Cynthia frowned. “You have other sisters andbrothers?”
Claudette nodded. “A brother in Maine and asister in Washington DC.”
The diversion didn’t last long. Claudettebrushed some lint from the bodice of her dress. “Like I said,Russie’s mother was always strange, but after Dad died, she reallybecame eccentric. Locked herself in her room for days working onlayette sets for the grand children Russie would never provide. Iactually felt a little sorry for her. It was so pathetic. Anywayshe finally got so lonely and depressed that she locked herself inher room one day and shot herself. Russie came home that night andfound her.”
The mental picture of Cade finding his motherthat way made Cynthia’s stomach lurch uncomfortably. So that waswhy Cade felt responsible for his mothers’ death. How sad. Shethought of the layette sets in the chest. Obviously Cade’s motherdidn’t subscribe to the gay story - or was that what finally droveher over the edge? Yet Cade had kept the baby clothes - and thefurniture.
Claudette shook her head. “That’s when Russiegot the ranch.” She made a face. “Now he’s as strange as his motherwas. Hanging on to this place and working it like a cowboy. I don’tknow why he doesn’t he get the proper equipment and run it like amodern ranch. I swear, sometimes I think he’s completely againstprogress.”
Cynthia began slicing the potatoes in thepot. “I think this place is beautiful, and apparently the ranch ispaying for itself. At any rate, Mr. Cade seems to be happy with hislifestyle. Who are we to suggest that it’s wrong?”
“He’s such a hermit. Everyone laughs behindhis back. It’s so embarrassing. Every year I come out here and tryto convince him to get with the times, but it’s to no avail. Iguess he enjoys the privacy of isolation. That way he can do whathe wants and who’s to know? He doesn’t date. Would you believe hecovers up with the excuse that he’s saving himself for one specialgirl?” She laughed in a single expulsion of air. “I mean, he’s atwenty eight year old man, for heavens’ sake. If he hasn’t beenwith a woman, it’s probably because he’s had other ways of ...” Shelet her voice trail of suggestively and shrugged again.
Cynthia ran water in the pot. “Why is itvirtuous for a woman to practice chastity, and ludicrous for a man?I share his philosophy and no one has accused me of...enjoying thesame sex.”
Claudette digested the response reflectivelyand finally lifted her shoulders in a graceful shrug again.
“You defend him because you work for him andyou’re a loyal employee, but I’ll bet you’ve wondered why he’s sounresponsive.”
Cynthia didn’t answer. It was a loadedstatement. If she said he was responsive, Claudette would assumesomething was going on. If she confirmed that Cade was unresponsiveshe would be as much as endorsing an ugly rumor. Because Cade wasso reclusive and entertained controversial ideas, he was a targetfor that kind of gossip. But it didn’t fit the man she had come toknow, and she wasn’t about to believe it simply because he hadn’tmade a pass at her yet. She’d like to give Claudette a piece of hermind, but that would be unprofessional. It was Cade’s house andsister. As the hired help, she was supposed to be supportive ofCade without upsetting Claudette.
Claudette dropped the subject and Cynthiathought it would never be brought up again. She was wrong - asusual. The very next day she was straining over the counter toreach behind the stove when Cade came into the kitchen.
“What are you doing?”
She lifted her head. “I dropped the saltshaker behind the stove.”
“Here, let me pull out the stove.”
She slid off the counter and straightened tooquickly. The blood drained from her head, leaving her dizzy anddisoriented. She lifted a hand to her head and her knees started tobuckle. Instantly a strong arm gripped her around the waist.
“Are you all right?”
She staggered on legs of rubber and he liftedher to the counter, sitting her in front of him.
“Put your head down.” He grabbed the toweland turned the cold water on. Lifting the hair off the back of herneck, he applied the cool towel. “Better?”
“I feel stupid,” she answered through herhands.
Finally he removed the towel and shestraightened cautiously. “I think I’m all right now.”
He helped her down, his hands lingering onher waist as he gazed down at her. “Are you sure you’re all right.I think you’ve been working too hard lately.”
She laughed nervously, acutely aware of thewarmth of his hands through her cotton dress.
“Don’t be silly. I was simply hanging upsidedown too long.”
Her heart was pounding hard and warmthinvaded her neck. The way he was looking at her - was he going tokiss her?
Unsure what to do with her hands, she restedthem on his arms. Through his shirt sleeves she could feel theswell of his biceps and her heart jumped into high gear. A wave ofwarmth rushed up her neck and broke over her cheeks.
Her blush brought a shy smile to his lips.“You know, Cindy, we could...”
But he got no farther. Claudette spokesarcastically from the kitchen doorway.
“Well, well - isn’t this cozy.”
Cynthia fairly leaped away from Cade, herface flaming.
“It isn’t what you think. I...”
“Oh, I believe you,” Claudette interruptedflippantly. “Now if you been a male...”
Cade looked as if he’d been slapped. Heglared at Claudette and swung around, jerking the range from itscove.
“You can get that salt shaker now,Cynthia.”
She moved past him and gingerly felt behindthe stove until her fingers closed around the shaker.
“I’ve got it.” She pulled the shaker out andglanced up at Cade.
His face was pale and drawn as he shoved therange back into place. His jaw muscles worked as he spun on oneheel and marched to the outside door, slamming it as he left.
Cynthia turned on Claudette. “That was a meanthing to say. Don’t you care that you hurt his feelings?”
Claudette laughed. “Russie? He doesn’t haveany feelings. Haven’t you learned that yet?”
Claudette had gone one step too far. Cynthiaslammed the shaker on
