The Reluctant Guest Read Online Free

I knew he’d given you a wrong impression — that you thought he was a prosperous farmer and the rest — but I saw a snapshot of you — one he’d taken himself, and you looked the type to appeal to the best in him. Theo’s slack and a bit of a waster, but his heart is right where it should be.” Another pause, during which she inhaled deeply. “I didn’t intend things to be like this . I meant Theo to meet you at the halt, and to have a slap-up breakfast ready for the three of us, and a borrowed car for transport. Both Theo and I are careless drivers, so our own bus is pretty disreputable. Storr’s arrival upset everything.”
    “Is that the only reason you were fed up this morning?”
    “Well, no.” Elva sounded reluctant. “I did want to start off the right way, though. Theo is one of the best — he just hasn’t had the right chances.”
    “And what about you?”
    There was no change in Elva’s coloring, but Ann got the impression that she flushed slightly. However, her voice was firm enough. “I’m in love with Storr Peterson,” she said.
    Intuitively, ever since the Peterson man had entered the house this morning, Ann had known it. Yet spoken baldly like that the fact was startling, and for a moment Ann was unable to answer. She saw Elva take a last deep pull at the cigarette and fling it out of the window, turn impatiently and pick up the flat fifty, to fit it into her trousers pocket.
    At last Ann said quietly. “Was that another reason why you didn’t want Mr. Peterson to turn up unexpectedly?”
    Elva shrugged, as if she wished she had kept it to herself. “You wouldn’t understand. Storr gave us this house and fifty acres, he also gave us our wagon and a small tractor. We started off quite well, but somehow we both lost interest. A married couple would have made a go of it, but brother and sister aren’t all that keen on sending out roots in the same direction. We get on well, Theo and I, but there’s something missing ... bound to be. I want Theo to get married.”
    “And you yourself want to marry Mr. Peterson,” stated Ann softly.
    Elva’s jaw went hard. “How would you like it if you loved someone who never saw you at your best? I’ve got several good frocks and I used to manage to look fetching when he came down for a long weekend, but only for an hour at a time. There were always chores in the offing. Storr would come out and help me, but I used to hate it. I wanted to sit and look pretty for a change. I may not be so good-looking as my brother, but I can give points to most of the women in Bela t i West!”
    Ann was sure of it, and said so. But she had to ask, “How do you know Mr. Peterson doesn’t ... like you as well as you like him?”
    In faintly mannish tones, Elva said, “Oh, he’s fond of me, but he doesn’t see me. I haven’t got that neat, feminine touch that somehow attracts a man in spite of himself. Not that Storr is particularly drawn to very feminine women. He always says they’re out of place in this country.”
    Ann could imagine him saying that, economically and with a sarcastic smile. Oddly, she wondered how it felt to love such a man; rather wearing, she decided, and left it at that.
    “It’s a muddle, isn’t it?” she said. And then, impulsively, “You must let me help you. Wear your pretty frocks and let me do some of the jobs about the place. I’m not the helpless type.”
    Elva’s cloudy blue eyes roved the well-cut tweed skirt, the very white blouse with its carefully careless stand-up collar. “Your hands are bound to be tender.”
    Ann showed the palms. “They’re calloused inside from the reins.” She was suddenly eager and happy. “Do let me have a go at things. I’ve brought riding kit, and it’ll be fun to show Theo that I know something about the place, when he gets back. Would I be in the way if I came now?”
    “I suppose not” — grudgingly. “Get ready, and I’ll go out and have Theo’s horse saddled as well as my