Silence threatened again, but Kirby wasn’t going to allow the conversation to die. It was one of the few times she’d answered him with more than a one or two-word reply. “I’m sure it was good. Did you study or did it come naturally?”
For a moment, he didn’t think she was going to answer, but finally, she spoke. “Archie’s family comes from Philadelphia. A few months after Florence and him got married, Archie decided they should take a trip back east so his family could meet her. Archie thought she might be worried, being alone without anybody she knew, so he asked if I’d like to go, too.”
He sensed she wasn’t finished answering, so he waited patiently until she was ready to go on.
“It was wonderful,” she said. Her voice took on a dreamlike quality that warmed him. “They took me to an exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. I’d never seen paintings by real artists before. At the time, I would have loved to stay – they allowed women to study there - but that was impossible.”
“Maybe one day you can go back.”
She looked over at him then. “Maybe, but I’m happy with my life the way it is.”
That surprised him. Most young women he’d ever known couldn’t wait to marry and have a family. “You don’t want a husband and children?”
She shrugged. “I suppose so, but it becomes more and more unlikely with every passing day.”
“Hannah, this might be too forward of me to say, but you’re a beautiful woman. I’m sure you could have your pick of any single man in Rocky Ridge if you wanted one.”
She blushed again and looked away.
Silence fell around them. The sun had broken through a short time before, but daylight was already starting to fade. They were still a few miles away from Silver City.
“I don’t think we’re going to reach Silver City before dark,” he said.
She didn’t speak for quite some time, her gaze straight ahead to Miner’s Pass. Then she looked up at the sky. “It’s not that far.”
At breakfast that morning, she’d said she’d made the trip between Rocky Ridge and Silver City many times, so surely she knew they wouldn’t get there before night fell. He suspected she just didn’t want to admit it. “It’s too far to get there before dark, and I don’t think we should risk getting caught in Miner’s Pass at night.”
“Why not?”
“There’s no shelter in the pass if there’s another storm. And then there are the bears, and the coyotes, and the mountain lions—”
“Then what do you suggest we do?”
“We can make camp in one of the caves near here and start out at sunrise.”
Her eyes widened. “Camp here? Both of us? Together? In a cave?”
“Got a better idea?”
“Well … no … but … a cave? How do you know where the caves are?”
I grew up near here,” he told her. “I roamed these woods and trails every day when I was a boy.”
“But … what about the animals?”
“I’ll build us a fire at the entrance. That should keep any intruders out.”
Hannah’s teeth worried her lower lip. He couldn’t help staring, his mind wandering to the thought of tasting those lips.
She fascinated him. Beautiful, talented, and with a mind of her own. A woman who refused to be dependent on a man. He’d never met a woman like her before, and he was intrigued by her. He’d admit to himself that he wanted her, wanted to kiss her, touch her, and so much more. But what bothered him to admit to himself was that he was starting to like her more than any other woman he’d ever known.
Chapter 4
Hannah couldn’t believe she was actually agreeing to spend the night in a cave with Kirby Matheson. What was she thinking?
But what else could she do? She could go on alone, just like she’d done every other time she’d made the trip between the Circle J Ranch and Silver City.
She hated to admit that Kirby was right. She wouldn’t make it out of the pass before night fell, and the thought of spending the night outside by herself sent a sliver of fear scurrying up her spine.
No, she realized, she needed him. She sucked in a calming breath and nodded. “Will we be warm enough?” she asked. She still hadn’t forgotten how cold she’d been the day before and she had no wish to ever experience that again.
“We’ll be sheltered from wind, and some of the heat from the fire should warm the inside of the cave enough that we won’t freeze.” He glanced up at the gathering dusk. “If we don’t ride a little faster, though, we won’t get there before dark, and then I won’t be able to see to gather enough wood to build us a fire.”
She nodded, then urged Dixie into a trot, following Kirby down the trail for a few minutes before he veered off into a stand of trees. A damp musty smell mixed with cedar and pine reached her nose, and the only sounds she heard were those of twigs snapping beneath their horses’ hooves.
It didn’t take long before he reined in his horse near an opening at the base of the mountain and dismounted.
He looped his horse’s reins around a branch. “Wait here while I make sure it’s safe,” he said, his voice taking on a tone that brooked no argument.
Hannah wasn’t about to protest anyway. She had no desire to go exploring where wild animals could be lurking. At the very least, she assumed any cave would be home for rodents and insects, and maybe even a rattlesnake or two.
Still, she couldn’t help feeling a little worried about being left alone. “Where are you going?”
“The cave’s right through here,” he said, turning away and tearing at the brush until he disappeared from view.
Hannah’s chest tightened. If he got hurt … She tried to reason with herself that she was concerned about his safety only because she’d be left alone, but even as she tried to convince herself, she knew that wasn’t the whole truth.
She hated to admit it, but she liked him. Yes, he was handsome. He was obviously brave, too, to be a lawman. He believed in justice, and was willing to risk his life for his beliefs. And he was kind. He proven that the day before, and now he was going out of his way to make sure she was safe for the night.
But she couldn’t let herself like him, she reminded herself. He was a lawman. She’d seen what loving a lawman had done to her mother, and the day her father died, she’d made a vow to herself never to love a man who earned his living with a gun.
A rustling in the brush startled Hannah. She gripped the rifle and pointed it, her finger trembling on the trigger. A moment later, Kirby came into view.
“You might want to wait until tomorrow to shoot me,” he said, unlooping his horse’s reins. His voice was gruff, but he had a smile on his face and laughter shone out of his eyes.
His light-hearted tone relaxed Hannah. “But if I shoot you now, the bears and coyotes won’t bother me. They’ll have you for dinner instead.”
He nodded. “You’d be much more appetizing, I’m sure.”
Their gazes meshed, and a slow warmth seeped through Hannah’s limbs. The way he was looking at her … she’d never experienced such a thing before. Why, he was gazing at her as if he’d like to make a meal out of her himself.
Suddenly, he turned away. “Follow me.”
Hannah dismounted, stifling a moan when her ankle twisted on a piece of uneven ground.
She hadn’t been quiet enough.
Without a word, Kirby spun around and closed the gap between them. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I should have realized it would be hard for you to get to the cave.”
Looping Dixie’s reins around his forearm, he reached around her and in one smooth motion, whisked her off her feet and into his arms.
She couldn’t contain the tiny cry of surprise, but soon found her own arms circling his neck. She couldn’t resist threading her fingers through his soft chestnut hair at the nape of his neck. Embarrassed that she’d allowed herself to take such a liberty, she burrowed her face into his neck. His scent, so uniquely his, filled her. His heartbeat sou
nded against her ear.
She hated that she liked the feel of his arms around her. She hated that she liked feeling protected and cared for. She hated that his solid chest against her softness made her feel strangely warm and languid.
And she hated most that this man – this lawman – was the man who made her feel these things.
Kirby swore to himself as he carried Hannah into the cave and set her gently down on a stone near the back. What was he doing? He needed to stay away from her, away from her sweet lavender scent, away from the feel of her soft skin, away from the rare smile that turned his insides upside down.
The air was musty and damp, and he saw Hannah’s pert nose scrunch up at the smell. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself against the chill, but she didn’t complain.
“I’m going to take care of the horses and gather some wood to build a fire,” he said. He didn’t like to leave her alone, but he wouldn’t be far away. “Do you need anything before I go?”
She grinned. “My rifle,” she replied. “I promise I won’t shoot you, as long as you don’t come back looking like a bear.”
“Well, since you promise …” He returned her smile, taking note that she looked exhausted and she was likely in pain but still held her light attitude. His admiration for her grew. “I’ll be back as quick as I can, and if you do run into any trouble, I’ll be close by.”
He left Hannah in the cave and went outside. A cool wind whistled through the trees, and he noticed dusk was quickly falling. If he didn’t hurry, it would be too dark to see anything. Quickly, he unsaddled the horses and tied them securely to a tree branch before he took the saddles into the cave before he went in search of kindling and firewood.
Because of the storm the day before, he had no trouble finding enough wood to keep a fire lit the whole night. He was worried that the wood might be too wet to burn so he took an extra few minutes to search out spots where he hoped the air had dried it enough.
With the fire built near the entrance to the cave, he struck a match against the sole of his boot and held it against a small piece of kindling. For a few seconds, he thought he’d failed, but then a tiny flame flickered, and within seconds, the fire grew, sending heat into the cave and sparks into the night sky.
The fire gave some light to the interior of the cave, casting a golden glow on Hannah’s face. The sight made his breath catch in his throat, and for a few seconds, he could do nothing but stare.
Her pale hair glimmered and her eyes sparkled. There was no doubt she was even more beautiful in the glow of the firelight, but it was more than just beauty that drew him to her. There was something about her he couldn’t name, an undefinable force he couldn’t resist.
Desire surged through him, and heat that had nothing to do with the fire outside filled his veins. He wanted her. But as much – or even more – than his physical desire, he wanted to know everything about her, to protect her. To just be with her. Always.
“Come and sit down.” Her soft voice pierced his wayward thoughts. It was only then he noticed she’d been busy while he was gone.
She was sitting on one of the saddle blankets she’d spread out on the floor of the cave. Paper-wrapped sandwiches, cheese and cookies were laid out, as if she was hosting a picnic. Water canteens sat at the edge of the blanket.
“I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “I got these out of your saddlebags. I only had a few cookies left.”
He crossed the cave and sat down beside her. “I don’t mind. I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten anything since I left your sister’s ranch.”
“Oh …” A slow flush came over her face. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking … I’d already eaten most of what she packed for me and I was about to leave when you arrived … It didn’t occur to me that you hadn’t. Why didn’t you say something?”
At the time, he hadn’t realized they wouldn’t reach Silver City before nightfall. “If I’d taken the time to eat, we wouldn’t have gotten this far,” he replied.
He was glad they’d had to stop, though. He couldn’t deny it. He wanted the extra time to spend with Hannah, to get to know the woman who was making him think about home, and family, and settling down, instead of spending most of his nights alone on the trail of one outlaw or another.
He’d only known her for one day, so how was it possible he felt this way?
While Kirby ate, Hannah only nibbled on a piece of cheese.
“There’s plenty of food,” he pointed out. “You must be hungry, too.”
Hannah shook her head. “This is fine. I would love a cup of coffee, though,” she added with a smile.
Kirby grinned. “Next time we go on a trip, I’ll be sure to bring a coffeepot.”
She blushed as her gaze met Kirby’s for a moment before she looked away. “When is the trial?”
“Day after tomorrow,” he responded.
“If my accident hadn’t prevented you from going on, you would already be in Denver. Did you have other plans for your time there?”
“I’d planned to stop and see my brother and his family on the way.”
“Oh, that’s right … You said he has a ranch not far from here. You won’t have time now,” she said, getting up and starting to clear away the remnants of their meal. “I’m sorry—”
“It’s not your fault, and I’m glad I had company. It gets lonely out on the trail sometimes.”
“I’m sure it does.” She stuffed the empty wrappings into her saddlebag and limped closer to the entrance of the cave. Rubbing her hands together, she held them palms out to the fire. Then she turned to face him. “Why do you do it?”
“It’s my job.”
“Did you always want to be a lawman?”
“No.” He couldn’t really explain why he’d taken the job. He’d been without a purpose, wandering from town to town, taking odd jobs wherever he found them. He didn’t really know why he hadn’t settled down on the piece of land his father had left him the way his brother had on his. The parcels were good grazing land that butted against each other, a river running through them to make sure they’d always have enough water for a herd.
“I was passing through Cedar Valley. I was in the saloon one night, playing poker with a few hands who’d come into town. Someone ran in and said the marshal had died.”
“What happened to him? Did someone kill him?”
Kirby shook his head. “No. He just died.”
“And?”
“The next day, I was in the mercantile. The mayor happened by, was talking to the owner. They offered me the job. I didn’t have a good reason to turn it down. It paid better and it was easier work. Been doing it ever since.”
“Why do you do it? Why do you want to live your life knowing at any moment you might be killed?”
“I don’t think about that. I’m trying to make my town a safe place so people can raise their families without fear.”
“What about your own family’s fear? Don’t you think your brother worries about you when you’re off chasing outlaws?”
“I suppose he might. Somebody’s got to do it or outlaws would rule the world. Where there’s nobody to uphold the law, there’d be more bloodshed and nobody would be safe, not even your own family.”
“Why you?”
“Why not me?”
Because you’re tired of spending your nights sleeping on the cold ground when you’re tracking outlaws, a small voice whispered in his brain. Because you want what other men have – a woman who loves you to come home to, a couple children to carry on your name, a legacy to leave behind that doesn’t involve killing.
He’d noticed it more and more lately that he wasn’t content with the way his life was going. He could start a herd of his own like his brother had, but he still wouldn’t have what his brother had. He’d still be alone, and at least when he was out on the trail tracking outlaws, he didn’t have to think about it too much.
Chapter 5
Hannah stood at the entrance to the cave, soaking u
p the heat from the fire. She heard Kirby moving around inside, but didn’t want to leave the warmth of the fire to see where he was.
“Here. This’ll help you stay warm.”
Kirby’s voice came from right behind her. She spun around to face him as he wrapped his duster around her shoulders and overlapped the front, trapping her inside.
She laughed. The duster cocooned her, the hem dragging on the floor of the cave, the sleeves hanging to her knees. Still, she was grateful for its warmth.
Kirby walked away, and she turned back to the fire.
She hated that she’d had to depend on a man, but there were times when pride wasn’t an option. She’d be eternally grateful Kirby had followed her from the ranch. She didn’t know what she would have done without him. Probably freeze to death or be eaten by a wild animal, she reasoned. Either way, she likely would have died since she had no idea how to survive in the wilderness.
She glanced up at the night sky. The clouds were gone, the sky now a blanket of twinkling stars. A full moon shone down. Warmer now, she turned to see what Kirby was doing.
She didn’t care what he was doing, she told herself. Yes, he’d been kind and gone out of his way to help her, but he’d only done what any decent man would have done.
Still, she couldn’t help the strange feeling that settled in her chest whenever she looked at him. Or the strange heaviness low in her belly, almost an ache for something, butshe had no idea what.
At the same time, she found she enjoyed looking at him, and though she was loathe to admit it even to herself, she’d liked being in his arms, feeling his solid chest against hers.
She’d never experienced such sensations before, and it annoyed her.
Was this what Florence had meant when she’d told Hannah what love felt like? Surely she couldn’t be falling in love with Kirby. Could she?
That wasn’t possible. Not only did she barely know the man, even if she did, she wouldn’t allow it. He’s a lawman, she reminded herself.
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