Love's Story by Kristin; Dianne; Billerbeck Christner Page B

grin. “Yes, my magazine article also.”
    They shook hands, and she turned to go, then stopped. “Can Jonah take some photographs of your mill?”
    â€œAlready has.”
    â€œSome particular shots of how you keep the mill clean?”
    â€œSure. He’d be mighty welcome.”
    Since Mr. Washington’s mercurial attitude had turned obliging, Meredith couldn’t resist satisfying her own curiosity. “You don’t seem like a man who would threaten a woman.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI received some nasty messages.”
    â€œRest assured, they weren’t from me.” He looked sincere.
    â€œI believe you.”
    â€œI wouldn’t do anything to hurt my friend’s wife. Amelia’s taken a liking to you.”
    â€œI’m glad we had this talk.”
    â€œMe, too.”
    Meredith chuckled at him as she left. For all his explosiveness, she rather liked the southerner. She was glad he was open to conservation. Meredith hurried home to put her thoughts in black and white.
    Yet the dawn of a new day in forestry is breaking. Emerson says that things refuse to be mismanaged long.
She hoped her next confrontation, with the bull at Bucker’s Stand, would only go as well.

Chapter 15
    A sudden dread filled Meredith. The rumbling of distant thunder filled the air and the shadowing dark clouds rolled overhead like a fast-moving locomotive breathing down the back of her neck. The unfrequented forest that stretched across either side of the road with its ghoulish-shaped trees and dense underbrush appeared dark and forbidding—an uninviting place with wild animals more fearsome than the inevitable storm. She bent low, hugged her knees against her mount, and pressed him forward.
    â€œC’mon, boy,” she coaxed. “Think stable.” She might reach Bucker’s Stand before the cloudburst.
    There was a loud crack overhead, and Meredith’s horse faltered but recovered his stride. At first the rain fell hit-and-miss, but shortly following that, stinging drops pelted Meredith and her horse.
    â€œAlmost there,” Meredith urged. “Ugh,” she moaned when the sky burst open just as they rode into camp.
    Meredith’s soggy pants clung to her legs as she swung one over her saddle to dismount. On the ground, her boots slipped on the slick mud, and she slid, her horse sidestepping from the pull of the reins.
    â€œWhoa, boy.” She grappled with gloved hands to bring the skittish beast under control. “That a boy.”
    By the time the horse quit dancing in circles, a groom had appeared to relieve Meredith. “Take good care of him.”
    â€œDon’t worry, ma’am. We made fast friends the last time he was here.” Then he turned toward the animal. “Here you go, pretty boy.”
    Meredith’s body shivered until her teeth rattled. She clenched her jacket to her torso and ran in a careful slip-sliding gait toward the bull’s tent. From beneath the sagging brim of her hat, she saw a small lake surrounding the tent. There was no way but to slosh through it. When she threw open the flap, a stream of water poured down her neck and face.
    The bull’s mouth gaped open. “Land sakes, woman, come in.”
    â€œWhat a mess.”
    The bull got up from his desk and disappeared into the back room of his tent. He returned with a wool blanket. “Take off your coat and wrap in this.”
    Meredith shivered. “Thanks.”
    After she was salvaged with the comforts of chair, blanket, and a warm cup of his coffee, she murmured, “I feel a bit foolish.”
    He nodded. “You look foolish.”
    â€œKnow why I’m here?”
    â€œEither to lambaste me or apologize.”
    â€œI already did the first. I came to apologize.”
    â€œWhat a relief,” he mocked and stretched out his legs.
    Meredith grimaced as she swallowed down the strong drink. “The town’s in an