"Do you think you should, Alex?" she spoke slowly, and he wondered at the new shyness she'd shown since bringing her sister back. He could only suppose she felt uneasy about his reactions to the young girl who seemed so ashamed of her condition.

"I think it would help Pat feel more at ease," he explained. "The children create quite a disturbance, even when they're trying to be on their best behavior. Besides, your sister seems to feel a bit uncomfortable around me."

"It wasn't Pat I was thinking about," his wife told him, for some reason lovely color burning under her cheeks. "I was wondering if it's wise for you to go out into the wilderness. What if you had problems with your heart again, Alex?"

At the same time he waved her worries aside he was somehow secretly pleased that she'd expressed such concern for him.

"After my last check up the doctor told me I'd made remarkable improvement. He said whatever I'd been doing to keep on doing it. That is fully what I intend to do on this trip."

Grace said no more, but her eyes reflected the worry she still felt as later that week she helped prepare for the outing.

"Well, I think that's about all boys," Alex told them stepping back to inspect the van with the canoe tied on its top and camping equipment stuffed inside. "Any more and we'll lose our pioneer spirit." Then seeing Grace's expression he laughed.

"Don't look so crestfallen, my dear. If it will brighten your day, we'll promise to take you with us next time we go roughing."

"Me too, Uncle Alex?" Debby demanded, jumping up and down in her excitement.

"Sure, everyone if they want," Alex assured before turning to round up the boys and herd them into the car.

Only, Peggy remained some way off, watching, but not taking part in the good-byes.

"If you need me Grace," he said turning to his wife who stood, her hands clasped behind her back, her face contrasting the gay flowered dress she wore. "You know the name of the campground we'll be staying at. Just get in touch with the Ranger Station and have them flush us out. Cheer up, my dear, you know the old saying, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder.'" And he moved toward her, intending to kiss her lightly on the cheek. But somehow she was in his arms and her lips were crushed against his.

Before he could say anything she drew back from his startled, but very willing embrace, and rushed into the house.

For a moment Alex stood staring after her, then, at the eager insistence of the boys, he climbed into the van.

He waved to little Debby as she stood beside Clare Perry, but he didn't really see them. And though the boys jabbered eagerly all the trip, Alex remained silent, a set look on his face, a strange longing sensation burning in his chest. Each day, he reflected, it was growing increasingly more difficult for him to stand by his end of the bargain. If his wife insisted on a show of affection such as the one she had just put on, there was no way he could remain controlled. That is, if it were a show, and that single thought was to cause him many hours of lost sleep and conflicting hopes and doubts.

Other browser readable electronic romance books by Rosalie Joyce

No Greater Love    Price $9.95  
    Written by Rosalie Joyce
On her way to the airport Haley is involved in a serious automobile accident that leaves her badly injured and suffering from memory loss. Her father insists that Haley has been living with him, developing a close father daughter relationship and enjoying the social whirl of high society, but no matter how hard she tries, Haley can't seem to get back into the swing of things. Then there's her Peter Grant. What is there about her father's servant that she finds so unnerving? And why the underlying hostility between Peter and her father?
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Once Burned    Price $9.95  
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Cindy had made up her mind that she would never allow another man to get close enough to hurt her as Lance had hurt her. But that was before she met Carl Branson and his niece, Lizzy. It was for Lizzy's sake that she went along with a bogus engagement to Carl, and it was for Lizzy's sake that she opened the door of her home to the handsome young man. But had she opened the door of her heart as well?
(Browser Readable E-Book on CD-ROM contains Music & No Sound Options)

Forced Landing    Price $9.95  
    Written by Rosalie Joyce
With two suitors vying for her attention it seemed odd that Penny should be becoming more and more interested in Sid, the remote, often brash, young photographer.
(Browser Readable E-Book on CD-ROM contains Music & No Sound Options)

Guardian Angel    Price $9.95  
    Written by Rosalie Joyce
Set in the mid-sixties, this story tells of a young woman who flees to a farm in order to hide from her stepmother and an unwelcome suitor, only to discover unexpected romance.
(Browser Readable E-Book on CD-ROM contains Music & No Sound Options)

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