Leonardo (Romancing the Weavers #5) - Kit Morgan Page 0,14
were alone.
They reached their rooms, said goodnight to her parents, then went inside and got ready for bed.
“Why do you suppose Leo didn’t ask you to dance?” Parthena asked. Her cousin’s silence was gnawing at her.
“Would you if you were in the same position?”
“No, probably not.”
“There you have it. You played beautifully, by the way.”
Parthena smiled. “Thank you.” She picked at a loose thread on her night dress. She’d have to fix that. “He didn’t say much on the ride home.”
“How could he with Uncle Colin and Aunt Belle right there?”
“Mother and Father wouldn’t have minded if you conversed. There’s no law that says you can’t talk to the man if a guardian is present.”
“Maybe I didn’t want to.”
Parthena sat on her bed. “Why not?”
“If he doesn’t have the gumption to talk to me, why should I speak with him?”
“Because it’s polite?”
Savannah rolled her eyes. “Land sakes, Parthena, we didn’t speak to each other. So what?” She went to her own bed and pulled back the covers. “Besides, we have ten days to see if we suit. Though for all we know, he’s already made up his mind I won’t do.”
Parthena stood. “What? Why would he think that?”
Savannah shrugged. “Who knows?” She laid back, laced her fingers over her belly and stared at the ceiling. “I want what Mother had with Father.”
“You want to be rescued?”
Savannah turned on her side and propped her head on her hand. “I want the adventure. I want to be swept away by a man. Carried off on a fast horse would be nice.”
“Like Honoria, then?” Parthena said, trying to clarify. Just what was she talking about?
Savannah sighed and lay down again. “I don’t … well, I don’t want to be bored.”
“You? Boring?”
“Not me, silly. I don’t want to be with someone else who is.”
Parthena crawled into bed. “Do you think Leo’s boring?”
“I don’t know. None of us knows him well yet. What if he is?”
Parthena turned over to look at her. “Then he’s not the man for you, that’s all.”
“But what if I can’t find someone?”
Parthena made a face. “Are you saying you think the men in Clear Creek are boring?”
“Not … exactly. I just know what I want. And none of them are it”
Parthena turned over, putting her back to her cousin. “They’re not all bores, Savannah.”
A long sigh from the other bed. “I suppose not. But I also know there’s nothing more to discover in Clear Creek.”
Parthena stared at the wall and thought about that. She wasn’t verbal at times – a natural reaction to being around Savannah, who talked most of the time. Maybe she didn’t know the young men she’d grown up with as well as she should. There was always something to discover in a person. And people did change over time. Could it be Savannah had already scratched Leo off her list of prospects before even giving him a chance?
She was too tired to think about it, and frankly didn’t want to. If that were so, her cousin had better let Leo know she wasn’t interested or this would be a very awkward visit.
The ride to Gunderson’s Stage Stop was uneventful. They broke for lunch there and let the horses rest. Father and Leo sat on the wagon seat when they headed out again, Daniel in the wagon bed with the rest of them. “Hey, Savannah, ya wanna go fishin’ while yer here?”
Savannah’s face lit up. “Sure!”
Mother watched her, smiled, then shook her head.
“What’s the matter?” Daniel asked.
“My niece does love to fish. Not a usual pastime for a lady.”
“I hunt,” Parthena grinned at Daniel. “Is there much to hunt around your place?”
Daniel stared at her, glanced at Leo and back, then smiled. “Some. This time of year there’s plenty of birds and rabbits. Ever hunt rabbits before?”
“Yes, lots of times.”
“Good – we’ll get a huntin’ party together and try our luck.” Daniel glanced at the wagon seat again. “Maybe yer pa’d like to come along – what do ya say, Mrs. Cooke?”
“I’m sure Colin would enjoy an outing,” Mother said. “Do any of the women on the farm hunt?”
“Sometimes. Mel’s gone bird huntin’ with us before, and Arturo’s wife Rayne’s a pretty good shot. Gabby won’t, though – she cain’t handle an animal sufferin’.”
“Does Leo hunt?” Parthena asked.
“Sure, all the men do.”
She glanced at Savannah and back. “He should take my cousin out. I bet she could bag something.”
Daniel laughed. “I must say, Mrs. Cooke, but do all the women in yer family hunt?”
“Not all. My eldest