Trent took a mouthful of the delicious vegetables. Mrs. Ross was a good cook. He was pleased that Chloe had been spared the need to take on the duties that some wives had to on getting married. He was proud that he was able to support his new family and provide a roof over their heads. Few men were able to give to their new families what he was able to.
Trent looked at Chloe. He wanted to ask her a question but he wasn't sure it was the right moment. However he wanted to know how she felt, needed to be sure he was doing the right things for her. There was only one way to know for sure.
"Are you happy, Chloe?" he asked getting straight to the point.
Chloe paused and seemed taken aback by the suddenness of the question. Trent saw her look at Evan. She smiled as she saw Evan's bright little eyes. "Evan seems happy," she said.
Trent took in a deep breath. "But I asked you. Are you happy?" he said pressing his point.
Chloe looked around the clearing. "Right now. I am. How couldn't I be, in such a lovely place. And with you two here as well," she said.
Trent saw a shadow settle in Chloe's eyes. He debated with himself whether he should change the subject, but he'd gone too far to stop now. He needed to know that the last few days hadn't been a complete waste of time.
"It's real important to me to know that you're settling down. That you're content," he said.
Chloe smiled at him. "That's so sweet of you, Trent. I really appreciate your concern," she said with what sounded to him like forced lightness in her voice.
Trent held Evan tight and leaned in a little closer to her. "I know it's been hard for you to adjust to life here. And I'm sure it's going to take a while to get used to your new life," he said.
Chloe reached across and laid a hand on his arm. "I'm doing what I can, Trent. You've been real good to me and Evan."
Trent felt a swell of satisfaction when he heard her words. "I'm doing what I think is right, Chloe. I guess the two of us have got some adjusting to do," he said.
"I understand. This is such a crazy situation we're in. But when I see Evan here, like this, I think we did the right thing," she said gazing with undisguised love at her son.
Trent felt his throat tighten. He took a drink of water and let out a slow breath. The air seemed suddenly warmer.
"I think Lucas would have been proud of you, Trent," she said after a pause.
"How do you mean?"
"I know how close you two were. He talked about you all the time. He always told me how much he owed you. Getting him settled out here in Montana. Giving him his start on the ranch. Encouraging him to go out on his own. You were such an important person in his life. I saw that when I met you for the first time. I suppose it's no surprise he asked you to take care of me and Evan the way he did."
Trent was touched deeply by her words. He'd always known that Lucas was a friend. Heck. Even more than a friend. But to hear Chloe say those words made something settle deep in Trent's gut. It was all he could do to keep a hold on himself.
"And you Chloe?" he asked almost as a way of getting away from the rising emotion. "Do you think about Lucas every day?"
Chloe's eyes moistened. "I sure do. Every time I look at Evan I see Lucas. Not a moment goes by when I don't think about him," she said. Trent heard the crack in her voice.
"He was a good man," Trent declared.
Chloe's eyes lowered and her shoulders sagged a little. Trent wanted to reach out and touch her, make the pain go away, tell her everything was going to be alright. But he didn't.
Chloe drew in a harsh, sudden breath. "How can bad things happen to good people, Trent? I don't understand it," Chloe pleaded.
Trent drew Evan closer to him feeling a need to shelter the little boy from the adult emotions. "I don't know why these things happen, Chloe. I really don't. It ain't fair. That's for sure. Seems like even out here in a place like Montana there's no justice for some people."
Chloe raised her face and Trent saw the depth of the feeling written there. "But there has to be an explanation. It seems just senseless that such a good man could come to an end like that," she said the sob beginning to rise in her voice.
Trent gave Evan's smooth hair a gentle protective kiss. He didn't know how to respond to what Chloe was saying. He desperately wanted to say something, anything that would give her some hope that one day there would be an understanding.
Chloe rapped her hand hard on the table. Trent was taken aback by the forcefulness of the gesture. Chloe's jaw tightened. Trent could see the rising anger in her.
"And to think that one of those men had the gall to come bothering me at the mercantile..." she blurted out. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened. She peered at Trent suddenly.
Trent felt as if someone had struck him across the face. "What!" he demanded.
Chloe shook her head and lowered her eyes. "It's nothing," she said with a dismissive wave.
Trent reached across and grasped her arm. "What men?"
Chloe turned away and tried to wrest her arm loose but Trent held her firm and gentle.
"Forget I said that," she stated.
"No, I won't," he responded. "Tell me. What man was bothering you. Was it at Harriet's?" he asked. He needed an answer. He wasn't going to let Chloe refuse.
Chloe sighed and paused. He could see her jaw working. Finally she closed her eyes for a moment, as if thinking deeply, and then opened them, fixing Trent with a firm look. "The day you left me at the mercantile to think about your proposal, a man came to the store. I didn't see him. But Harriet told me that he was asking for me. He didn't say why. But Harriet had a real bad feeling about. It had something to do with Lucas' death."
Trent let Chloe's arm go and leaned back. Evan gurgled quietly. Trent glanced down at Evan and sighed. "Why didn't you tell me this?" he asked her.
Chloe shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't want you worrying. You had enough to think about taking me and Evan into your life."
Trent thought about what Nathan had told him. Could it be the same man who had been asking about Chloe in Billings? Surely it must be.
"You should have told me," Trent stated firmly trying to control the strength of his voice. He didn't want to scare Evan.
Chloe sighed. "I know I should have. But it seemed like the best thing to do. Anyway. I doesn't matter now. We're well away from Helena."
Trent struggled to keep his face impassive and blank. She mustn't know. She would only worry or even worse. Chloe might panic at the thought that someone had followed her from Helena. Someone who might have been involved in Lucas' death. Trent tried to figure out what should be done. What could he do? This changed everything.
Trent nodded. "Yeah. You're not in Helena anymore." He glanced at Evan. "You're both here on my ranch. Safe on our ranch," he said correcting himself. Chloe's eyes narrowed. He could see she was trying to gauge his reaction.
Trent's lips tightened. One thing was for sure. He had to find out who that man was if he, Chloe and Evan were going to have any chance at happiness on their ranch.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Chloe couldn't understand Trent's reaction to what she'd told him about the visitor in Helena. One thing was for sure, he hadn't been the same for the rest of the time they'd spent in the clearing. He'd seemed troubled by what she'd told him. However they hadn't spoken about it any further. The rest of the meal passed in a kind of pleasant and amiable manner which was in marked contrast to their earlier attempts at opening up to each other.
By the time they came back into the house Evan had fallen asleep. Chloe took him upstairs and put him in his crib. Once she was sure he was settled she came back downstairs expecting to find Trent waiting for her, but he was nowhere to be seen. Chloe went to the kitchen and found Mrs. Ross busy cleaning the things they'd brought back in.
"Where's Trent?" she asked the housekeeper.
"He's gone into town," Mrs. Ross replied.
"Into town? Did he say why? Or how long he's going to be?"
Mrs. Ross
shook her head. "He didn't say. Asked me to say to you that he was sorry he couldn't wait to explain. But he'd be back before nightfall," Mrs. Ross said.
Chloe frowned. Why would Trent just up and run off like that? Especially without telling her.
"How was your little surprise?" Mrs. Ross asked.
Chloe smiled. "It was lovely. Thank you for the food Mrs. Ross. I really enjoyed it. You'll have to give me your recipes," Chloe said trying to smile.
Mrs. Ross quirked a brow at Chloe. "Oh. I don't know about that. Some of my recipes are real secret. But I suppose if you twist my arm I might be persuaded," she said.
Chloe nodded. "I'll look forward to that." She sighed. "I'm going upstairs to rest a bit," she said to Mrs. Ross.
"That'll do you good," Mrs. Ross said getting on with her cleaning.
Chloe made her way back upstairs, careful not to wake Evan. Before she went into her own room an idea came to her. She went down the hall and into Trent's room. She closed the door behind her and surveyed the place where her new husband slept without her. The bed was unmade and some of the things he'd used to get dressed for their meal together were still strewn about.
Chloe went to the wardrobe and carefully opened the door. She looked at the clothes that hung inside, reaching out and touching the soft material of the jackets and pants. She ran her hands across the array of outfits. There were smart dress jackets, a variety of shirts and tightly pressed pants. His other pairs of boots had been placed on a bottom shelf. Belts and a selection of bandanas were stacked neatly on a small shelf.
Chloe could just imagine Trent wearing all of the stuff. No doubt he'd been dressed up to the nines on his many nights out in Billings. She felt a stab of emotion at the thought of other women seeing him dressed up so fine, how they must have admired him, wanted to know him. She tugged her mind away from such thoughts.
There was a curious combination of scents from the clothes. It was a mixture of the ranch and the town. There was the aroma of grassland, leather and the scent of her husband, which she'd noticed whenever she had been close to him. She breathed it all in and closed her eyes. It felt good to be close to the things of a man again. She'd similarly enjoyed the presence of Lucas, savoring the daily things of his everyday life. It reminded Chloe how much she valued being married, sharing her life with a good man. Because that was what Trent was. A good man. She was beginning to be sure of that. She smiled as she reached in to the shelf where he kept some spare hats. Her hand touched something hard. She pushed the hats aside and saw a small, wooden box. Pulling it down she wondered why Trent would have such a thing hidden behind his hats.
Chloe sat on the bed and looked at the box. It was a plain, simple box and there was no lock on it. She hesitated. Should she open it? This was a private box that Trent owned. Did she have the right to open it? She decided against it. There needed to be trust in their marriage. Chloe didn't want to start prying without Trent's knowledge. She stood up and started toward the wardrobe intent upon placing the box back where she'd found it.
From down the hall she heard Evan cough. The box slipped out of her fingers and crashed to the floor, flipping open. Chloe bent down, one ear listening for any more coughing from Evan. Chloe's mouth opened in shock when she saw what had fallen out of the box.
Some sepia colored photos and letters had spilled out onto the floor. She gathered them up in her hands and made her way hastily down the hall to check Evan. Seeing that Evan had settled she went over to the window and sat down at the small table. The curtains were drawn, keeping out most of the late afternoon sunlight but there was still enough light for her to look at what had come out of the box.
Chloe gazed down at the small photo and instantly recognized it. Her heart started to hammer in her chest and her throat tightened.
She stared in almost total disbelief at the photo. It was a likeness of herself.
"What!" she exclaimed in a noisy gasp. She glanced over at Evan and was relieved to see that he hadn't stirred.
Chloe had seen the photograph before. It was one which had been taken the day she had married Lucas. She remembered it being taken. She'd stood against the plain backdrop, in the photographer's studio in Billings. Her hand had rested on the table by her side and she had watched in fascination as the photographer had set up his equipment, all to the complete amusement of Lucas who had stood behind the camera, smiling at the antics of the photographer.
The photograph had been taken as a part of the session of likenesses they'd posed for after their wedding.
But why was the likeness in a box in Trent's wardrobe? Chloe couldn't understand it. There was one more photograph. It showed Trent and Lucas standing together, in the same studio, but obviously on a different day. Both men were dressed in their rancher outfits and smiling stiffly for the camera. Chloe smiled when she saw the expression on Lucas' face in the photo. He looked so happy; so proud of his friendship with Trent. And Trent looked cocky and bold.
She unfolded the letter and let out another soft gasp. The letter was written in the familiar hand of Lucas. It was addressed to Trent. Chloe frowned. She wasn't sure she wanted to read the letter; didn't even know whether she had the right to know what was in a letter from one friend to another. But then she saw her own name written half way down the page, and she knew instantly that she was going to read it.
Dear Trent,
Just a quick note to let you know how things are going over here in Helena. To put it plainly old buddy, not too well. You were right. I never should have left the ranching business. Seems like that is the only one I am truly cut out for. You told me straight and you were right.
The only thing that is good in my life is Chloe. And I have news. She's expecting. That's right. I'm going to be a dad. What do you think of that? Amazing. Right? I can hardly wait.
Thing is, this changes everything. With a little one and a beautiful wife to care for I may need to get back into ranching. I know you said you'd have me back, but you know me. I'm a proud man. If I can get some funds behind me, I reckon I can get a spread of my own out near Helena.
Chloe sends her warm regards. I know, after what you told me about how you felt about her before I married her, that you send her your warmest regards too. I know you're over our disagreement over Chloe. But looks like the best man won, in the end.
That's all for now buddy. I'll see you soon
Your friend
Lucas
Chloe's hands were shaking as she laid the letter down on the table. Her eyes were warm with tears, her mind filled with confusing thoughts.
What had Lucas meant? He talked about Trent having feelings for Chloe while Lucas had been courting her; that there had been a disagreement between Lucas and Trent over Chloe. She'd never known about any of that. She hadn't even caught the slightest hint that anything like that had been going on.
Chloe reread the end of the letter and tried to understand what it really meant. It was there, written in Lucas' own hand. The implication was clear. Trent and Lucas had both had feelings for Chloe. Lucas had won in the end. But what did this mean for her and Trent?
Chloe looked at the photograph of herself. Was this why Trent had kept a photo of her all this time? As a reminder to himself. Of what? Losing her to Lucas.
Chloe felt her heart race even faster. She sat back in the chair and tried to steady herself. Surely Trent hadn't been holding on to a secret passion for Chloe all this time. He had hardly showed it to her since they had married. In fact he seemed to be doing everything in his power to keep their relationship on the most proper of terms. Was there a deep attraction for Chloe hiding inside Trent? Was that why he'd kept a photo of her?
Chloe felt the color drain from her face. The evidence seemed to be as clear cut as it could be.
Chloe's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a horse down in the yard. She teased back the curtain, trying to peer down but she couldn't see anything. It must be Trent, come home early for some reason. Chloe stood and clutched her dre
ss. She was going to have to clear this up with him. Trent was going to give her some answers. She tiptoed out of Evan's room and scurried downstairs.
As she passed the open kitchen door she saw Mrs. Ross try to catch her attention, but she politely ignored the housekeeper's attempts. Chloe pulled open the front door and strode out across the porch.
As she expected there was a horse tied up in the yard. But the man who had stepped down off the horse and whose firm stare was now fixed on Chloe wasn't Trent.
It was a complete stranger. And Chloe felt her legs go weak and the blood drain from her face when the roughly dressed man asked her in a slow drawl if she was the wife of Lucas Wilder.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Trent was riding as fast as he could. He had to get home. Chloe was depending on him. When Trent thought that Evan also might be in danger, he drove his horse on even harder.
The horse's hooves pounded across the hard ground. The ride home from Billings had never seemed so far. The flat plain seemed to go on forever. He was still a long way from the ranch but he knew he had to get there as fast as possible. What he'd found out back in town had made it imperative that he get home.
Trent gripped the reins tighter and leaned forward, urging his mount to greater speed. He thought about what the sheriff had told him, and he gritted his teeth. His heart was pounding at the thought that a stranger was at the ranch, and that Chloe was alone.
After the meal in the garden Trent had decided he needed to get some answers. Chloe had told him about the stranger asking for her back at the mercantile; Nathan had said someone had been asking about Chloe in Billings. Putting the two things together didn't take a genius. Trent knew he wasn't one of those, but he knew what was important to him.
Trent's Montana Bride (Sweet, clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides series) Page 9
