Free Rachel's Choice by Judith French Page B

schooling knew when lightning passed between her and a man.
    Pole-axed
, her grandmother had called it. There was a Lenape word for the sudden attraction between a male and female. It translated roughly as
struck down
, but Rachel couldn’t quite remember it. The meaning was plain enough.
    She tried to ignore the warm flush of pleasure that radiated through her as she remembered that slow appraisal Chance had given her.
    He was a very attractive man, and no doubt he was accustomed to having the ladies at his beck and call. But she wasn’t fool enough to think that he cared about her for her own sake. He’d been a long time without feminine companionship, she imagined. But if he thought she was ripe for a quick roll in the hay, he would be greatly surprised.
    Men were men, and she’d often thought that the good Lord had made them with more brawn than brain. She could not fault Chance for lusting after her in his heart. So long as he kept his hands to himself and remembered that he was here on her forbearance, they’d have no problem … so long as she could control her own wayward thoughts.
    She’d thought that she’d given up on the foolishness between men and women when James had destroyed the love they’d shared. “Damn you!” she murmured.
    If James hadn’t gone to war … if he hadn’t come home an angry stranger …
    She flung the broom back into the corner.
    It must be the pregnancy that was making her so fanciful. Women told her that they’d done all sorts of strange things before the birth of their children—craved unusual foods, taken odd notions. She would not allow herself tofall victim to an escaped rebel prisoner because her reason had been squeezed out by tight apron strings.
    Chance Chancellor could put his wide shoulders and his big hands to a plow. She’d see how sweet he talked after a long day of planting or hoeing weeds. And once she had a babe at her breast, she’d be too full of thoughts for her new son or daughter to stare at a man with calf eyes.
    But how were they to plow without an animal to pull the plow? And if they couldn’t work up the ground, there would be no way to put in a crop. She didn’t have a dollar to her name, and a decent mule would cost fifty at least. Then, if by some miracle someone would sell her a beast on credit, the soldiers might come and take that as well.
    Still wrestling with the problem, Rachel set the table and put the sausages on to fry. She beat several eggs with milk and salt and pepper, and slid them into a pan.
    The door opened and Bear ambled inside. Rachel glanced toward the entrance and gasped in astonishment. Chance Chancellor was far younger, clean shaven, than she had guessed—and far more handsome. He filled her kitchen doorway with a lazy grace.
    â€œI guess that means you approve.” He grinned at her and ran a hand over his damp chin.
    I do, she thought. Oh, I do.
    She forced herself to speak sternly. “So long as you come clean to my table, you may shave or not to suit yourself.”
    â€œYou should have gone for the law, madam,” he teased. “You’d make an imposing judge. The defendants would tremble in their boots when you entered the courtroom.”
    â€œDon’t mistake my kindness for sympathy,” she said testily. “If you overstep your bounds, I’ll not hesitate to shoot you as I would any mad dog.”
    His shoulders stiffened. “If I’ve offended you, my apologies.”
    â€œSit,” she ordered.
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    She brought the food, and they ate in silence. Rather, Chance ate, and she toyed with her eggs and sausage.
    It was hard for her to keep her eyes off him, but she’d not give him the satisfaction of knowing that he’d perturbed her.
    â€œThis is the Sabbath,” she said when he was finished. “If I hurry, I can take the rowboat upstream and walk to late