Ada could appreciate his firmness of mind, even if she couldn't stomach his point of view. "Well, it certainly makes things easier on you to stuff me into a convenient little box and disregard my opinions."
He met her glare with a searing one of his own.
"Didn't you just do the same thing to me?"
Ada stiffened. "Nae."
He folded his arms across his chest. "You said I'm one of those men. Haven't you also stuffed me into a convenient little box?"
How aggravating that he was right and how irritating that Ada was mature enough to admit it. She softened her expression and scrunched her lips to one side of her face. "I think we've both been unjustly stuffed."
The surprise on his face was evident. "Like a Thanksgiving turkey. It's very uncomfortable." He cracked a slight and reluctant smile. "I apologize. You're right. I shouldn't make assumptions about you just because you're a woman."
"That is very generous of you to admit you're wrong."
"I didn't say I was wrong." His eyes flashed with amusement, so Ada didn't feel the need to chastise him.
But she did feel the need to growl, softly. "What I was trying to say is that I'm sorry too. You made me mad. And just so you know, I don't blame anybody for my problems. I own them and do my best to solve them."
"So do I," he said. "I was making assumptions about you simply because you're a woman. I know it's unfair, but I've had too many bad experiences to believe I could have a rational, unemotional conversation with a woman about water rights and farmland. I was hoping if I spoke with your dat, we could have a talk without all the dramatics."
Ada did her best keep her temper in check. He had no tact, but at least he was being honest with her. "I hate to burst your bubble, but you'll get much further if you talk to me. I make the decisions about the farm. Organization is not my dat's talent. He likes to plant and plow and shear sheep, then come home, eat dinner, read his newspaper, and go to bed. Though I consult Dat before making financial decisions, I pay all the bills, rent the needed equipment, and keep house." Ada stopped herself. Was she bragging? Making herself out to be some sort of saint? She was doing neither of those things. It was just the reality of her life.
Sneaky Man looked as if he wasn't quite sure what to make of Ada and her forceful personality. She smiled to herself. She always enjoyed throwing an overconfident man off-kilter.
Ada pulled her mind away from all distractions. She had been vehemently arguing with a perfect stranger, and she didn't even know his name. "Who are you, why were you spying on me, and what is this rational, unemotional conversation you want to have with my dat?"
"I wasn't spying."
"Then what?"
He turned his face toward the fence where she'd first seen him. "I should really talk to your fater."
Ada threw up her hands. "You are impossible. Didn't you hear a word I just said?"
He narrowed his eyes. "You're proving my point about women being too emotional."
"You're proving my point about men thinking women are dumm."
He huffed out a breath. "In my defense, I saw you crying not fifteen minutes ago."
Ada's heart skipped a beat. He'd seen that? "Maybe I had something in my eye."
"You didn't have something in your eye."
"The pivot irrigation system manual bored me to tears."
That coaxed a small smile from him. "I don't wonder but it did." He paused, then pointed toward the fence that separated their properties. "Some of your fence posts are painted purple."
For sure and certain he was trying to avoid her questions. "It's my bruder-in-law's fault. Clay was a famous baseball player, and his fans would come to our farm all the time looking for an autograph. He's from Indiana where there's a purple paint law."
Sneaky Man nodded as if he knew everything. "It's like putting a NO TRESPASSING sign on your property. We have the same law in Pennsylvania."
Ada had no patience for a know-it-all. "If you know about the purple paint law, why did you trespass onto our farm?"
He looked at her as she didn't have a brain in her head.
"You were hanging by your dress from your irrigation system. I thought you needed my help."
"I didn't."
"Besides that, Colorado doesn't have a purple paint law."
