feet and ankles. The ends of her skirt were getting wet, but she didn’t mind. It might wash away a layer of dust in the process.
Rachel lifted her head toward the morning sun and closed her eyes, letting her mind wander to a happier time in her life. A time when her parents were still alive, and she didn’t have the responsibilities she’d taken on two years ago that weighed heavily on her shoulders.
The sudden death of her parents nearly five years ago after they’d eaten water hemlock had set in motion a complete change in her life. A well-meaning neighbor had mistaken the poisonous plant for wild parsnips. She’d brought a dish to the farm, eager to share her latest recipe. Rachel hated parsnips. Refusing to eat the dish had saved her life. The next day, her parents and the neighbor were dead.
She missed Polly, her brother’s wife. The woman Thomas had married had become a close friend and confidant over the years. Rachel shuddered, and tears welled up in her eyes. She waded back to the creek bank, and stepped out of the water. Barefoot, she headed for a wide oak tree a short distance away, and eased herself to the ground, leaning against the trunk. She craved the solitude at the moment. She needed to return to camp to cook breakfast, but a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt. Thomas wouldn’t be awake yet, anyways.
Her brother had changed so much since his wife’s death. After their parents died, he hadn’t hesitated to take over the family farm, and he’d provided a home for Rachel. Fifteen at the time, she was too young to fend for herself. She had formed a tight bond with Polly, and loved her nephews. When Polly died in childbirth two years ago, Rachel had grieved just as much as Thomas, but time had not eased his pain. He couldn’t even look at his youngest son. Rachel often wondered if Thomas blamed the innocent child for his wife’s death.
She had tried all she could to get Thomas over his grief. A few times she’d even acted as matchmaker, but Thomas had no interest in anything anymore other than the bottle. The burden of raising the boys had fallen solely on Rachel’s shoulders. Thomas had barely kept a crop in the ground, and Rachel worked long days in the fields. She no longer had time for friends, or even a beau. Peter Austin had shown an interest in her just before David was born. He’d even hinted at marriage, when he had kissed her at the Fourth of July celebration that summer.
Rachel’s fingers lightly touched her lips. Peter’s awkward attempt at kissing her had left her rather dismayed at the whole notion of kissing and touching a man. His lips on hers had been wet and sloppy, and the way his hands groped her waist had been a bit off-putting. He had called her beautiful that day.
Do you know how beautiful you are? Jake Owens’ mesmerizing voice flooded her mind. All images of Peter faded from her mind. He’d stopped calling on her when she had her hands full with a newborn and her two other nephews, who were just toddlers then.
Her lips suddenly tingled. Jake’s kiss had been so brief, she didn’t even know whether to call it a kiss. It had ignited a flame inside her that still flickered two days later. Her skin prickled where his strong arms wrapped around her waist. Rachel adjusted her seat against the tree, and hugged her arms around her middle, hoping to dispel the sensation. In those brief moments when Jake held her against his solid body, Rachel had felt safe and protected. He was someone she could lean on, who offered her his strength. She was weary all of a sudden. All these years of holding the family together had fallen on her shoulders. It felt so good to have someone else hold her for a change.
Just get those silly notions out of your mind, Rachel. He’s not the sort of man a decent woman should have her eye on. It was obvious how very good he was at wooing the ladies. She’d observed many female heads turn in his direction, appreciation in women’s eyes,
Rachel lifted her head toward the morning sun and closed her eyes, letting her mind wander to a happier time in her life. A time when her parents were still alive, and she didn’t have the responsibilities she’d taken on two years ago that weighed heavily on her shoulders.
The sudden death of her parents nearly five years ago after they’d eaten water hemlock had set in motion a complete change in her life. A well-meaning neighbor had mistaken the poisonous plant for wild parsnips. She’d brought a dish to the farm, eager to share her latest recipe. Rachel hated parsnips. Refusing to eat the dish had saved her life. The next day, her parents and the neighbor were dead.
She missed Polly, her brother’s wife. The woman Thomas had married had become a close friend and confidant over the years. Rachel shuddered, and tears welled up in her eyes. She waded back to the creek bank, and stepped out of the water. Barefoot, she headed for a wide oak tree a short distance away, and eased herself to the ground, leaning against the trunk. She craved the solitude at the moment. She needed to return to camp to cook breakfast, but a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt. Thomas wouldn’t be awake yet, anyways.
Her brother had changed so much since his wife’s death. After their parents died, he hadn’t hesitated to take over the family farm, and he’d provided a home for Rachel. Fifteen at the time, she was too young to fend for herself. She had formed a tight bond with Polly, and loved her nephews. When Polly died in childbirth two years ago, Rachel had grieved just as much as Thomas, but time had not eased his pain. He couldn’t even look at his youngest son. Rachel often wondered if Thomas blamed the innocent child for his wife’s death.
She had tried all she could to get Thomas over his grief. A few times she’d even acted as matchmaker, but Thomas had no interest in anything anymore other than the bottle. The burden of raising the boys had fallen solely on Rachel’s shoulders. Thomas had barely kept a crop in the ground, and Rachel worked long days in the fields. She no longer had time for friends, or even a beau. Peter Austin had shown an interest in her just before David was born. He’d even hinted at marriage, when he had kissed her at the Fourth of July celebration that summer.
Rachel’s fingers lightly touched her lips. Peter’s awkward attempt at kissing her had left her rather dismayed at the whole notion of kissing and touching a man. His lips on hers had been wet and sloppy, and the way his hands groped her waist had been a bit off-putting. He had called her beautiful that day.
Do you know how beautiful you are? Jake Owens’ mesmerizing voice flooded her mind. All images of Peter faded from her mind. He’d stopped calling on her when she had her hands full with a newborn and her two other nephews, who were just toddlers then.
Her lips suddenly tingled. Jake’s kiss had been so brief, she didn’t even know whether to call it a kiss. It had ignited a flame inside her that still flickered two days later. Her skin prickled where his strong arms wrapped around her waist. Rachel adjusted her seat against the tree, and hugged her arms around her middle, hoping to dispel the sensation. In those brief moments when Jake held her against his solid body, Rachel had felt safe and protected. He was someone she could lean on, who offered her his strength. She was weary all of a sudden. All these years of holding the family together had fallen on her shoulders. It felt so good to have someone else hold her for a change.
Just get those silly notions out of your mind, Rachel. He’s not the sort of man a decent woman should have her eye on. It was obvious how very good he was at wooing the ladies. She’d observed many female heads turn in his direction, appreciation in women’s eyes,
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