'When did you wake up?' she asked, trying to sound only mildly curious. She was in a panic, wondering how much of the conversation he'd overheard. Dear Lord, what if he hadn't been asleep at all? What if he'd only been resting? Did he know she'd kissed him?
'Just now,' he lied. 'Why?'
She was blushing. Harrison wanted to laugh but he didn't because he knew she'd become even more embarrassed. He rolled off the bed and stood up. His bare feet were cold against the wooden floor. He was standing entirely too close to her, knew he should move, but couldn't seem to make himself.
'I wondered if you heard Cole,' she stammered out. 'He came inside to check on you.'
'Thank you for worrying about me.'
She looked startled again. 'Why do you think I'm worrying about you?'
'The liniment,' he replied.
She relaxed. She turned toward him. ' Harrison?'
'Yes?'
'I was telling Cole I'm going to make a very special supper Sunday. I'm cooking everything myself. You'll be sure and be here, won't you? I'm going to an awful lot of trouble. I might even invite Dooley, Henry, Billie, and Ghost.'
He was trying hard not to laugh. 'That sounds nice.'
She smiled. 'Would you like to meet my friend one day? I think she'll like you.'
'Crazy Corrie?' He was immediately intrigued.
'Please don't call her crazy,' Mary Rose asked. 'She isn't, you know. She's shy, and cautious. Wouldn't you be if you'd been attacked by Indians?'
'Yes,' he agreed. 'Did she talk to you?'
'No, but she's getting ready to,' she answered. 'I could tell.'
'If she didn't talk to you, how could you tell she was going to? Did she smile at you or…'
'Oh, I didn't see her. She wouldn't let me.'
'Then how could you possibly know she's not crazy?'
'She didn't shoot me.'
He closed his eyes and counted to ten before he started questioning her again.
'Tell me exactly what happened. Did you knock on the door? Did you go inside?'
'I never got near the door. I didn't even get as far as the porch. She really is very shy, Harrison.'
'How close to the cabin did you get?'
'I made it as far as the clearing in front,' she answered. 'She shot the ground in front of my feet. She deliberately missed me. She was letting me know she didn't want me to come any closer.'
'Then what did you do?'
'I told her who I was and that I had only just found out about her. I also mentioned how difficult it had been finding the cabin. It's hidden, you know. Anyway, then I visited with her. I told her about my family. I had to shout every word, of course, so she could hear me, and when I knew my voice was going to give out, I told her about the basket I had for her. There were jars of jellies and baked bread, and cookies too. I asked her if I could please leave it for her. I made certain she didn't misunderstand my motives. I wasn't offering charity, just friendship. Every woman has a little bit of pride. I didn't want to offend her. I believe she understood. She let me walk a few feet closer. I didn't try for more. I left the basket and told her I'd come back tomorrow with another basket full of welcoming gifts. I also asked her to please leave the empty basket in the clearing so I could take it back home.'
'Do you plan to go there every day?'
'No, I couldn't do that. There wouldn't be enough time for anything else, and I have so much to do around here. Once Corrie starts talking to me, and we've gotten to know one another, then I'll probably go just once a week for a nice long visit. I believe we'll become good friends. You haven't told me yes or no yet.'
'About having dinner on Sunday?'
She nodded. 'If you're going to go to the trouble to cook a special meal of course I'll be here.' He paused. 'Adam was angry you left without telling anyone where you were going, wasn't he?'
'He wasn't angry. He was disappointed.' She let out a sigh. 'That's far worse. If he yelled at me, I wouldn't have felt as guilty.'
'Are you going to tell him about your plans for tomorrow?'
'We already discussed it. I have his approval. Understand, Harrison. He doesn't want me to ask his permission to do anything. He realizes I'm capable of making my own decisions. He just wants me to be cautious. I promised never to go there alone. You're going to catch a cold,' she added. 'You should put a shirt on. Good night.'
She turned to leave. He wanted her to stay a little longer. He grabbed hold of her arm and said, 'Wait.'
She turned back to him. 'Yes?'
'I've never met anyone like you.'
God, he couldn't believe he'd said that. He felt like a simpleton. 'You're very kind,' he said.
Mary Rose remembered all the terrible things she'd said to Cole about Catherine Morrison just a few minutes before and couldn't in good conscience go along with Harrison 's misconception.
'No, I'm not kind,' she admitted. 'I try to be, but sometimes I turn into a shrew. I can even be cruel.'
Harrison didn't let go of her arm. He started to pull her closer to him. He knew he had lost his mind, because for the first time in his life he couldn't and wouldn't let good sense prevail. He had already decided not to get personally involved with Mary Rose.
He was still going to kiss her.
'What are you doing?'
'Bringing you close to me.'
'Why?'
'I want to kiss you.'
She was astonished. 'Are you serious?'
'Yes.'
He'd drawled out the word, made it sound incredibly seductive. She almost sighed out loud, but stopped herself in time.
'Do you want me to kiss you?'
'That isn't the issue.' She paused. 'I don't understand,' she admitted then. 'You have barely spoken to me all week, or even looked my way… and now you want to kiss me? Harrison, I don't believe you're being very logical.'
She sounded stunned by her own conclusion. He laughed. 'I'm not being logical.'
'Why do you think you want to kiss me?'
She'd turned the tables on him. Now she was being the analytical one.
'I believe in fair play.'
She still didn't understand. He pulled her up tight against his chest, lowered his head, and kissed her forehead. Then he took hold of her hands and put them around his neck.
She didn't resist. She still looked thoroughly puzzled, but not at all uneasy. He hadn't put his arms around her yet, and wouldn't if she gave him any indication of fear or refusal.
'You kissed me,' he explained. 'Several times I recall. Now it's my turn, and that, Mary Rose, is what I call fair play.'
'Oh, God, you weren't sleeping, were you?'
She sounded mortified. She turned her gaze to his chest. Harrison nudged her chin back up with his hand. He kissed the side of her cheek, just the way she'd kissed him, then kissed her on the bridge of her nose.
She got over her embarrassment almost immediately. 'You must have enjoyed it,' she whispered.
'No, I didn't,' he told her.
'You didn't? Why not?'
'You were driving me crazy. You kiss like a girl.'
Her fingers began to toy with his hair. She was surprised by how silky it felt. She let out a little sigh and moved closer to him. She loved the feel of his skin against her. The heat, and strength, radiating from his body
