Another hard tug on his arm had Cole battling to maintain his balance. The only thing he could do was follow the erect and poised figure of Victoria Carr as she quickly made her way, heels clacking on the wooden floor, out the front door of Lucius Carter's house.
CHAPTER TEN
"Where are we going, Cole?" Victoria asked gazing at his long back and wide shoulders as she held the reins of her horse and followed behind Cole's mount. They were on the trail that led them away from the town and he still hadn't answered her.
"You'll see soon enough," he called out over his shoulder.
Victoria gazed around at the beautiful country, feeling the warm sun on her face. From their position high up on the ridge she drank in the vision of the faraway mountains, the rolling hills, the distant valleys and forests. She drew in a deep calming breath and felt something settle in her soul. It was so good to be away from that house, putting distance between herself and the accusations that Carter had made. The Montana land had a way of calming even the most disturbed emotions.
They had come storming out of the Carter residence almost hand in hand, a situation which hadn't seemed to escape Cole's notice when she'd seen him glance down at her firm grip, with what looked like an expression of approval.
Victoria had held on firm to Cole's elbow all the way down the steps of the stone staircase to where both of their horses had been tied up. Not wanting to waste any time standing in front of the grand edifice that was a testament to the success of Lucius Carter, Victoria had leapt upon her horse and curtly told Cole to do the same.
He'd followed her lead but after a short time he'd moved his horse out in front of her and, before she'd known it, they had been heading out of town.
"Why won't you tell me?" she demanded once more in a louder voice. Cole kept on riding, his horse following a trail that was now beginning to trigger vague, tentative memories in Victoria.
Surely he couldn't be thinking to take her there. To their special place.
Not on a day like today, with the emotions that had been stirred up inside her still bubbling away.
Victoria thought about what had gone on back at the Carter house. It was hardly credible that such a gentle and innocent woman as Lucy Carter could be the offspring of a man like Lucius. He was so harsh, so suspicious. And there was nothing for him to be suspicious about. Was there?
Or was it so apparent to everyone, except Victoria, that something had been reawakened between herself and Cole? In spite of all her efforts at being cool, efficient and professional there had been something in her demeanor, some imperceptible signal she had given out which had made Lucius believe that something had been rekindled between Cole and Victoria.
Had it just been fatherly anxiety about the hopeful union of his daughter with a man about whom he had to be sure, a man in whose safekeeping he was about place his own flesh and blood? Or did Lucius simply have no faith in Victoria as a matchmaker? Lucius didn't strike Victoria as someone who would easily allow anyone else to interfere in so important a matter as his daughter's marriage. But he had consented to Victoria's involvement.
Temporarily, it seemed.
So, why was the man being so belligerent about the entire matter. Victoria couldn't figure it out any more than she could fathom why Cole was now taking them both to a place he must know would evoke a mixture of emotions. This was hardly the time for going to a place where she and Cole had passed so many warm, sunny wonderful afternoons.
Cole turned his mount off the ridge trail and headed down the hill toward a distant flowing river.
Yes. She was sure now. He was taking her to that place, she said to herself urgently.
"Cole. Are you taking me where I think you're taking me?"
Cole twisted in his saddle. "Don't you want to go there. I figured, after that stuff back at the house, we could have ourselves some quiet time," he said. "Take some time to think and have us a talk."
Victoria smiled but inside she didn't feel the same obvious enthusiasm that Cole was apparently feeling.
She followed Cole's horse, and after a short time they came to the river bend.
Their river bend.
Cole paused and turned to Victoria. "Remember this?" he asked.
Victoria looked at the river and nodded. "I sure do. How could I forget?"
It was an idyllic spot and it hadn't changed a bit in the years since they'd last sat on the grass, on a hot summer day, with the breeze cooling them as they both drank in the view of the fast running water and the beautiful curving course it took as it wove it's way through the surrounding low hills. There were few trees down by the riverside and that afforded them a glorious view of the landscape that seemed to envelope them, closing them off from the outside world.
"It's still beautiful, isn't it?" Cole asked, starting to dismount. Victoria followed his lead, stepping down onto the thick grass. They both tied the horses to a solitary fallen tree stump.
The sound of the flowing water was clear and sharp, cutting into Victoria's senses with a keen edge that made her suddenly aware of the reality of what she was doing. She had let herself be brought to a place which had featured in so many of her dreams these past few years. At any point in the last half hour she could have said to Cole that she would have preferred to have gone home. But she hadn't.
Cole walked over toward the edge of the river and stood on it's edge. Seeing him there like that brought back a sudden rush of recollections as forceful as the water that shone so brightly. She squinted her eyes at the shimmering sunlight that reflected off the rushing torrent of the river. Cole stood there, looking so much a part of this place, like he belonged here. And he did, she realized. But did she? Victoria asked herself once again if she really had a place in this territory.
Victoria walked to the river's edge. Cole bent down and picked up a stone and threw it into the water, making it bounce a few times before slipping into the swell of the water.
"Remember that?" he asked with a grin.
Victoria found herself smiling in spite of herself. "You haven't lost your touch," she observed.
He offered her a small, flat stone. "Want to try?"
She leaned her head and gave him a look that she hadn't given him for a very long time. Was he being serious? Or was he playing with her the way he'd always done. The way she had always loved.
"I don't think I want to be embarrassed."
"Go on. Try it," he said holding the palm of his hand open to her.
Victoria rolled her eyes and peered at Cole. She shook her head and took the stone. It felt cold and the edge was sharp.
"You remember how I showed you?"
Cole reached over and took her hand. She felt the familiar rush of sensation at his touch. The same surge of feeling she'd felt when he'd kissed her at the cabin. His fingers were strong, but they way he held her hand was soft and gentle, as he turned her fingers, instructing her how to hold the stone.
Victoria glanced at Cole's face as he leaned in close. She could see that he was enjoying the closeness, the chance to touch her once again.
"What you want to do is make sure the stone is flat as you release it. Turn your hand a little so that your palm is open and pointing upwards," he instructed.
Victoria turned her wrist as Cole wrapped his fingers around it, gently positioning her hand so that her palm was open. When he touched the palm of her hand to move the stone she felt a tingle race up her arm all the way to her spine. She took a quick breath and turned her head away from Cole.
"You can do it. Remember?"
The sound of the rushing river water was loud in her ears. The air smelled clean and sharp, as if the rushing water had cleansed the place, made it pure, just for them.
Cole released her hand and she felt a momentary disappointment, until he moved around her side and placed his soft hands on her waist. She turned and their eyes met. Cole's were briefly filled with questions, as if seeking permission.
"When you throw the stone you have to lean to
your right and try and keep the stone flat as it meets the water."
Victoria nodded and gave him a smile that she was sure made it clear that touching her waist was acceptable.
Cole held onto her for a few moments and then let her go, moving around to her side. "Try. You wouldn't want me to be able to do something you can't," he said with a grin. "Would you?"
Victoria narrowed her eyes in mock disapproval. "You know I wouldn't like that, Cole."
He smiled and tipped his hat back. "On you go, then," he said with a gesture toward the racing water. "Let's see if you can do it."
Victoria took a deep breath and focused on the river. She squeezed her hand around the stone and drew her arm back, leaning down to her right as Cole had shown her. With a swift and sharp toss of her hand she threw the stone at the water. The stone bounced once, twice and then a third time, skimming easily across to the other side of the river before plunging into a wave.
Victoria squealed with delight and jumped up in the air, clapping her hands. She bounced up and down on the soft grass underfoot and whirled around to see Cole's smiling face, his eyes bright with pleasure and pride.
"Whoa! That was something," he said shaking his head. "That was almost as good as mine," he teased with a lopsided grin.
"What do you mean? Mine went further than yours," she insisted.
"Well, forgive me, but I don't think it did," he said turning away from her and looking idly at the water.
Victoria went over to Cole and pointed. "My stone almost touched the other side of the riverbank," she said emphatically.
She saw his eyes turn and glance sideways at her, and she had to suddenly work hard to contain the laughter that rose up inside her. He was teasing her, just like he'd always done.
Victoria smacked him playfully on the upper arm. Cole yelled in pretend pain, smiling at her. "What'd you go and do that for?" he asked rubbing his arm.
"You always liked to tease me," she said. "That's for doing it again."
"Why would you want me not to tease you, Victoria," he said smiling. "I haven't had so much fun in a long time."
"I suppose I should be happy for you,"Victoria said.
Cole glanced along the length of the riverbank. "You want to walk and talk?" he asked.
Victoria looked alongside the river. The grass was flatter by the edge. She wouldn't have any problem with the length of her skirt catching on the grass. "That sounds like a nice idea," she admitted.
Cole started along the edge of the river, walking in a leisurely stroll. He kept himself between the river and Victoria. She walked by his side intensely aware of his proximity, and how he had decided to shield her from any risk of falling into the river.
"You remember the last time we came here?" he asked after a while.
Victoria sighed and wrinkled her brow, trying to recall.
"Summer. Trying to catch fish. Failing?" he prompted.
Memories of holding a fishing rod, with Cole wrapped around her trying to keep the rod in the right position, him teaching her the best way to keep the tip of the rod in the right place so that the fish would be tempted. She had almost forgotten.
"Fishing?" she asked.
Cole nodded. "Exactly right. You did catch something that day," he said, his brows rising. "Eventually."
"It seems like you taught me a lot here at this river," she said.
Cole bent down and pulled out a blade of grass and stuck it into his mouth, chewing on it. Just like he used to, she said to herself again. So much about being here with him, alone, the memories flooding back, the same sensations coursing through her, just like they'd done so long ago, so much of it felt just...right.
"I suppose I did. Fishing and now stone throwing. You're becoming a veritable tomboy, Victoria," he said smiling again.
Victoria laughed and shook her head. "I hope I've grown up a bit since then," she said.
Cole glanced over at her and nodded very slowly. "I can confirm that to be the case," he said.
Victoria felt her face get hotter and she reached up a hand to loosen her inexplicably tight, embroidered collar.
Cole chewed on the blade of grass, his eyes narrowing in appreciation that he'd had an effect on her. Victoria breathed in and gazed up ahead at the bend in the river.
This had been their special place, the one corner of Montana which they had claimed for themselves all those years ago. Here she had been so very happy, so content with this man whom she had always trusted. It hadn't mattered that she had come here unchaperoned in those days. If there was one thing she and everyone else knew about Cole MacAllan, it was that he was a man who could be trusted to behave with decency and integrity. The long summer days they'd spent here had been full of innocence as well as unfulfilled and unspoken desires.
This tall, strong rancher who now walked by her side made her feel like she hadn't felt in a very long time. And she found herself feeling glad, feeling pleased that he'd brought her to this place. Still there were questions that had to be answered. But for now she desperately wanted to savor just being with Cole.
The time in the cabin had made her think, had forced her to reconsider so much. She glanced at him as he walked by her side. His pace was measured and slow. He looked so comfortable being here with her and she suddenly realized that she felt much the same. There was something about this man that had been hidden deep inside her. He would always be special to her, always had been.
She'd gone to Helena trying to do what she felt was right. Striking out on her own. Having seen the pain her mother had endured after the passing of her father, there had been a part of Victoria that had resisted the complete commitment to any man, even Cole. The desire to leave the town where she had spent most of her life had seized her in an irrational fit of impulsive action that had culminated in her sudden departure, leaving behind the sweet, strong and handsome man who now strode so comfortably by her side.
They came to the bend in the river. Cole paused and Victoria went to stand by his side. The flow of the river slowed here at the turn. The river was wider and more shallow here. She recalled that more than once she had removed her boots and stockings, stepping gingerly out into the shallow, cool water, lifting her skirt and taunting Cole for being too timid to do the same. The memory brought a smile to her face, especially the recollection of the cooling effect of the water on her bare feet as she'd balanced on the submerged stones.
Cole turned and saw that she was smiling. "What you thinking about?" he asked.
"I'm thinking that I might like to cool my heels," she said starting to reach down to her boots.
Cole's brows rose in surprise. "What're you doing, Victoria?"
She tugged at her boots, but they wouldn't come off. Sitting down on the grass, she stuck out her feet. "Help me get my boots off," she said firmly.
Cole rested his hands on his hips. "You're not seriously thinking of wading into that water," he said. His chewing on the blade of grass became visibly faster.
Victoria tugged on her right boot. It wouldn't budge. Cole came over to her and knelt down on the grass. In a few moments both boots were off and Victoria was rolling her stockings down. Cole stood and turned his back in her as she did so, which made her smile. Ever the gentleman, she told herself.
She stood and wiggled her toes, enjoying the feeling of the grass between them. Now that she was barefoot she felt connected to the earth, somehow a part of it in a real and primal way. She liked that feeling. With a wrinkle of her brow she noted that there was another experience she had once taken for granted and that she'd almost completely forgotten about.
She went to the edge of the river.
"You want a hand?" Cole asked reaching out toward her.
She waved him away. "No thank you. I'm perfectly capable of doing this by myself," she said.
She lifted up the bottom of her skirt until it was almost halfway to her knees. She turned quickly and saw that Cole was having a lot of trouble keeping his eyes averted. Truth was, he wasn't
doing a very good job of it at all. She found that strangely gratifying.
Grasping her skirt tight, Victoria lowered her right foot toward the water and placed it quickly down onto the submerged stones. The shock of the cool water ran up her leg. The water reached up to just above her ankle. She quickly put her left foot into the water, figuring the quicker she got used to the cold temperature the better.
Victoria planted her feet firmly on the smooth stones. She curled her toes, seeking to gain a better sense of balance. Turning to Cole she called out enthusiastically. "Come on in, Cole. The water's lovely."
Cole stood and just looked at Victoria. He seemed to be savoring the image of this woman he'd once spent so much time with, watching her standing in the water, calling on him to join her. The expression on his face was a mixture of disbelief and delight.
"I'm fine where I am, Victoria," he said planting himself firmly on the river bank.
"You scared of cold water, Cole?" she said, realizing she was probably baiting him again.
"Me scared? Not at all," he said shaking his head.
Victoria took another few steps further out into the river, feeling the round, smooth stones beneath her bare feet. The cold was exhilarating, the chill sensation of it rising up her legs curiously liberating. She wobbled slightly, caught off balance by a sudden rush of water.
Cole took a step forward. "You take care there, Victoria. Don't go falling in there," he said.
"If you don't want me to fall in, then you'd better get out here and make sure I don't," she said with a mischievous smile.
Cole paused, shook his head and sat down on the bank of the river, tugged off his boots and wrenched off his socks. He rolled up the legs of his trousers and stood looking tentatively at the water. Cole looked funny standing there with his trousers rolled up.
"Come on," Victoria called out. "There's nothing to be afraid of..." She screamed suddenly and waved her arms, swaying from side to side as if she were about to fall. She saw Cole's eyes widen and a moment later he was splashing into the water and striding out toward her.
Cole's Montana Bride (Sweet,clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series Book 7) Page 9
