Cole's Montana Bride (Sweet,clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series Book 7) (11 page)

Carter said nothing, merely shaking his head slowly.

"It was my view that both Mr. MacAllan and Mr. Paul Edwards are both fine individuals in their own right. And that there were merits in both men's claim to become husband to your dear daughter."

Carter's eyes narrowed. "And that is your professional opinion?" he said with more than a tinge of sarcasm.

Cole stepped close to Victoria. He could see her hands shaking as she gripped onto the fabric of her skirt. She was clearly trying to steady herself against the suggestions of impropriety being levelled at her by Carter.

"As it stands Mr. Edwards still has much to recommend him," Victoria said, her voice shaking slightly.

"How unfortunate for Mr. Edwards that I don't concur," Carter said lowering his head.

Cole could see the distress on her face. Looking at Carter he saw that the man seemed to take some relish from making Victoria as uncomfortable as possible.

Cole took a step and placed himself between Victoria and Carter. The other man noticed the move and fixed Cole with a look that bore more than a hint of challenge. Victoria touched Cole on the arm. Cole looked down at her arm and let it rest there.

Cole peered at Carter. "You and I have history, Lucius. And I know you want my ranch," he said. "Why you want it, I don't know."

Carter tried to object but Cole stopped him with the raising of a hand. "You tried to buy me out once before and I turned you down. Heck, I think I might be just about the only man in these parts who has turned down an offer from you."

Carter's features froze into an angry rictus.

"But, listen good, Lucius," Cole said leaning his face close to the Carter's. "I am not for sale. Neither is my ranch," he murmured. And then he held up his hand and pointed to a finger. "And neither is my ring finger for sale. Not any more," Cole said with a grin, trying to contain the powerful urge to glance over toward Victoria.

Cole locked eyes on Carter, hoping that the man would react in some way. But he knew that Carter's intelligence was too keen to allow that to happen. Cole was more worried about Victoria. She'd obviously been surprised at the vehemence displayed by Carter. It had been no surprise at all to Cole. He'd seen the man's temper on display on many an occasion at cattle sales. Carter was a hard bargainer and not a man to cross lightly.

Cole knew he'd taken a gamble coming to Carter's home and giving him the news. But there had been nothing else for it. If Cole was to have any chance of winning Victoria, then this was merely the first step. And he knew that.

Cole turned to Victoria. "If our business is concluded here, I suggest that we bid good afternoon to Mr. Carter and be on our way," he said to her. "Wouldn't you agree, Ms. Carr?"

Victoria looked into Cole's eyes and he could see the gratitude in her gaze. It gave him a jolt of satisfaction to see that look.

"I think that's a very good idea, Mr. MacAllan," she agreed, going to her seat and lifting up the small handbag she had laid down by the side.

"Before you go Cole, I only have one thing to say to you," Carter said with a wry grin. Cole felt a chill as he looked at the man's face. There was a strange kind of certainty there which made Cole feel ill at ease.

Carter took a step closer. "I've heard what you've said." He looked at Victoria. "And I've expressed my disappointments to Ms. Carr. However, this is how it's going to be."

Cole stood still as Carter leaned his head closer. Carter glanced from Cole to Victoria.

"If my daughter isn't engaged to be married within twenty-four hours then here's what's going to happen. I'll make sure you never sell another head of cattle in this territory. Ever. You know I can make that happen," Carter said with an animal grin and steady, dark eyes.

"You can't do that," Cole argued.

"You know I can. I've done it before to other men more deserving than you," Carter said.

Victoria thrust her head between the two men. "That's an outrageous threat," she declared.

Carter turned to her. "It's not a threat. It's a statement of fact." Carter ran his eyes up and down the length of Victoria's figure making her stiffen awkwardly.

"Now see here, Carter," Cole said raising a hand. "We'll have none of that here. Ms. Carr has only tried her best to ensure your daughter got married."

"And I'm sure she can bring her business to a satisfactory conclusion," Carter said. "For your sake, and for the sake of my daughter."

Victoria reached out and seized Cole by the elbow. He stared at her in disbelief as she tugged on his arm. "We'll be in touch, Mr. Carter," she said, ignoring Cole's look of incredulity.

Another hard tug on his arm had Cole battling to maintain his balance. The only thing he could do was follow the erect and poised figure of Victoria Carr as she quickly made her way, heels clacking on the wooden floor, out the front door of Lucius Carter's house.

CHAPTER TEN

"Where are we going, Cole?" Victoria asked gazing at his long back and wide shoulders as she held the reins of her horse and followed behind Cole's mount. They were on the trail that led them away from the town and he still hadn't answered her.

"You'll see soon enough," he called out over his shoulder.

Victoria gazed around at the beautiful country, feeling the warm sun on her face. From their position high up on the ridge she drank in the vision of the faraway mountains, the rolling hills, the distant valleys and forests. She drew in a deep calming breath and felt something settle in her soul. It was so good to be away from that house, putting distance between herself and the accusations that Carter had made. The Montana land had a way of calming even the most disturbed emotions.

They had come storming out of the Carter residence almost hand in hand, a situation which hadn't seemed to escape Cole's notice when she'd seen him glance down at her firm grip, with what looked like an expression of approval.

Victoria had held on firm to Cole's elbow all the way down the steps of the stone staircase to where both of their horses had been tied up. Not wanting to waste any time standing in front of the grand edifice that was a testament to the success of Lucius Carter, Victoria had leapt upon her horse and curtly told Cole to do the same.

He'd followed her lead but after a short time he'd moved his horse out in front of her and, before she'd known it, they had been heading out of town.

"Why won't you tell me?" she demanded once more in a louder voice. Cole kept on riding, his horse following a trail that was now beginning to trigger vague, tentative memories in Victoria.

Surely he couldn't be thinking to take her there. To their special place.

Not on a day like today, with the emotions that had been stirred up inside her still bubbling away.

Victoria thought about what had gone on back at the Carter house. It was hardly credible that such a gentle and innocent woman as Lucy Carter could be the offspring of a man like Lucius. He was so harsh, so suspicious. And there was nothing for him to be suspicious about. Was there?

Or was it so apparent to everyone, except Victoria, that something had been reawakened between herself and Cole? In spite of all her efforts at being cool, efficient and professional there had been something in her demeanor, some imperceptible signal she had given out which had made Lucius believe that something had been rekindled between Cole and Victoria.

Had it just been fatherly anxiety about the hopeful union of his daughter with a man about whom he had to be sure, a man in whose safekeeping he was about place his own flesh and blood? Or did Lucius simply have no faith in Victoria as a matchmaker? Lucius didn't strike Victoria as someone who would easily allow anyone else to interfere in so important a matter as his daughter's marriage. But he had consented to Victoria's involvement.

Temporarily, it seemed.

So, why was the man being so belligerent about the entire matter. Victoria couldn't figure it out any more than she could fathom why Cole was now taking them both to a place he must know would evoke a mixture of emotions. This was hardly the time for going to a place where she and Cole had passed so many warm, sunny wonderful afternoons.

Cole turned his mount off the ridge trail and headed down the hill toward a distant flowing river.

Yes. She was sure now. He was taking her to that place, she said to herself urgently.

"Cole. Are you taking me where I think you're taking me?"

Cole twisted in his saddle. "Don't you want to go there. I figured, after that stuff back at the house, we could have ourselves some quiet time," he said. "Take some time to think and have us a talk."

Victoria smiled but inside she didn't feel the same obvious enthusiasm that Cole was apparently feeling.

She followed Cole's horse, and after a short time they came to the river bend.

Their river bend.

Cole paused and turned to Victoria. "Remember this?" he asked.

Victoria looked at the river and nodded. "I sure do. How could I forget?"

It was an idyllic spot and it hadn't changed a bit in the years since they'd last sat on the grass, on a hot summer day, with the breeze cooling them as they both drank in the view of the fast running water and the beautiful curving course it took as it wove it's way through the surrounding low hills. There were few trees down by the riverside and that afforded them a glorious view of the landscape that seemed to envelope them, closing them off from the outside world.

"It's still beautiful, isn't it?" Cole asked, starting to dismount. Victoria followed his lead, stepping down onto the thick grass. They both tied the horses to a solitary fallen tree stump.

The sound of the flowing water was clear and sharp, cutting into Victoria's senses with a keen edge that made her suddenly aware of the reality of what she was doing. She had let herself be brought to a place which had featured in so many of her dreams these past few years. At any point in the last half hour she could have said to Cole that she would have preferred to have gone home. But she hadn't.

Cole walked over toward the edge of the river and stood on it's edge. Seeing him there like that brought back a sudden rush of recollections as forceful as the water that shone so brightly. She squinted her eyes at the shimmering sunlight that reflected off the rushing torrent of the river. Cole stood there, looking so much a part of this place, like he belonged here. And he did, she realized. But did she? Victoria asked herself once again if she really had a place in this territory.

Victoria walked to the river's edge. Cole bent down and picked up a stone and threw it into the water, making it bounce a few times before slipping into the swell of the water.

"Remember that?" he asked with a grin.

Victoria found herself smiling in spite of herself. "You haven't lost your touch," she observed.

He offered her a small, flat stone. "Want to try?"

She leaned her head and gave him a look that she hadn't given him for a very long time. Was he being serious? Or was he playing with her the way he'd always done. The way she had always loved.

"I don't think I want to be embarrassed."

"Go on. Try it," he said holding the palm of his hand open to her.

Victoria rolled her eyes and peered at Cole. She shook her head and took the stone. It felt cold and the edge was sharp.

"You remember how I showed you?"

Cole reached over and took her hand. She felt the familiar rush of sensation at his touch. The same surge of feeling she'd felt when he'd kissed her at the cabin. His fingers were strong, but they way he held her hand was soft and gentle, as he turned her fingers, instructing her how to hold the stone.

Victoria glanced at Cole's face as he leaned in close. She could see that he was enjoying the closeness, the chance to touch her once again.

"What you want to do is make sure the stone is flat as you release it. Turn your hand a little so that your palm is open and pointing upwards," he instructed.

Victoria turned her wrist as Cole wrapped his fingers around it, gently positioning her hand so that her palm was open. When he touched the palm of her hand to move the stone she felt a tingle race up her arm all the way to her spine. She took a quick breath and turned her head away from Cole.

"You can do it. Remember?"

The sound of the rushing river water was loud in her ears. The air smelled clean and sharp, as if the rushing water had cleansed the place, made it pure, just for them.

Cole released her hand and she felt a momentary disappointment, until he moved around her side and placed his soft hands on her waist. She turned and their eyes met. Cole's were briefly filled with questions, as if seeking permission.

"When you throw the stone you have to lean to your right and try and keep the stone flat as it meets the water."

Victoria nodded and gave him a smile that she was sure made it clear that touching her waist was acceptable.

Cole held onto her for a few moments and then let her go, moving around to her side. "Try. You wouldn't want me to be able to do something you can't," he said with a grin. "Would you?"

Victoria narrowed her eyes in mock disapproval. "You know I wouldn't like that, Cole."

He smiled and tipped his hat back. "On you go, then," he said with a gesture toward the racing water. "Let's see if you can do it."

Victoria took a deep breath and focused on the river. She squeezed her hand around the stone and drew her arm back, leaning down to her right as Cole had shown her. With a swift and sharp toss of her hand she threw the stone at the water. The stone bounced once, twice and then a third time, skimming easily across to the other side of the river before plunging into a wave.

Victoria squealed with delight and jumped up in the air, clapping her hands. She bounced up and down on the soft grass underfoot and whirled around to see Cole's smiling face, his eyes bright with pleasure and pride.

"Whoa! That was something," he said shaking his head. "That was almost as good as mine," he teased with a lopsided grin.

"What do you mean? Mine went further than yours," she insisted.