Cole's Montana Bride (Sweet,clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series Book 7) (2 page)

Lucy nodded. "He and I have known each other for quite a while. We've never really been sweet on each other. But we've been friends for years."

Victoria felt her heart beat faster. "So who's the one not at the wedding?"

Lucy's eyes rolled. "Oh, he's so sweet too. Just the handsomest man. They both are. I am so lucky I guess, that I've known both of them, growing up here and all.

"Well, having a choice is something most young ladies don't usually have, Lucy," Victoria suggested.

"I know. I'm so lucky," Lucy agreed. "Well. The one who's not at the wedding today is Paul Edwards. He's the son of one of the town bankers."

"Good family," Victoria observed.

Lucy nodded and took a sip from her drink. "Very good. And Paul is such a sweet man. Divinely handsome. Dark haired and with the loveliest disposition you can find."

"Banking is a secure profession," Victoria stated. She glanced across the room. She couldn't see Cole anywhere amongst the guests. A quick scan around the room failed to locate him amongst. Victoria figured he must have stepped out the room.

Lucy's eager tone drew Victoria's attention back to the conversation. "But the other young man has an equally secure profession," she said breathlessly. "And, he is easily the most handsome of the two."

"Really?" Victoria said with a raising of her brows. "Two devastatingly handsome men to choose from? You really are giving me a tough job, Lucy," she said with a smile that felt ever so slightly forced.

Lucy's eyes widened. "I know you will do your best, Victoria. I have complete confidence in you."

"That's such a nice thing for you to say. Thank you, Lucy," Victoria said. "Now. Tell me. Who is your other prospective husband?"

Lucy whirled quickly around. "Oh. He seems to have left the room for the moment. Darn it. I so wanted you to see him."

And in that moment Victoria Carr knew that she had her work cut out for her. She knew that in agreeing to help Lucy Carter choose between two of the most eligible young men in Billings, she was accepting the toughest job she'd ever had in the years since she'd set herself up as a professional matchmaker.

Lucy turned and peered excitedly into Victoria's eyes. "He's a rancher you see. Maybe he was called back to his ranch to do what ranchers do, I guess."

Victoria hesitated. "So what's his name, Lucy?"

The bright eyed young woman looked at Victoria and said the words that made Victoria's heart sink and her legs begin to feel weak beneath her.

When Lucy spoke it was in hushed, conspiratorial tones. "His name is Cole MacAllan."

CHAPTER TWO

Cole MacAllan guided his horse along the trail that led from his ranch into the town of Billings and wondered how on earth he'd agreed to the ridiculous meeting he was on his way to. From the minute he'd seen Victoria Carr the day before at the wedding of Ruby and Marcus, he'd known trouble had come back to Billings. And he'd been right.

He gazed around at the rolling fields, taking in the splendor of the land he loved so much. This was his place, the country that filled his soul, that made him feel complete. He'd just left his ranch in the safe keeping of his trusted foreman, Lou. There was nothing that he should feel concerned about. The ranch would run quite nicely without his presence. That was the way he'd organized things these past few years. The same years he'd spent thinking about Victoria Carr almost every single day.

And now, she was back.

The horse beneath him tossed it's head from side to side as if sensing the tension of it's rider. Cole tugged at the reins and peered ahead. He'd be in town in a short time and he still hadn't figured out what he was going to say to Victoria. The meeting had been set up in a neutral place, and that was probably just as well. The restaurant was a public place and there were too many private things that needed to be kept well and truly in check. Chief amongst them was the question that was burning a hole in Cole's mind.

Why had Victoria asked him to come and see her?

Surely she didn't want to go back to the past. The painful past which Cole had spent so much effort trying to keep under wraps. The advantage of a man owning a prosperous and growing ranch was that it served many purposes. It put food on the table and kept a roof over his head.

But it also let a man forget. And Cole MacAllan wanted to forget. He needed to continue the forward momentum he'd spent so much effort establishing for himself. Hard work had seen to his memories, had buried them beneath exhaustion. He'd truly believed that he'd forgotten her. Whether that was a good thing or not, he wasn't sure. But he'd tried.

And now, she had come back to Billings. Why?

When he'd seen her at the wedding he'd hardly believed his eyes. It had been four years since he'd seen her. Four long years of hard days and harder nights. A guest had told him that Ruby and Marcus had found each other thanks to Victoria and her business.

She was a matchmaker! That was ironic. Cole smiled as he thought about Victoria assessing couples for their compatibility. What a pity she hadn't applied those skills when Cole had been sweet on Victoria. What a shame that Victoria hadn't been able to fathom just how wrong she and Cole had been for each other. Maybe then a whole lot of heartache might have been avoided. For both of them.

Cole took in a deep breath savoring the sweet clean Montana air. It was a beautiful April morning. Spring was in the air. He usually felt unusually alive at this time of the year, looking forward to the good months, when work would be hard but rewarding and profits would set him up for the coming winter. The seasons had a comforting rhythm. They always had done since Victoria had left him.

His throat tightened as he recalled the day she'd left, telling him that she was going to live in Helena, that there were things she had to do, that everything between her and Cole was moving too fast, that she needed to figure out what her future might be.

And Cole had really believed she would be back before the winter. Back in his arms with the scent of her hair in his nostrils and the warmth of her presence next to him.

But she hadn't come back.

Instead there had been a letter. A simple letter that stated in plain terms that she was striking out on her own, that she'd decided on a future as a matchmaker because she'd discovered that she loved to make people happy, loved to bring love into the world.

Cole frowned, as he did every time he thought about that letter. His lips drew into a thin, tight line at the memory of how that letter had affected him.

So, Victoria had become a matchmaker, bringing happiness into the lives of others, a happiness that Cole felt he'd been cheated of by her simple act of leaving.

And now she wanted to meet with him.

He'd bolted from that wedding reception, fearing for his reaction, anxious not to spoil the happiest day of a young couple who didn't deserve the presence of a man and woman facing each other for the first time since a painful separation.

But there was one thing that just wouldn't shift from Cole's mind. Victoria Carr was even more beautiful than ever. Seeing her across the room had taken his heart by surprise. It had been just as well that there had been so much polite conversation to indulge in with the guests. But he'd hardly been able to keep his eyes off her. Miraculously their eyes hadn't met. Every time he'd looked in her direction she'd been looking the other way, or talking with Lucy Carter.

But, Victoria was still so darned lovely, he thought to himself. Her blonde hair and blue eyes were as devastatingly attractive as ever. But there was a new poise and confidence in her posture, something that he'd never seen before. Her delicate, heart shaped face was just about the only thing he'd seen as he'd scanned the gathered guests in that sitting room. Just looking at her beautiful presence had made his heart skip a beat in a way that he'd forgotten was possible.

And for that reason he'd determined to excuse himself and claim that there had been a problem at the ranch that needed his urgent attention. Luckily, as he'd left, Lucy Carter had just commandeered Victoria's attention. Lord knew what they'd been talking about, but the tightness in his chest and the tension in his jaw had made it imperative he get out of that house. On making it back to the ranch it hadn't been too difficult to find work to keep him busy.

Cole quietened his mind for a time and after a short while he was in town and riding the horse up to the front of the restaurant. The main drag was busy in the late morning. The boardwalk was crowded with townsfolk going about their business. The stores were a hive of activity. Cole didn't come into Billings unless he had to. And today was one of those rare occasions when he felt he had no choice.

Cole peered through the window. He could see that the restaurant had some customers. He wondered if she would be there. Knowing how organized Victoria would have to be to run a matchmaking business, he doubted she'd be late for their appointment.

As he stepped down off the horse he touched the pocket of his jacket. He felt the thickness of the letter she'd written to him, asking for the meeting. There had been no mention of it being in any way personal. In fact, the tone of the letter had been pretty formal, simply requesting his presence at a meeting which might be advantageous to him.

Advantageous!

The only thing which would have been advantageous for Cole MacAllan was if Victoria Carr had never come back to Billings, let alone asked to see him. But, Cole's curiosity was strong and he figured he might never get another chance to ask the woman he'd once loved the most important question.

Why had she left him?

CHAPTER THREE

When Victoria saw Cole enter the restaurant something happened which stunned her.

She was overwhelmed by a sudden physical surge of relief that Cole had agreed to come and meet with her. He'd actually come.

Seated at the corner table, Victoria was suddenly aware that she'd placed a gloved hand over her middle with an involuntary movement. She pulled herself upright and glanced down at the table. She reached over and quickly poured some tea from the pot into her half full cup. Her throat had suddenly become inexplicably dry. She took a sip of the tea enjoying the relieving warmth in her throat.

Victoria glanced once more toward Cole and felt the breath catch in her lungs.

Cole MacAllan was indeed still a fine looking man.

His tall, wide shouldered figure seemed to fill the doorway of the restaurant. She saw him remove his hat and glance over toward the corner table where she was seated.

Victoria raised a tentative hand and saw his eyes light up briefly. However, she noted with mild concern that he didn't smile as he started to make his way over toward her table. Cole was dressed elegantly and practically as befitted a well-to-do rancher. But, she observed with a wry smile, he'd probably made an effort to look presentable. Years ago he wouldn't have made much of an effort.

Cole was wearing a neat brown jacket, dark pants and boots. He moved with a familiar confident grace that Victoria recalled from their time together. Had it been so many years ago? How was it that she could still recognize the easy manner, the subtle movement that said so much about the man's inner being. It was as if the quiet strength she remembered as such a key aspect of his character was reflected in his very movement.

Cole wove his way amongst the handful of diners. There were about half a dozen others in the small dining room. Some of them glanced at Cole as he passed.

Victoria placed the cup down on the saucer and stood. She felt her legs weak and she had to steady herself against the table. Victoria felt her heart thudding and her pulse race as the man she'd left behind so many years before made his way across the room and back into her life. For how long, she briefly wondered.

Cole stopped at the table. There was an awkward moment when neither of them could find words and then Cole reached out and took Victoria's outstretched hands.

"Cole. It's so lovely to see you," Victoria said, aware that her voice was quivering with barely contained emotion. Was he feeling the same as she was? Even though he was close, standing tall and handsome right in front of her, she couldn't tell. His face was impassive, his jaw firm. His voice was deeper than she'd remembered.

Then Victoria saw a flash of something in Cole's eyes. He paused, then spoke. "Victoria. I got your letter," he said stiffly.

"Yes. The letter," Victoria answered, suddenly feeling even more awkward. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to ask you in person. But you left the wedding before I had the chance to speak with you."

"Yeah. I had business back at the ranch," Cole said hesitantly shifting his hat from one hand to the other.

"Please have a seat," Victoria said with a gesture of her hand. She sat down trying to maintain an air of calm, disguising the raging emotions that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Why was she suddenly feeling like this? She tried to pull herself together, tell herself that this meeting was strictly business, merely driven by the necessity to keep her promise to Lucy. But Victoria was feeling so much more than she'd expected to.

Cole drew out a chair and sat down across from Victoria. His gaze was briefly probing, momentarily curious. They ordered more tea and for a few moments there was a long, tense silence between them.

Now that Cole was sitting across from her Victoria could see the changes in him that the years had wrought. There was a most appealing rugged quality about him that she hadn't seen before. His skin was darker, a reflection of days out in the sun working with the herd. But it was the expression in Cole's eyes which took Victoria by surprise the most. There was a directness in them she couldn't recall having seen in the younger Cole. The man who sat across from her was a changed man, a different man from the one she'd left behind.

Yes, she admitted to herself. She had left the man who now sat opposite her. And she wondered what he would say, how he would react, now that they were sitting across from each other for the first time in years.

Cole peered across the table at her in a manner which Victoria found both disconcerting and affecting all at the same time. It was as if he was examining her, assessing her, trying to recognize the woman seated across from him. She felt he was watching her every movement, awaiting whatever had prompted her to request this meeting.