Reese glanced at Honora. She looked better this morning. Gone was the paleness of her skin that had troubled him so much on the first night she'd been injured. For the first time since the fateful night, he could see a familiar rosy glow in her skin. She was getting better, and that filled his heart with happiness and hope. He figured it was as good a time as any to make the suggestion he'd come out here to deliver.
"I got some messages from my family's house," he said to her.
She peered at him. "What kind of messages?"
"Wishing you a speedy recovery," he stated. "Word has gotten around about what happened the other night."
"It has?" she replied, wide-eyed. She shrugged. "I guess I shouldn't be that surprised. News travels fast in these parts."
"Especially news like that."
Honora tilted her head. "Maybe there isn't anything else for folks to talk about." She squinted at him. "Who was asking?"
"Gideon and Rosalind send their best wishes. Zane and Johanna wanted to come over to see us, but I told them to wait a while."
"That's nice of them to be so concerned."
Inside the corral, the stallion rose up on its hind legs and let out a defiant cry. The wrangler held the ropes, expertly keeping the horse from taking control of the situation. Watching, Reese reflected that sometimes the last few days had felt just like that. There had been a chaos underlying the apparent peacefulness of the ranch. It had been exposed the other night, and its effects were still being felt. By him and by Honora. Maybe it was time to step back from all of that, he told himself.
"I wanted to ask you something," he said quietly. He turned and faced Honora. "My family would like you to come over for dinner."
Honora's mouth opened slightly and her eyes widened. "They would?"
"In fact, they're desperate for you to come over." He smiled. "At least my mother is," he added with a cheerful shrug.
Honora's features softened. "I always liked your mother," she said. "Eugenie never failed to be kind to me."
"She really likes you," Reese said, suddenly realizing he hadn't spoken of the past. The truth was his mother's high opinion of Honora had never altered. She'd made that plain to Reese on more than one occasion during the last few months. Maybe his mother hadn't really accepted that Reese had let Honora go.
"Micah wants to hear all about what happened. My youngest brother has got an adventurous spirit," he said. "He's always got an ear for tall tales."
She frowned. "I don't know, Reese," she murmured. She lifted a hand and gently rubbed her shoulder. "I'm not sure I'm ready for that."
"Seeing my family again?"
"It's a big deal for me," she explained. "Especially after the way I left. I'm not sure everyone will approve of me turning up for a family get-together."
He frowned. "That's not true. My whole family thinks the world of you."
"Including you?" she asked abruptly. Lifting a brow, she waited for his reply. He realized she'd caught him out. Just like she'd been used to doing so many times in the past.
Reese leaned closer, and paused, aware that the wrangler might be watching, in between trying to keep hold of the horse. "You know what I think of you, Honora," he said in a low voice. "What I feel about you."
He saw her face flush pink. "Who's talking about feelings?" she said defensively. "I thought this was about an invitation to visit your family's ranch."
"You'd be a special guest," he said.
She frowned. "It's been a long time since I set foot inside the big house up there."
"Nothing's changed, Honora," Reese insisted. "You're still going to get a warm welcome."
She gazed into his eyes. He could see uncertainty in her eyes. She was examining him, as if she was searching for something reassuring. "Has nothing changed? Are you sure about that, Reese?"
"What do you mean?"
Honora sighed and peered at the wrangler. "What about the other night? That was sure different. For us, at least. We never did anything like that before."
"Maybe it's a sign that we belong together," he suggested. A thought came to his mind. One he'd been considering for the last couple of days. "That God wants us be together. Finally."
She thought about that for a long moment. Maybe he'd caught her off balance with that suggestion, he told himself. Honora peered at him. "Or maybe He's trying to tell us that we'll just bring trouble into each other's lives. That it might be dangerous for us to continue the path we're on."
"And what path is that, Honora?"
She gazed intensely at him. "The wrong one?"
For a long moment, he was lost for words. He peered into her eyes, searching for any hint that she might doubt her own words. But he saw nothing except steadiness of purpose.
"You won't know the answer to that unless you take the first step," he said in an even voice.
Honora's eyes narrowed. "And going back to the Circle Cross is a first step?" she asked.
"The next step," he countered. "Seems to me like we've taken plenty of those in the past few days."
Honora strode away from the corral. He followed her back to the house.
Sometimes he felt like it didn't matter what he said. She'd always find a way to keep him at arms length. Was that what she was doing now? Had the prospect of meeting all his family again triggered anxiety in her? Or was it only about him? About the way he was being drawn closer to her by the day.
Reese felt confusion rise up in him. Maybe she'd had time to figure him out and concluded that he didn't measure up. That he might not be right for her, after all.
She didn't say anything to him until she reached the front door and turned to face him. "Okay, Reese. I'll accept the invitation."
Reese felt hope rise in his heart, but it sank the minute he heard her next words.
"If there's any talk of marriage, then I'm coming straight back here," she declared.
He considered objecting by telling her that keeping off that subject might be well-nigh impossible. But, he knew if he said that she might just decide to spend the whole day on the Ferguson ranch. "Okay, Honora. I'll try and make sure that doesn't happen."
She nodded. Judging by her expression, he wasn't sure whether she was pleased or frustrated he'd agreed to her conditions.
"We can take the carriage over to the ranch," he said. "No need for riding on horseback when there's a comfortable carriage to use."
She smiled, but it was only a polite smile. Not like the one she'd given him when she'd been lying on the sofa the other night. That smile had warmed his heart. This one did the opposite.
And then she turned and went into the house leaving him standing on the porch and asking himself if he'd undone all the progress of the last few days.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
"Honora MacLeish, look at you," Eugenie Buchanan said as she regarded Honora who'd just stepped down from the carriage and onto the yard in front of the Buchanan ranch house. Reese's mother, silver-haired and with even, pleasant features, smiled broadly. She was dressed in an elegant pale gray gown. "I'd give you a hug," Eugenie continued, "but I can see that arm needs some careful handling. It doesn't still hurt, does it?" Eugenie asked glancing down at the sling.
Honora shook her head. "It isn't too bad. It's better than it was the other night."
Eugenie turned to her husband Caleb Buchanan. "We heard all about it," Eugenie exclaimed. "Isn't that right, Caleb?"
The heavy-set, stockily built man who was the patriarch of the Buchanan spread, frowned and peered at Reese who was getting down from the carriage. "Darn fool thing to have done, Reese," Caleb announced gruffly. "And you know it. What possessed you?"
Honora glanced at Reese. "Duty, pa," Reese explained. "Nathan made me a temporary deputy. So, I felt obliged." Reese's attention shifted to Honora. "I had some help, though."
"If you ask me, Nathan should have sent some of his own deputies," Caleb muttered.
"He charged me with the responsibility, pa," Reese replied, but Caleb didn't look
convinced.
Honora turned and gazed around the yard. There was a bustle of activity over by the cookhouse as men congregated seeking lunchtime food. She saw the friendly way the men teased each other as they crowded in front of the main door to the cookhouse. Laughter and roars of pretend outrage drifted across the yard. It had been a long time since she'd been here. Too long, she reflected. She gazed up at the white-fronted, two level ranch house. "The old place looks as good as ever," she observed.
Caleb thrust his hands against his hips and followed Honora's gaze. "Got some empty rooms we didn't have before, " he said. Caleb smiled at Honora. "You know two of my boys got married."
Honora tried to make sure her features were an unreadable blank. She smiled gently. "We visited Zane and Johanna. Sure is a nice little cabin they've got themselves there," Honora stated.
"Gideon and Rosalind will be moving into theirs, as soon as its finished," Reese added. Honora glanced at Reese. She figured it had been impossible for him to prevent his proud parents from crowing about Zane and Gideon getting married. She hoped it would stop at that, she told herself. Otherwise it might be a long afternoon.
Two figures emerged from the ranch house. Gideon and Rosalind greeted Honora and Reese. Gideon inquired, with great kindness and concern, about the circumstances which had resulted in Honora's injury. Honora was especially touched by the sincerity of the most recent Buchanan wife. Rosalind wanted to know how long it would take for Honora's injuries to heal because Rosalind had plenty of plans for herself, Johanna and Honora to spend time in Inspiration. Shopping and a trip to the restaurant for coffee and cakes were on the agenda for later in the afternoon. Honora couldn't help agreeing with the suggestion. The prospect of some friendly time in town, with two new Buchanan wives, was suddenly appealing to her for some reason she couldn't exactly understand. Maybe it was just plain curiosity on her part. Or perhaps she'd missed the company of people her own age more than she realized.
"Everyone's waiting inside," Eugenie announced. "Cook has made your favorite dish, Honora," she declared.
Honora lifted her brows. "Really?"
"We remember how much you used to like that special chicken sauce cook made," Eugenie told her.
"That's very considerate of her," Honora replied. She glanced at Reese, who was walking alongside her. He looked like he was pleased about that news. She wondered if he'd had a hand in making the suggestion to the cook.
Walking into the hallway of the Buchanan ranch, and standing at the foot of the stairs, triggered a rush of memories for Honora. She glanced into the sitting room, recognizing the furniture and the wood-paneled decor. The place smelled warm and welcoming. The air was scented by the flowers set in vases around the sitting room. She'd been here so many times, but under such different circumstance. Back then, she had been Reese's beau. Back then, her parents had been alive, and the MacLeish ranch had been a place of real family warmth and happiness. She couldn't help feeling the contrast between those times and now.
They all made their way to the dining room where they found the rest of the family congregated. Zane and Johanna were already seated at the table. Micah was there too. Honora was greeted with real warmth and affection. The Buchanans had always known how to make her feel at home. Today was no exception.
Soon, they were all seated at the table and the first course of the meal, a delicious and tempting vegetable soup, was brought.
Honora saw Reese's mother glance at her. "Would you like to say grace, Honora?"
All eyes settled on Honora. Every one of the four brothers was looking expectantly at her. Honora felt suddenly self-conscious and hesitated before responding. Obviously seeing Honora's unease, Rosalind spoke up. "I can do that, if you like," she chimed in.
Honora felt instant relief flood through her. She smiled at Rosalind. Then Rosalind bowed her head. Everyone at the table did the same. The prayer was observed respectfully, and then everyone fell to eating.
Honora saw Reese looking at her with a hint of concern in his gaze. Had he been surprised at her hesitation? She normally said grace at the table back at the Ferguson ranch. So, how come she had felt that reluctance? Maybe being back here with all the Buchanans had made her feel hesitant. There was so much to take in.
As she recalled from previous times, a meal at the Buchanan house involved much more than just eating food. It was a chance to hear about recent goings-on in Inspiration. And to catch up with the business of the ranch. And, as usual, there was much hilarity and high spirits around the table. Zane, being the oldest brother, did try and reign in some of his brothers' natural enthusiasm. Gideon was his usual calm self, steady and dependable. Micah was enthusiastic and eager to ask about what was happening at the Ferguson ranch. But, Reese calmed his youngest brother's exuberance with a few measured remarks.
Caleb and Eugenie sat at opposite ends of the long table. Honora watched as the parents simply observed the good-natured activity around the dinner table. She could see the obvious pride on their faces. Honora reflected that it must be a real source of delight and satisfaction to know that they had been graced with such a wonderful, happy family. Four fine sons. And, so far, two fine wives.
Throughout the meal. Honora chatted with Reese who sat right alongside her. Once or twice, as she and Reese leaned their heads closer together, Honora caught Eugenie watching them. Reese's mother tried to make it look as if her interest was casual, but Honora knew Eugenie had hopes. Just like she'd had hopes before Honora's parents had left for California. Probably, Eugenie still wished for a happy ending for Reese and Honora. That simple thought was the only dark cloud during an otherwise delightful and perfect family meal.
Finally, the meal ended and everyone made their way to the sitting room where coffee was served. Honora sat on a sofa and, just like during the meal, Reese was right there, by her side. He was clearly determined to make the most of her visit. And that suspicion was confirmed when he suggested that he and Honora take a walk outside. Honora agreed and followed Reese out to the yard. She assumed he might suggest they sit on the porch, enjoying the warm afternoon sun. But, instead he asked her if she wanted to go for a stroll with him. Memories of the past surged into her mind. Memories of times long gone.
As she followed Reese across the yard and up a steeply rising slope she realized where he was taking her. She halted and peered up ahead. She could see a tall tree up at the top of the ridge which overlooked the back of the ranch house.
Reese frowned. "Is something wrong?"
Honora wrapped her arms around herself. "Not really," she murmured. She looked towards the top of the hill. "You sure you want to go there?"
"Why not?"
Honora lifted brow. "I think you know," she said.
Reese sighed. Honora watched him for a moment. Of course, Reese knew why she was reluctant to go up to the tree at the top of the hill. That had always been one of their special places. And Reese knew it.
"Would you prefer to go back to the house?" he asked. "Or some other part of the ranch?"
Honora thought for a moment and then made a decision. "No. Let's go up there, Reese," she said. There would be no harm in sitting beneath the tree, she told herself.
When they reached the top of the hill, she paused and gazed up at the tree. Memories swept into her mind as she looked at the swing which hung from a thick branch. It was a wooden seat, wide enough for two, which hung from two thick lengths of rope. She'd sat on that seat many times. And Reese had sat alongside her on many a day and evening.
Honora turned quickly and gazed down at the ranch house. "Your pa is real proud of this place, isn't he?" she observed.
The Rancher’s Second Chance Bride Page 15
