Texas Haven by Kathleen Ball Page B

needs.”
    Annie enjoyed the compliment. She hoped that she was what Burke needed, but she just wasn’t sure. There were times that she felt positive that she was good for Burke, but then her doubts crept in. “Do you happen to know if Alice ever cheated on Burke?”
    Sherry locked her gaze on Annie. “I don’t have proof and I don’t like to carry tales, but something happened. I do know that she stayed out at all times of night and Burke went crazy at first looking for her. What she did or where she went, I never asked. I didn’t want to know,”
    Annie got up and stared out the kitchen window. “That explains a lot.” She sighed and turned towards Sherry. The concern that Annie saw in her eyes touched her heart.
    Suddenly they both turned to the stove at once. The smell of burning jam had caught their attention. Sherry rushed over and took the pot off the stove.
    Annie groaned. “I can’t seem to do anything right. Maybe I’m not the type of wife Burke needs after all.”
    Sherry hugged her. “You are the best thing that has happened to that hard headed man. Don’t you forget it.” She stepped back and laughed. “Speaking of hard headed men, yours is coming up the walk.”
    He stepped into the kitchen and Annie walked right up to him and gave him a long kiss. She could tell that he was surprised, but she wasn’t going to let that witch of an ex-wife come between them.
    “I picked berries and made jam.” She felt proud of her accomplishments.
    Burke kept her in his arms and looked around the kitchen. “Sure looks like you’ve been busy.” His nose twitched at the smell of burnt jam.
    “It was the best time, Burke. Just as I imagined it would be. I can’t wait until the fruit trees are ready,” she said excitedly.
    Sherry smiled, watching them both. “I’ll bring by your share when it sets up,” she said.
    Annie was pleasantly surprised. “I didn’t realize…”
    Sherry chuckled. “We do fruit here and vegetables at your place.”
    Annie withdrew from Burke’s arms and felt her face pale. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Sherry, but we might not have many vegetables this year.”
    Sherry gave her a puzzled look.
    Annie’s face grew red now. “I weeded the garden and I mistakenly, not on purpose, mind you…” she rambled.
    Burke chuckled. “What she’s trying to say is that instead of picking weeds, she picked most of the vegetable plants.”
    Sherry took Annie’s hand in hers, and gave it a quick squeeze. “I’ll be over next week and we can fix your garden. It’s still early enough in the season to start over,” she reassured her.
    “Thank you Sherry, I’d appreciate it.” Annie gave Burke a sidelong glance. “Someone acted so upset by my mistake that I didn’t know that it could be fixed.”
    Sherry waved a colorful towel at the couple. “You two shoo now. I have housework to do. Day’s ’a-wastin’.”
    Annie gave her a quick hug and followed Burke she out the door. “Does everyone say day’s ’a-wastin’ around here?” she asked.
    “Just about,” Burke replied with an amused grin as he opened up her car door for her.
     
    * * * *
     
    The next few days went by peacefully for both Burke and Annie. Annie tried to be patient with Burke’s possessiveness. She didn’t ask to use the car, but she often took long walks around the ranch and was purposely not immediately accessible to Burke at all times. He didn’t like it, but he seemed to accept her need to be alone at times. He never said a word to her about not being able to find her at home.
    Annie walked along a wooded path behind the house. She loved the smell of the outdoors, the pungent smell of the pine trees, the soft fragrance of the flowers, and the fresh scent of grass. She breathed deeply, enjoying her walk. She held a bouquet of wildflowers, blue bonnets and Indian paintbrushes, that she’d found on her journey.
    As she got closer to the house, she spied Burke in the barn. He looked glorious