by Lily Graison
Laurel didn't reply but her conscious was eased a bit. Thinking Holden was working was better than thinking he was avoiding her. The silence was deafening and again, everyone was still looking at her. Laurel knew they wanted something, she just wasn't sure what that was. Setting her cup down, she folded her hands in her lap and smiled. "What is it you want to know, ladies?
They actually blushed, threw covert glances to each other and it was Abigail who spoke. "We were just wondering about the man from the dance last night."
She should have seen it coming and was surprised they hadn't asked before now. Telling them nothing would be easier than rehashing it all but out of everyone in Willow Creek, this set of ladies were the only ones she felt she could call friends, as tenuous as their relationship was.
She didn't go into as much detail as she had with Holden, but she gave them the gist of it and it satisfied their curiosity. They asked a few questions, which she answered, and when Sarah asked what she planned to do now, Laurel was at a loss for words.
"I really don't know," she said. "I'll not be leaving with him, if that's what you mean."
Abigail leaned forward in her seat. "Accepting Holden's marriage proposal would settle it once and for all."
The others agreed, and so did Laurel to a certain extent. Marrying Holden would solve a lot of her problems but it brought other's to mind as well. The main one being, would he betray her like Ethan did?
The answer to that whispered in her mind the moment she thought it. He wouldn't. For all his irritating, stubborn ways, he was an honest man. He loved with his whole heart and she knew he'd love her until his dying breath. So why was she still refusing to marry him?
The men were returning, their voices carrying through the house as they entered through the front door. A gust of chill wind followed in their wake and when Laurel turned to look at them, her heart stuttered to a stop before pounding against her ribcage. Holden was standing in the foyer smiling at her. He removed his hat, ran splayed fingers through his hair and said hello to the other ladies in the room before turning to face her.
"Would you like to take a ride with me?"
"A ride?" Laurel asked. "Where to?"
He shrugged. "No place in particular." He glanced to the others and Laurel noticed his cheeks were red. She'd never seen the man blush but there was a first time for everything.
His gaze held hers to the point her pulse was leaping and she found it hard to breath. She smiled at him, watching his eyes sparkle from nothing more than that one small gesture on her part and the answer to the question she'd been asking herself all night became clear. She loved this man, had since meeting him and, just as he'd told her so many times, she wanted him. For no other reason than just being near him made her day brighter, made life worth living.
She excused herself and crossed the room to where he stood. " Lead the way, Mr. Avery."
He smiled at her and reached for her coat after she pulled it from a peg on the wall near the door and helped her slip it on. After she'd buttoned it, he escorted her outside and Laurel stopped at the top of the steps.
When he'd asked her to take a ride with him, she'd assumed he meant in a wagon or a buggy of some sort but there was nothing out front but his black stallion, the creature looking up at them both, as if impatient to get moving again.
Holden took her hand, led her down the steps and before she could ask him about their mode of transportation, he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her onto the horse and climbing on behind her.
He'd sat her sidesaddle and she turned her head to look at him once he grabbed the reins and guided the horse toward the creek. "I missed you at supper."
He looked surprised, and pleased, by the admission. "I tried like hell to get finished in time but with winter coming on, there's more work than there is daylight to get it all done." He closed his arms around her tighter, pulling her closer in to his body. "Figured a sunset stroll through the valley would be more pleasant than supper anyway. I don't have to share you out here."
Laurel leaned into him and smiled. "I prefer this myself," she said, craning her neck and giving him a soft kiss. When she pulled back enough to see his face, she knew she'd made the right decision. The only thing she had to do now was tell him she'd marry him.
They crossed the creek in front of Colt and Sarah's house and meandered along the shallow creek bed for long minutes, the dying sun sending splashes of red and purples chasing each other across the sky. The mountains in the distance were awash with color, the trees climbing their peeks painted in orange, yellow and crimson.
Neither spoke until Holden halted the horse, pulling him to a stop at the far end of the ranch. Laurel didn't know how much of the valley was Avery land but from where they were, she could see the main two-story ranch house, Colt and Sarah's place off in the distance, and the construction of Tristan and Emmaline's future home.
The fencing that surrounded the area looked to run for miles in either direction. She imagined what it would look like come spring, the land dotted with horses and pony's, the grass vibrant green with wildflowers covering the valley in a rainbow of color. It was stunning, this isolated stretch of land in Montana.
"What are you thinking?"
Laurel smiled and continued to look out across the valley. "I was thinking how beautiful this would be come spring."
He shifted on the horse, wrapping her more securely in his arms. "It is." He settled his chin on her head, sighed contently, and didn't speak for long moments.
When he said, "It means nothing, though, if there's no one here to share it with," Laurel's heart skipped a beat and she smiled, silently encouraging him to ask her to marry him again, just one more time. She turned her head, gazed up at him and lifted her hand, caressing his cheek. "Life is nothing with no one to share it with."
The look he gave her heated her skin, chased away the chill mountain air and warmed her clear to her toes. He smiled, his eyes lighting up for an instant before he leaned down to kiss her, his mouth hard and firm against her own. Raising her arms, Laurel hugged him to her, forced her tongue into his mouth and kissed him with all the love she felt for him while the horse danced under them. They were both panting for breath when they reluctantly pulled away from each other. His smile was still in place and the happiness shining in his eyes let her know she'd made the right decision.
A flicker of light out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she looked over his shoulder, squinting. The main ranch house was to their back now and it took her a moment to realize what she was seeing. She gasped, pulled away from him and shouted, "Fire!"
Chapter Eleven
They raced into the yard and the horse had barely come to a stop before Holden jumped to the ground and was running. The barn was ablaze, the ranch hands running with buckets of water and Laurel slid from the horses back, grabbed the reins and pulled him away, toward the house. She was tying the reins to a post in front of the house when Holden ran into the barn, mindless of the flames licking at the sides of the structure.
Holden's father, James, walked out onto the porch and his eyes were wide, a frightened look covering his face. Laurel had never spoken to the man, and had barely made his acquaintance at the picnic Holden invited her to, but she hurried up the steps and grabbed hold of his arm just as he was about to venture down into the yard. "We best stay here, Mr. Avery. Let the ranch hands handle this one."
He looked over at her as if he'd just then noticed she was standing there. He held her gaze for long moments and Laurel couldn't be sure, but she thought he was taking her measure. Whatever he saw must have pleased him because he gave her a curt nod and eased away from the steps.
They stood by the front door of the house, watching as man after man raced into the burning barn. With every passing second, Laurel's pulse beat faster. The acrid scent of smoke filled the air and when the last of the sun dipped down behind the mountain, the red haze from the flames lit up the night sky.
Colt, Morgan a
nd Tristan raced into the yard, all three of them jumping from their horses much in the same manner as Holden had, their horses left unattended. Laurel told James to stay where he was before rushing down the stairs to collect the animal's reins and tying them where she'd left Holden's horse. The women were following close behind the men in the wagon, and soon the entire Avery clan was there, the men rushing to save the animal's trapped in the barn, the women carrying their babies up onto the porch, their fretful cries unheard against the roar of the fire.
Alexandra was still in the yard, staring off toward the barn and it wasn't until she turned her head to look back at the house that Laurel started down the stairs.
"Where's my pa!"
"He's saving the horses," Laurel shouted, hoping the girl could hear her over the noise.
Alexandra's eyes widened moments before she turned back to the barn. When Laurel reached the last step, the girl ran, screaming for her father.
Laurel hadn't had the need to run in longer than she could remember but catching Alexandra was harder than it should have been. She reached her at the edge of the barnyard, wrapping her arms around her waist as the frightened horses ran from the barn and past them as if they weren't standing there.
The heat was intense, the smoke breath stealing and Laurel pulled at Alexandra, tugging her backwards and away from the blaze as the girl screamed and fought her.
They both toppled to the ground and Laurel thought they'd both be trampled by the horses that were trying to escape the blaze. She struggled to stay calm, regained her feet while holding onto Alexandra, and picked the girl up awkwardly, running back toward the house.
"Let me go! My pa's in there!"
"I know, sweetheart. But he can't get the horses if he has to worry about you."
Alexandra Avery was made of sterner stuff than most children Laurel had encountered but seeing her now, crying and trying to get to her father, let her know that deep down, she was just a frightened little girl like other ten year olds were. Laurel struggled to hold her and ended up back on her knees, her arms wrapped around Alexandra in a death grip. "He'll be fine, Alexandra. Please, stop fighting. He'll be all right."
It wasn't until that last, stuttered sentence, that Laurel realized she was crying as hard as Alexandra was. She held the girl to her, stared into the barn and willed Holden to come out.
The fire had leapt to the roof and was working its way to the other side of the building. Laurel could see faint shapes inside, moving, but she couldn’t be sure it wasn't just smoke. She'd never been inside the barn but could only imagine the amounts of dry hay stored there. The entire thing was a death trap.
Thoughts of Holden filled her head as she sat there on the ground with Alexandra watching that building burn. Things she wished she'd said, done, when she'd had the chance. As the men inside came rushing out, their voices carrying on the wind, everyone froze, watching in horror as the left side of the building collapsed. Alexandra screamed and Laurel bit her tongue until she tasted blood to keep from doing the same.
Alexandra struggled, flinging her arms, her legs thrashing as she tried to break Laurel's hold, and they were both crying in earnest by the time Holden emerged from the building. Laurel's relief was so profound, she loosened her grip on Alexandra and the girl jumped to her feet and ran.
Holden staggered away from the blaze, collapsing to his hands and knees coughing. His brothers were behind him, all of them covered in black soot. Laurel struggled to her feet, staring at Holden as he lifted his head in time to catch Alexandra, who flung herself at him. He sat up on his knees, wrapped the girl in his embrace as his gaze sought her out. When she caught his eye, Laurel sucked in a breath and ran to him, a flash of white shining on his face as he smiled.
She fell to her knees in front of him, wrapped her arms around his neck and the three of them sat for long minutes, the barn burning behind them. "Are you hurt?" Laurel asked, her voice scratchy.
Holden shook his head. "No, I'm fine."
He was covered in soot, his clothes singed in places and Laurel pulled back from him enough to see his face. She wiped a hand across his cheeks, smearing sweat and soot, and kissed him without a care for the mess. "I love you," she whispered against his mouth.
He laughed, the sound coming out rough and raw. "I know you do, woman. And it's about damn time you admitted it."
Alexandra's face was buried against Holden's shoulder but she lifted her head then and looked up at her. She didn't say a word, the look on her face solemn.
Everyone moved to the house, Morgan, Colt and Tristan all being coddled by their wives and Laurel helped Holden to his feet. They walked back across the yard, Holden's arms draped around both her and Alexandra's shoulders. She sat him on the steps, watched as Alexandra nestled into his side and left them there, venturing into the house and searching every room until she entered the kitchen.
She found a water bucket, filled it from the pump over the sink and wrapped her fingers around as many handled cups as she could before walking back through the house and outside.
With the help of Abigail and Emmaline, they spent the next hour making sure everyone had water, the small burns they'd suffered cleaned and when the ranch hands made their way slowly back toward the bunk house, Laurel wiped a hand over her brow. The Avery clan was still there on the porch, Sarah sitting in one of the rockers with Emma and Elizabeth perched on her disappearing lap due to her swelling belly. The men lingered around the railing, still coughing occasionally, dirty from head to toe and smelling of smoke. The barn had collapsed, the fire only smoldering but it would take clear to morning before the flames died completely.
Morgan, Colt and Tristan collected their families and after a few quiet words with Holden, they all loaded back into the wagon the women had used to bring them to the main house, the men collecting their horses. Laurel watched them but turned her attention to James when he took her by the elbow. "Take me to my room," he said, his gruff voice startling her. "I'm ready for bed."
Holden turned his head to look at them and raised one eyebrow before smiling. Laurel shrugged one shoulder at him before opening the door and helping James into the house.
"There you go, Mr. Avery," she said, as they reached his bedroom door. "Is there anything I can get you?"
He didn't turn to look at her but said, "No. Go see to my boy, though. He looks like hell."
Laurel grinned when James shut the door in her face, his words still playing in her mind. She turned, walked back out onto the porch and noticed everyone was gone. It was then she realized her ride home was as well and Holden was in no shape to venture into town, regardless of what he'd think about the matter.
His black stallion was still tied to the post by the house, the other horses left to wander in the pasture. She wasn't an exceptional rider but if one of the ranch hands couldn't see her back to town, she was positive she could make it there on that stallion with little problem.
Holden stood with the help of the hand rail on the steps and he waited for Alexandra to stand before he turned to the house. "Let's go wash up," he told her. "And get you ready for bed."
There was a refusal on Alexandra's tongue, her mouth open to voice it but a glance at her father stopped it. She nodded her head and, holding on to his arm―to help him up the stairs or from her own fear of letting him go, Laurel didn't know which―they took the stairs one at a time until they reached the top.
Alexandra reached for the door and it wasn't until she moved away from Holden's side that Laurel noticed his shirt was singed, his skin red and irritated. Her eyes widened but one look from Holden and she bit her tongue. He hadn't said a word when they were cleaning wounds and she figured Alexandra was the reason. She was already scared. If she knew he was hurt, she'd never settle down.
"Alex, go on up and get ready for bed. I'll be up to tuck you in once I've had a chance to clean up."
The girl looked ready to refuse and Laurel smiled, extended her hand and said, "Come on. I'll come with you while
your father washes the soot off of himself."
Alexandra looked as if she wanted to decline the offer but didn't. She didn't take Laurel's offered hand, either, but she didn't say anything when Laurel followed her up the stairs.
