think.
Meanwhile, she needed to act normally. “First things first,” Riley said briskly. “Let’s unpack our things, and then we’ll go through the house and make a list of anything else we’ll need. Those supplies we ordered will be delivered this morning. If anything’s missing, we can place a new order later today. We’ll start with a little breakfast after we’re dressed. Working clothes for now.” Her friends’ faces echoed the same mixture of excitement and trepidation she felt. “Everyone ready?”
“We burned our regular clothes,” Avery said. “There’s no going back now.”
“Group hug?” Savannah said.
The group hug ritual had stood them in good stead for years and they fell into it willingly. Even Nora lightened up as they swayed together, laughing and shrieking until it became more of a rugby scrum.
“What would Jane think?” Avery cried.
“She’d think we should get busy with our new lives,” Savannah said. “Let’s go!”
Chapter Four
‡
B oone stood on the gently sloping hillside that would soon become the heart of his community. It faced the larger hill upon which Westfield stood. He should have been thinking about his plans, but instead he gazed at the manor.
He wished he hadn’t beat such a hasty retreat. It had only taken moments in Riley’s presence for his entire body to be aware of her proximity. The tomboy had been replaced with a curvy, delicious woman who still knew how to push his buttons. He was intrigued by the idea of getting to know her again. The years would have changed Riley—matured her. What were her passions—besides Jane Austen? Did she still ride like the wind?
What made her laugh?
He pulled a ball of twine from his pocket, reached down to pick up one of the stakes he’d brought and pushed it into the ground. He used a tape measure to mark the distance and planted another stake eight feet away. He kept working until he’d marked out a rectangle and affixed twine to the stakes.
When he was finished, Boone moved on to make another rectangle, and another. He toiled under the rising sun until he’d marked out ten of them. Stepping back to survey his handiwork, Boone frowned. He didn’t like the position of the last one. He undid his work and started over, his mind drifting back to Riley.
He wondered what she did at the vitamin company. She’d gone to school to study painting, but that wasn’t a very useful degree. She’d said nothing about exhibiting her work. Was she still an artist?
He thought back to the sketches she’d sometimes made. Quick little pencil pictures she’d crumple up or pocket if he showed them any attention. He’d never really thought about them. They were just a habit she had, like Jericho tapping his pencil or Clay cracking his knuckles when they were teens.
Were there other things she’d hidden from him? He didn’t like that idea. It struck at the heart of his memories of his childhood to think that he hadn’t known Riley as well as he thought. It occurred to him that she’d done a good job of hiding something else back then. Unless her desire to dance with him that last evening had come out of nowhere, she’d liked him—maybe for a long time—and he’d never guessed.
He’d have to pay more attention to Riley this time around, Boone told himself. He couldn’t be the same self-absorbed teenager that had trampled on her feelings. Not if he wanted her to agree to marry him.
It was time to get to know Riley all over again.
And he looked forward to the task.
“What is he doing now?” Savannah asked when she caught Riley gazing out the window toward an area where Boone was marking out rectangles with stakes. They’d finished their chores and had come downstairs after changing out of their work clothes into prettier dresses in preparation for their first afternoon of art, music and writing. Riley had made Avery give her their cell phone for a minute so she could check her messages, even if it wasn’t her
Meanwhile, she needed to act normally. “First things first,” Riley said briskly. “Let’s unpack our things, and then we’ll go through the house and make a list of anything else we’ll need. Those supplies we ordered will be delivered this morning. If anything’s missing, we can place a new order later today. We’ll start with a little breakfast after we’re dressed. Working clothes for now.” Her friends’ faces echoed the same mixture of excitement and trepidation she felt. “Everyone ready?”
“We burned our regular clothes,” Avery said. “There’s no going back now.”
“Group hug?” Savannah said.
The group hug ritual had stood them in good stead for years and they fell into it willingly. Even Nora lightened up as they swayed together, laughing and shrieking until it became more of a rugby scrum.
“What would Jane think?” Avery cried.
“She’d think we should get busy with our new lives,” Savannah said. “Let’s go!”
Chapter Four
‡
B oone stood on the gently sloping hillside that would soon become the heart of his community. It faced the larger hill upon which Westfield stood. He should have been thinking about his plans, but instead he gazed at the manor.
He wished he hadn’t beat such a hasty retreat. It had only taken moments in Riley’s presence for his entire body to be aware of her proximity. The tomboy had been replaced with a curvy, delicious woman who still knew how to push his buttons. He was intrigued by the idea of getting to know her again. The years would have changed Riley—matured her. What were her passions—besides Jane Austen? Did she still ride like the wind?
What made her laugh?
He pulled a ball of twine from his pocket, reached down to pick up one of the stakes he’d brought and pushed it into the ground. He used a tape measure to mark the distance and planted another stake eight feet away. He kept working until he’d marked out a rectangle and affixed twine to the stakes.
When he was finished, Boone moved on to make another rectangle, and another. He toiled under the rising sun until he’d marked out ten of them. Stepping back to survey his handiwork, Boone frowned. He didn’t like the position of the last one. He undid his work and started over, his mind drifting back to Riley.
He wondered what she did at the vitamin company. She’d gone to school to study painting, but that wasn’t a very useful degree. She’d said nothing about exhibiting her work. Was she still an artist?
He thought back to the sketches she’d sometimes made. Quick little pencil pictures she’d crumple up or pocket if he showed them any attention. He’d never really thought about them. They were just a habit she had, like Jericho tapping his pencil or Clay cracking his knuckles when they were teens.
Were there other things she’d hidden from him? He didn’t like that idea. It struck at the heart of his memories of his childhood to think that he hadn’t known Riley as well as he thought. It occurred to him that she’d done a good job of hiding something else back then. Unless her desire to dance with him that last evening had come out of nowhere, she’d liked him—maybe for a long time—and he’d never guessed.
He’d have to pay more attention to Riley this time around, Boone told himself. He couldn’t be the same self-absorbed teenager that had trampled on her feelings. Not if he wanted her to agree to marry him.
It was time to get to know Riley all over again.
And he looked forward to the task.
“What is he doing now?” Savannah asked when she caught Riley gazing out the window toward an area where Boone was marking out rectangles with stakes. They’d finished their chores and had come downstairs after changing out of their work clothes into prettier dresses in preparation for their first afternoon of art, music and writing. Riley had made Avery give her their cell phone for a minute so she could check her messages, even if it wasn’t her
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