Yellowstone Awakening (Yellowstone Romance Series Book 3)

by Peggy L Henderson

  “What lies beyond the falls?” she asked when she stood close enough to him so she wouldn’t have to raise her voice over the water’s roar.

  “There are some really pretty cascades up ahead, and a place where my sisters and I, and Josh, used to go swimming. Beyond that, the river widens and comes out of a valley that leads to hot water springs further south. Would you like to keep going?”

  “Perhaps another time. I’m feeling rather tired.” It was a lie. She felt anything but tired. The beauty of her surroundings had an energizing effect on her. But it would be best to return to the cabin and put some distance between herself and the irresistible man in front of her.

  “Suit yourself,” he shrugged. He moved to check Rosie’s saddle girth, then assisted her onto the mare’s back. His hands on her waist were warm and gentle, sending currents of electricity through her body. She pressed her lips together to keep from crying out to him to please not let go, and hold her like he’d done this morning. She fought back the sting of tears in her eyes when his hands didn’t linger as they usually did after she sat securely in the saddle. Was his behavior in response to her aloofness? It’s for the best, Kate. Don’t dwell on what can’t be.

  Kyle grabbed hold of his horse’s saddle horn, and in one swift and fluid motion swung his leg over the animal’s back. She stared at him while he wasn’t looking, taking in his rugged masculinity. When he guided his horse around, she quickly averted her eyes, as heat crept up her neck.

  Wordlessly, Kyle led the way back in the direction they’d come from. Kate tried to concentrate on her surroundings and absorb the beauty all around her, hoping she would be able to recall all the features later in her mind. She was sure there couldn’t be another place like this on earth. The silent minutes dragged on into hours, until the canyon finally opened up, and she recognized the Madison Valley up ahead. There was the narrower river to cross that combined with the Firehole, and beyond that stood the cabins.

  Oh, to truly claim a homecoming to this beautiful place. Kate sighed deeply. In a few short days, she had fallen in love with this valley, the mountains and trees that surrounded it, the river that meandered peacefully through here, and the man who called this place home. She gasped loudly at her thoughts. Her hand hastily covered her mouth with her sudden realization. She loved Kyle! There could be no other explanation for all those thoughts and sensations swirling around inside her.

  “You all right?” A deep voice startled her. Kyle had slowed his horse to move alongside Rosie as they prepared to cross the river.

  “Yes . . . yes, I’m fine,” she managed to say, and her eyes darted to his handsome face. His brows furrowed in a frown as he considered her, and she forced her gaze straight ahead again, nudging her mount through the water. He mustn’t see what she was thinking. Dear God in heaven. How did this happen?

  Kate’s stomach churned. She felt nauseous all of a sudden. Rosie’s body heaved underneath her as the mare readied for a leap up the river’s embankment, and Kate’s vision blurred as the world spiraled and turned. Her realization was too much to think about. She reached a hand up to touch her temples, and strained her eyes, trying to clear her vision. What was she going to do? Her world seemed to tumble out of control more with each passing day. She was a married woman, in love with another man! She’d run away from her husband, with no clear prospects for her future.

  I’m going to faint. She swayed in the saddle, and braced for a hard fall. Instead, strong arms reached for her and pulled her up against a solid chest.

  “I’ve got you, Katelyn. I won’t let you fall.”

  “Kyle,” she whispered, just before the world went black.

  *****

  ”How is she? Did she wake up yet?”

  “No, she’s still out.”

  “Tell me again what happened.”

  “Hell if I know. She was fine one minute, then she almost fell off her horse the next.”

  “She’s been out cold all afternoon. Shouldn’t we try and wake her?”

  Men’s voices echoed faintly in her mind. She struggled for consciousness. Kate’s hands reached out, and she fingered the soft furs underneath her. Her eyelids felt as though weighed down by lead anchors, and she forced them open. A dim light shone off to the right, and she turned her head in its direction. A lamp cast a soft glow in the otherwise darkened space. She tried to raise her head. Her temples throbbed with the effort, and she let it fall back to the pillow with a soft moan.

  Where am I? Hiram would surely not approve of her lying in bed. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light, and she noted the irregular walls of a log cabin, not the wallpapered smoothness of a Helena mansion. Hiram wasn’t here. She was not lying on freshly pressed sheets in a four-poster bed. This was animal fur. She’d run away. With that realization, everything came back to her. She was in Kyle’s grandparents’ bed. It had to be nighttime. There was no light coming in from the window. How long had she been unconscious? The last thing she remembered was Rosie splashing through the river.

  Kate rolled to her side, and forced herself to sit up. The blankets covering her fell away. She swayed, and her head pounded in time with her heartbeats. A sudden chill touched her skin, and her hand shot to her chest. She wasn’t wearing a dress! The only thing covering her was her chemise. Heat crept up her neck. Had Kyle undressed her? Or Josh? Instead of feeling violated, the thought of either of these two men removing her clothes conjured warm sensations of deep caring on their parts. She knew she would trust both of them with her life.

  Why had she fainted? Kate strained her mind to recall what had happened today. It all came rushing back to her. Kyle’s kiss. Their ride to see the waterfall. The horse, wading through the water when realization hit her that she loved Kyle. She pressed her hands to her throbbing temple and gave in to the tears that overpowered her. It had all been too much to think about. That’s why she’d swooned. And Kyle had caught her.

  I won’t let you fall, Katelyn. But she had fallen. She’d fallen in love with him, and there was no running away from that, like she’d run away from her abusive husband. The best she could do now was mask her feelings, and hope to forget him once they parted ways in a few weeks.

  “You’re awake.” Kyle’s quiet, deep voice reached right into her soul. Her eyes sought him out in the dim light, and he stood framed by the door, the glow from the lamps in the main room casting him in a dark silhouette. Kate hastily grabbed for a blanket and pulled it around her shoulders.

  “Feeling better?” He walked over, and knelt on the ground in front of her. His hand reached up, and she held her breath, bracing herself for his touch. It never came. He must have thought better of it, and lowered his hand to rest on his thigh.

  She nodded, her throat suddenly too dry to speak. The warm look of concern in his eyes was too much for her to bear. She scooted back fully onto the bed and faced away from him.

  “Please . . . can you send in Josh,” she croaked.

  “Josh?” His raised voice of surprise startled her, and she ventured a glance over her shoulder. Kyle stood, and glared at her. He ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah. Sure. I’ll go get him.”

  Kate squeezed her eyes shut. She needed time to think. She couldn’t face Kyle yet.

  “You wanted to see me, Kate?” Josh appeared in the room moments later. He hesitated, and then ambled over to the bed. Kate studied his features. He was slightly shorter than Kyle, but they were both built the same. Everything about these two men projected strength and self-assurance, and a life of daily physical activity. Josh’s black hair was contrasted by Kyle’s sandy hair, and his skin was a bronze color to Kyle’s olive complexion. The familial resemblance in their features was startling. They shared their grandfather’s deep expressive, dark eyes. Kate judged Kyle to be at least three or four years older than his cousin.

  “Kate?” Josh asked, and she realized she’d been too absorbed with her thoughts, and forgotten to respond.

  She might as well get directly to the point. �
�Can you take me to Virginia City?”

  “What? When? I thought Kyle was taking you in a few weeks.” He seemed genuinely surprised by her question, and his eyebrows furrowed.

  “I don’t think I should stay here that long. I don’t wish to be a burden to either of you.”

  “I don’t think you’re a burden, and I know Kyle sure doesn’t think so.” He actually looked uncomfortable, running a hand through his hair as she’d seen Kyle do on so many occasions. Another familial trait? He didn’t stand still, but rather paced the room. Abruptly, he stopped and faced her. “Virginia City is a hundred miles away, Kate. It’s a three day trip, at least. I’d take you, but I’ve been gone for a few weeks myself, and there’s things here that I need to attend to. I’m sure you can put up with me and my cousin for a while longer, can’t you? There’s no need to make a special trip.”

  Her heart sank. “I’m sorry for asking. You’re right. That was silly of me.” She smiled at him, and her fingers absently stroked the fur she sat on. You can do this, Kate. You just need to stay away from Kyle as much as possible.

  “Can I get you a cup of water or something?”

  “Thank you, Josh. Some water would be appreciated.”

  *****

  Over the next several days, Kate had no problem staying away from Kyle. It was simple, since he was never around. He left early in the morning, and returned late at night. When she’d asked Josh about it, he told her that Kyle was working with some of the horses higher in the mountains to get them sure footed on the rough terrain.

  She spent her days wandering along the riverbank, or conversing with Rosie while grooming the mare’s coat for hours at a time. The simple task of stroking the horse with a brush had a soothing effect on Kate’s frayed nerves, and she allowed herself to get lost in thought during those times.

  Josh always seemed to hover nearby, keeping an eye on her, but he left her alone for the most part. She’d confessed to him that she didn’t know how to cook, and his mischievous grin told her he already knew. He brought food to the cabin for her, but never stayed to share a meal or kept her company, which she found rather odd.

  Most often, Kate’s mind wandered to Kyle. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. He was her first thought when she woke in the morning, and the last thing on her mind when she went to bed. The memory of his touch, his kiss, left her aching and lonely in her bed at night. Not seeing him made the longing even worse, it seemed, than when he was nearby.

  She was ashamed of her feelings, and she repeatedly asked God for His forgiveness. Why would He want her to suffer with a husband who didn’t love her, and whom she held no affection for? The idea of divorce had crossed her mind. It was inconceivable. It simply wasn’t done, and Hiram would never grant her one if she asked. Hiram Devereaux did not part with his acquisitions willingly, and that’s all she was to him; a piece of property.

  Almost a week had gone by since she’d fainted. Almost a week without so much as a glimpse of Kyle. Kate woke to sunlight streaming through her window. She rose and dressed, then pinned her hair back out of her face, letting it fall in cascades down her back. It was less tedious than pinning it all the way up. On a few occasions, she’d even braided it.

  She entered the main room. Her breath caught in her throat. Kyle sat at the table, apparently deep in thought. Several papers lay spread out in front of him. His head lifted in her direction, and their eyes met and held across the room. Kate’s heart pounded upward into her throat, and a warm tingling sensation coursed through her, settling in the pit of her stomach. The intensity of her reaction to him apparently hadn’t diminished over the days she hadn’t seen him.

  “Mornin’,” he said slowly.

  She swallowed nervously. “Good morning.” Her voice was as unsteady as the legs she stood on.

  “How’ve you been, Kate?” His dark eyes reached out to her, and drew her in like an invisible rope.

  “I’ve been well. And you?” she managed to say.

  “Are you feeling up to a ride today?” he asked, rather than respond to her inquiry, and left the table.

  “Oh. I . . . I don’t think so,” she stammered, and lowered her gaze. He walked slowly toward her.

  ”Why not? What do you think’s gonna happen? I’ll never hurt you, Katelyn. I hope you believe me.”

  She clasped her hands firmly in front of her, and he covered both with one of his own. The heat emanating from him as he stood inches from her reached every cell in her body. She inhaled his masculine scent, and closed her eyes momentarily.

  Finally, she glanced up at him, fresh tears spilling out of her eyes. She drew in a deep breath. “It’s not your behavior I’m worried about,” she sobbed.

  He stared at her for what seemed like forever. Then the corners of his mouth twitched and curved slowly upward.

  “You feel it, too, don’t you?” he whispered, and swiped at her tears with his thumb. “There’s something going on here, Kate, and damned if I can explain it, but I can’t stop thinking about you. All I want to do is hold you, and kiss you, and . . . I’m on fire for you. I tried staying away, but I can’t.”

  She gasped at his words, and pulled her hands out from underneath his. She shook her head. “I can’t have feelings like that for you, Kyle,” she whispered.

  “Why not, Kate?” He reached for her, and cupped her cheek in his hand.

  “I . . . I’m going back to Boston soon. No good can come of any of this.” Was she trying to convince him, or herself?

  “The big city sure seems to have squashed all life from you,” he said. She tried to move away, but his warm hands on her shoulder prevented her escape. “Haven’t you ever just allowed yourself to follow your feelings?”

  Kyle locked his eyes to hers, and looking away became impossible. “Tell me you feel nothing when I do this,” he whispered, and stroked her cheek with his fingers.

  She closed her eyes to savor the gentle touch, and held her breath.

  ”Or this.” He touched his lips to hers for a fraction of a second. His arm reached around her waist, and he drew her to him. His other hand continued to caress her face, then he slid it under her hair behind her head.

  ”Tell me this doesn’t make your heart beat faster.” He covered her mouth fully with his, and slowly moved his lips across hers.

  Kate stood stiffly for a moment, then she let herself fall. She couldn’t hold on to her resolve any longer. He had dissolved all her defenses with his gentle actions and sensual questions. Her hands slid up his chest, and around his neck, and Kyle groaned. He pulled her up hard against him, which sucked any remaining air from her lungs, and crushed his mouth to hers.

  She clung to him, giving in to her burning desire, letting him plunder her mouth and destroy any resistance she had left. Her world spun in delicious giddy circles as she gave herself over to her feelings. Nothing else mattered at this moment but his touch.

  His hands stroked her back, clutched at her waist, and skimmed up the sides of her ribs, and he lifted her off the ground. Kate wrapped her arms around his neck, afraid to let go. He slid her body back down flush against his solid strength, and she wanted to melt into him.

  Kyle cradled her head in his hands, forcing her to look at him.

  “Say it,” he demanded in a hoarse voice, his breath hot against her cheek. “Say it, Kate. Look at me and tell me you’re not affected by any of this, and I swear I’ll never touch you again.”

  “I . . . I can’t say it,” she cried. She clung to him, and buried her face in his shirt, sobbing uncontrollably.

  Chapter 14

  Kyle held her, stroking the hair down her back, and let her cry herself out. Whatever was in Kate’s past, whatever walls she’d built around herself, he was sure he’d broken through them, judging by her admission. His heart soared by the way she clung to him. He held this precious woman, and she was in his arms willingly, now that he coaxed the truth out of her that she had feelings for him.

  For nearly a we
ek, he’d left the cabin before dawn, and returned late at night, hoping the distance would curb his desire for her. It hadn’t. If anything it had made him think more clearly about what was happening to him.

  He was in love with Kate. There was no doubt in his mind. As incomprehensible as it seemed, it had happened instantly, the minute he first saw her. He hadn’t fully realized it until he spent some time away from her.

  She stirred in his embrace. Lifting her head away from his chest, she gazed up at him, her tear-swollen eyes shimmering like crystals in the light streaming in from the window. Kyle swiped at her wet cheeks with his thumbs, and touched his lips to hers. Her eyes widened, but at least she didn’t pull away from him. It was a good start.

  “Feel better?” he whispered.

  She stared at him in wonder, and her expressive eyes betrayed her inner struggle and turmoil. She needed time to sort through her feelings. Don’t push her, Kyle. He’d broken though her barrier, and didn’t want the wall to go back up. He realized it was still a fragile surrender on her part.

  Kyle stepped back, putting her at arms’ length. If he didn’t do something, he’d stand here all day and hold her. He glanced down at her and when she favored him with a tentative smile, his throat constricting painfully. A faraway sadness remained in her eyes, and he wondered about it, but didn’t dare ask. Not yet.

  “How about that ride?” he asked with exaggerated enthusiasm, squeezing her shoulders lightly. “A change of scenery might do you good. There’s a family of river otters a few miles downstream along the Madison. Would you like to go see them?”

  “I’ve never seen a river otter before,” she said, wiping at her eyes.

  “Well, then it’s about time you do. They’re fun to watch.” He took hold of her hand. She hesitated for an instant, but then allowed him to lead her out the door. The horses stood by the corral, already saddled. He’d gambled that she’d come along, and had won.