Love stories; Mystery fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction; Ranchers -- Fiction
A moment her blue eyes blazed into his. He was feeling quite scorched by
her scorn. Probably he looked wilted. At any rate, her next move amazed
as much as it refreshed him.
One of her ungloved, ringless hands slipped into his that lay idle on
the leather of the seat; the fingers curled around it.
“I’d like to trust you. I don’t mind admitting that.” She turned so
directly toward him that again he felt her clover-field breath across
his cheek. “But you’ll have to excuse me for the present. I just don’t
dare.”
He held her hand hard, pulsant palm to pulsant palm. But he took his
eyes off the temptation of her face; a second or so stared straight
ahead, trying to resist—trying to answer for himself the question of
her.
Who and what was she—this woman of his first, deliberate self-selection?
“Trust—is a thing—some people have to—be taught,” he said, steadily as
he could. “You will trust me—in time. There is only one—quick way—to
learn.”
Having gone that far, he gave up; realized that he couldn’t resist. His
eyes swept back to the temptation of her face. His two arms swept around
the temptation of her form. His face swept down until he yielded, in a
serious kiss, to the temptation of her lips.
“Learn, Jane. Learn,” he insisted into the panic of emotion he felt her
to be in. “Your distrust has made it hard for me to trust you. But I
find I do. I trust you with my soul. Don’t say the angry things you
might. Wait. Learn.”
At her first effort to be free, he released her; leaned to his window;
knew without turning that she was leaning to hers. After they had swung
into the wide avenue that bounds the park on the west, he spoke quietly.
“I’d suggest that we land here. By looking over the wall you can see
without being seen.”
Without turning, she nodded. Pape dismissed the cab and guided his
silent companion north a block. He pointed out the group of poplars to
her by their tops, claiming what he called “the wild, or wilderness eye
for location.” When they reached what he considered a vantage point,
however, she drew back, reluctant to look.
“If they’ve solved it—if they’ve found it, I’m lost—lost,” she said.
“Another hour last night and I’d have known. If you hadn’t come along——”
“Ain’t I trying to make up for that?” he asked her.
Without meeting his demanding eyes, she set her lips; stepped close to
the V-topped wall; peered over. For a space both studied the scene of
activity.
“Won’t take them long,” she commented. “They’re just common
laborers—Polakers, no doubt. The short, dressed-up man must be the boss.
Wonder whether I’ve seen him before. Wait, he’s turning! His face is
strange to me. One of their hirelings, of course.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account