Fiery Passion

by Dawn Luedecke

  “I’m ashamed to say, he hasn’t said a thing,” she confessed.

  At her words, the women all let out a roar of disapproval, and the older of the men smacked Wall on the back of the head. “You bring a woman home to this lot and don’t warn her first, son. I taught you better than that.”

  “I warned her,” he claimed.

  She smiled as she spoke, unable to hide the affect the familial teasing had on her. “At the same moment you set the break.”

  “It counts as a warning.”

  He still wasn’t out of the woods with her for not telling her who his family was, but it was hard to fight the effect his sisters had on her. They were quite charming in their good-natured assault against him.

  “Barely.”

  “I like her,” Willa said, and tugged on her arm. “Come on. Let’s leave the men to take care of the wagon. Let’s get you settled in the house.”

  Victoria followed the crowd of women into the house, glancing back as Wall shrugged and mouthed his apologies. She turned her attention back to the women, only then noticing that most of them were dressed down in split skirts and loose cotton shirts.

  Victoria smoothed the fabric to her overly poufy dress—the neck high, and bodice tight. She’d bought the piece custom from a tailor in Missoula a few months back. She wore what was proper, what was expected, but she loved to feel the comfort of what Wall’s sisters unashamedly wore today. The same clothes she’d worn while riding the rivers.

  She envied these women. So happy and carefree. Full of family and love. She had a mother and father, of course, but she didn’t have that camaraderie of another family member her own age. Someone to share secrets with. Get into trouble with. Forge a friendship that would last through even the roughest of times. She didn’t have a brother or sister with which to bond. Not really.

  “We received the letter from Wall only last night. He certainly didn’t give us much time to prepare for your arrival. So I apologize if you’re accommodations aren’t what you’re used to,” the woman who looked to be the eldest said.

  “I’m Bethany. I expected Wall to introduce us all, but he can be forgetful when it comes to manners.”

  “Really?” Victoria laughed. “He’s forced me, on more than one occasion, to allow him to be a gentleman because his mother taught him manners, and he wanted to use them.”

  Taking the lead as they walked up a staircase to the top floor, a younger girl said, “He must like you, then, because Wall doesn’t use manners around here.”

  “That’s Georgiana.” Wall’s voice sounded behind her. “And she is known for telling lies.” Wall’s footsteps echoed off the walls. “And this quiet one is Layla. She’s the sweet one who doesn’t talk too much. She’s my favorite.”

  “You’re a nasty tease.” Willa slapped him on the chest. She turned back to Victoria, whose face now hurt from smiling. More than she’d even done before, in perhaps her entire life. Willa waved toward the nearest door. “We’ve set you up in Wall’s room. We figured since he couldn’t give us more notice, then you could have his bed, and he can find somewhere else to sleep. Maybe in the barn where he belongs.”

  “Are you calling me an animal?” He lifted an eyebrow at his sister as Victoria watched the exchange.

  “More specifically,” Willa challenged, “a pig.”

  “Or a dog,” Bethany supplied.

  “Or a goat,” Georgiana said. When everyone turned their gazes on her, she continued, “They’re terribly stubborn, and sometimes like to headbutt you for no reason.”

  “And they’ll eat everything they see,” Layla said, breaking her silence. “Like Wall likes to do after he’s worked the cows all day.”

  “Layla!” Wall grasped his heart. “You were my favorite.”

  She laughed, and so did Victoria. She’d never been so at ease before. Had never forgotten about her daily duties the way she did at this moment. Watching the exchange made her elated and sad all in one confusing moment. She could have had this with Luther were circumstances different. She had a family, but hers was vastly different from the one that bantered before her now.

  Her family was severe and aloof. Dedicated to one another in their own way, but also proper and full of problems. This one seemed to be the exact opposite. Although, looks could be deceiving. This family had to have their secrets somewhere. Everyone did.

  “If you should ever want to get away from my sisters undetected, the fourth stair squeaks so you must avoid it.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “She won’t need to,” Bethany said, looping arms with her once more. “We intend to make her one of us.”

  “You mean turn her against me,” Wall clarified.

  Willa shrugged. “If needed.”

  “You know we’re always looking out for your own good,” Georgiana said, and then faced her. “Now we’ve left some water on the dresser for you. If my brother is any kind of gentleman, he will fetch your belongings so you can freshen up.”

  Layla scrunched her nose. “There’s nothing worse than the road grime from Missoula.”

  They all turned an impatient stare on their brother, who jumped to their bidding upon understanding their command. Victoria chuckled. “You’ve got quite an influence over him.”

  “Not really,” Layla said. “He’s just happy to see us. Give it a week or two, a hard day in the saddle, and he’ll be back to being the old grump we’re used to.”

  “You all are close, I take it?” Victoria followed the women into Wall’s room.

  Georgiana jumped onto Wall’s bed. “You gotta be when you’re crammed all into one house like this.”

  “Aren’t you close to your brothers and sisters?” Layla asked.

  “I don’t have any siblings.” Not really. Although Luther was now technically her brother, she’d never be able to have the sort of relationship these women so clearly had with Wall.

  “I don’t know if I pity or envy you for it,” Bethany said.

  Victoria opened her mouth to respond when Wall and his brother walked in with her trunk. “I think Miss Victoria would like a minute to decide whether or not she wants to become your bosom friend or run for the hills.”

  “Oh she doesn’t have a choice,” Willa said, but jumped up and started for the door. The other girls followed, but all paused when they reached the hallway. “We’ll be out by the chutes if you get tired of my brother and want to have some fun.”

  Wall stepped in front of them, and shook his head. “Don’t trust them. By fun they mean trying to see which one is brave enough to take on Frank.”

  “Who’s Frank?”

  At her question, Jax laughed and Wall shook his head. “You’ll see soon enough. Now, where would you like your trunk?”

  Victoria pointed to a spot against the wall, and sat on the edge of the bed. “Your family is large.”

  “And exasperating. I’m sorry.”

  Wall sent Jax a shared look, and the latter nodded a silent goodbye, and left. Victoria was grateful, she needed the quiet company of Wall. “They’re endearing. Sweet. Fun.”

  “Tiresome. Troublesome.”

  She answered with a smile.

  “About my pappy. I honestly didn’t realize he was the man you talked to in town until right before we got here.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”

  “I assumed you knew.”

  “Why would you assume something like that?”

  “Because you are my boss.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t hire you. My father did.”

  He took two steps toward her, closing the distance. “Still think I’m a filthy cowboy?”

  Breathing grew difficult, but she managed a small inhale. “Maybe a little bit more clean than I imagined.”

  His gaze skimmed her lips a mere heartbeat before he bent
and pressed his mouth to hers. Her body tingled from the inside out. Radiating toward the cause of such a sensation. She leaned toward him, needing his heat to ease the tension building.

  She backed away first. “You’re going to get us in trouble.”

  “Only if you tell.” He slid his arm around her waist and tugged her to his side. “Come on. My mother and father would like to meet you.”

  With those simple words her stomach dropped. The elation and warmth she’d felt over the last few minutes replaced with her usual helpless dread. What would his parents think of her?

  They were bound to know she’d asked to harvest their trees. Destined to know she was a single woman dedicated to running a—up until now—successful lumber company. A woman who not only took their son away from the ranch in the spring and summer, but stood for everything they disliked outside the ranch.

  She was a timber maid, and Wall a cattleman.

  Chapter 14

  Victoria prided herself on always being the woman to charge forth beside or ahead of the men she walked with, but today she lagged behind. She wouldn’t say tugging on Wall’s arm as he escorted her through the house, but she’d most certainly say reluctantly.

  She hadn’t much time to see the house before when his sisters had brought her in, but upon second look the interior was grand. Not like her home in town where the rooms were tight and in perfect order. Arranged according to the old state style.

  These were open and airy. With a sense of freedom and warmth aligning the sun-drenched walls. This house was simpler in plan, but as grand as any she’d seen in Missoula.

  Wall brought her to a room with a long desk situated before huge bay windows overlooking the ranch and valley below. Along the wall a fireplace demanded the focus, and before it, two couches faced each other with small tables beside them.

  To her confusion, a large wing-backed chair sat at the end of the couches, overlooking the fireplace. And more dotted around the room. She’d never seen so many furnishings gathered so close before. Then again, this was a rather large family.

  “Miss Victoria.” A woman, she assumed was Wall’s mother, approached her with arms open, and pulled her into a familiar embrace. Touching both cheeks as if they were old friends. Victoria’s tension eased the slightest bit. “Welcome to the Lazy Heart.”

  “My mother, Josephine,” Wall said.

  She gave a warm smile, and held Victoria’s hands in hers. “Wall’s told us a lot about Great Mountain and your family, but I must confess, very little about you. Except in what we’ve read in his letters over the summer.”

  “All good things I hope.” She gave one of her social smiles. One she knew Wall recognized, but it couldn’t be helped. She needed the boost of familiarity. The confidence her years of training gave her in these situations.

  “Of course.” The older woman motioned toward the men in the room. “This is my husband, Hamilton, and it appears as though you’ve met my father Laughlin.”

  Wall’s grandfather winked, and Josephine slapped him on the arm. “You’ll have to forgive my father. He’s mistakenly decided he has the ability to charm people.”

  “I do,” the older man said.

  “Young lady.” Wall’s father stepped forward, bringing the familial conversation to a close. He held out his hand.

  Victoria shook it like her father would have. Her grip firm enough to belie the nerves bundled like a nest of snakes in her stomach.

  “Please,” Josephine said, and motioned for everyone to sit on the couch, so Victoria obeyed.

  Wall, his face happy yet not quite with a smile, sat next to her on one side of a couch, as his grandfather took a position on the other as if flanking her.

  Across from them on the other couch, Wall’s mother and father sat prim and proper. The first with a smile, and second with a stern, unreadable stare.

  “I’m not one to cater to emotions,” Hamilton said.

  Wall gave a huff of agreement.

  “And I’m blunt. Since you’re a businesswoman, I’ll give you the courtesy.” He waved toward Josephine. “My wife insists on being here to ensure I’m not too blunt since you’re a guest of my son’s.”

  “I can assure you, sir, I do not enjoy being treated with frailty because of my sex, and I can take your direct approach if you’ll do me the courtesy of allowing the same for me.”

  A sound near the wall brought focus to Rose as she eased into the room with a tray steaming with something hot. Since this was a cowboy home in a cowboy town, she assumed coffee.

  And she was right.

  The smells emanating from the pot proved as much. Rose set the tray on a side table, and poured a cup for each of them.

  Victoria took the momentary delay to gather her gumption. Straighten her thoughts. She needed to gain the approval of, it appeared, Hamilton in order to log in Hartland. She only hoped Wall would take her side. Help her get the necessary approval she needed to do so.

  “Thank you,” Hamilton said as Rose finished. Once the new cook’s helper disappeared, he turned back to Victoria. “I know you came to my father-in-law to ask for land rights in the mountain.”

  She straightened her spine. Strong posture was essential when dealing business. “Yes, sir, I did.”

  “I wasn’t aware she’d come to see Pappy or I’d have been there for the meeting,” Wall said, but his father waved off his comment.

  “Unfortunately, Miss Harrison, we still can’t lease you the land. We need it for cattle.”

  “It’s my understanding that you have thousands of acres. The biggest operation in Missoula, perhaps one of the biggest in the territory.”

  Wall’s father nodded. “True.”

  “With all the land, some of it even unchartered and with no history, and you can’t spare enough to allow me to make you a few meadows?” She used her hands to accentuate the last, hoping the motion would help to paint the picture.

  He shook his head. “I’ve seen the reports.”

  “What?” Wall interrupted. “From the territorial office?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’d wager it talks about the widowmakers, eh?” Wall shook his head, and turned to address his next words to her. “I knew those two men from Helena were blowhards.” He refocused on his father. “Those were formed by a hasty move caused by the governments interceding and demands. A clear cut would give us meadows for grass to grow high up in the mountains for the cattle. Without the danger.”

  Wall’s father shook his head again. “It’s more than the reports. If I take on Victoria’s mill, then others will come knocking at the door and soon our untapped range will be overrun with logging companies stealing the trees, and destroying the summer range. We can’t do it.”

  “What if we give her the lower section to start? It’s at the edge of the valley, barely over the Lazy Heart property line.”

  “No.”

  Wall stood, and reached down to grab her hand and urge her to stand. She did.

  “We’re going to others in Hartland. You’re not the only operation in the valley.”

  With Wall’s words, Hamilton stood. “No, son, but I’m the biggest. You go to them, but they won’t give in. Not if I haven’t.”

  Victoria’s mind reeled from the let down and information running through her brain. There would be no contract with the Lazy Heart. Wall’s own father wouldn’t give her a chance. The others in town may very well choose not to as well. And how had his father seen the reports on her lumber camp? She wanted to shake her head, scream, pace. Think. Instead, Wall tugged her arm, and she followed him into the hall.

  Behind them, she heard a third set of boot heels. As she exited the room, she turned as Laughlin walked out and dipped his head a fraction. “Sorry about him, Wall. If I ran the ranch still I’d give you a chance, but I’ve long since given it over to your father.”

 
“It’s fine, Pappy.”

  Laughlin glanced back into the room, and then bent his head in secrecy. “Start with Old Man Jones. He’s been waiting for his boy to come home from the army to clear a patch for his horses, but he ain’t coming back. No one wants to tell him. Then I’d try the Widow Yancy. She’s choked in trees around her house, and could use the lease money.”

  “Thank you.” Victoria smiled at him, but this one wasn’t forced. The older man reminded her a lot of Wall, only fifty years from now. Charming and polite. Not at all the dirty, unassertive man she’d called Wall in the past.

  Pappy plucked a hat off a peg near the door, and tipped the brim at her. “If you find my grandson a bit too boring for your taste, miss, come find me. I’ll show you where the fun is on the Lazy Heart.”

  “Go on, Pappy.” Wall playfully shoved his grandfather out of the door, as Victoria chuckled. He turned to her when they were once again alone in the hallway. “Want to see the swinging chicken?”

  “Very much.”

  “Stay here. I’ll get you a hat.”

  Wall disappeared up the staircase, leaving Victoria alone in the front foyer. Finally alone, she paced the small space. She walked past the door, where inside Josephine chided Hamilton on his decorum in dealing with her, and Victoria couldn’t help but inwardly praise the fierce woman. Wall’s father was a force to be reckoned with, and it seemed the woman he’d chosen as a wife was the only one who could put him to task.

  She meandered toward the front to get a view of the serenity of the scene outside. The dip of the valley visible to the entire ranch. Off in the distance to the right, Wall’s sisters bustled around something, and farther in the fields cattle mewed about.

  Victoria moved, bumping into a table below the peg with the hats. She quickly righted the furnishing, only to catch sight of a letter on a tray waiting to be mailed.