The expression on his face told her all she needed to know about his feelings toward milk and cookies. Hiding her grin, she poured the milk, added more cookies to the plate in the center of the table, then set the glasses out. “Have a seat,” she said to Rusty.
He pulled out the chair next to Amelia and sat. He slanted a sideways glance at the girl. She watched him the same way.
“Amelia, how far along are you in school?”
“Ma, do we have to talk about school?” Will asked as he reached for another cookie.
“Hush, Will. I was talking to Amelia.”
At first she thought the girl would ignore her question, but eventually she mumbled, “I finished school.”
“I wish I was finished with school,” Will said.
At her frown, Will put his head down and munched on his cookie.
“You seem young to be finished with school. Mr. McIntyre—er, your father—said you are fourteen?”
“He ain’t my father.”
Rusty rotated his neck as if to relieve tension. “That’s what your grandpa said.”
“He’s an ass.”
“Young lady, I will not allow that kind of language—”
Amelia jumped up, knocking over her chair. “I don’t care what you will allow. I don’t want to be here, and I know you don’t want me here, so just let me leave. I can go to Oklahoma City and find me a job.”
Rachel stood and placed her arm on Amelia’s shoulder. “You’re wrong, Amelia. We do want you here. In fact, I asked your fa—that is, Mr. McIntyre, if you can stay with us for a while. Would you like that?”
Amelia shrugged, the pain in her eyes tearing Rachel apart. But the last thing this girl needed was to see people feeling sorry for her. Her youthful pride would never allow that.
“Will, I think we should move you to the loft.”
“Yippee!”
She loved this child who was so easygoing. “Why don’t you pack up your things while I put fresh sheets on your bed and the mattress in the loft?”
As Will ran for his room, Rachel offered a smile to the sullen young girl. “If you’re hungry, Amelia, I can fix you a sandwich instead of just the cookies.” Since the girl just shrugged again, she must have been starving.
Rachel took out some cheese and bread and made a sandwich. Rusty watched as she worked, still casting sly furtive glances at his daughter. Once the food was in front of her, Amelia tried to pretend she didn’t want it, until her young appetite took over and she devoured the sandwich with large gulps of milk. How long had it been since the poor child had eaten?
“Mr. McIntyre, may I have a word with you before you leave?”
***
Surprised at being summarily dismissed, he followed her to the parlor again, taking one last look at the girl.
Rachel closed the door and leaned against it. “Amelia is in dire need of love and affection. I know this is difficult for you, but you must spend some time with her. Maybe tomorrow you can just go for a walk, or something easy.”
“What do I say to her?”
“Sometimes nothing needs to be said. Just ask her to take a walk. Don’t pump her for information, just wait to see if she wants to talk. I don’t know what her life has been like up until now, but I suspect it hasn’t been all that wonderful.”
What Rachel said was important and serious. However, all he could think about was those lips as they moved, and her breasts as they rose and fell as she took in deep breaths. Her cheeks were flushed, and parts of her hair hung in disarray around her shoulders. Despite his vow to avoid ‘forever’ women, at this moment he could not remember why. Rachel was all soft curves, with the mature body a young miss had yet to gain. She’d taken a husband to her bed, birthed him a child, and saw him leave this earth. Yet her face was free of pain, sorrow, or loneliness. She had her child, and seemed to think t
hat was all she needed.
Rusty knew better. He knew what she needed, even if she didn’t. A slight smile rose to his lips as he pretended to listen to her, and moved closer. Apparently unaware of his advance, she continued to offer advice until they stood inches apart. He raised his arms and rested his palms on the wall behind her, closing her in.