Country Bride: Country Bride / Woodrose Mountain

* * *

By the time Kate pulled into the Circle L driveway, she was filled with bold resolution. She hurried inside just long enough to set a roast in the oven and change her clothes. Then she went into the yard, intent on confronting Luke. She wanted to get this over with—as soon as possible.

As luck would have it, Luke wasn’t in any of the places she normally found him. Bill Schmidt, a longtime ranch hand, was working in the barn by himself.

“Bill, have you seen Luke?” she asked.

Bill straightened and set his hat farther back on his head. “Can’t say I have. At least, not in the past couple of hours. Said he was going out to look for strays. I imagine he’ll be back pretty soon now.”

“I see.” Kate gnawed her lower lip, wondering what she should do. Without pausing to question the wisdom of her decision, she reached for a bridle.

“Bill, would you get Nonstop for me?” Nonstop was the fastest horse in their stable. Kate was in the mood for some exercise; if she didn’t find Luke, that was fine, too. She could use a good hard ride to vent some of the frustration that had been binding her all week.

“Sure, Miz Logan.” Bill left his task and headed for the corral, returning a few minutes later with Nonstop. “Luke seemed to be in the mood to do some riding himself this afternoon,” he commented as he helped her cinch the saddle. “Must be the weather.”

“Must be,” Kate agreed.

Minutes later Nonstop was cantering out of the yard. Kate hadn’t ridden in weeks and she was surprised to realize just how long it had been. When she was engaged to Clay, she’d spent many a summer afternoon in the saddle, many a Saturday or Sunday riding by his side. That had ended about the same time as their wedding plans. She felt a stinging sense of loss but managed to dispel it with the memory of her talk with Rorie.

Bill pointed out the general direction Luke had taken, and Kate followed that course at a gallop. She found it wonderfully invigorating to be in the saddle again.

The afternoon remained mild, but the breeze carried the distinctive scent of autumn. These past few days had been Indian summer, with rare clement temperatures. Within the hour, the sun would set, bathing the rolling green hills in a golden haze.

“Kate.” Her name floated on a whisper of wind.

Pulling back on the reins, Kate halted the mare and turned in the saddle to discover Luke trotting toward her. She raised her hand and waved. Much of her irritation had dissipated, replaced by a newly awakened sense of well-being. No longer did Kate feel her life was roaring out of control; she was in charge, and it exhilarated her.

Luke dismounted as soon as he reached her. “Is everything all right?”

“Of course,” she said with a slight laugh. “I hope I didn’t frighten you.”

“No. I rode into the yard not more than fifteen minutes after you left, according to Bill. I was afraid I wasn’t going to catch you. You were riding like a demon.”

“I...had some thinking to do.”

“Bill said you were looking for me.”

“Yes,” she agreed. “I wanted to talk to you.” There was no better time than the present. And no better place. They were at the top of a grassy hill that looked out over a lush green valley. Several head of cattle dotted the pasture spread out below them, grazing in the last of the afternoon sun.

Luke lifted his hands to her waist, helping her out of the saddle. His eyes held hers as he lowered her to the ground. Once again, she was aware that his touch had a curious effect on her, but she stringently ignored it.

Still, Kate’s knees felt a little shaky and she was more breathless than she should’ve been after her ride. She watched Luke loop the reins over the horses’ heads to dangle on the ground. Both Nonstop and Silver Shadow, Luke’s gelding, were content to graze leisurely.

“It’s nice out this afternoon, isn’t it?” she said, then sank down on the grass and drew up her legs.

Luke sat down beside her, gazing out over the valley. “It’s a rare day. I don’t expect many more like it.”

“Rorie and Clay are back from Hawaii.”

Luke had removed his leather work gloves to brush a stray curl from her temple, then stopped abruptly and withdrew his hand. “I take it you saw Rorie?”

She nodded, adding, “We had coffee at Nellie’s.”

“You’re not upset?”

“Not at all.”

“I thought you looked more at peace with yourself.” He leaned back and rested his weight on the palms of his hands. His long legs were stretched in front of him, crossed at the ankles. “Did you finally recognize that you never did love Clay? That you’re in love with me?”

“No,” she said vehemently, amazed he could anger her so quickly.

Luke turned away. “I thought... I’d hoped you were willing to discuss a wedding date,” he said stiffly.

“Oh, Luke,” she whispered and closed her eyes. He was so worried for her, so concerned, and she didn’t know how to reassure him.

“Luke,” she said softly, “we’ve been having the same discussion all week, and it’s got to come to an end.” Luke faced her and their eyes met with an impact that shocked her. “Luke, I think you’re a wonderful man—I have for years and years,” she continued. “But I don’t love you, at least not the way you deserve to be loved.”

Luke’s eyebrows soared, then his brow furrowed. He seemed about to argue, but Kate stopped him before he had the chance.

“I refuse to be coerced into a wedding simply because you feel it’s the best thing for me—because you feel I need looking after. Frankly, I don’t believe marriage is a good idea for us—at least not to each other.”

“Kate, love—”

Lowering her lashes in an effort to disguise her frustration, Kate reminded him for what seemed the thousandth time, “I am not your ‘love.’”

His eyes became sharper, more intent. “Then explain,” he said slowly, “why it feels so right when I hold you? How do you answer that?”

She avoided his gaze, her eyes focusing a fraction below his. “I can’t explain it any more than I can deny it.” She’d admit that much. “I do enjoy it when you kiss me, though I don’t know why, especially since I’m still in love with Clay. My guess is that we’ve lived all these years in close proximity and we’re such good friends that it was a natural, comforting, thing to do. But I don’t think it should continue.”

His nostrils flared briefly, and she could tell he was angered by her words.

“I’m begging you, Luke, pleading with you, if you—”

“Kate, would you listen to me for once?”

“No,” she said, holding her ground. “I’m asking for only one thing from you. I want you to drop this incessant pressure to marry you.”

“But—”

“Give me your word, Luke.”

His entire expression changed, and just looking at him told Kate how difficult he was finding this. “All right,” he said heavily. “You have my word. I won’t mention it again.”

Kate sighed shakily and all her muscles seemed to go limp. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That’s all I want.”

Luke lunged to his feet and reached for Silver Shadow’s reins. He eased himself back into the saddle, then paused to look down at her, his face dark and brooding. “What about what I want, Kate? Did you stop to consider that?”

Six (#ulink_c104ea71-a868-5014-a9b6-aa20b32ad775)