скачать книгу бесплатно
“Sweet and Spicy, wasn’t it? Oh, your daddy was furious because we couldn’t have fresh mint juleps for your brother’s wedding reception.”
Silver stared across the yard, thinking about the gelding they’d sold many years before. Her pleasant nostalgic feeling passed when she saw Darcy emerging from the stables. Her stomach clenched. She could use a bit of mint, or something stronger, right about now, she thought, as she watched him stride across the gravel drive. The man had a way of moving that was almost poetic. Silver waved her hand, vaguely indicating his direction as she glanced at her mother. “I, uh, invited him to dinner tonight like you said.”
“What?” Her mother leaned forward a bit, peering toward the stables. “Oh, Mr. Darcy, you mean?”
“Darcy. He wants to be called Darcy.” Silver could feel the heat flood her face as her mother sent her a curious glance. “That’s what he told me.”
“Darcy’s a nice name.”
Silver shrugged, pretending a nonchalance that she was sure her mother would poke holes through in a minute. “It’s okay, I suppose.” She didn’t dare look up, concentrating instead on the beans, as if her life depended on breaking each one cleanly.
“My, my, my…”
Her mother’s comment recaptured her attention.
“That young man sure has a behind to die for.”
Shocked, Silver whipped her head around to stare at the older woman. “Mama. You’re too old to be looking at his behind.”
“Now look here, Miss Saucy Mouth. I may be a bit older, but I’m not dead, and I believe in saying what’s on my mind.”
“Since when? You always come at a subject round about, so you can take people by surprise.”
“Well, that’s true, but I’m thinking of changing my approach. I’ve decided that your father has been getting his own way for too many years. He’s becoming a bit difficult lately.”
“You won’t get an argument from me, Mama.” Silver glanced over, but her mother still had her attention focused on Darcy, who was now climbing into his pickup truck.
“I didn’t get to meet this Darcy before Harden hired him. But now that I look at him, I can say your father does have an eye for talent. I wonder if he’s as good in the ‘saddle’ as he looks?”
“Mama, for God’s sake, what’s gotten into you?” Just thinking about her mother referring to Darcy and mentioning sex made Silver squeamish. Next thing she knew, she’d start thinking about her parents in bed together, which might give her nightmares for the rest of her life.
Her mother wagged her finger vigorously. “Don’t pretend to be prudish, Silver. If you can’t look at that young man and see a work of art, then I’m very worried about you.”
“Well, of course I can—”
“Besides, we live on a farm, honey lamb. No one understands sex better than someone who lives on a farm.”
Silver arched her brows. “Our own little sex education clinic, you mean?”
“Absolutely. You not only learn about the passion to recreate, but you learn the value of good breeding, too.”
“Oh please.” Silver tried to change the subject. “This isn’t your subtle way of yammering at me about marrying John Tom Thomas after all, is it? Because this conversation is along the same lines as Daddy used a few days ago.” She cleared her throat. “The breeding part, I mean.”
“Of course not. I do not yammer,” her mother huffed. “But now that I think about it, I don’t really understand what you’ve got against the man. He’s certainly got the right stuff. And if I remember clearly, you had a crush on him all the way through high school.”
“That was high school. Right now he just seems so…so tame.” An image of Darcy flashed into her mind.
“Tame?”
“Proper. Broke to saddle, to use John Tom’s own riding metaphors.”
Fixing a penetrating gaze on her, Aggie smiled. “You want a wild stallion, do you? Like that black monster you’re trying to train right now?”
Silver flushed. “I don’t know what I want. I’m all mixed up.” But she did know what she wanted—a man who could take her breath away, a man with an element of danger instead of the ingredients of soft white bread. A man she hadn’t known since she was in braces.
“Hmm.” Her mother gave her a wise look and a hug. “Don’t fret, honey. I’m sure something will happen to help you figure it out. It always does. And when it does, just go with what feels right.”
Silver leaned her head on her mother’s shoulder for a moment. “Maybe I’m being silly, Mama.”
“Maybe.”
“I mean, John Tom is handsome, friendly, has good manners….”
“That’s true. But on the other hand, Silver, that description could fit any number of males, including our dog.”
Silver chuckled at her mother’s dry expression, but said nothing for a moment. She didn’t want to marry John Tom. She didn’t want to marry anyone. Not yet. The man who could make her change her mind was somewhere out there, she supposed. Perhaps even closer than you think, a small voice whispered. But marriage wasn’t her focus at the moment. Braybourne Farm was.
“Your daddy and I just want to see you happy, Silver. We’re not getting any younger, you know. But that doesn’t mean we want you to rush into something that wouldn’t be right for you.”
“I know, Mama.” She turned to face her mother. “I can’t promise I’ll choose the right person—when I finally choose, that is—but I’ll try not to disappoint either of you.”
Her mother stroked her cheek. “Honey, you’re missing the point. Try not to disappoint yourself.” Aggie patted Silver’s hand, then stood up and took the saucepan from her. “I need to see to the chicken,” she said, headed toward the door. “You did tell your Darcy that supper’s at seven?”
“He’s not my Darcy, Mama.”
Her mother grinned. “Just a figure of speech, honey lamb. But it sure is something to dream about, isn’t it?” She hesitated for a moment before opening the screen door. “You remember what I said now.”
Try not to disappoint myself.
Silver looked toward the stables. Easier said than done. Her life had changed since she’d left the house earlier that day. She bit her lip. She couldn’t decide if it was changing for the better or the worse.
3
REMEMBER YOU’RE Rick Darcy. Nobody important, just everyday, ordinary Rick Darcy. So don’t forget and do something dumb. With that thought planted firmly in his mind, Darcy took a deep breath and knocked on the screen door of the Braybourne home at exactly 6:55 p.m.
It would be so easy to slip, as he had earlier with Tater. Then he’d either be out on his ear, or treated with the same wary deference most people used when they knew his background. All of a sudden it was vital that he remain here. It didn’t really have a damn thing to do with Silver Braybourne, nothing at all. He didn’t want to examine that possibility too closely, though.
“Well, hello. You must be Darcy.” From inside the dim hallway, a soft feminine drawl got his attention. A moment later the door was pushed open by a warmly smiling woman. “Welcome. I’m so glad to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you already.”
“Uh-oh, that could be good or bad depending on who was doing the telling.”
“Not at all. I’m Agatha Braybourne, by the way. Most people call me Aggie. It’s not such a mouthful.”
Caught by her tangible Southern charm, Darcy smiled back. He took the small nosegay of flowers he’d been holding behind his back and presented them to her. “Delighted, ma’am.”
Aggie accepted the bright blooms, and her smile expanded as she stepped back to let him into the house. “Isn’t this lovely of you. Will you just look at what this young man has brought me, Silver?”
Darcy watched as Silver strolled up the hallway. She looked different now, more casual, her suit, heels and pearls replaced by sage-green slacks and a sleeveless cotton sweater. She still looked cool and delicious to Darcy’s hungry eyes. “Hello, again,” he murmured.
Her eyes glinted as she glanced from the nosegay in her mother’s hand to him. “Flowers?”
“It was nice of him to think of me, don’t you agree, Silver?”
“Very nice, Mama.”
“Why don’t you show Darcy into the dining room? I’ll put these in water, then round up your father and we’ll be ready to eat.” Aggie bustled away, pausing at the kitchen door to say, “I hope you like Southern fried chicken, Darcy.”
“I love it.”
“Those flowers seem a bit familiar.”
Darcy slipped Silver a sideways glance. “How so?”
“They remind me of the ones growing in the flower patch alongside the stables.”
Darcy grinned. “Really? Fancy that.”
“What an unbelievably cheesy thing to do—pick flowers just so you could charm your way into my mother’s good graces.”
“Surely you’re underestimating your mother. I think it would take more than a few flowers.”
Silver glared at him. “Just so you remember that.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And don’t call me ma’am.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Of all the annoying…” Silver turned on her heel, still muttering under her breath as she led the way through a wide archway off to the left. “Come on, dinner’s on the table.”
Darcy grinned and followed Silver into a spacious airy room with large windows that overlooked a beautiful backyard garden. He was surprised to see a number of pricey antiques, from the cherry table and chairs to the sideboard covered with old silver. Whatever money problems the Braybournes might have at the moment, clearly that hadn’t always been the case.
Harden entered just then and sat at the head of the table, his posture as erect and proud as Darcy’s own father’s would be in the same situation. His wife took a seat at the other end, directly across from him. The familiarity of the scene gave Darcy a shock for a moment. He nodded in Harden’s direction. “Sir.”
Harden inclined his head and waved his hand toward a chair. “Sit down there, boy. Sit down.”
Darcy waited and held a chair for Silver, then took his own. He gave the laden table an appreciative glance. “This looks delicious.”
“I’m glad,” Aggie said. “Harden, you’ll say grace, won’t you?” After the brief blessing, obviously not one of Harden’s talents, Aggie smiled and picked up a platter of fried chicken and passed it to Darcy. “Now we won’t stand on ceremony. You just dig in and help yourself.”
The next forty-five minutes were spent in light conversation as they passed chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, homemade jams and biscuits around the table. Darcy couldn’t remember when a meal had tasted so good. Finally, the table was cleared, and Aggie brought in a cream pie topped with curls of chocolate. Silver followed with an antique silver coffeepot. To Darcy’s great appreciation, Aggie placed a huge slice of the pie in front of him, while Silver poured a cup of strong, rich coffee into his china cup.
Darcy gave the dessert an appreciative look before sliding his fork through the mound of whipped cream and into the dark chocolate pudding beneath. After tasting a bite, he nearly rolled his eyes with pleasure. “Damn—Excuse me, this is delicious, Mrs. Braybourne.”
“Aggie.”
“Aggie.”
“Well, I wish I could accept the compliment, Darcy, but I didn’t make it. Silver did. It’s her special recipe.”
“A special recipe?”
“I call it Braybourne Bourbon Pie.”
Darcy licked his lips. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted. And I’ve tasted the—” He caught himself before he told her about the various chefs who’d worked for him over the years. “I mean, it’s absolutely delicious.”
“Why do you look so surprised?” Silver demanded. “I’ll have you know that I’m an excellent cook.”
“Yes,” Harden said, with a proud smile. “My Silver will make some man a very good wife.”
“Daddy…” Silver said warningly.
“And I know just the man.”
“Daddy, please don’t—”
“He’s itching like a racehorse at the gate.”
“Harden.” Aggie’s smooth voice broke in. “Stop teasing Silver in front of Darcy.”
“I wasn’t teasing,” Harden blustered.
Silver was unable to hold back any longer. “Well, you should have been.”
Darcy cleared his throat and changed the subject. “I’ve been admiring your garden, Aggie. My mother would be so envious she’d be asking for cuttings.”
Aggie beamed at the compliment. “You know, Darcy, I’ve been working on that garden out there ever since I came here as a bride.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Silver, why don’t you take Darcy outside and show it off for me.”
“What? No.” She shook her head and her mother looked surprised. “I’d rather not.”
“Sylvia,” Harden boomed, “don’t speak back to your mother like that.”
“Excuse me, Mama,” Silver said automatically. Then she set her jaw, sending her father a lightning-bolt stare. “Really, Daddy, there’s no need to—”
Aggie started to interrupt, but Darcy stood up instead and got everyone’s attention. He was anxious to escape an uncomfortable situation—and afraid he’d accidentally stick his foot in his mouth again. It had been hard enough watching every word as it was. “I’d really like to see the flowers, Silver, if you wouldn’t mind. Maybe walk off your pie a bit before I turn in.”
Silver hesitated for a moment, then pushed her chair back and rose to her feet. “If you’d like.” Darcy fought back a grin. The resignation in her voice would have done justice to an aristocrat on the way to the guillotine. He followed her through the archway and into the hall, admiring her fluid stride as she led the way out of the house, onto the front porch and around to the side garden.
Silver stopped, waving her arm. “This is the garden.”
Darcy chuckled. “So I see.”
Dusk was falling, and the garden glowed with serenity as it waited for night. All around were the sounds of chirping crickets and the low guttural cry of frogs in the nearby ponds. Darcy could feel the peace seeping into him. It was the same sense he remembered as a child strolling with his grandfather over the fields and through the woods of Virginia. He really missed his grandfather.
