"That's what I wanted to discuss with you. I'd like to compensate you for your time, with Kayla. I—"
"Stop." He said it quietly, the steel of temper a sharp edge beneath. "I'm not a servant."
"I didn't mean that." Horrified that she'd insulted him, she rose again. "I only meant that if you're going to be taking so much of your time to—"
"It's my time, and I'll use it as I please. I don't want your damn money. I'm not for hire as a friend for your kids or as a temporary father substitute or whatever the hell you have in mind."
Now she went pale, very pale. "Of course not. I'm sorry."
"Christ, don't give me that wounded look. You make me feel as though I kicked a puppy." Frustrated, he jammed his hands in his pockets. Compensate him, for Christ's sake. The way you compensate a waiter for good service. He should have expected it. "Just leave it alone."
He spun away to stare out at the swirling fog. Keeping her face blank, Ann stepped inside with the coffee tray. Not by a flicker of the eye did she reveal she'd heard a great deal of that last exchange.
"Your coffee, Miss Laura. The girls are on their way down." If they hadn't been, Ann might have smothered conscience and eavesdropped a bit longer.
"Oh, thank you, Annie." She put a smile on her face, kept it there as her children came in. "I believe Kayla has something for you, Michael."
Kayla held the picture behind her back as she approached. "If you like it, you can hang it on your wall."
"Well, let's see." He took the heavy drawing paper from her, stared. "Damn."
Kayla's face dropped comically. Automatically, Laura put a hand on her shoulder to comfort.
"You don't like it." Kayla's head drooped. "I shouldn't have drawn it so fast, but I wanted to do it while I remembered everything."
"No, it's great." When he looked up from the drawing, his smile was huge. "I was surprised, just like you said I'd be. It looks just like the lady, Kayla. Just exactly like her."
"Really?" With her tongue caught between her teeth, Kayla peeked over to critique her own work. "Usually I draw things I see in books, or that are right there. But I thought if you had to sell her, you could have a picture so you'd always remember her."
"It's beautiful." And nothing like the childish drawing he'd expected. She'd captured the mare's springy gait in the movement, the proud head. He supposed a trained eye could find room for improvement, things like perspective and range that he knew nothing of. All he knew was that he was impressed, and touched. "It's my first original Templeton."
If anyone noticed he hadn't used her legal name, there was no comment. Kayla merely preened and slipped a hand into his. "I'll draw you more if you want."
"I'd like that a lot." He scooted her onto his knee and looked at Allison. The older girl stared down at her feet, obviously miserable. "You finish cleaning your room, Blondie?"
Her head came up, and so did her color. She eyed her sister, and her sister's big mouth with disdain. "Yes, sir."
"Good. I figured once you were off the bread-and-water routine, you might want to catch up with Kayla here on the riding lessons."
Her mouth fell open before she remembered her manners. "I'd like to learn to ride." Though it cost her, she turned to her mother. "May I?"
"I think that would be a wonderful idea. I may have to brush up myself before the two of you get ahead of me." She laid a hand on Ali's shoulder. The stiffness faded reluctantly, but it faded. "Thank you, Michael. We'll see what we can do to meld our schedules."
"Mine's flexible." After a quick bounce, he set Kayla on her feet and rose. "But right now I've got to get back."
"Your coffee," Laura began.
"I'll take a rain check." His smile spread slowly. "You know about redeeming rain checks, don't you, Laura?"
"Yes." How did a mother handle sexual flutters with her two daughters looking on? Laura didn't have a clue. "Thank you for coming by."
"My pleasure."
"I'll see you out," Ali said with great dignity.
To his credit, Michael nodded gravely. "Thank you."
"I'll go, too. Mr. Fury, do you think you can teach Bongo to shake? Uncle Byron's dogs can shake."