Of Sentence Examples
Just take care of yourself.
He wants one of his own.
Then all three of them laughed heartily.
The houses of the city were all made of glass, so clear and transparent that one could look through the walls as easily as through a window.
Certainly she had been under a lot of stress.
She glanced up at his face, but it gave no clue of his mood.
I will take care of Alex.
We'll take care of them together.
None of it made sense.
There exists two sorts of optimists.
AdvertisementAs a matter of fact, I did.
He reached the edge of the tall roof, stepped one foot out into the air, and walked into space as calmly as if he were on firm ground.
Very likely he has stopped to take care of them.
Of course, to an extent, she did.
The central and largest one was white, and reminded her of the sun.
AdvertisementI'm tired of waiting.
Maybe it was more a case of wishing it were so.
He was not a very large man, but was well formed and had a beautiful face--calm and serene as the face of a fine portrait.
Is that because of the infection?
They even agreed to take care of the animals while Alex and Carmen took their first vacation.
AdvertisementSeñor Medena would take care of him and see that he got to the hospital if he needed to go.
It wasn't true, of course.
The storm continued most of the night.
I'll take care of the others if you want to watch the kids.
That pleased smile was on his lips again and his eyes held a glint of humor.
AdvertisementFor one terrifying moment the enormity of what they had done brought her close to panic.
He would take care of their needs.
It was a pleasant escape from the dust and noise of the building going on above them.
Where the children were concerned, she had no intention of remaining silent.
These spires were like great spear-points, and if they tumbled upon one of them they were likely to suffer serious injury.
It was the first time she thought of Katie that way.
He was head of the house - the one who made final decisions.
Of course, it was possible that someone might harm her.
Clicking from one spreadsheet to another, she was shocked at the extent of his investments.
How had their conversation gone from an inquiry about money to a litmus test of their stay in Texas?
Pushing the plate aside so the food would cool, he began slicing the rest of the roast.
You've always taken care of us.
The storm has blown two of the little ones out of the nest.
Once the fire of passion was gone, it was embarrassing.
If his family wanted him to come back, they would have to get rid of his current responsibilities.
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 he talked of investments, she had assumed he was talking about 401K.
More than that, he was willing to make concessions - in front of the children.
It was disrespectful of me.
You know the rest of that story.
And take care of yourself, too.
A few impressions stand out vividly from the first years of my life; but "the shadows of the prison-house are on the rest."
If Alex knew that, he gave no indication - and she had no intention of telling him.
But then, she hadn't approved of his drinking or the way he treated Lori either.
Apparently he found what he was looking for, because a smile touched the corners of his mouth and his eyes warmed.
The aroma of cologne surrounded him and his breath smelled like he had recently brushed his teeth.
Maybe he meant he was sick of all the bickering with his family.
He also had a sense of responsibility about it.
Wet auburn curls were plastered around her pale face and the back of her neck.
As proud as she was of Jonathan, it was Alex who stayed on her mind for a long time after the phone call.
The roof beside them had a great hole smashed through it, and pieces of glass were lying scattered in every direction.
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.
The men cheered as he turned the horse and rode it out of the corral.
But then, he had made it clear from the start that he didn't want any of them in his life.
I know you're not going to be right 100% of the time.
Of course, that didn't mean much.
Thinking back, her parents had done both in front of her.
Although the issue was not discussed, it was far from out of her mind.
A few days later when Carmen and Destiny were visiting Katie, the issue popped out of her mouth in another conversation.
The whole truth didn't sound nearly as bad as part of the conversation.
I imagine that took a chunk out of his savings.
Katie piled the potatoes in another pan and picked it up, along with the knife and a bag of peals.
Some of it came from life insurance.
Sure, but don't you get tired of it?
Instead of improving, Destiny got steadily worse.
He did a lot of researching before he talked to me.
Later as she lay awake beside him, listening to the sound of his breathing, it occurred to her that they had fallen into the pattern of making up by making love.
He slapped her backside playfully as she walked out the door ahead of him.
That sweet chocolate gaze softened and a smile touched the corners of his mouth.
He's a lot like his father - in a LOT of ways, but don't tell him that.
She gouged an eye out of the potato she was holding.
But why didn't you say something to me about all of this before now?
But not a sound had broken the stillness since the strangers had arrived, except that of their own voices.
Are you down here taking inventory or doing a lot of thinking?
If anything could take her mind off the worry of surrogacy, he could.
Her sigh was a mixture of contentment and relief.
That served another purpose when the conversation turned to the possibility of another child.
That was when Mary decided to relieve her mind of a troubling thought.
Just about time I think the two of you are making progress, something like this comes up.
Alex got a relief when the conversation turned to something else and stayed there for the rest of the evening.
Alex chuckled and relinquished the remainder of the waltz to him.
He watched absently as she shrugged out of her blouse.
You always look neat and clean - even if you are a little out of style.
I just didn't see any point in spending money on new clothes when my old ones still had a lot of wear in them.
We also have a couple of wild asses.
Still feeling the sobering effects of that cool regard, she forced a smile.
For the remainder of the trip to the ranch, Alex remained in a good mood.
Alex retrieved her from Felipa and shifted her so that she sat on his arm, one of her arms around his neck.
Sometimes he even did it when there was a room full of people between them.
Carmen refrained from looking at Alex or displaying the shock she felt at the introduction of two more siblings he had never mentioned - an entire family.
Her eyes were almond shaped, the brown of the iris so dark that it was almost black.
The four of them followed Felipa upstairs.
He pulled the shirt tails out of his pants and shucked it.
Apparently the duo was considered part of the family.
It was a house full of people who happened to be related to him.
Carmen sat Destiny on the floor and picked up the pan of pealed potatoes, along with a paring knife.
Part of it was simply his nature - and that part was sweet and selfless.
The carpenters tried to keep the dust level down, but it was impossible to avoid all of it.
The x-rays were conclusive and indicated a bad infection in the lower lobe of one lung.
Carmen sat one side of the bed and Alex on the other, each holding a tiny hand.
Of course - and he wanted to be there as much as she did.
With it came a host of nightmares.
His red shock of hair stood up like a flame as he glared down at her.
No, if one of us has to get snowed in up here, I'd rather it was me.
A feeling of panic grew in her as she reached for the button to summons a nurse.
More important, though, was the fact that he believed the child should not suffer for the sins of the parent.
At the end of January, Princess gave birth to the first foal on the ranch that wasn't sired by Ed.
Jonathan rarely asked for anything and the idea of having someone in the house playing music was appealing.
She was cleaning the coffee pot and Alex was reclining in a chair at the table, enjoying the last cup of coffee.
Finally he leaned forward and stood, rubbing the back of his neck.
On the 28th of February they celebrated her thirtieth birthday.
Yet it was a short period of time for so much to have happened to them.
Pulling Alex's pillow from the bed, Carmen caught the faint whiff of his cologne.
She gathered it in a hug and smelled deeply of it.
She started to put the pillow down and caught the movement in the mirror from the corner of her eye.
It was the idea that I would never have one... the death of a dream, I guess.
The snow melted, leaving in its wake a harvest of spring flowers.
As April slipped into May and the last threat of frost passed, she began planting them in the garden.
It's wandering around in circles and it's not at all afraid of us.
Any time a wild animal isn't afraid of you, there is probably something wrong.
I've seen opossums that weren't afraid of me, though.
She imagined all kinds of reasons why he wouldn't want her to go - none of them good.
She was the country bumpkin that he had to drag everywhere or be accused of being insensitive.
Sweetheart, this problem is of my making.
I know you would stand beside me - maybe even in front of me with the intent of protecting me.
As a matter of fact, he hadn't said that since he spent half the night with his old flame.
Still, the romancing was so much a part of him that it was as if he wasn't even Alex.
As if bent on assisting her, the weather turned steamy when it entered the second week of June.
He didn't need any tips on the art of romancing.
Besides, Destiny would be there to assist with creating the required amount of restraint.
Alex didn't like highly spiced food, so she decided to bake Cornish game hens for the base of the meal.
Then she used wild and long grain rice instead of stuffing.
She looked so cute that Carmen took a few pictures of her.
I mean, one you have a chance of winning.
As a matter of fact, I'm beginning to feel pretty good.
She'll wake up in the middle of the night, wide awake.
She melted into his arms, eagerly returning his warm kisses and welcoming the feel of his fingers as they searched for the zipper on the back of her dress.
Without a word, she slipped into his arms and fell into the rhythm of his step.
Yet, no matter how many times she tried to reassure herself of that, she remained concerned.
He had a lot of investments and...
Around it were arranged, like the five points of a star, the other five brilliant balls; one being rose colored, one violet, one yellow, one blue and one orange.
Just then the buggy tipped slowly over upon its side, the body of the horse tipping also.
The girl, greatly astonished, ran to lean over the edge of the roof, and saw the man walking rapidly through the air toward the ground.
Soon he reached the street and disappeared through a glass doorway into one of the glass buildings.
I can see plenty of nice gardens and fields down below us, at the edge of this city.
But he did not wish the little girl to think him a coward, so he advanced slowly to the edge of the roof.
The four lawyers rode along, one behind another; for the pathway was narrow, and the mud on each side of it was deep.
It was in July, 1805, and the speaker was the well-known Anna Pavlovna Scherer, maid of honor and favorite of the Empress Marya Fedorovna.
With these words she greeted Prince Vasili Kuragin, a man of high rank and importance, who was the first to arrive at her reception.
Pierre pushed his way into the middle of the group, listened, and convinced himself that the man was indeed a liberal, but of views quite different from his own.
It was indicative of dissipation and the exercise of authority.
If the noble awistocwacy of the pwovince of Moscow thinks fit, it can show its loyalty to our sov'weign the Empewah in other ways.
Have we fo'gotten the waising of the militia in the yeah 'seven?
The nobility don't gwudge theah lives--evewy one of us will go and bwing in more wecwuits, and the sov'weign" (that was the way he referred to the Emperor) "need only say the word and we'll all die fo' him!" added the orator with animation.
He hardened his heart against the senator who was introducing this set and narrow attitude into the deliberations of the nobility.
He parked the truck in front of the house and headed down the hill.
Was it greedy to want one of their own as well?
Alex was romantic enough to understand the sentimental significance of the home she had inherited.
Alex was doing everything in his power to provide her with all the experiences of a natural mother.
He stood and tossed the last bite into his mouth, washing it down with the last of his milk.
First of all, I married Alex because I love him.
Did I give Jonathan his fair share of attention?
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?
That was the end of the conversation and neither of them brought the subject up again that night.
He even tried to get custody of Alex.
She said they were both supportive of her when Alex was born.
His father died shortly after Alex was born, so I never met either of them.
Carmen met a playful mocking gaze that reminded her of Alex.
Gerald said he was one of the best.
Of course, he was just a kid.
Carmen felt the full weight of a question that had no answer.
And yet, Katie and Alex were close siblings now in spite of their age difference.
Alex was a love child - of that she was certain.
He wasn't involved in anything illegal and you have no reason to be concerned about spending any of the money he acquired.
Why hadn't she thought of his comment in that context?
What part of 'wealthy' were you having problems understanding?
Katie stood and carried the pan of potatoes to the sink.
They weren't exactly best of friends.
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.
One of the most appealing things about Alex was his confidence.
Still, all the information Katie provided created a clearer picture of why Alex acted the way he did at home.
Alex decided to build a room upstairs for his office, out of the reach of Destiny's exploring hands.
Preventing Destiny from crawling out of the bed wasn't easy.
It felt strange to have only the two of them at the table.
Morning dawned on about three inches of snowfall and it was still coming down.
You'd better stay in out of the weather... and get some rest.
Less than an hour after the phone call, Destiny woke up in a fit of coughing.
They said she'd be sleepy because of the medicine, so I'll try to sleep while she is asleep.
You'd better get some rest... and take care of yourself.
Destiny stiffened with a fit of coughing and then drug a deep rattling breath.
She was right, of course, but having mama stand there watching her suffer was just as upsetting for Destiny.
She backed out of the tent and tucked it under the mattress.
The nurse would have no way of knowing how uncharacteristic this behavior was for Destiny.
Minutes later when the nurse arrived with a syringe of medicine, Destiny was asleep again, still clutching the doll to her chest.
For the first time, it crossed Carmen's mind that he was kind of cute.
Partly because of the way he worded things, but mostly because he tried to mask his emotions - like Alex.
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.
I don't want to be in the middle of your feud.
Jonathan, you take care of your Dad, alright?
Warm him some chicken soup and make sure he drinks plenty of water.
The doctor set a due date of August 17th.
Do you mean the odds of two healthy babies, or the sex of the babies?
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.
She sighed and snuggled against him, feeling the beat of his heart... or was that her own?
She gave him her most fetching smile and stepped out of the hallway.
From now on she'd have a lot more respect for the art of romancing.
It wasn't one night of loving that made the difference.
It was a change of attitude.
On the other hand, if he lost them, she would be sharing the loss of lifestyle.
He rubbed the back of his neck and looked away.
I want to be part of this - whatever it is.
Finally he took down a couple of cups and poured them some coffee.
No wonder Dulce didn't want to let go of him.
He said Alex was the kind of man who would crawl into bed with a woman on the first date.
With the initial shock out of the way, she focused on the facts.
Why didn't she think of that first?
I want to be a part of your life.
He nodded, taking her hand and guiding her up out of the chair.
After all, her husband was the one who had custody of the boy.
He shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck.
Alex let out a breath of relief.
The minute Howard had arrived; Allen was in his face, accusing him of stealing his girl.
Howard had to pull out of the driveway slowly and gradually increase his speed.
For a full week she enjoyed the benefits of being big sister.
Then came the arrest, and with it the fear of being questioned by the police.
Each boom of thunder was loud enough to rattle the window panes.
You simply had to make better use of what was left.
She changed the decorating tip and wrote "Happy Birthday Dad!" on the top of the cake.
Of course, the little red truck Dad had been drooling over.
She carefully drew the outline of a truck around the words on the top.
On the sides of the cake, she drew the Toyota emblem, finishing up with some scrolls.
She scrambled out of the chair.
But of course, that wasn't possible.
It wasn't real, of course.
It couldn't be real, and yet... she remembered the train whistle and the ghostly voice of Nick.
Officer Quint came from the scene of the accident.
That was the last thing she remembered until she opened her eyes again and found all three of them hanging over her.
Candy spilled across the coffee table and a glass bowl was shoved in front of her mouth.
Connie returned with a cool damp rag which she placed on Lisa's face and then the back of her neck.
Somewhere in the back of her mind Lisa knew it felt good.
Do you always visit the relatives of accident victims on your personal time?
Lisa stared at him, fragments of the night before slowly fitting together like a jigsaw puzzle.
Through it she heard the mumbling of the reverend, but not the words.
Their efforts relieved her of concern about the ceremony.
The diploma was given to her in the privacy of the principle's office.
I've taken up enough of his time.
All Len wants out of me is information about Allen, and Howard couldn't care less where I am.
Do you think everything they have done has been with the single ambition of getting third-party information out of you?
I hadn't thought of it that way.
It was like Allen to think only of himself.
She smiled weakly at his deliberate misinterpretation of the cliché.
Long ago she had learned to ignore the second glances, open stares, and sometimes even suggestive leers of men.
She collected a handful of the material in modest protest.
Their eyes met for a moment... piercing blue eyes meeting startled green eyes in a battle of nerve.
Feeling the warmth of color invading her cheeks, she looked away.
Focusing her attention on the car, she was acutely aware of the fact that he was still watching her.
Five years hadn't changed the wild hills of Madison County, but she had forgotten how truly remote the area was.
It would be dark by the time they got the car off the edge of the cliff.
By the time she reached the top of the hill, the muscles in her legs were aching.
Had her family known the same terror in their last moments of life?
The car rocked slightly with a gust of wind.
Its course down the cliff was marked by the cracking of limbs.
She counted the seconds in tense silence, waiting for the sound of an explosion, but the only sound was a car approaching from below.
Her knees were trembling as if they were going to give way at any moment, and her face felt devoid of blood.
Tired of her whining, he gave her an exasperated look.
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?
She felt dizzy from breathing off the top of her lungs.
A patch of blue cement suggested a swimming pool might also inhabit the estate.
The words of formality trailed off as she stared at the room.
A huge marble fireplace dominated the large family room, its image reflected on the shiny expanse of hardwood floor.
The furnishings were of a dark wood, possibly cherry, with hand carved designs.
Lisa felt an immediate bond with the slender mother of her rescuer.
The little girl was adorable in a Shirley Temple kind of way.
Of course - it's too soon.
Was loneliness the culprit of her decision to spend the night?
The room lit up with a bright flash of lightening, and thunder rattled the windowpane.
At this point the loss of her car was more an inconvenience than anything else.
Directing Connie to the house would be difficult, but Lisa could wait at the end of the drive.
She slid into the chair across from Tammy, and Sarah sat down at the other end of the table.
After a moment of thanks, they all began their meal.
Childhood excursions had taught her that the country was rough, but was she up to ten miles of walking?
She had grown soft in five years of city life.
He's a big horse, but I couldn't make him carry the two of us in that terrain.
They left the main road on a narrow trail consisting of two ruts.
Were victims ever suspicious of their attackers beforehand?
And yet, its little engine hummed along with a surprising lack of noise.
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.
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.
But then so was the scream of a mountain lion, and she had never seen one of those, either.
Like an Avon notice on a doorknob, the tracks in the mud were proof of an unobserved visit.
After what seemed like hours of traveling down trails that were little more than rockslides, Giddon stopped the ATV and shut off the engine.
She glanced around for some kind of weapon as they walked, and soon came up with a walking stick.
She regarded his broad back skeptically, instantly reminded of her father.
It took them another thirty minutes or so to find the burned out shell of the car.
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.
It wasn't enough, but it was all she felt capable of at the moment.
She hurried after him, glancing nervously at the jumble of rocks and trees.
Exhaustion left her feeling cold and weak, which was probably why her foot slipped on the edge of a rock.
Her ankle twisted painfully, forcing a quick cry of pain from her lips.
His broad shoulders swayed with the swing of his stride.
Better would be a long time coming, but she felt more in control of her emotions.
She turned her face away, twisting free of his arms.
How could he take advantage of her that way?
Maybe he wouldn't bite, but he'd certainly take advantage of her.
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.
Of course she couldn't go with him.
Lisa did the best she could to draw a map on the small piece of paper.
Thick dark lashes and a deep tan intensified the blue of his eyes, and his freshly shaven face had attractive angles.
Has your mother always taken care of Tammy?
With every second, they were getting farther from the safety of civilization.
Is your fit of curiosity satisfied, or do you have some more questions?
Sarah's expression went from surprise to joy in the blink of an eye.
You know I love taking care of Tammy.
Lisa watched the two of them, sensing that there was something neither of them wanted to mention.
For the most part, the work she did for the Giddon family was little more than she would have done at home - with the exception that at home she probably would have made a sandwich instead of a meal.
If he doesn't have a job, why doesn't he take care of his daughter?
She felt the hair rising on the back of her neck.
Tammy could swim almost as well as Lisa, but Sarah couldn't swim at all, confessing unabashed that she was afraid of the water.
What lay at the end of that path?
Sometimes she imagined a large field of marijuana, but that would have been discovered long ago.
It was on one of those occasions that Lisa made her first perplexing discovery.
She lifted the hair off her neck and sighed as she paused in the shade of a huge oak tree.
Her sandals raised little puffs of dust every time she put a foot down in the soft dirt.
It took her mind back to childhood memories of barefoot strolls down dusty lanes.
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.
Something blue in the shadow of the trees caught her attention.
Lots of dangerous trails look inviting around here.
His hands worked up her back moving gradually as he massaged every inch of the muscles on either side of her spine.
Jim's ears were standing erect upon his head and every muscle of his big body was tense as he trotted toward home.
With this thought in mind the girl took heart and leaned her head over the side of the buggy to see where the strange light was coming from.
Dorothy was too dazed to say much, but she watched one of Jim's big ears turn to violet and the other to rose, and wondered that his tail should be yellow and his body striped with blue and orange like the stripes of a zebra.
Dorothy had a green streak through the center of her face where the blue and yellow lights came together, and her appearance seemed to add to his fright.
We are somewhere in the middle of the earth, and the chances are we'll reach the other side of it before long.
At this they both put their heads over the side of the buggy and looked down.
Here and there were groups of houses that seemed made of clear glass, because they sparkled so brightly.
They began to wonder if there were no people to inhabit this magnificent city of the inner world.
His clothing fitted his form snugly and was gorgeously colored in brilliant shades of green, which varied as the sunbeams touched them but was not wholly influenced by the solar rays.
The man had taken a step or two across the glass roof before he noticed the presence of the strangers; but then he stopped abruptly.
Dorothy kept hold of his hand and followed him, and soon they were both walking through the air, with the kitten frisking beside them.
But all along, they believed they would ultimately prevail—and not just win the war, but also do something epic that would change the course of history for all time.
It is a simple premise and yet, at the same time, an article of faith—a faith that the future would be better than the past.
By the midpoint of the twentieth century, America's dreamers were preoccupied with the future—and not just any old future, but the great and glorious future that seemed inevitable.
Everywhere you turned, people were speculating about, or building models of, the "House of Tomorrow," the "Car of Tomorrow," or the "Workplace of Tomorrow."
The family on my father's side is descended from Caspar Keller, a native of Switzerland, who settled in Maryland.
First of all, dear friend, tell me how you are.
Neither of the children seemed concerned about the flight, though.
Carmen wanted to shrivel out of sight.
Jonathan leaned forward so that he had a full view of Señor Medena.
Waiting until they were out of view from the men at the corral, Carmen rode up beside Alex.
The shock of what happened gave way to fury as Felipa turned back to them.
The rest of the ride was pleasant.
A touch of humor lurked in Señor Medena's dark eyes, but he continued as if he didn't notice.
The men did not know of the wound.
Alex said nothing, his stoic features giving no suggestion of what was on his mind.
They were well aware of what could have happened.
It's none of my business how you run this outfit.
I have been made acutely aware of that fact since I was a child.
I feel certain of it.
Alex had asked one of the men go into town and rent a car for them.
Finally he put a hand on the wall on each side of her head.
Dragging it up again wouldn't do either of them any good.
The weather was balmy, adding to the enjoyment of the day.
It is nice to have so many people to take care of your children, yes?
I don't want her to be stuck with the responsibility of my child.
He reached out and took one of her curls in his big hand and studied it.
Her hair sparkled in the sunlight against the dark tan of his hand.
I suspect I'd have a lot of young men to answer to if anything happened to you out here.
Outside of snakes and insects, there was nothing dangerous about the forest.
There were bears and mountain lions, but in all the years she had lived here, she had never known of anyone being attacked.
More than likely it was born of self-preservation.
There was only one thing that she was sure of, and that was the fact that she had an overactive imagination.
Some nights, dreams took her on a stealthy walk down the path, taking advantage of every bush for cover.
The tablet that she tucked under her mattress at night contained all sorts of conclusions at the end of that trail.
The horse lifted its head and nickered in the direction of the path.
Diablo. He's Yancey's method of relieving stress and getting away from us women once in a while.
On the other hand, who wanted the odors of animals drifting through their house all the time?
It was one of her favorite artists, Andy Gordon.
They were all originals, upwards of $20,000 each.
It was a subtle indication of her employer's wealth.
Would she ever be able to watch a normal family scene without feeling the agony of her loss?
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.
The sound of tires crunching on gravel announced the approach of a vehicle.
You always did have a high opinion of yourself.
So get your filthy little mind out of the gutter.
He towered over them both, the muscles in his arms and shoulders straining against his shirt as he hooked his thumbs in the front pockets of his jeans.
Eyes of blue ice turned on Allen and Giddon's voice was almost a growl.
His display of cowardice was pitiful.
She had no intention of letting him turn her into a mouse.
He had been perfectly content to step back and let her bear the brunt of Giddon's anger, even knowing that he had arrived uninvited.
Giddon was leaning against the kitchen sink, frowning into a cup of coffee when she entered.
He studied his cup of coffee, swishing the liquid around in it absently.
He dumped the rest of his coffee in the sink and left the room.
Come to think of it, maybe that thought troubled him as well.
Part of her hair was still damp due to the volume.
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.
Sarah made an excuse of putting Tammy down for a nap and left them alone.
Perhaps his offer of help was born of guilt.
A rush of excitement sent color to her cheeks, and she tore her gaze from his, focusing her attention on the dishes.
Like taking a job at the home of a stranger?
Of course, she had stood up for Allen.
All of which was beside the point.
None of this was any of Giddon's business.
His steady gaze gave no indication of what else was on his mind.
She met his regard with equal composer, in spite of the fact that the conversation was beginning to make her feel extremely uncomfortable.
If he was going to start throwing things, she had no intention of staying there in the kitchen alone with him.
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.
His kiss had been an act of aggression, not passion.
Outside of his remark about her swimsuit, and the two kisses he had forced on her, he had shown no special interest in her.
The destination of the path remained a burning mystery, but Tammy innocently tossed fuel on the flames with a chance comment one day while they were watching television.
It was one thing to ask casual questions of Giddon's daughter.
When Lisa questioned Sarah about the car, she passed it off as a friend of Giddon's, and quickly changed the subject.
And most important of all, was she or Giddon's family in any danger?
As the path turned, the broad side of a metal building came into view, nestled at the foot of a cliff.
She squatted behind a screen of brush and watched.
Kind of late for a walk, isn't it?
It's cooler this time of the day.
His long fingers traced her jaw to the hair on the back of her neck.
She felt an unwelcome rush of excitement and reached to push his hand from her hair.
The masculine smell of him, the way his big hands caressed her cheek so softly... hands without calluses.
Besides, her lack of response in the past had been far more effective.
What was it about him that she responded to in spite of what she knew about him?
Was she always misinterpreting his intent, or was he merely quick-witted enough to think of a good excuse on the spur of the moment?
Speaking of your mother, we'd better go in so she doesn't worry.
Those animals were more afraid of her than she of them, and he knew it.
I guess a walk in the cool evening isn't worth the risk of being eaten up by beasts is it?
His expression sobered and the blue eyes lost a little of their warmth.
I sure hate to think of something awful happening to you because of your curiosity.
Maybe she was letting her imagination get the better of her.
She shook her head to remove the cobwebs of imagination.
That's a lot of cocaine.
Apparently he was shipping someone twenty-five thousand dollars worth of cocaine.
It was bits and pieces of a telephone conversation with a mystery person.
From the window of his office, the path was clearly visible.
The latest entry was to a Sharon Dobson in the amount of twenty-five thousand.
It was stuffed with one thousand dollar bills – fifty of them.
As she shut the drawer, the envelopes on the top of the desk caught her attention.
Of course, she could call Connie, but Yancey's conversation on the phone was fresh in her memory.
He spooned mashed potatoes onto his plate with a vengeance and said nothing more the rest of the meal.
They had talked in front of her, so it couldn't be what she thought.
Of course he would have a father, and probably siblings.
I keep telling him that as long as he gives her money, she'll never get out of trouble, but he just says she's the only sister he has and he has the money.
Maybe they found cocaine on her and she needed twenty-five thousand to get out of jail.
I'll see enough of the city when I go back to college.
Deciding to use the sun to orient herself, she detoured around several dense patches of blackberry bushes.
She stepped through the last of the brush.
The ground gave way under her foot, and with a sickening lurch of her heart, she plunged downward.
She lit with one foot underneath her body, and the momentum of her fall threw her forward - over the ledge.
She finally reached the bottom of the embankment and fell headlong into a bunch of blackberry bushes.
Unhurt, she would have no fear of wandering around to find her way, but her injury prevented any exploration.
He broke through the brush and stared down at her, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion.
She put the offending foot on the ground, tentatively applying a little weight, clamping a hand over her mouth to stop the cry of pain.
She felt his breath on the back of her neck and stiffened as one arm slipped around her waist.
Secure in his strong arms, she wondered how she could have suspected him of anything sinister.
Yet, one backward glance at the hard lines of the face over hers reminded her that there was more than the gentle side to him.
His hands might be soft, but he was capable of dealing with whatever came in his direction.
He was no wimp - of that she was certain.
They hadn't traveled far down the trail before she got a peripheral view of the building.
His piercing gaze lifted to her face and the hair rose on the back of her neck.
Of course, she could take his.
All of which was irrelevant.
His expression was sober as he placed a hand on the counter on each side of her.
Now let's go get the rest of the groceries.
Her expression was solemn, but the eyes that regarded Lisa were full of mischief.
She gave the sack of groceries undue attention as she quarried Lisa.
Yancey stepped through the door with his arms full of groceries and Lisa didn't miss the warning look he shot his mother.
Lisa struggled out of the chair and limped over to the sack of groceries.
She felt somehow drawn to the picture of a frail looking girl with dark eyes that looked out hauntingly from a delicately beautiful face.
Of course, it would be simple to say she died in childbirth.
When she didn't get her way, she'd cry and act like she was afraid of him.
I should have stayed out of it.
Of course I know, and so does he.
Since his wife left, he's avoided relationships because he's afraid of giving his heart again only to drive another love away.
Every time he lashes out at you and gets his nails clipped in the process, it erases a little more of that fear.
You're the kind of woman he needs - someone who will stand up to him and yet understand his moods.
There could be a number of reasons that Sarah would welcome her as a daughter-in-law, not the least of which was the goings-on down that path.
He studied her over the rim of his reading glasses, and his eyes warmed with a smile.
He leaned back in his chair again and stretched his legs out, his piercing gaze sorting through the secrets of her mind.
The creek flowed over a succession of rock ledges and formed pools at the edge where tadpoles swam.
Some of the letters in the name were backward, but the date was clearly 1872.
After a while they were riding around the side of a steep hill through tall grass.
After a long time they came into a clearing on the edge of the mountain.
Range after range of mountains began with a mixture of sharp green that gradually faded until the last range was wrapped in the haze of distance.
She tucked her suspicions back into a corner of her mind.
This area is so full of wildlife.
When you're riding an ATV you can cover more territory, and the animals have grown used to the sound of them.
She turned away, embarrassed by the rush of excitement the action had triggered.
She rubbed her lumbar area, vaguely aware of the pain that riding was causing.