An Old Fashioned Romance

From Sudden Storms by Marcia Lynn McClure

Whirling around, Rivers gasped in horror as she saw Jolee’s brother standing before her in the process of removing his clothing. He grinned at her in a friendly manner revealing one long thin dimple on his left cheek at the corner of his smile. He’d already stripped his shirt from his broad torso; his trousers, too, lay in a heap at his feet. The man was nearly finished unbuttoning his flannels. As he peeled the garment from his arms, Rivers turned to face the other direction.

“Pardon me, sir,” she apologized.

“You’re bashful, ain’t ya?” the man noted, and Rivers held her breath when she heard him disturb the tub of water as he stepped into it.

“Aaahhh,” he sighed. “Ain’t nothin’ like a warm soak after a long day. Ain’t that right, boy?”

“Um…yes, sir,” Rivers agreed, stepping sideways toward the door.

“Hold up there, would ya? Hand me that there brush and lye ‘fore ya run off,” the handsome man commanded.

Rivers saw the brush and soap lying on top of a trunk sitting before her. Swallowing hard, she reached out, taking hold of them. She took several steps backward, keeping her eyes on the wall directly in front of her. Holding the items firmly, one in each hand, she stretched her arms out behind her.

“Thank ya kindly,” the man said. An unsettling sensation akin to some sort of delightful shiver racked her as he took them from her. “You can be on your way now.”

Rivers rushed from the room and slammed the door tightly behind her. She could hear the man chuckling. He must think her an odd duck, indeed.

Get your copy of Sudden Storms