The Manning Sisters Read Online Free

she’d pressed herself against him during the ride from town. He couldn’t get the feel of her out of his mind. Her skin was soft and she smelled like wildflowers. That thought led to another. If she smelled so good, he couldn’t help wondering how she’d taste. Like honey, he decided, fresh from the comb, thick and sweet. The knot in his stomach tightened. If he didn’t curb his mind soon, he’d end up kissing her before the night was through.
    â€œYou’re an excellent cook,” Taylor said to Mandy in a blatant effort to lighten the strained atmosphere.
    Mandy beamed at the compliment. “I try. Rosa and her husband retired last year, and I talked Russ into letting me do the cooking, and it’s worked out pretty well, hasn’t it, Russ?”
    He nodded. “There’ve been a few nights best forgotten, but for the most part you’ve done an excellent job.”
    â€œShe took over all the cooking at age thirteen?” Taylor asked, obviously astonished, although Russ had trouble figuring out why. He’d long suspected that city kids didn’t carry anywhere near the responsibility country kids did.
    Mandy eyed Russ. He knew that look well by now, and it meant trouble. He bit his tongue as she opened her mouth to speak.
    â€œIt seems to me that any girl who can rustle up a decent meal every night is old enough to buy her own clothes without her older brother tagging along, don’t you think?”
    The way things were going, Mandy was angling to be sent to her room without finishing dinner. “That’s none of Taylor’s concern,” he said tightly, daring their guest to challenge his authority with his younger sister.
    â€œYou agree with me, don’t you Taylor?” Mandy pressed.
    â€œUh…” Taylor hedged, looking uncomfortable. “I have a limit of answering only one leading question per day,” she explained, reaching for another piece of bread. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to get on Russ’s bad side twice in only a few hours. I might end up walking back to town.”
    â€œRuss would never do that.”
    Want to bet? Russ mused. Okay, so he wouldn’t make her walk, but he’d sure as hell hit every pothole he could. The problem there was that he’d be the one likely to suffer most.
    â€œWhat do you honestly think?” Mandy repeated.
    â€œ I think you should eat your dinner and leave Taylor out of this,” Russ ordered harshly. The girl had turned willfulness into an art form.
    â€œI…Your brother’s right, Mandy,” Taylor said, lowering her gaze to the steaming bowl of rich stew. “This is something the two of you should settle between yourselves.”
    â€œRuss and I’ll settle it all right,” Mandy responded defiantly, “but he won’t like the outcome.”
    Russ didn’t take the bait. “More stew, Taylor?”
    â€œAh…no, thanks. My bowl’s nearly full.”
    â€œWhen did you start buying your own clothes?” Mandy asked, clearly unwilling to drop the issue.
    Russ stared at Taylor, daring her to question his authority a second time. She glanced nervously away. “As I recall, I had the same problem with my father at this age. I got around him by taking a sewing class and making my clothes.”
    â€œWhen was this?”
    â€œOh, about the eighth grade or so. To this day I enjoy sewing most of my own things. It’s economical, too.”
    â€œThe eighth grade?” Mandy cast Russ a triumphant look. “You were basically choosing and sewing your own clothes when you were only thirteen, then.”
    â€œIt’s not a good idea for me to get involved in a matter that’s between you and your brother, Mandy. I did earlier and I don’t think it was the right thing to do.”
    Russ felt a little better knowing that.
    Mandy’s shoulders sagged, and Russ was pleased to note that she was