Courtship of the Recluse

Cynthia smiled. "Maybe he'd rather listen than talk."

Adrena stamped a letter. "I guess so. From what I hear, he's pretty...frugal; I guess would be the best word. Dependable, though. Mr. Catlin at the bank says he's as honest as they come. The ranchers around here say they can always count on him to help when they're in a bind. Even so, I don't know anyone who admits to understanding him - much less calling him a friend. He's a strange one."

"It sounds like he's a respectable person who likes to keep to himself."

"Yeah." Adrena said, wrinkling her nose. "A regular hermit."

"I guess being reclusive is a poor way to make friends." Cynthia shrugged. "On the other hand, maybe it's a good way to avoid trouble."

Adrena tipped her head to the side and studied Cynthia thoughtfully for a moment. "Is that why you don't date?"

Cynthia's face grew warm. "Maybe so. Men can be a trial sometimes."

"Like your father?" Adrena's gaze was probing.

"That was different. My father couldn't do anything about his health."

Adrena lifted her brows and tossed the letter in a slot. "He could have gone to a nursing home so he wasn't such a burden on his daughter."

"He offered to do that. I wouldn't let him. How could I enjoy myself knowing he was being tended to and surrounded by strangers?"

Adrena nodded. "That sounds like your kind of logic - always thinking of the other person first. Admirable, but you're never going to get anywhere doing that."

"All I want is a small place of my own. Somewhere I can have a garden and maybe a horse. I guess that's my idea of getting somewhere."

"Well, if that's what you want. Go for it. Maybe you could hire on as a nanny at Old Man Taylor's ranch. He's got two boys that...well, calling them a handful would be an understatement. Maybe that's not too good an idea after all." She snickered. "I bet if anyone could straighten them out, it would be you, though."

Cynthia caught her breath. "Geez, is my reputation that bad?"

"Bad? I'd like to have your reputation. Your boss says you're the best thing that ever happened to the diner. The guys think you're..."

"A prude?" Cynthia interjected.

"Conservative would be a good word."

"Dull would be another."

"I wouldn't call you dull, just inactive."

"Well, whatever I am, I'd better get home. It's almost time for you to close. Have a nice evening."

Cynthia left the post office feeling better about Russell Cade than she did about herself. Still, what about the rumor? What could have happened so long ago that people still remembered it? But then, they seemed to remember everything - probably because they kept it revived for entertainment. Where Russell Cade was concerned, the only thing they seemed to have against him was the fact that he provided them no new topics. Good for him.