Aaron's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series) (3 page)

So why was she asking him to come and call?

It couldn't be because she wanted to sell up. Eva would never do that. Aaron had heard her many a time say that the Gillespie spread was permanent. She was committed to maintaining it. Eva would never trade it in for cash. She wasn't that kind of person.

Aaron pushed the horse to pick up speed. After a while he reached the rise and paused. The trail wound down into the valley and across a flat plain to where the ranch house lay nestled at the base of a high ridge. It was a decent sized spread. Gabriel Gillespie had done a fine job building it up from nothing. With some help from his only child, Eva, of course.

For his part Aaron had no ambitions to make his own spread bigger than it was. He'd spent the last few years making the best he could of his own moderate sized range. It had cost him every dollar he had, and every minute of the day and night. But, he'd forged a living from the land and from the herds he'd tended with so much sweat and effort. It had been hard and tough, but completely worth it. He was satisfied with what he had. There was no need for him to even think about buying out Eva Gillespie.

Aaron smiled as he thought about how Eva would react to him even making such an offer. One thing was for sure. He'd need to stand well back if he would be foolish enough to even consider making such a foolhardy suggestion to her face.

Aaron started down the trail. He could see the white ranch house in the distance. The solitary figures of some ranch hands were busy on different parts of the ranch. Aaron figured the funeral of Gabriel Gillespie must be over if men were already back at work.

He rode the horse under the wooden entrance sign that proclaimed the Gillespie name in letters carved deep into the board. Aaron guided the horse into the yard in front of the house. As he was slowing down he heard raised voices. He looked toward the front door of the ranch house and pulled his horse to an immediate halt.

Eva Gillespie was standing at the front door. She was dressed in black and her blonde hair was pulled back into a neat bun. Her pretty, oval features were scrunched up into an expression that Aaron had seen on more than one occasion.

Indignation.

There was a man facing her, a wide brimmed hat tipped casually back on his head. Aaron couldn't see the man's face, but he recognized the tall, lanky figure as Jude Arabin, the foreman of the Gillespie ranch.

One thing was clear. Eva and Jude were having words. And they weren't friendly ones. Aaron could see that, and he wondered what he should do. It was obviously a private conversation between employer and employee, but from the look of it, Aaron got the distinct impression that there was more to it than mere ranch business.

Aaron got down off his horse and quickly tied it to the hitching rail. He edged his way around so that he kept the body of the horse between him and the two figures at the door. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but it sure as heck looked serious.

Then, suddenly, out of the blue Eva did something that made Aaron's jaw literally drop open. Eva let out an outraged groan, twisted her body, swung her arm and smacked her hand flat against Arabin's left cheek. The sound of flesh on face carried all the way to where Aaron stood. It sounded painful.

Aaron took a step forward and paused. Jude let out a yell, staggered back, shook his head and started to rub his face. Aaron could see Eva's flashing eyes. He was pleased he hadn't been on the receiving end of that hand.

But it was when Aaron saw what Jude did next, that the decision was made, and in that moment there was only thing Aaron had on his mind. And that was to protect Eva Gillespie.

***

Eva's hand lashed out and slapped the side of Jude's face with a resounding, noisy and strangely satisfying smack.

Jude staggered back, his mouth gaping open. He raised a hand to his cheek and his eyes widened.

"Why did you do that, Eva?" he demanded. His voice was loud now, all pretense at persuasion gone. Eva could hear the indignation in his tone.

"I will never be your wife, Arabin. Do you understand?"

At that moment Jude seemed to give up all pretense at maintaining his composure. He reached out and grabbed Eva's wrist. Eva took a step back. What was the man doing? She suddenly felt a surge of fear. Maybe she'd gone too far. Perhaps she'd misjudged Jude. She knew he had a temper, had seen it on many occasions in the way that he handled the men. But right now she felt a basic, primal surge of fear.

His hand was tight on her wrist, his fingers like thick, hardened cords on her soft skin. Eva's heart started to race and she opened her mouth to call out to Mrs. Bell.

Then Eva heard a voice call out, and she sensed the presence of someone moving behind Jude. Before she knew it, large firm hands were being placed over Jude's narrow shoulders. Jude let go Eva's wrist and whirled around to face whoever had seized him.

Then Eva saw who it was. She gasped.

It was Aaron Stewart. Where had Aaron come from? It didn't matter. He was here.

"Now come on, Jude. That's no way to treat a lady, let alone someone who pays your wages," Aaron said with a steady voice, his eyes locked firmly on Jude's face.

The foreman leaned back against the door and looked up at the slightly taller rancher.

Eva's breath was still fast, and her heart hadn't slowed it's furious beating. She gazed at the man who was her neighbour, realizing just how glad she was to see him.

"Aaron...Mr. Stewart. I didn't see you arrive," she said, trying to compose herself. Eva rubbed her wrist. There would be bruises. But that wasn't the worst of how Jude had treated her. Not by a long shot.

Aaron's blue eyes fixed on Eva. "Are you okay Miss. Gillespie?" he asked her, genuine concern on his features.

Eva pushed some loose hairs away from her face and nodded. "I'm fine," she stated realizing just how fast her breathing had become. Eva tugged on her gown and straightened her skirt, trying desperately to seem composed, in control, even if she felt anything but in charge of the situation.

What was Aaron doing here? And then Eva recalled she'd asked him to come over, so they could talk over a few things. Details of how they could sort out some of the long standing disputes Aaron and her father had had. But those things seemed completely irrelevant now. Eva wondered what Aaron was going to do to Jude. The look on Aaron's face was grim and serious. But, the truth was, Eva had never been more relieved to see Aaron Stewart.

"Look here, Jude," Aaron said leaning close up to Arabin. "What do you think you were doing? You know that laying a hand on a woman like that is just plain unacceptable," he said.

Arabin rubbed his still reddened face. "Did you see what she did?" he demanded.

Aaron glanced at Eva. His gaze was still and steady. For a moment Eva wondered what Aaron was going to say.

"I think Eva was only doing what she had every right to do, Jude. Especially when you raised that hand of your's."

Arabin whirled and looked at Eva. "We were only talking. Isn't that right Miss. Gillespie?"

Eva's eyes narrowed. She sighed. "We might have been talking Jude. But that didn't give you the right to do what you did," she said.

Arabin shook his head. He looked like he knew he wasn't going to win any argument. Especially with the tall figure of Aaron Stewart leaning over him. "I was only trying to explain something to Eva."

"Looked like you were doing a whole lot more than explaining," Aaron said. He stepped into the hallway and took his place by Eva's side. Eva was suddenly aware of just how much taller than her Aaron was. "Now I think an apology is in order. Don't you think. Jude?"

Arabin's brows furrowed. He peered at Eva and Aaron standing side by side. If felt good to stand so close to Aaron after what Jude had just done.

Arabin seemed to be considering what to say. Eva glanced up at Aaron and saw that his eyes were locked on Arabin's face, waiting patiently for the other man's reply.

"Well? What you got to say for yourself, Jude? Look's like a cat's got your tongue," Aaron said firmly.

Jude looked at Eva and she felt something twist inside her. The man's eyes were filled with what could only be described as the purest anger and deepest frustration.

"Can I ask you to give some consideration to what I asked you, Miss. Gillespie?" Arabin urged.

Eva sighed. "I told you once, Jude. My mind is made up. What you suggested is entirely out of the question."

Eva thought about Mr. Dunn and what he'd told her. Could it be that Arabin already knew about the contents of her father's will? Surely not. Then again, Arabin and her father had spent a lot of time together. Eva couldn't be sure what they'd discussed when she wasn't around.

Eva looked at Aaron and saw the puzzled expression on his face.

Arabin sighed and took a step toward her. Eva leaned in closer to Aaron and Arabin paused. He looked back and forth from Eva to Aaron. He nodded. "I see. I get the picture."

"What're you talking about Jude?" she asked.

Arabin shook his head. "Never mind. Some things are plain. Even if the people involved can't see what's in front of their faces," he said.

Eva frowned at Arabin. His words hardly made sense. She turned and looked at Aaron. His face was blank and unreadable.

Arabin lowered his head in a mocking, insincere gesture. "I apologize Miss Gillespie. I lost my head for a moment. It won't happen again," he said.

"It surely won't," Eva agreed with an emphatic nod.

Aaron placed a gentle hand against Eva's arm. Arabin eyes widened when he saw the gesture. His thin lips creased into an ironic smile. "Once again, my condolences on your loss, Miss. Gillespie," Arabin said. And then he turned quickly and strode off in the direction of the bunkhouse.

Eva felt the tension drain out of her body as she watched Arabin head off across the yard.

"Are you okay?" Aaron said. Eva looked into his eyes and saw the genuine concern there.

"I'm fine. Now that he's gone," she said.

Eva closed the door. She stood in the hallway and faced Aaron. He gazed down at her. She saw the hesitation in his eyes. He was clearly wondering what to say next. Aaron had always had a way of finding just the right words, had used that ability to maintain the awkward peace between her father and himself over the years. Even if at times it had meant that disagreements had ended up being resolved in favor of her father.

Eventually Aaron spoke. His voice was low and steady in the silence of the hallway. "I don't know what got into him. He sure seemed riled about something," Aaron said.

Eva turned away from him. "You know how he can be sometimes. He's always been a hothead," she tried to explain.

Aaron nodded and she knew he wasn't going to pry into her affairs any longer. But, the truth was, she wanted to tell him about Arabin's ridiculous proposal, needed to share the outrageous suggestion with someone, even if it was only so she could comprehend just how unacceptable the whole idea was.

"It's strange. Your father had so much faith in him. As a foreman," Aaron said.

"And that was about all," Eva said firmly. "He's just a foreman. And that's what he needs to understand."

Aaron frowned. "What do you mean, Eva?"

She loved how her name sounded on his lips. Always had liked how those two syllables sounded in his deep, vibrant voice. Right now, she savored it, even more so, here in the peace and quiet of the ranch house, on a day which had been one of the most difficult of her life.

Eva shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it, Aaron."

Eva suddenly felt light headed. She felt herself sway and Aaron reached over, holding her by the elbow, steadying her.

"Eva. Are feeling unwell?" he asked.

Eva leaned away from his touch, from the supporting hand that, if truth be told, she felt so comfortable with. She ran a hand across her forehead. "I'm fine."

"You need to sit down. Let's go into the parlor," he said firmly.

"No. I'm fine," she tried to insist.

"Look Eva. I know this has been a hard day for you. I'll get Mrs. Bell to fix you some tea."

Eva yielded and let Aaron guide her into the parlor. She took a seat on the sofa and tried to compose herself while he went to the kitchen.

What was she going to do? What could she tell Aaron? The day had started with her feeling a deep and intense sadness at the prospect of laying her beloved father to rest. Then there had been the revelation that the same beloved father had chosen a most unsuitable man to be her husband. The day had continued with a ludicrous confrontation with that man who seriously thought Eva Gillespie was simply going to agree to a proposal which she was sure would guarantee a life of quiet and desperate misery.

She would not do it!

Eva hadn't struggled alongside her father, building up the ranch, working day and night, suffering blazing hot summer and frozen winters, only to have it snatched away from her by a man she could barely look at without feelings of nausea rising up within her.

What had her father been thinking? How could he have done such a ridiculous thing, tying Eva's hands, making her future conditional on accepting the unthinkable. Her mind briefly flashed with images of Arabin, his intimate attentions, his leering face close to her own, his lips descending upon her mouth.

A gasp of panic burst out of her mouth and she had to take a deep breath to compose herself.

What was she going to do? What could she do?

She heard the sounds of Mrs. Bell's shrill tones in the kitchen. Aaron had obviously told her that Eva was feeling unwell. He might even have mentioned that the reason she was feeling like that was Jude Arabin. Eva smiled involuntarily at the thought of what Mrs. Bell would do to Arabin. She'd always had a forthright and fearless approach to dealing with all the employees. Arabin had been on the receiving end of Mrs. Bell's temper on plenty of occasions. That thought lessened Eva's sense of anxiety and provided a welcome moment of light relief.

Eva could hear Aaron and Mrs. Bell chatting away in the kitchen. She couldn't make out what they were saying to each other, but it sounded good-natured. In that moment a memory came to Eva's mind, a vivid and crystal clear image of a conversation she'd had with the housekeeper only a few weeks before.