The Rancher

by Lily Graison

  She snorted, unladylike and shook her head. "You think too highly of yourself, Holden Avery. The truth is, I drank too much and let my lowered inhibitions get the better of me. Had I been sober, I would have never allowed you into my room."

  When she glanced at him, he grinned. "I recall you inviting me to your room then promised me things no 'lady' would dare mention once I got there." Her cheeks turned a becoming shade of pink and when she tried to look away, he reached out and took hold of her chin. "I'm not asking for much, Laurel, just a chance to get to know you better. That's all."

  "I distinctly remember you mentioning marriage."

  His smile widened. Marriage was what he wanted. "What's so wrong with that?"

  "I could name half a dozen things but I'll spare you. I can't give you what you want, Holden. I can be your friend if you wish but that's all."

  Disappointment settled like a rock in his gut. "Why?"

  She opened her mouth as if to answer but shut it and turned her head.

  "Laurel…"

  "I don't need a man in my life nor do I want one. Ever." She turned back to face him, her eyes taking on a slight glassy look. "I'm sorry, Holden, but I can't give you anything other than what you already have."

  She stood and left him sitting there under the shade trees with more questions than he had answers. His thoughts of courting her all proper like, shriveled in an instant. He blew out a frustrated breath, bent one leg and propped his arm on his knee, and stared at the water trickling by. Something wasn't right where Laurel was concerned and her refusal to be civil to people made that more apparent.

  The distant sound of thunder made him to look up. Clouds were rolling in over the mountain and the promise of rain was hard to ignore. He'd had plans to woo Laurel under a Montana sky but it looked as if nature itself was conspiring against him. Maybe it was a sign. Laurel apparently didn't want anything to do with him so why did he even bother trying?

  He turned to look over at her where she sat with Abigail and Sarah. His pulse leaped again when she turned those smoky eyes on him and he knew. He wanted her more now than he did the night he first met her and he wouldn't stop trying to win her over. Even if the approaching storm called off the dance, and put an end to all his plans, he'd find a way to get through to her. He'd waited too long to find her to let her go now.

  Chapter Six

  "Where are you going all gussied up?"

  Holden grinned at Alex and dusted off his hat before placing it on his head. "Going into town."

  She gave him a long look from head to toe before her eyes widened. "You ain't going to see those ladies in the saloon are ya?" She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. "You promised me you wouldn't ever go see those hussies, pa, and I expect you to do as you say."

  Holden laughed and leaned down to place a kiss on top of her head. "I'm not going to the saloon and remind me to tell your Aunt Sarah not every woman in the saloon is of ill repute."

  She snorted. "Aunt Sarah says they jump on men the minute they walk in the door. That's why Uncle Colt ain't allowed in there anymore."

  "Is that so?"

  "Yep. Aunt Sarah says no decent man should be in there courting those type of women."

  "Well, you've nothing to worry about. I have no intentions of courting those women." He left his room and headed for the stairs, Alex hot on his heels.

  "Why you going into town all dressed up then?" She gasped suddenly, her eyes widening again and a horrified look crossed her face. "Pa, don't you dare go see her!"

  He couldn't help but laugh. "See who?"

  "That devil woman." She ran to him, grabbed his arm, and made him stop walking. "She don't like you, remember? She don't like anyone and going to talk to her will just make you cranky like it always does. Stay home with me. We can saddle my pony and your black and go for a ride."

  Holden smiled, peering down at her before stooping to be eye level with her. "That sounds like a fine idea." Her pleased smile nearly did him in. "But not today."

  She frowned then crossed her arms over her chest again. Her defiant attitude was cute when she was six. Now, it only spelled trouble for the future. As much as he hated to admit it, Laurel was right where his daughter was concerned. He couldn't let her continue to act the way she did and knowing what he was about to do, Alex was going to be a handful for weeks to come.

  He took a deep breath, smiling to lessen the blow. "I like her, Alex. I'm just going to ask her to supper."

  She tried to interrupt but he held up his hand, stopping her. "In the hotel restaurant. I know I'd be asking too much to bring her back here so for now, I'll go to town when I want to see her."

  That horrified look on her face grew. "You mean this ain't no one time thing?"

  He shook his head.

  Her shoulders dropped, her arms fell away from her chest and she looked as if he'd killed every one of her beloved critters. "You're going to court her, ain't ya pa?"

  "If she'll let me." He grinned. "And probably even if she don't."

  Alex huffed out a breath and turned, walking down the stairs, her steps heavy and forlorn. He watched her cross to the front door and leave the house without another word. He sighed and followed her.

  She was sitting on the steps when he walked outside, her head hung. Holden sat down beside her and waited.

  It took her close to ten minutes before she looked up. Her eyes were glassy and he knew she was fighting tears.

  "I don't want no new momma."

  "I know you don't." He smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to his side. "If I had my way, your momma would have never left us. She'd be in the house, fluttering around the kitchen and making a fuss about something she'd burned." Kissing the top of her head, he gave her a small squeeze. "But, we can't change the past, Alex. We just have to move on and live our life to the best of our ability."

  "You gonna ask Miss Montgomery to marry you?"

  He already had, in a round about way, but didn't dare tell Alex. He smiled and stood up. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'm just going to ask her to supper. Talk to her a little bit." He turned to look at her. "If you're lucky, I'll realize I don't actually like her all that much and that she turns into some foul creature when the moon is full."

  Alex brightened and stood. "She probably does. Some horrid beast with two heads."

  "Let's hope not. Hard to tell what she'd do to me if that was the case."

  He left her standing on the porch, worry etching her face in troubled lines. He knew the moment he decided to head into town Alex would take issue with it but he'd lived the better part of ten years doing nothing but seeing that she had the best of everything he could give her. He'd stayed home, tending to her while his brothers headed to town every weekend to visit those ladies in the saloon and not once had he regretted it. He'd do whatever it took to make Alex happy but he couldn't give on this one thing.

  Truth was, he'd watched so many people happily go about their lives and envied most of them. He envied his brothers, all married now and planning their futures, making room for babies, and a part of him died every time he saw how happy they were. He wanted that too. He wanted it for Alex. He wanted to see her smile. To become the kind of woman her mother would be proud of and he couldn't do that alone. He needed help and the woman who could help him do that was an ornery piece of work but she stirred his blood and made his long neglected body ache in ways he couldn’t ignore anymore.

  He wanted her. Plain and simple. Waspish tongue and displeasing disposition that Laurel Montgomery had, he wanted her. And he aimed to have her whether she liked it or not.

  * * * *

  Laurel had just rounded the schoolhouse when she saw him and tried to duck back around the building. He smiled at her and she sighed. He'd seen her.

  She took a moment to compose herself, inhaled a few steadying breaths and wondered how she'd be able to lash out at the man again. It killed her every time she did.

  Two full mo
nths in town and everywhere she looked, there he was. She nearly sighed just thinking of him. He was everything she'd ever thought she wanted in a man. Someone strong and handsome. A hard worker with a gentle smile and a pleasing tone of voice that didn't make her insides shake at the mere sound of it.

  He was also persistent and borderline irritating. And she couldn't help the nervous butterflies that were awakened at the mere sight of him.

  She rounded the corner and walked to the sidewalk, trying to think of something to say to him but he beat her to it, giving her one of those little smiles she liked so much and tipping his hat at her. "Mind if I walk with you?"

  "Will you go away if I say I'd rather be alone?"

  "Probably not."

  "Somehow, I didn't think so." He fell into step with her and Laurel clutched her reticule, pulling her coat tighter against her, and tried not to notice how tall he was, or how wonderful he smelled. Like fresh hay and sun dried clothes. "I'm just going to the end of the street, Holden. I'm sure I can make it there just fine on my own."

  He looked down at her and smiled again. "I'm sure you can but seeing how that's where I'm headed, it seems a bit silly to walk on the other side of the road."

  Laurel glanced up at him and wished she hadn't. He was far too handsome for her good sense, especially when he looked at her as if he was thinking things a decent man wouldn't dare to think about a woman he barely knew. Those butterflies were back and her pulse fluttered.

  They reached the end of town, the hotel with its newly painted exterior looking as spiffy as any she'd seen. The diners filling the restaurant were clearly seen through the window and even though she was near to starving, walking inside that building was getting harder every day.

  Holden walked to the door, opened it and held it for her. She stared at him, wondering why he still went out of his way to be nice to her after she'd plainly told him she wasn't interested in anything more from him. "Why are you here?"

  He had the decency to blush before letting the door swing back shut. "Well, to be honest, Laurel, I'm here for you. I plan on courting you all proper like whether you like it or not."

  It was her turn to blush now. She swallowed to moisten her throat and blinked at him. "Why? I've already told you my feelings about it."

  That grin was back. He tipped the front of his hat up with one finger, meeting her gaze head on. "Truth is, despite your surly attitude and your rude behavior towards everyone in town, me especially, I just can't stop thinking about you. You can fight me until you're blue in the face Laurel, but I'm not going anywhere. I'll dog your every step until you see I'm the man you're suppose to be with. We belong together."

  Her face burned at his admission and her heart was beating so hard she wondered if he could hear it. She looked down the street, noticing the people still milling about town on a Friday evening and wondered if her playing it safe, and keeping her distance from everyone, was what was making life so miserable. She hadn't always felt this way. In the dozen or so towns she'd found herself in since leaving home, she'd been happy. Now, happiness seemed an illusive creature and the man standing in front of her was the reason.

  Turning her attention back to Holden, she released a pent up breath and met his gaze. He was still watching her, the look on his face saying he wasn't going anywhere, and if she were honest with herself, she'd know she didn't want him to.

  She shook her head at him and smiled. "Fine. Since its obvious you're not going to go away, I'll make a deal with you. Stop asking me for things I'm not ever going to give you, and stop getting on my nerves, and I might let you escort me to supper on occasion."

  The smile he graced her with would have lit a starless night. Her insides quivered as she looked at him and when he crossed the space between them and took her hand, her heart skipped a beat.

  "All I'm asking for is a chance, Laurel." He lifted her hand, kissed her palm so softly she barely felt the contact before letting her go and reaching for the door to the hotel.

  He held it open for her as she walked inside and when everyone saw her, their frowns grew when Holden laid a hand on the small of her back and led her into the dining room. The whispers started immediately and Laurel kept her chin raised, ignoring those staring and her knees were wobbly by the time they'd reached an empty table.

  Holden was a perfect gentleman, holding her chair for her, waiting until she was settled before removing his hat and sitting down. The waitress wasted no time coming to the table and the look of shock and curiosity on her face wasn't missed.

  They were quiet as they looked over the evening menu and once they'd ordered, the waitress leaving them alone, Laurel was at a loss of what to say.

  She reached for her water glass, noticed her hand was shaking and inhaled a deep, steadying breath.

  "I didn't realize having supper with me would make you so uncomfortable."

  Looking up, Laurel saw the concern on his face. "I'd be uncomfortable if I were sitting alone. You've not changed the fact that no one here likes me."

  "You've not made it easy for anyone to like you."

  She hid a smile behind her glass. "True."

  The food arrived in record time and Laurel knew the company she kept was the reason why. She wasn't going to complain, not when the food on her plate was still steaming and smelled so delicious she hoped her stomach didn't rumble from the mere sight of it.

  They ate in silence for long minutes before Holden looked up at her. "So, rumor has it you're from Arizona but I know for a fact you call Seattle home."

  Laurel dropped her fork, the noise alerting several other patrons who looked over at her. She looked up, horrified and stammered like an idiot before closing her mouth with a snap.

  "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."

  He knew where she was really from? How did he know? She narrowed her eyes at him, anger and indignation coloring her face. "That brother of yours, the marshal, he's been snooping, hasn't he?"

  Holden leaned forward, his voice a soft whisper when he said, "Snooping enough to know you never stay in any one place for very long."

  She blanched and leaned back in her seat. "What else do you know?"

  He smiled and went back to eating. "Not much.

  Laurel felt ill. The food on her plate looked less appetizing by the second and she found it hard to breathe all of a sudden.

  "Hey, take a deep breath, Laurel."

  He took her hand, gave it a light squeeze, and Laurel looked up. Concern clouded his eyes.

  The many places she'd tried to rebuild her life in all flashed before her eyes and each one left behind such guilt and remorse, she was nearly overwhelmed. Her eyes misted and she blinked to chase the tears away. Holden's hand, still warm and comforting against her own, eased some of the pain. "Don't tell anyone, Holden."

  "Why?"

  She looked down at her plate. "I can't tell you."

  He didn't respond and Laurel was glad for it. She wasn't ready for anyone to know of her past, especially him. She tugged her hand free from his, retrieved her dropped fork from the table and smiled. "So, tell me, Holden, did you sneak away from your ranch or did you have to leave, dragging Alexandra along behind you when she found out you were coming to see me?"

  His laughter lifted her mood and it wasn't until their meal was completed that she realized how free she felt. She hadn't laughed in so long, she'd almost forgotten how wonderful it felt.