Free The Glenmore's: Caught by Susan Horsnell Page B

if I’m not there”
    “I’ve enjoyed our time together Justine, please come again soon”
    “I will Jenny and once again thank you”
    The girls hugged and Jenny watched from the porch as Justine rode off.
    ********
    Ben had been playing cards in the bunkhouse with Doug and Walter but he was so busy thinking about seeing Justine the next day he’d been losing hand after hand.
    “Well fella’s, I think I’ll call it a mornin’. I’m gonna go and wash up and have lunch” Ben got up and started for the house.
    “You be back for more after lunch?” Doug asked.
    “Nope, think I’ll go for a ride. You got enough of my money” he laughed.
    Doug and Walter watched him walk out and Doug dealt the next hand. “You’re gonna have to clear that table off in a minute you two. Your lunch is almost ready too” Shorty, the cook growled.
    “We’ll just play this hand and move Shorty” Walter assured him.
    “Ben, that you?” Virginia called out when she heard the door close.
    “Yes ma, just hangin’ up my coat. Be there in a minute”
    “Okay, we’re just puttin’ lunch on the table so come through as soon as you’re washed up”
    “On my way ma”
    Lunch was steak, mashed potato, carrots, gravy and fresh biscuits. Ben’s mouth started to water as he sat down.
    “How was yer card game son?” Joseph asked after a mouthful of steak.
    “Miserable pa; didn’t win a hand” Ben grumbled.
    Joseph and George both looked at each other.
    “That’s not like you Ben” Virginia looked surprised. Ben almost always won at cards. “Somethin’ botherin’ ya?”
    Before Ben could answer his mother Joseph spoke up. “Yeah, names Justine” he chuckled.
    “No pa; just preoccupied about things”
    “Yeah, like pa said names Justine” George laughed.
    Ben grumbled and kept quiet as he ate the rest of his meal.
    “What are ya plans for this afternoon” Joseph asked Ben as they were drinking their coffee.
    “I think I’ll take a ride and clear me head pa unless ya got somethin’ ya want done”
    “No nothin’ I need until late afternoon chores”
    Ben stood up. ‘I’ll see ya in a couple of hours”
    “Why don’t ya go and see Justine?” George asked.
    “Lay off George” Ben shouted as he stormed out.
    Joseph and George exchanged looks and then said in unison. “He’s fallin’!”
    Ben was still angry and muttering to himself as he saddled Dancer. “Why cain’t they see I just want to be her friend girl? I ain’t got no interest in bein’ serious” Ben mounted up and headed off at a gallop.
    He rode straight towards Justine’s without realising it. As he got to the boundary between the two properties he saw Justine headed his way.

CHAPTER NINE
    Justine and Ben came together just as Ben crossed onto Justine’s property.
    “Justine, I didn’t expect to see ya out ridin’ on such a cold day”
    “Thought I’d take a ride to have a good look at my property. I had a quick look with Josh a few days ago but there was nothin’ else that needed doin’ around the ranch and I didn’t wanna sit around the house all afternoon. I’m not one for needlework and Millie chased me outta the kitchen. She said when she’s this busy she don’t like anyone in the way”
    “Do ya mind if I join ya?” Ben asked hopefully.
    Justine was hesitant about spending time with Ben but she’d been thinkin’ about what Jenny had said about Ben liking her and thought it would be rude not to give friendship a chance.
    “I don’t mind Ben; will be nice to have ya along”
    Ben looked shocked at her change of attitude from the previous few days but he didn’t want to spoil things by commenting as they walked off together.
    “Josh is gonna ask Millie to marry him tomorrow” Justine told Ben to get conversation started.
    “Well, he’s finally gonna do it after all these years. I can remember ‘em sparkin’ when I was a youngster” Ben chuckled. “One thing about Josh; he don’t make a decision in a