Free Red Dust Dreaming by Eva Scott

you.” Thelma reached across the table and covered Elizabeth’s hand with hers. “You’ll find a way to do what’s best for the boy. You’ll know what to do when the time comes.”
    Elizabeth looked at the old woman, tears blurring her vision. “But how Thelma? How do I know?
    â€œKnow what?” Caden’s voice shattered the moment. Thelma removed her hand and put it under the table as if she’d been caught stealing lollies from a jar.
    â€œNothing!” The blush travelled up Elizabeth’s throat and raced towards her brow in a hot rush.
    â€œReally?” Caden’s tone told her he didn’t believe her. He stood, filling the doorway, blocking the only exit making her nervous.
    He let a long moment pass, one in which he did nothing but stare at her as if he’d not seen her before. She squirmed slightly in her seat, trying to sit still while longing to run as far away as her legs would carry her.
    â€œSo are you ready?” he finally asked.
    â€œReady? For what?” She looked from Caden to Thelma, confused.
    â€œYou haven’t told her?” Caden shifted his attention to Thelma for which Elizabeth was grateful.
    â€œNot my place,” said Thelma as she rose from the table and made herself busy elsewhere in the kitchen.
    â€œWhat is going on?” Elizabeth’s mounting frustration trampled her embarrassment.
    â€œYou might want to go and get changed,” was all he said.
    â€œYou are the most infuriating man I have ever met. Just tell me what’s going on!” She pushed away from the table and stood up. He’d been in the room less than five minutes and already he’d made her mad.
    â€œThat’s enough you two!” Thelma came at them both, one finger raised in admonishment. “This nonsense has got to stop. No fighting, do you hear me?”
    They both nodded in unison. “Good,” she said seemingly satisfied. “Caden is taking you and Luke on a picnic.”
    â€œA picnic?” Startled, Elizabeth looked to Caden for confirmation.
    â€œYep, we’ll ride out on horseback.”
    â€œHorseback?” She looked from Thelma to Caden.
    â€œYou do ride, don’t you?” Caden spoke to her in a slow measured voice as if she was simple.
    â€œOf course I do,” she snapped.
    â€œThen it’s settled. Go get changed.”
    â€œHas anyone ever told you how bossy you are?” She squared up with her hands on her hips, Thelma’s earlier warning forgotten.
    â€œElizabeth and Caden, listen here!” Thelma’s voice brooked no argument. The both turned to face her like chastened school children. “I want you to promise me you’ll work at getting along. No fighting in front of Luke do you hear me?”
    â€œYes Thelma,” said Caden bowing his head.
    â€œSorry Thelma, I promise.” She looked at Caden who met her eyes briefly before looking away. How was she going to survive an entire afternoon in the company of this man when they couldn’t even last five minutes supervised! It was going to be a long day.

Chapter 9
    â€œDo you need a hand?”
    The horse was saddled and ready to go. Elizabeth hadn’t been on a horse since she was eleven years old, a long time ago. The animal seemed huge! She shuddered, she had no memory of feeling nervous around horses before. What had happened to her?
    â€œNo I’m fine,” she said with steely determination as she gathered the reins in her left hand, put her left foot in the stirrup and prepared to mount. Once she was in motion her body remembered the swing of the foot, the arc of the leg required to find her seat. The horse shifted beneath her as it absorbed her weight, snorting softly in acknowledgement. She reached down and patted its glossy neck.
    â€œHer name is Bessie,” said Luke as he drew near on his own mount. “My horse is called Killer.” He patted his horse