As she stepped inside, the telephone was ringing. It was the lumber yard saying they had rescheduled and would be delivering the supplies at ten in the morning. She called the employment office and they rescheduled the three men they were going to send to help put up the fence. Alex might be unhappy that she hadn't asked him to help - because he was working - but he'd probably be glad to know she hadn't called Gerald.
Wherever Alex and Gerald went, they didn't get back until after dark. Felipa, Aaron and Rob had gone to town with Sam and the three youngest children were asleep. Jonathan was in his room, practicing the violin and she was folding towels on their bed when Alex returned.
"Where is everyone," he asked.
"Natalie, Matthew and Destiny are all in bed asleep and Jonathan is practicing his violin."
He nodded. "Where are Rob and Aaron?" He glanced around, "And Felipa. Is she out with Aaron again?"
Carmen smiled as she folded a towel. "Well, actually Sam and Ron went with them, so it's a foursome. I think they went to a movie."
He nodded again. "Which leaves Gerald at home alone."
"Where did you guys go?"
She placed the folded towels in the basket and set it on the floor, turning back to face Alex as he answered.
"I told you. We went down to Mr. Getson's place to deliver a calf. Gerald wanted to go with me so I had him meet me here." He paused, eyeing her suspiciously. "That reminds me. What were you doing in his arms when I came out on the porch?"
She caught her breath. "I wasn't in his arms … well, I was, but only because he caught me when I fell."
His gaze dropped to her arm as he walked over to her. "Where's your sling?"
She glanced down at her arm. "I took it off so I could fold these towels. I'm not doing that much and …" she paused as he stopped in front of her and looked up at him. "It gets in the way," she finished as she gazed into his eyes.
The hunger in his eyes increased her pulse. He touched her neck, softly tracing a finger from below her ear all the way down to the swell of her breasts.
"Carmen," he groaned as he pulled her to him and kissed her neck. "You're so beautiful," he whispered.