cold and weak, which was probably why her foot slipped on the edge of a rock.
It felt good to be off her feet, even if only momentarily and in such a manner.
For a moment his warm lips felt reassuring, and then reality broke the spell.
He started the engine and she clamped her arms around him, clinging to him as he spun the tires in a spray of pebbles and rocks.
At one point he splashed through a mud puddle, throwing mud and water all over her.
She knocked his hand away and headed for the house in a stiff jointed hobble.
She crossed her arms and gave him a level look.
Why don't you go take a warm shower and I'll have a hot meal ready by the time you're done.
Sarah gave Giddon a stern look and then returned her attention to Lisa.
She had some money tucked away in a cookie jar in the kitchen and she intended to pay him something, whether he liked it or not.
He looked up and studied her face intently for a moment.
The place was quiet and secluded, and Sarah would be a sweet person to work for.
Living in that house and using the pool would be like a summer vacation, not a job.
Then his face engaged in a smile that created little wrinkles around his eyes and grooves in his cheeks.
He gave her a strange look and nodded as he lowered his frame to the sofa.
Listen, I got a summer job in the Mountains as a sitter and it includes room and board.
She beat a hasty retreat down the hallway, and paused breathlessly in the middle of her bedroom.
She took a suitcase out of the closet and swung it up on the bed.
Snapping it open, she pulled out a dresser drawer and began tossing things in.
Her make-up, though she used very little, and a couple of bathing suits.
Connie stammered out a prim salutation, still staring at him, and Lisa blushed at Giddon's obvious amusement.
Giddon returned to his place on the couch, his eyes twinkling with humor and the slightest suggestion of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
It sounded like a good chance to get away from this house and the memories for a while.
If you absolutely insist on doing this, at least leave me instructions on how to get there... and a phone number where you can be reached.
He tucked his hands into his pockets and fixed Connie with a hostile stare.
Giddon rolled his eyes and waved a hand.
He rattled off his number and then gave Connie a stern look.
He started the car and they drove off, leaving Connie standing there on the curb looking after them with a troubled expression.
Thick dark lashes and a deep tan intensified the blue of his eyes, and his freshly shaven face had attractive angles.
She stared out the windows at the telephone poles as they approached and sped off in a blur.
Well, he has a home office and he goes there pretty often, but I can't figure out what he's doing.
At noon he would come in from a path in the woods, eat and then return by the same path.
It was a hot afternoon, and she had thrown a light cotton sundress over her swimsuit.
She lifted the hair off her neck and sighed as she paused in the shade of a huge oak tree.
A cool breeze lifted the damp hair at her temples and ruffled the hem of her full skirt.
Laughing softly at the matching shadows of her hair and skirt, she imagined it was a Christmas tree.
Diablo. He's Yancey's method of relieving stress and getting away from us women once in a while.
Silently, Giddon emerged from the path, carrying a saddle and halter.
He dropped the saddle to the ground and slipped a halter over the horses' nose.
Diablo stood hip-shod, his eyes half-closed as Giddon tossed a saddle blanket over his back and then swung up the saddle.
It was simply a ruse to keep her from exploring that path and what lay beyond.
Graceful, coordinated and a pleasure to watch.
Giddon immediately became absorbed in a book, and Sarah worked on a sweater she was crocheting.
Tammy was watching a children's show on television and Lisa was on the couch, trying to concentrate on her writing.
That night, for the first time in more than a week, she tossed and turned in the bed, her sleep interrupted by memories of her family.
She woke to bright sunlight shining through her window and jumped from the bed, tugging on a pair of shorts and a blouse.
No one responded to her calls, and she found a note on the refrigerator.
She pulled the lawn chair into the shade under a tree and stretched out, closing her eyes and simply listening to the birds.
She took a quick step back and he dropped his hands.
There was a light step behind her, and then Allen's eyes widened as his attention shifted to a point behind her.
She sucked in a quick breath and met his gaze steadily.
Eyes of blue ice turned on Allen and Giddon's voice was almost a growl.
His piercing gaze held hers for a moment, and then his expression softened ever so slightly.
He gave Allen a last threatening look and stalked off to the house.
He lifted the cup to take a sip and his eyes met hers accusatively.
She changed into a sleeveless blouse and shorts, wondering as she did so if he would object to the shorts.
Combing it up into a pony tail, she bound it and eyed her image critically in the mirror.
Tammy and Sarah were in the kitchen when she returned, and Tammy was standing in a chair ripping the cover off some chocolate chip cookies.
A wisp of blond hair hung over one eye and Lisa brushed it back.
He was such a contrast of emotions, and yet so masculine.
It was a cozy family setting, and she soon forgot the argument.
Sarah made an excuse of putting Tammy down for a nap and left them alone.
Lisa tossed Giddon a towel and plunged her hands into the soapy water in the sink.
A rush of excitement sent color to her cheeks, and she tore her gaze from his, focusing her attention on the dishes.
His expression revealed surprise for a brief moment, and then his eyes flashed with anger.
She dropped her glass in the sink and took a step backward.
He slung the dishtowel over his shoulder and one long step brought him to a point where she was pinned in the corner of the counter.
He grabbed her shoulders, pulling her roughly against him and kissed her lips in a demanding way that roused more anger than anything else.
When Lisa questioned Sarah about the car, she passed it off as a friend of Giddon's, and quickly changed the subject.
Sarah and Tammy were putting up groceries when Lisa announced she was going to take a walk.
She smiled and waved a hand in dismissal.
She squatted behind a screen of brush and watched.
After a while Giddon and the driver emerged from the building.
He studied her face with mocking eyes, and his mouth twisted into a humorless smile.
For a moment he looked surprised, and then he frowned.
His expression sobered and the blue eyes lost a little of their warmth.
The logical thing to do was leave, but she had a good job and she wasn't sure there was anything untoward going on.
She rubbed her temples and took a deep breath.
What she needed to do was get a look inside the building and put her fears to rest.
Tammy and Sarah were eating a snack on the patio.
She quietly opened the door to her room and carefully closed it behind her and took a deep breath.
It was bits and pieces of a telephone conversation with a mystery person.
The top was clean except for accessories and a few letters standing upright in a sorter.
She replaced the checkbook and started to close the drawer, but a thick envelope caught her attention.
She grabbed a pen and a notepad, hesitating a second before pulling the top sheet off the notepad.
There she opened her letter to Connie and added a request to check on that name and address.
Sealing the letter, she took a stamp from her purse and placed it on the envelope.
He spooned mashed potatoes onto his plate with a vengeance and said nothing more the rest of the meal.
Of course he would have a father, and probably siblings.
Giddon had barely left the yard on Diablo and Lisa instantly recognized it as a chance to investigate the building.
The ground gave way under her foot, and with a sickening lurch of her heart, she plunged downward.
She finally reached the bottom of the embankment and fell headlong into a bunch of blackberry bushes.
A sharp pain shot through her ankle and a cry escaped her lips as she dropped back to the ground.
She couldn't outrun it - in any condition, and it could climb a tree as fast as she could.
He broke through the brush and stared down at her, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion.
After having her wiggle her toes and move her ankle this way and that, he finally stepped back and observed her with a frown.
She had a wild urge to throw her arms around his neck and kiss the worry from his face.
She squirmed and gave him a bright smile.
He looked relieved and reached up, pulling a leaf from her hair.
Yancey lifted Lisa from the counter and helped her into a chair.
The humor in Sarah's eyes was immediately replaced with concern - and then a guarded expression.
Anyway, I was lucky it was a low cliff and that Yancey found me before a bear did.
I haven't cooked more than a couple times since you came, and I'm afraid I might forget how.
She stayed around the house, propping her foot up whenever she sat down, and by evening it was only a little sore.
Lisa started for her room to get a book to read and paused in the hallway to look at a photograph again.
Every time he lashes out at you and gets his nails clipped in the process, it erases a little more of that fear.
He studied her over the rim of his reading glasses, and his eyes warmed with a smile.
He signed the paper with a flourish and returned the pen to its elaborate bronze holder.
He threw a leg over the ATV and settled himself on the seat with a grin.
An armadillo stared at them from a rocky ledge as they passed, and a doe and her fawn darted across the trail not more than a hundred yards ahead, disappearing into the brush.
The creek flowed over a succession of rock ledges and formed pools at the edge where tadpoles swam.
He led her to a large mossy rock that was etched with a name and date.
A body could get lost out here and never be found.
At first she nodded agreement, and then a cold feeling clutched at her heart.
There was a soft step behind her, and then his hands were on her waist, his thumbs nimbly working the tense muscles.
As he had once said, he was a man of his word and he made no more advances.
It's a nice one, low mileage and looks to be in excellent condition.
He turned into a driveway and shut off the truck.
He had offered to help in any way possible and she had found a way.
I asked a few questions and was quickly told to mind my own business.
She was forming a habit of using people who expressed interest in her – Connie, Howard, Len and now Yancey.
She headed for her room and a little rest before supper.
He looked tall and lean in a dark suit.
Thanks, now why don't you get dressed and we'll go out to dinner and a movie or something.
He looked startled for a second, and then his eyes flashed, the brows furrowing into one.
He was picking up the paper and lowering his frame into a chair when he noticed she had stopped.
Testing her ankle in a pair of low heels, she nodded silent approval and hurried down the hall.
She glanced around the room again and did a double take when she saw the man in a dark brown suit.
He was sitting at a table across and down from them.
The man glanced up and she put a hand to her throat, feeling the blood drain from her face.
Yancey swirled her around and leaned his head down, speaking in a low voice.
All else aside, would she want to marry a man like Yancey – so moody and secretive?
He was standing close and she was startled by a desire to be swept into his arms again.
A little, why don't we go in and I'll make us some coffee?
His warm lips left hers and started down her neck, forcing a moan from hers.
The thought must have occurred to Yancey as well, and he reassured Tammy in a voice choked with suppressed humor.
He stopped and studied her for a minute.
He glanced at his mother and colored a little.
He had become far too familiar and apparently assumed a relationship that didn't exist.
He sighed and rubbed his head as though the whole idea gave him a headache.
It's our home and you're more than a sitter or maid to all of us.
The only person who didn't view her as a sitter or maid was Yancey, and his viewpoint was as a lover.
Her own words bounced off the wall and came back as a flash of memory and imagination.
He hired me as a sitter and maid.
She stopped at a light and glanced at a shop to her right where some people were standing around talking.
It rang several times and then switched over for her to leave a message.
She paused a few second and then disconnected without leaving a message.
Who hasn't sat at a stop light and been so distracted by something else that they didn't notice the light was green?
There she changed into jeans, a T-shirt and sneakers.
She had tested her freedom and found it still intact – to a degree.
She took off, noting where she entered the woods, and using a tall Sycamore tree as a trail marker.
A movement behind caught her attention and she stopped.
It was Yancey, clad in boots, Jeans and a light blue polo shirt.
She had teeth, fingernails and a healthy kick.
A touch of humor flashed in those blue pools, and then it was gone.
Something deep inside said that if Allen were six years older and had a child, he'd still be as irresponsible as he was now.
Yancey got up the next morning in a fowl mood and stayed that way for several days.
Sarah snickered and Lisa glanced up in time to see Yancey shoot his mother a warning look.
He slapped the magazine on a freshly polished end table and stood.
The blue ice melted with warmth and a slow smile twisted his lips in an attractive way.