LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

out on a cold afternoon like this?”

      Smiling she replied, “I’m just out riding and I thought I’d better check on John. He hasn’t been over to see me lately and I was getting anxious to see him.”

      Mrs. Wilson, feeling Suzanne was a little too forward, responded, “I don’t rightly know what John’s been up to lately but I’m sure he tries to see you when he can.

      Suzanne sensed Mrs. Wilson’s disapproval and replied, “I’m sure John’s been working hard, but I really do need to see him.”

      Suzanne thought, need to see him is an understatement. If determination and willpower can prevail, I will marry that young man. And if I have my way, my husband will serve in the Mississippi legislature come next year. He won’t be doing any more farming around here.

      For the next few minutes, Suzanne and the Wilsons shared small talk and since they seldom left home during the winter, Suzanne informed them of all that had happened lately in the county. Before long the conversation turned to politics and Suzanne told them that Frank was hosting a dinner at their home and some prominent politicians were to be present. She invited them to attend.

      Lott couldn’t believe they had been asked to the Olliver home. He had known the family for over thirty years and had never set foot on their property. He and Frank Senior had come to the Mississippi territory as young men and Frank had done some things Lott knew were illegal and immoral. It seemed that Frank and he had been at odds about one thing or another as long as they had known each other. When Frank got killed, Lott felt for the family, but it certainly made life easier for him. Lott knew Frank Olliver was behind his brother Jake’s death, and even though he could not tolerate the man, he never let his feelings stop his children from associating with the Ollivers.

      “You sure you want us to come?” Lott asked.

      “We certainly do and I think we have a little surprise for that son of yours. Where can I find him?”

      Lott pointed down to the barn. “He and James are down there splitting wood. Go on down if you like.”

      Suzanne kicked her horse in the flank. “Good seeing you. Remember, Saturday week, six o’clock.”

      As Lott watched Suzanne leave with her long black hair flowing behind her, he remembered a time when his brother returned after several days with the most beautiful Choctaw woman he had ever seen sitting behind him. Her eyes were almost as dark as her hair and her long bare legs took his breath away. In many ways, Suzanne reminded him of her. Enough of that, he thought.

      “She’s a pretty girl, ain’t she, Lott,” Mrs. Wilson said, looking over at her husband. “She reminds you of Hatta, don’t she?”

      Turning, he placed his arms around her. “Woman, you been living with me too long; you even read my mind.”

      “You loved her, didn’t you,” she whispered, watching Suzanne as she rode toward the barn.

      Lott squeezed her tightly. “She was my brother’s wife and I cared for her like a sister. Hatta was an unusual and attractive woman, but you stole my heart. Sarah, I loved you the minute I saw you and with the depths of my heart. Don’t you ever doubt my feelings.”

      She stretched up on her toes and gently kissed her husband. “I’ve never doubted your love for me, Lott.”

      Down at the barn, Suzanne dismounted and tied her horse, and eased around the side of the building.

      “Let the ax do the work, James,” John was saying. “It’ll kill your back if you don’t.”

      With a hard swing, James struck the piece of wood near its center splitting it in half. “How about that, John?”

      Stopping for a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow and looking at the large stack piled to the side, he exclaimed, “Don’t you think we’ve got enough for the rest of the winter?”

      John, sitting on the ground resting, replied, “You can tell you don’t know nothing about roughing it down here in the South. That pile might last a month if’n we’re lucky.”

      As James was placing another piece of wood on the splitting block, he noticed Suzanne gently easing up behind John. She motioned for him to be quiet. As she placed her hands over John’s eyes, he swirled around, pulling her down into his lap.

      “What do you think you’re doing?” she laughed.

      John began to chuckle. “Who do you think you’re fooling with? I heard you ride up and I’ve been watching you out of the corner of my eye as you attacked me.”

      “I was just having some fun. Let me up before I call your mother on you.”

      John held her tightly, “You sure you want me to let you go?”

      Pretending to be angry she replied, “I was just teasing you and what did you do? You just pulled me down like some common woman. Isn’t that right, James?”

      Amused, James went back to work. “When you two get through playing, we might get this job done.”

      Suzanne then pulled herself up and began brushing the grass from her riding skirt. “You didn’t see me Mister Smarty Pants. How’d you know I was there?”

      John, still sitting on the ground casually answered, “I’ve hunted all my life and I heard every step you took and I could smell your perfume.”

      Standing in front of him she sighed, “You didn’t say anything about my new riding outfit. Don’t you think it becomes me?”

      John sat there for a moment and then replied, “You got a new one every time I see you and they all look fine to me.”

      Disgusted, she turned to James, pulled back her shoulders displaying her full figure and asked, “Do I look fine to you, James?”

      James blushed and looked away. “Yes Ma’am, you look just fine. Just fine.”

      “Now Suzanne, leave James out of it,” John said. “You rode a far piece. What do you want?”

      “What do I want!” she said reaching down and pulling him to his feet. “That’s certainly not a gentleman’s response to a lady’s visit. You could have said, ‘I’m glad to see you or what a pleasant surprise to see you,’ but the only thing that crossed your mind was, ‘What do you want?’”

      John smiled. “You just startled me. I wasn’t expecting you, and you do look striking in that outfit.”

      Taking her by the hand, he said, “Come on. Let’s go down and see the horses.”

      Occasionally James could hear them laugh at something down at the corral, and before long they returned hand in hand.

      Realizing that it was getting late, Suzanne said, “John, remember, Saturday week. We have a surprise for you and we want your parents there too.”

      As she rode off she called back, “You better be there. I’ll make it worth your while.”

      “Ain’t promising you!”

      Watching in wonder, James muttered, “What was that all about?”

      John, reaching for his coat, replied, “Some kind of a danged dinner they say they’re planning. A surprise. They even want Mama and Papa there. That’ll be the day when Mister Lott Wilson sets foot on Olliver property. You’ve heard of hell freezing over, ain’t ya? Get your coat, we’re calling it a day.”

      Walking back toward the house James said, “John, that woman’s got her eye on you. When you had her on the ground, I think you could have done anything you wanted to her, and I’ll tell you something else, when she was standing there with those shoulders back, some wayward thoughts went through my mind. Not many men could keep turning her down like you do.”

      John smiled, reached over and placed his arm on James’ shoulder. “I hope my sister don’t hear you talking like that. You might be sleeping out on the porch with

Скачать книгу