Author's Note: I'm thinking of starting this story up again. Is there interest in this? Please let me know. I have a pretty good story line in mind, but your interest in reading will be the deciding factor.
London Texas Style
Chapter 1
Susan Temple pulled the last sun-warmed sheet from the clothesline, folded it loosely and dropped it into her laundry basket. She drew in a contented breath and looked around. She loved living in her father's home on the Double Bar S Ranch. Her work made the house a proper home and was truly appreciated by both her father and her son. The things she did around the house suited her much better than bringing in a paycheck. She loved decorating, cooking and most of all, growing things. She looked around again, and took pride in what she had created. She was in the part of the backyard that she loved the best, her sanctuary. Surrounded by the kitchen garden she had planted, she felt a deep sense of satisfaction. It was bursting with tomatoes, carrots, strawberries, bell peppers, string beans and herbs. The bountiful garden would need to be harvested and stored for winter very soon. That too would give her pleasure.
It was almost October, although you would never know it by looking at the honeysuckle and night blooming jasmine that covered the garden fence. The richly perfumed roses also ignored the fact that it was autumn as they bloomed profusely along the path to the patio.
She walked into the more public areas of the yard where her father liked to hold bar-b-ques for their friends and surveyed the rest of the yard. Her eyes rested on the swimming pool with its shaded seating area and fabric-covered cabana. It was set further away from the house, and its secluded peace beckoned to her. She looked longingly at the sun-warmed water of the pool but decided it would have to wait for another day. Sunday night dinner wouldn't cook itself and she wanted to make roast chicken for Connor and Abby.
She hurried toward the kitchen, but turned when she heard the distant whinny of a horse. Far away on the rise of the land, she could see Connor riding Harrison with Abby following behind on her new mare, Calista. Susan smiled happily as she watched the girl send her horse flying ahead. Connor urged Harrison to pursue her a split second later. Joy filled her heart as she listened to the sounds of laughter from the pair as they raced across the countryside. She shook her head as the girl jumped her horse over a small fallen tree trunk.
Abby was getting to be a first class horse woman, so it amused Susan greatly that the girl still often chose to ride on Harrison's broad back, settled behind Connor with her arms wrapped securely around his waist.
It was good to have her here. It was obvious that both young people were head over heels in love. Susan had never seen her son so happy. She turned and walked into the house as her thoughts became anxious. The last few months had gone by so fast. Surely Abby would need to go back to London soon. What would happen then? Would her son end up with a broken heart? Would Abby try to get him to move to the U.K.?
Susan feared what might happen because of her own experience. When she fell in love and married a Londoner, there had been no happy ending. With no way to resolve the differences with her husband, her marriage had dissolved. She had come home with a heavy heart and a confused little boy. She felt blessed that she had a loving father to help her raise her son and Connor had turned into a wonderful man.
Still the divorce had been very painful and she sincerely hoped that Connor wouldn't end up in a similar situation. She pushed the worry out of her mind and started dinner.