step across the dirt floor, her boots shuffled and his heart thudded in rhythm. As far as he knew, this was the first time she’d ever set foot in the barn.
He’d asked her to go riding once, and she’d turned him down without a second’s hesitation. Something about a childhood accident with a pony.
“Wow, it’s clean in here,” Dee said. “Actually, downright immaculate.” She ran her finger along the sharp tines of a pitchfork hanging from the wall. “Aren’t barns supposed to smell like manure?”
Abe scoffed and rolled his eyes upward. Heaven help him. He caught the quirk at one corner of Mitch’s mouth.
The barn cat ambled up to Dee and wriggled against her ankle. She looked down at the fat tabby, which stared up at her with bright green eyes as if asking, Will you pet me?
Abe half expected her to shoo the scraggly critter away, but instead she dipped down and patted the cat’s head, earning a rumbling purr. “What’s her name?” Dee asked.
“Traitor.”
Dee’s head shot up. She caught him with a piercing gaze. Her mouth curved into a perfect frown. He bit his lip to keep from laughing. She then turned her gaze to Mitch, who was obviously smitten. His toothy grinned stretched for miles.
Abe started to offer introductions but stopped. Why should he? It wasn’t like she was his guest. Yeah, he was pickling in his own juices, but he didn’t give a damn.
It was too much to hope she’d get the hint, turn around and walk out. Instead she approached Mitch and offered a finely manicured hand. Her smile looked as fake as her nails. “Hi, I’m Dee.”
Mitch managed a dumbfounded “Hello,” and clumsily stuck his hand into hers. “I’m Mitch. Nice to meet you. Did you have a safe trip?”
“Most definitely,” she answered with a side glance for Abe. “Thanks for asking.”
Mitch pushed his hat up slightly with the tip of his thumb. “I bet this is a change from the big city.”
She shrugged and wrapped her arms around her waist. “It will be a nice change–at least, I hope.” Abe waited for another glance in his direction, but it didn’t come. “You’re not from around these parts, are you?”
Mitch chuckled. “Can’t hide it. I moved here from Texas almost four years ago.”
“You’re a long way from home.”
Abe groaned. So much for peace and quiet.
Dee turned her back to him, giving all of her attention to Mitch, who seemed more than welcoming. “Did Abe tell you I’ll be staying here permanently?”
Mitch glanced at Abe across the room. Abe scowled back.
“No, I don’t–”
“I didn’t tell him it’s permanent because that’s a lie.” Abe shifted on the hay. “Didn’t you get that much from our earlier conversation?” Damn, he really needed a cigarette. Since that was impossible for the moment, he reached for another cold one. It’d definitely relax his mood. Screw the potential hangover.
Dee smiled coolly. “Actually, after our conversation, it became much clearer that this is home.”
He squeezed the neck of the bottle until he thought it would shatter. “It’s my house, my farm, my life, and I refuse to share it...especially with you,” he growled. The tension grew. One lit match would have combusted the air
Mitch cleared his throat and moved to the edge of the bale. “Well, I think I’ll head out for the night.”
As Mitch moved toward the door, Dee offered, “It was nice meeting you, Mitch. I do hope you ignore anything and everything Abe has said about me, get to know me, and make your own decision.”
“It wasn’t all bad.”
Abe caught Mitch’s smile. His frustration built to the breaking point, impotence churning in his gut.
Dee laughed. “I find that hard to believe.”
Mitch opened his mouth, but Abe shot him a look that said shut up, or you suffer.
“Leave me out of this. I’m heading home.” Mitch threw up his hands. He slid off his hat and held it against his chest as he bid Dee goodbye.
Alone with Abe, Dee said, “He seems like a very nice man.”
Abe picked at the label on his beer. “I used to think so.”
Mitch had fancied up to Dee as if she was the next best thing to sliced bread. Mitch was a man. Abe guessed any red-blooded man would find her appealing. He slid a subtle glance over her.
Although the changes were faint, he could the differences in her. Five years ago she’d been young, unmarked and green when it came to life, especially on a farm. She’d tried fitting in by helping with the chores, and she’d done a lot of the work inside the house. She’d even given the place a homier feel, with modern decorations and feminine touches. He’d never admitted it, but he’d liked her personal touch in the old house.
Seeing her now with her fancy manicure, long hair and perfect make-up, he doubted she’d be any help. Her attempt at knocking off casual with the new jeans, simple red tee and boots bombed.
“Was Mitch supposed to be mean and cold to me too?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Abe averted his eyes.
“Well.” She reached down beside him, grabbed a bottle, opened it and took a long drink. “You’ve been a total ass, and Mrs. Graves has been eyeing me like I’m the devil’s child. Is this your plan to chase me off?”
“I see I’ve made myself clear.” He glowered at her, though in truth he was more upset that she’d taken his last beer. He emptied his own bottle. “I can’t speak for Mrs. Graves. I will say she has an uncanny ability to see right through people.”
“If you say so.” She plopped down on Mitch’s vacated bale of hay and gave Abe a steady, determined stare. “You have only two horses in here? Do you ride them?” She peered into the stalls.
“No. One bites and the other kicks.”
“Are you serious?”
“And at feeding time, we stand back and throw the food into the stall. Otherwise, we might get too close and lose an arm.”
Her skin paled. “I know you get a kick out of tormenting me, but I’m not leaving, Abe,” she said with a defiant tilt to her chin.
“You will,” he replied, with more confidence than he really felt.
“No, I won’t, not unless I decide to leave on my own terms. I won’t let you decide my future for me. At least, not this time.”
He tossed the empty bottle into the trashcan. The sound of breaking glass penetrated the air.
He glared at her. “Are you implying that
