The Temptress by Jude Deveraux

in love.”
    â€œWhy, an hour ago I was so in love with Leora that—”
    â€œHush! You know what I mean. Have you ever even asked a girl to a church social? Taken a girl out for a buggy ride and a picnic?”
    â€œSounds mighty boring to me.”
    â€œWell, it ain’t,” she said, glaring at him.
    He looked out the window again. “You know, one day Chris and Prescott were singing and it looked like it might be an all right way to pass the time.”
    â€œYou have a beautiful singing voice. Why didn’t you join in?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just don’t fit in with people like them. Hey! You got any pork in this place? I’d love four or five pork chops tonight.”
    â€œWe got pork. Ty, are you gonna try to match Chris with that man?”
    He took a while to answer, turning back and looking at his drink. “It’s my job.”
    â€œBut you’re reluctant?”
    â€œShe deserves a lot better than him. She’s got spunk. She liked the rain forest and wasn’t scared to death of the place. She walked around while he huddled beside the fire. And she pulled her weight in work too. He treated me like a servant hired to wait on him but Chris always helped me unpack the mules.” He smiled. “Except for that first night.”
    He put the whiskey down. “Oh, hell, she’s not for me.”
    Red put her hands on his arms. “Why isn’t she? Isn’t she Mathison’s only kid? I bet if he thought she wanted you, he wouldn’t put you back in jail.”
    â€œIt’s my neck if you’re wrong, isn’t it? Besides, she doesn’t want me. It was just that she thought I was the leader and the forest can make you feel as if there’s nobody else on earth. It was the time and the place. And the fact that there was no competition.”
    â€œSo now that you’re out of the forest, she won’t be interested in you, is that it?”
    â€œI’m sure of it.”
    Red turned away for a moment. “You know something? I have more faith in this young lady. From reading her articles I think she’s not at all flighty. If she said she loved you, I think she does.”
    â€œFor how long?” Ty asked in disgust. “Deliver me from the faithful love of a good woman.”
    â€œHow about putting her to a test?”
    â€œSuch as?”
    â€œRory Sayers.”
    Tynan didn’t speak for a moment. “Is he here?”
    â€œAt the hotel. Want to introduce your Chris to him?”
    â€œShe’s not mine.”
    Red smiled at him. “You know what your problem is, Tynan? You’ve never had to work to get any female. Did you know that there are other things to do with a woman besides take her to bed? You’ve probably never spent five minutes talking to a woman who wasn’t a whore. I’ll bet that you don’t even know what to do with a girl outside the bedroom.”
    â€œI talked to Chris one afternoon in the forest.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Red, what are you trying to do?”
    â€œI want you to do something that’s not so easy for you. I think you’re half in love with this Chris. Why don’t you take her out a few times, talk to her, get to know what she’s like? It’ll be practice for when you’re lookin’ for a wife.”
    â€œAnd what if she keeps saying she loves me? I’m not going back to jail for her or anybody else. And I’ll not be cheated out of the ten grand.”
    â€œThere, you see, you can organize a few socials yourself. Take Chris and Prescott for a ride in the country. Help him court her. You’ll learn from him and he’ll learn from you.”
    â€œAnd what about Sayers? What has he got to do with all this?”
    â€œDon’t you think Rory would be a perfect match for your Chris? He’s rich, established, owns all that lovely timberland and Rory certainly