And the other ranch hands wont find him?
Not if I get him moved right away.
Youll capture him, then, and tame him. Break him, she corrected, adding the last words with a heavy disdain.
Or sadness. He could feel both. I dont break animals. I train them.
Isnt that the same? Just because youre not wearing your spurs now, you use them. You carry a whip.
I dont wear spurs.
All the hired men wear spurs.
Then where are mine? He held up his boot as proof. My grandfather was a great Nez Percé warrior. He could talk with horses. A rare gift. He taught me what he knew. Gentle voice, gentle hand, gentle treatment makes for a gentle horse. Havent you seen me working your fathers mares?
She shook her head, looking away toward the horizon. Appearing so lost and frozen inside.
How about I make you two propositions? He stood, because she was still standing, and watched her eyes narrow, felt her stiffen in distrust as he approached.
She smelled like beauty. Spring flowers and starlight, and the impact beat through him. Hot. Hard. Fast. He wanted her with a fierceness hed never known and he couldnt believe he was standing here, about to offer for her.
Hell, how was she ever going to say yes? I dont have much to offer a woman like you, he began, because it was the truth and he didnt want to lie to her. Ever. She had to know the man he was, good and bad. I do have a house and three sections of land a far piece northeast of here. Good, rich land. Ive got a herd of mares, ones Ive picked up here and there. My brother keeps an eye on them. His land is next to mine.
Hes a horseman, too?
It was a good sign she hadnt run for the hills yet. He is. My house isnt what youre used to. Its stout enough to keep out the brutal north winds. It has a view that is just as good as this one. I promise you, on my honor, on all that I am, that its one place where you will be safe. No one, I mean no one, will ever hurt you there. Marry me. Ill never give you cause to be unhappy.
She turned away, grimacing as if hed caused her harm.
What hopes he had slid south until they crashed to the ground in little irretrievable pieces. She doesnt want me at all.
He was a man. He was strong. He could live with that. Taking a shaky breath, he tried to be logical. It wasnt as if he had a real chance anyway.
Whats your second proposition? You said there were two. She sounded hollow and tired.
She wasnt interested in him, he knew that. He was a practical man. So he told her what she wanted to know. To help me with the stallion.
What would you do to him if I dont accept your proposal?
Was that fear in her eyes? I would never hurt him, dont worry. His welfare doesnt depend on you marrying me. Your welfare does.
I cant. I cant ever marry anyone again.
Why not?
Because Im afraid. Because Im barren. What man didnt want a son? Gossip traveled on a ranch. Hennessey had to have heard the rumors, and he was here, in front of her. Why? What did he want? Did he think she had money?
I know you were hurt. I know what happened. The horseman laid his palm against the side of her face.
His touch made her hurt inside, like frost burning on bare skin. Maybe it wasnt only his touch that hurt, but the compassion in his voice. Compassion wasnt something she was used to. No man was like this in real life, was he? He had to want something. That was it.
She steeled her emotions, fought hard to be less vulnerable because this was the proof. He thought she was well-off. It would be reasonable. Brett was a wealthy man.
Sure, youre ready to walk away. You dont think a horseman would be a good match for a lady like you. You may be right. But right now youre about as frail as a woman can be. You need time to recover, but what about tonight? Your stepfather doesnt want you here.
I know.
Then why are you here?
Because I had nowhere else to go. She hated hearing the words. Hated how alone they made her feel.
And now?
She shook her head. Nowhere. No one.
The way I figure it, your stepfather is in a monetary bind. He made me an offer, but other bills are going to come due. Hes going to have to hire someone to replace me. He has no money to pay them. What about the coal bill? What about the wages? How long will it be before he offers you to someone else?
It has occurred to me.
If you stay here, then what? You want to be standing in front of Rhodes with a minister? The truth is, your stepfather doesnt care what happens to you, but I do. You could do a whole lot worse than taking me as a husband.
No. She started to tremble, a fine, cold quivering that began in her soul and overtook her. She couldnt trust a man. She couldnt do it again.
Like a gallant knight, graced by moonlight, Hennessey knelt at her feet and cradled her hands in his.
Marry me. Deep and true, his words rang like a hymn in the stillness. Please, Katelyn. Be my wife.
No. She tugged, but he had a tight hold on her hands. I dont have anything. My clothes and a few books are all I own. Cal stole what little I took with me when I was forced from my own house.
After childbirth? He rose, his face twisting. Im sorry. Thats damn horrible.
His hand curved around her nape, and folded her to the hard plane of his chest. She breathed in the scent of night and snow on his coat, fighting the sensations that were overtaking her. The soft tanned leather against her cheek. The heat of his body. The hardness of it. The sound of his breathing, the rhythm of it.
I will keep you safe, I swear it. How fierce he sounded, how sure. As if hed move mountains if he had to, reshape the earth and raise the endless prairie to keep his word. She could feel it in his touch, in his body as he held her tight, held her safe, made her feel sheltered.
She almost believed him. I truly dont have anything of value. Not even this land. It will be handed down through Cals side of the family.
I told you, I have my own land. I dont understand. Do you think that matters to me?
Why else would you be proposing to me? She pulled away, out of the refuge of his arms.
That is what you think. Do I look like the kind of man whod marry a woman for what shes worth? Dillon couldnt remember being more mad. Not at Cal Willman. Not at anyone. Do you really think so little of me?
I wanted to be honest.
Honest? You look at me and think Id harm an animal, so why wouldnt I marry a woman for my own monetary gain? He was ashamed, how wrong hed been. I think you are the most heavenly woman Ive ever had the privilege to meet. You are beautiful and gentle, and I know Im stepping out of place, a workingman like me asking for a wealthy mans step-daughter to be my bride. Even if she has nowhere to go and no one to help her.
You asked out of pity?
No. I asked you because I couldnt imagine a man like me being so lucky as to have a wife like you. And if you married me, Id be grateful every day of my life.
You asked out of pity?
No. I asked you because I couldnt imagine a man like me being so lucky as to have a wife like you. And if you married me, Id be grateful every day of my life.
Its not what you do, Mr. Hennessey. I just cant. I cant. The pain remained frozen, a hard icy clump deep in her heart as she watched him stalk away. Heard his boots snap against the wooden ladder rungs and then pound through the stable.
If you married him, you wouldnt be here. You wont be alone. She heard the stable door bang shut, caught on Hennesseys emotions and a gust of wind. She didnt need him. She wasnt interested in his proposal.
So, then, why did she watch for him to cross through the barns shadow below and into sight? Hed called himself a workingman. She could not forget his words. His kind, obviously sincere words. You are the most heavenly woman Ive ever had the privilege to meet. You are beautiful and gentle.
He was wrong, but oh, how nice it was to hear kindness. She didnt receive a lot of that.
There he was. Striding hard, but in control. Head up, shoulders set, back straight. He was angry, yes, but had she hurt him?
Chapter Six
It was nearly daybreak, and Dillon was still feeling like a fool.
Why else would you be proposing to me? He could remember her confusion as handily as if she was still standing in front of him in all her beauty and grace. I truly dont have anything of value. Not even this land.
Shed thought hed been wanting to improve his circumstances in life by marrying a wealthy mans daughter. Well, not so wealthy at this particular time, Dillon thought wryly as he grabbed the iron poker from the hook in the hearth.
Good going, Hennessey. His first proposal to a woman and it could not have been more of a ruination. Maybe he should just keep away from women entirely. Then he couldnt act like a fool. Then hed at least keep his dignity.
He doubted Shakespeare himself could find the words to describe how humiliated he felt this morning. And he hadnt stopped there. Hed tossed and turned in his cold bunk thinking of her.
It had been a long shot, proposing to her, sure. But he remembered when shed first come to the ranch. Over a month ago now, he had finally been making some progress with that blood-bay mare. Shed been mishandled something fierce. Effie had made her way from the kitchen with some treat, and Dillon had overheard it then.
It was hard not to eavesdrop when Effie gossiped, since she saw no cause to lower her voice to a whisper when she did. Half-dead, poor thing showed up on the doorstep late last night, shed said. The doc came and went and didnt think shed live.
Hed felt sad for her, hearing of her tragedy. But when hed first laid eyes on her the night shed climbed from her window, well, hed never been the same.
He knocked the ashes from the pile of coals and stirred them. Watched them glow orange the moment air touched them. He opened the damper wide, because he wanted a good hot fire. The bunkhouse was drafty and frigid, although hed risen first and early this morning. It was a good time to think, and he had some thinking to do.
The bunkhouse was silent, unless you counted the snoring. While the kindling crackled to life and sent hungry flames to lick at the seasoned logs of wood hed added, Dillon hunkered down in front of the open door and held his hands to the warmth. Damn, that felt good. His fingertips prickled so sharp he gritted his teeth to keep the swearing in.