Chapter 9

Mark was very reserved for the next few days and I found myself watching him for no reason at all. I kept telling myself, he was Mark. Just my guardian. But something was different. Something...I couldn't quite figure out.

"Mark, are you angry at me?" I asked him one evening as he started
upstairs to get ready for a date.

"What make you think that, Jaime?" he asked.

I shrugged, and forced a smile. "You seem...distant."

"I've got a lot on my mind, darlin'," he said quietly.

"The strike?" I guessed.

"That and a few other headaches," he said. "If you're through asking
insane questions, I am on my way out."

"Sorry. Heaven forbid that I should keep you from the fields." I grumbled back.

"Fields?"

"Where you sow your wild oats of course," I said with what felt like
great sophistication as I turned to go back to the living room where
Glen and Brenda were talking.

He laughed at me, "Your slips showing."

"Where?" I asked, reaching down.

He went on up the stairs with a low laugh and I just glared at him.

Later, I watching him come downstairs, dressed in a pair of dark slacks
with a white silk shirt, open at the neck and a jacket that gave him a
great look. What woman was he taking out, I wondered, and would she
know how to appreciate all that dark, vibrant masculinity? Just the
sight of him was enough to make my pulse race, and involuntarily I
thought back to the night of my homecoming party and the strange look in Mark's eyes when he started to kiss me and didn't. That hesitation had puzzled me since, although I tried not to think about it too much. Mark would be frighteningly dangerous in any respect other than that of a cherished adopted brother.

Chapter 10

Jen came over early the next morning to go riding with me. She was
wearing a blue sweater, very tight, that was the same color as her eyes.

She brushed by me with a sigh, her eyes on everything as she searched for Mark.

"He's gone out," I said with an amused smile.

Jen looked very disappointed. "Oh. I just thought he might be going
with us."

I didn't bother to mention that Mark was doing everything except joining a ministry to avoid me. That would lead to questions I didn't want to answer.

"Well, there she is, the golden girl," Glenn said from the staircase.
"You luscious creature, you."

Jen laughed. "Oh, Glenn, you're such a tease. Come riding with us and
let me prove that I can still beat the socks off you."

"No girl exposes my naked ankles. You're on!"

I led the way out the door. "It's a bit nippy out here."

"Nice and cool." Glenn said. "Strange how Mark's run out of time to
ride. He's literally worked every minute he's been home. And with the
McMahon's arriving Saturday, he's going to be lucky if he can manage time to pick them up at the airport."

"Fighting again?" Jen asked, giving me an evil look.

I lifted my head and watched the path in front of me as we took the
shortcut to the barn. The center of which was a white gazebo. I had
always thought it a wildly romantic setting, and my imagination ran riot every time I saw it.

"Mark and I are getting along just fine." I said.

"They never see each other." Glenn said.

"We do. Remember the other night when Mark was going out on that date?" I asked.

Jen glanced at Glenn. "Who's he after now?"

"Who knows? I think it's the little blonde he's got in the office. His
new secretary, if office gossip can be believed. But I hear she can't
spell cat."

"Mark likes blondes, all right." I laughed in amusement which I was far
from feeling.

"Here's one he sure avoids," Jen groaned. "What's wrong with me?"

Glenn threw an arm across her shoulders. "You age, my dear. Mark likes
his women mature, sophisticated, and thoroughly immoral. That leaves
you out of the running."

Jen sighed. "I always have been."

"Mark used to pick us up after cheerleading practice, remember," I
said, eyeing the gazebo lovingly as we passed it. "He still thinks of
us chewing bubble gum and giggling."

"I hate bubble gum." Jen pouted.

"So do I." Glenn added. "It leaves a bad...well, hello." Glenn broke off, grinning at Mark.

Mark stopped in out path, dressed in a gray business suit, with a white
silk shirt. He looked every inch polished and dignified.

"Good morning," Mark said. He smiled at Jen. "How's your mother?"

"Just fine, Mark, " Jen sighed, going close enough to Mark to touch his
arm. "Don't you have time to go riding with us?"

"I wish I did, little one." he told her. "But I'm already late for a
conference."

I turned away and started to the barn. "'I'm going ahead. Last one in
the saddle's a rotten egg."

I almost ran the rest of the way to the barn shocked at my own behavior. I felt strange. Sick. Hurt. Empty. The sight of Jen clinging to Mark's arm had set off a rage within me. I'd wanted to slap her friend for just touching him. I didn't understand myself at all.

I went into the tack room and started getting together the stuff. I
barely noticed when the horse was saddled and ready to mount. He
pranced nervously as if he sensed my uneasy mood.

Jen joined me as I was leading Sundance out into the morning.

"Where's Glenn?" I asked, trying to keep the edge out of my voice.

"Mark drug him off to the office for some kind of council of war.
That's what it sounded like. Mark seemed very angry with him. Almost
as if he didn't like the idea of Glenn going riding with me. Jaime, do
you suppose he's jealous?" Jen asked, smiling.

"It wouldn't surprise me a bit." I lied, remembering Mark's comments
about my friend. But I couldn't help wondering if he meant it. Why in
the world didn't he want Glenn to ride with us?

Why did Mark drag Glen off at this hour of the morning unless...I
didn't want to think about it. If Jen was right, I didn't want to know.

"Get saddled and let's go!" I yelled.

"Why did you run off back there?" Jen asked before she went on to the
stable to saddle her horse.

"Do hurry." I said ignoring her question. "Brenda wants me to help her
plan some menus for the McMahon's visit."

Jen hurriedly saddled her horse. We rode in silence. I gazed at the beautiful green hills and colors.

"Isn't it great?" I asked. "This must be the most beautiful state in
the country."

"You only say that because you're from here." Jen teased.

"It's true." I replied. "Most of these plantations have been here since
before the Civil War."

"I'm afraid I don't share your passion Jaime." Jen said. "I know
nothing at all about this state. Besides I forget what year they fought
the War of 1812."

I smiled at my friend, and all the resentment drained out of me. Jen
couldn't help the way she felt about Mark. It wasn't her fault he was
so wickedly attractive. So super sexy. So….I kicked myself for even thinking these things.

"Let's ride down through the woods. I love the smell of the river, don't you?" I asked her, trying to think about the outdoors and the woods instead of Mark.

"Yes. I'm with you." Jen replied, without thinking.

Mark was home for dinner, an accurance rare enough to cause comment.

"Run out of girls?" Glen teased.

"Glenn!" Brenda yelled.

Mark raised an eyebrow at his brother. His shirt was open at the neck,
and he looked vibrant and rested and dangerously attractive to me. I
was doing my best to keep my eyes away from him.

"You had more than your share this morning." Mark remarked.

"Was that why you dug me off to the office before I could enjoy it?" Glen said, through gritted teeth.

"I need your support." Mark replied, joy dancing in his green eyes.

"Sure." Glen huffed.

I gave Brenda an amused glance.

"You should have had daughters." I commented.

"I'm not sure. It's very hard to picture Mark in spiked heels and a
dress." Brenda laughed.

I choked on my mashed potatoes, and Glen had to lean over and thump me
on the back.

"I'm glad Jaime finds something amusing." Mark said in his cold tone that I hated so much. "She wasn't in the best of humors this morning."

I swallowed a sip of soda and glared at Mark across the table. "I don't
remember saying anything to you at all, Mark."

"No, you were too busy running off to offer a civil greeting."

He lifted his coffee cup to his lips, but his eyes never left my face.
Something dark and hard in them unnerved me.

"Push a little harder honey," he challenged.

"I'm not afraid of you." I said, pounding a fist on the table.

His eyes narrowed. "I could teach you to be."

"Now, children." Brenda began. "This is dinner remember?"

Glen sighed. "It's never stopped them before."

I crumpled my napkin and laid it beside my plate before getting to my
feet. "I think I'll play the piano for a while, if no one minds."

"Not for too long, you'll keep Mark awake." Brenda said. "Remember, he
has to get up at five in the morning to drive to the airport."

"Of course. Our elders must have their beauty sleep." I said, grinning.

"By heaven, you're asking for it," Mark said in a voice that sent chills up my spine.

"Go, girl!" Glen said pushing me in the direction of the living room.
He closed the door behind me. "Whew!" he breathed, and his eyes laughed
at me. "Don't push your luck, sweet. He's been impossible to get along
with for days now, and this morning he made a barracuda look tame."

"Doesn't he always?" I asked, thinking of all the fights Mark and I had been having.

"Yes. But if you had his secretary, it might give you ulcers too."

I glanced at him as I went to the piano. "If he wants secretary's who
decorate instead of type, that's his business. Just hush, will you? I'm
sick of hearing about Mark!"

I banged away on the piano while Glen stared at me.