Rachel's Cowboy by Judy Christenberry Page B

do what I’m supposed to do. So I was tense with fear, which made the soreness that much worse.”
    “Why don’t you go take a hot bath? I’ll bring in the liniment.”
    “Wait. Yesterday you gave me chocolate cake. I think that helped.” She gave Madge her best smile.
    Madge smiled back. “Coming right up,” she said as she took down the cake tin and cut a generous piece for Rachel. Then she poured a glass of milk and took it to her.
    After she sat down at the table, Rachel paused and asked, “You haven’t heard from J.D.?”
    Madge shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”
    Rachel finished off her cake without any more conversation. When she got up from the table, she muttered, “I’ll go run my bath.”
    Madge called, “I’ll be right in.”
    The rest of the day, both women waited for J.D. to make an appearance. But he didn’t come in to lunch. In fact, he didn’t show up for dinner on time. When he finally came in around eight, both Madge and Rachel were sure something had gone wrong.
    “Are you all right?” Madge asked anxiously.
    J.D. didn’t look at her. “I’m fine, Madge. Sorry I’m late.”
    “What happened?” Rachel asked.
    He glanced at her, then looked away. “What are you talking about?”
    “We assumed something happened that kept you from giving me my lesson.”
    “Didn’t Billy tell you nothing had happened?” he asked harshly.
    “Yes, but—” Rachel stopped abruptly. “What did I do to make you act this way, J.D.?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He sat down at the table. “Got any dinner left over for me, Madge?”
    Rachel stood there, staring at his back. Then she said, “I’m going to bed, Madge. Good night.”
    After her bedroom door had closed, Madge sat down with J.D. as he ate the plateful of dinner she put in front of him. “Why?”
    “Why what?”
    “Don’t you pull that innocent act on me, J.D. Stanley. Why did you duck out of Rachel’s lesson? After all, it was your idea.”
    “I ‘ducked out’ as you put it, because I don’t intend to let that woman break my heart twice.”

Chapter Eight
    The next week followed the same pattern. J.D. avoided Rachel at every turn. She went to bed early every night and he came in for dinner after she’d disappeared. He never showed up for her riding lesson, but made sure Billy was there every morning.
    The cooking lessons also continued. Rachel was discovering a natural talent in the kitchen and on horseback, much to her pleasure.
    “You know, Rachel, I’ve never seen anyone take to cooking like you have. I don’t have a lot left to teach you,” Madge told her toward the end of the week.
    “Oh, Madge, I don’t think I could manage on my own. It’s because you give me so much confidence.”
    “Why don’t we give you a test? Tonight you can cook dinner all by yourself.” Madge looked at her expectantly.
    Rachel nodded. “I’ll be glad to try. And if I mess up too badly, you’ll have time to cook something else before J.D. dares to walk in the door.” She sounded bitter and she knew it, but the man was frustrating her. She didn’t know what she’d done wrong.
    “Child, you mustn’t let J.D. upset you.”
    Rachel shook her head. “I think I should go back to Dallas, so J.D. can return to his normal routine.”
    “Just give him time to work things out. He’ll come around.”
    Rachel didn’t want to talk about J.D. “What shall I cook tonight for dinner?”
    “J.D.’s favorite—goulash.”
    “Okay. Do we have all the ingredients, or do I need to go to Prairie View?” Rachel asked.
    “Oh, it’s all here. I keep the basics in stock in case we can’t get to the store for a week or two.”
    “Why would that happen?” Rachel asked, curious.
    “Sometimes we have rainstorms that flood the roads or take down a bridge. And in the winter you never know what will happen.”
    “I’m glad it’s not winter. I don’t think I could handle riding lessons in winter weather.”
    “I’m