Irresistible Attraction

Yet she knew that she’d find no hardship in having Bart Cameron as number three. Except for the fact that he had declared himself a non-starter! Well, at least I haven’t made a fool of myself, she thought. From here on in she’d keep things as businesslike as he, but she hadn’t been the one who’d initiated the kiss!

Over the next two weeks Alessandra settled into the routine of Rough Rivers without any major problems. Jim was impressed with both her initiative and her ability to follow orders, and told her so. The other hands were equally friendly when they found she was as capable as any man in the execution of her job. Each Thursday morning, Jim drove her into the bank where she cashed the salary cheque and then dropped her back at the house so that she could make up the pay envelopes for the men. She had suggested that it would make more sense to pay the men by cheque, since it would eliminate the need for someone to escort her to the bank.

‘The boys like to get cash. Saves them the time of goin’ to the bank before hitting the bar,’ Jim told her.

Still, Alessandra conceded, if it weren’t for the weekly trip into town she’d probably have gone stir crazy. At least it gave her the opportunity to stock up on the reading material that she devoured in copious quantities in an effort to keep Bart Cameron out of sight and out of mind. Actually she saw little of him, except at dinner and weekends, when she was careful to act coolly civil and guard her tongue.