He wasnt this morning. He was ticked off because I was a woman and he didnt think I could handle his horse.
Oh. Rita gave a dismissive shake of her head. Just worried about his mare, Ill bet. Hes a nice man. Ive never even heard him raise his voice. Hes very quiet,
doesnt say much. But Im guessing what you want to know is whether there is a Mrs. Daniel Sutton.
Rita Antonia was irritated to feel heat rising in her face. She hated the way her fair blondes skin gave her away all the time.
Rita chuckled. Nothing wrong with that. Who wouldnt want to know that if they met a hunk like him? Well, there used to be. He married his high school sweetheart is the way the story goes. Im younger than them, so all I know is hearsay. But what Ive heard is that he was crazy as could be about herLurleen was her name. Anyway, they got married right after they graduated from high school, and pretty soon they had a kid, James. James is a nice boy. Hes friends with my sister Lupes boy, and Ive met him a few times. But Lurleen, they say, couldnt stand life in a little town. She had always wanted to get out, but then she fell for Daniel, so she stayed and married him. Only she still hated it here, and after a while she left town.
Oh, no. She left her little boy, too?
Rita nodded emphatically. James was only three years old. Well, you might guess that didnt make her too popular around here. I mean, a husband is one thing, but leaving your own child?
So Daniels raised him alone all these years?
Yeah. Did a good job of it, too, from what Ive seen. But they say that he still carries a torch for Lurleen.
Really? After so long? Antonia felt her heart sink a little within her, and she told herself that was foolish.
Rita nodded. Yeah. It sounds kinda weird, but thats what folks say. She shrugged. I dont know if its true, of course. But what they say is that he never filed for divorce. Finally, after several years, she did.
Goodness.
Course, if any guyd be like that, itd be Daniel Sutton. Hes a solid kind of mansteadfastloyal.
Antonia thought back to that morning, to the clean, neat farm and house, the obvious care that he had lavished on them, the feeling he had for his horses. She suspected that he was not a very expressive man, but she also would not be surprised to learn that he felt things deeply. She pictured him, a young man alone on that farm with a little boy, doing the best he could for him, always hoping that the woman he loved would return. A pang pierced Antonias heart.
Thats so sad.
Yeah. Her assistant cast a sidelong glance at Antonia and added, I bet the love of a good woman is exactly what he needs. You know, to bring him out of it. I mean, its been, what fourteen, fifteen years now? He hasnt ever dated much, but you can only carry a torch for so long. You know what I mean? Hes bound to be ready to drop itfor the right lady.
And youre saying that Im it? Antonia smiled. I doubt it.
Why not? Youre a single woman. Hes a single man. In a town the size of Angel Eye, there arent that many opportunities. If it were me, I would jump at a chance like that. Besides, think about all the family reunionsgetting to look at all that male pulchritude.
Antonia rolled her eyes. I dont think so. Number one, Im not really looking to date anyone. And number two, I dont think a man whos still in love with the wife who deserted him fourteen years ago is the best choice if I were going to date. Men are trouble enough without getting one whos still in love with his ex.
Maybe. But a guy like Daniel SuttonI dont know, he might be worth the extra effort. Rita wiggled her eyebrows exaggeratedly.
How does Roberto put up with you?
Rita laughed. I make it worth his while. Who do you think I do all this suffering for? She nodded toward her meager lunch.
You, Antonia retorted, grinning. You cant fool me. I heard Roberto last week worrying about how thin you were getting.
Oh, that! Rita waved away the statement. All the Delgado women get to be like bowling balls. He thinks its normal. But I can tell you hell notice it when I put on my negligee from Victorias Secret. But waityou are not going to distract me from the subject of this conversation. Are you interested in Daniel Sutton?
I told you, I was curious. It isnt as if he asked me out or anything. Antonia wasnt about to tell even a good friend like Rita what had happened that morning at Suttons ranch.
Ah, but youd like him to?
I didnt say that. Antonia sighed. No. I dont want to date him or anyone else. Its too much trouble. I just want to do my work, get settled in Angel Eye.
Girl, youve been here two months. How much settling in can you do in a town this size?
Im slow. Antonia crumpled up the wrapper from her burger and tossed it in the trash. Thanks for the info. She paused. But if I start hearing about Daniel Sutton from Lilian and the clerk at the Quik-Mart
Antoniayou
are so suspicious. Rita smiled enigmatically.
Yeah. Right. Antonia gave her friend a knowing look and left the room.
Not surprisingly, Antonias work spilled over into the evening, and she did not get home until after seven-thirty. She was informed of her tardiness by Mitzi, the black-and-white, tailless street cat that had decided to favor Antonia with her presence last year. The white circle around one eye, in contrast to her mostly black head, gave Mitzi a look of faint surprise, and she carried herself with a feline hauteur that was rather comical, given her bobbed tail, a trait acquired in some accident, Antonia was sure, rather than a genetic anomaly. Mitzi, sublimely unaware of the humorous aspect of her looks, seemed to believe that she was a pampered registered Persian in a wealthy household. She greeted Antonia now with a long litany of complaints, plopping herself down in a seated position in front of the door.