Free Her Chance Encounters by Ruby Caine Page A

outside the door, gathering in a whirlwind. Cherice materialized from its center. Walking quietly to where the woman slept, the little girl reached over to stroke Adrienne's black hair.
    "I knew you would come back to me, Mommy. I do not understand why you always want to hide from me. Why are you pretending to be somebody else? I will not let you leave me behind again."

Six
     
    "Horseback riding? I don't even know how to ride a horse." Adrienne could not believe he really planned to show her around the property today. She was sure he was bluffing last night. How ironic she wore her Western boots today.
    "Just another thing I'll have to teach you. I am the world's most patient teacher." Chance smiled innocently.
    One hour later and one mile into the thick swamp of River Oaks, Chance was forced to admit this trip was not thought out properly. First of all, Adrienne's already sore backside kept bouncing on her hard saddle, and she muttered grumpy complaints the entire time. "I should have gone shopping with Lenore. This is ridiculous."
    "Stop pulling back on the reigns like that. We won't get anywhere unless you ease up on your hold." Chance was finding it hard to be very patient with her after repeating that same direction no less than ten times.
    Jerking in her saddle, Adrienne shrieked causing her horse to get skittish. "Was that an alligator, Chance? Oh, my goodness! Look at that huge rat over there!"
    "It's a nutria, Adrienne. Calm down. If you look to your left up ahead, you'll see a family of armadillos, too."
    "Where the hell are you taking me, Chance Breaux?"
    "Welcome to the rest of River Oaks, babe. This is your backyard. How do you like your pets?"
    Adrienne tightened her hold on the reins even more. Her legs were clamped tightly to the sides of the horse, worried she would fall off and get attacked by the wildlife surrounding them. "Nice horse," she whispered over and over again, praying she would make it through this experience.
    "Angel won't throw you off, babe."
    "She won't get a chance," she muttered darkly. "Did the parish experience a lot of rain lately. The water here hasn't gone down much yet."
    "This is a swamp, Adrienne. This water won't be going down anytime soon. I warned you that most of River Oaks was useless."
    "Then why are you trying to get your hands on it?"
    They reached a section of high ground. Chance dismounted and tied his horse on a low branch of a cypress tree. This was the spot he was looking for, just deep enough in the swamp to ensure returning to River Oaks for the night would be impossible. Poor Lenore would have a hell of a long wait if she showed up to take his woman shopping this evening.
    Adrienne longed to get down, too, so her sore ass could get some relief. Yet she resisted the urge. There was no telling what creatures were waiting to attack. She turned her head side to side when Chance tried to reach for her. Hands on his hips, he waited for her to calm down.
    Now that they were involved, Chance did not feel as reluctant to share his plans for River Oaks. He knew she would not use the information against him. "I could do a lot with this land, Adrienne. Ten years ago, I discovered the oil company could save millions of dollars by running a pipeline across this land. I drew up some papers to lease the land, but your uncle refused to even consider it. He refused access to this part of his property to anyone."
    "So the mystery of why you want this land is finally revealed. Why didn't you just explain all this before?"
    "Because I wanted to get the matter of this property settled before I started seducing you."
    "I'd let you use the land," she offered. For some reason, she was not ready to part with the house yet. This nasty swamp was another matter. If she never stepped foot back here again, it would be too soon.
    He whistled, surprised how easy getting her on board had been. "So you'll sell me the land."
    "Sell? I was thinking more of leasing it to you, but give me some time, and