Yellowstone Awakening (Yellowstone Romance Series Book 3)

by Peggy L Henderson

  “Kate.” He stared at her, and wrapped an arm around her waist as they sat by the river’s edge. “Promise me you’ll tell me if I’ve overstepped my bounds. I may not be able to stop next time before things get out of hand.” He plucked some weeds from her hair. “And you mean more to me than a roll in the grass. I’ll never force myself on you, I swear it.”

  She looked away. When he held her and kissed her like that, the world around her simply ceased to exist. It was one thing to be kissed by him, and held in his embrace, but to commit adultery was inconceivable. She mustn’t let things get out of control like that. Would she have the strength to stop herself?

  His gentle hand under her chin brought her head around to meet his gaze. The intense look in his eyes sent her nerve endings on edge.

  “Kate, I . . .” he said slowly, his face moving closer to her, when suddenly his head jerked around, and he grabbed for the fishing pole lying between them. “I think you’ve got a bite.” He shoved the pole into her hands. “Pull back slowly, and reel the fish in.”

  Startled, Kate did as instructed. In a way, she was glad for the diversion. A small part of her wished he had finished what he was about to say. She’d never find out now what he meant to tell her.

  The pole in her hands felt heavy and something tugged at it, as she fought with the struggling fish.

  “I caught one! I really caught a fish,” she called, and her heart sped up from excitement. Kyle reached for the end of the line, and the flopping fish hanging off the hook as she pulled it to shore.

  “Here, grab hold of it so I can remove the hook,” Kyle prodded. She reached for the wriggling fish, and shrieked when it fought for freedom between her hands. The wet and slippery creature threatened to jump from her grasp, and she didn’t know how to hold it to prevent its escape.

  “Hold on tight,” Kyle said, and he pried the hook from the fish’s gullet. Part of her worm was still attached to the hook. “There, you can use that again as bait for the next one,” he beamed.

  Kate shuddered, and swallowed back her nausea at the grotesque image of the mangled worm. She was determined not to show her apprehension. A deep sense of accomplishment filled her. She smiled brightly at Kyle, and held up the fish in triumph, which had ceased its furious struggle for life. Only its tail continued to flop feebly between her hands. Her eyes met Kyle’s, and she swallowed involuntarily. His intense smoldering look heated her from the inside out.

  “That’s more like it,” he whispered. “You should always smile like that, Kate. It suits you better.” His hand reached up and his fingers lightly grazed her cheek. Heat crept up her neck.

  “This has been a wonderful experience, Kyle. Thank you.”

  “The day’s not over yet,” he grinned. “We have a few more fish to catch. I’m just sorry those otters haven’t shown up.”

  Kate still held the fish in a firm grasp, and it gave one final shudder. “What should I do with this?”

  “Just drop it over here in the grass, and cast your line again,” Kyle suggested. “But toss it in the other direction this time.” She giggled at the warning look in his eyes.

  An incredible sense of warmth and belonging came over her. She had never known the kind of peace and contentment she felt at this very moment, sitting along a riverbank in the middle of nowhere, smelling like fish, with a rugged and handsome woodsman by her side. She wished she could freeze time, and never let go of this day. Then she wouldn’t have to think about her troubles anymore.

  The morning turned to afternoon, and Kyle produced some biscuits and meat from his saddlebags for their noon meal. For the most part, they sat in companionable silence, each absorbed in their own thoughts.

  Kate caught three more fish to Kyle’s two, and each time, the task of reeling them in, removing the hook from deep in their throats, and re-baiting the line with a new worm became easier.

  “Look over there, Kate,” Kyle said quietly, pointing to a spot along the riverbank further upstream. “Looks like the otters decided to make an appearance after all.”

  Kate squinted, trying to see what he pointed at. She didn’t notice anything for a few minutes. Then, the water along the shore rippled in a different way than the slow current, and she focused her eyes on the spot. At first it looked like fish surfacing, but as the creatures moved closer, she could see sleek dark bodies gliding through the water, surfacing momentarily, then disappearing again beneath the waves.

  “Do they live in the water?” Kate asked.

  “Most of the time. They’re more agile there than on land.”

  Kate counted four little black bodies tumbling through the current, moving closer to where she sat. One otter stuck its head out like a telescope, watching her intently, just as she watched it. Seconds later, its head dove back underneath the surface. She had trouble following their agile movements as they glided through the water. A moment later, one of the otters darted out of the river right next to her, and Kate yelped involuntarily in surprise, grabbing Kyle’s arm.

  “I’ll protect you, Kate,” he whispered against her neck. She glimpsed the purely mocking grin on his face, and hastily scooted away from him.

  “Oh no, it’s stealing one of my fish,” Kate gasped in the next instant. The otter had grabbed a fish from her pile in the grass, and scurried back into the water. Kate leapt to her feet in pursuit.

  “Come back, you little thief,” she called in outrage. Too late, she realized she couldn’t stop her forward momentum, and stumbled into the water. Kyle’s strong arm around her waist prevented her from tumbling fully into the current.

  “If you want to go for a swim, it would be a better idea to remove your clothes first,” he said, a – what she considered – purely evil smirk on his face as he lifted her back onto dry land. “Those skirts will only drag you under.”

  Kate narrowed her eyes and glared at him. “That little weasel stole one of my fish. Why didn’t you go after it?”

  “We caught enough for supper. Even Josh should get his fill. Otters are much too quick to bother giving chase.”

  Kate huffed. “Well, I’m taking the rest of these fish back to the cabin now, before those otters decide to come back for a second helping.” She bent to pick up her remaining catch. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep hold of all three at once. Each time she had two in her grasp, the third would slither out of her hands. They were simply too slippery to get a firm hold of. When her head shot up to look at Kyle, he stood in front of her, an amused look on his face. He held out a strip of leather.

  “Best to string them, Kate. Then they can’t get away from you.”

  “Kyle Russell, how dare you make fun of me.” Her hands shot to her hips, and the fish she had been holding fell to the ground. “You know I’m a novice. Someday the table might be turned. If you ever find yourself at a Boston dinner party, I’ll be sure to mock you when you don’t know which fork to use for your salad.”

  She leaned forward to glare at him more closely, and his grin only widened. His eyebrows rose, and he asked, “You use more than one fork to eat with in Boston?”

  She let out an exasperated sigh. “That’s not the point.”

  Kyle reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her up against him. “Do you know how beautiful you are when you get all riled, Katelyn,” he whispered in a husky voice. “I love y…it when you do that.”

  She swallowed nervously, and pushed her palms against his chest. Her effort proved futile. He didn’t budge.

  “Kyle,” she said quietly. “It’s not proper to . . . you know . . . hold me like this all the time. I . . . we can’t keep doing this.”

  “You don’t like it when I hold you?” His arms tightened around her waist. “Or when I kiss you?” He bent his head and pressed his lips to hers. Kate’s resistance crumbled instantly, and she melted into him. Her arms crept around his middle and up his back, and she clung to him as if her life depended on it.

  “That’s what I thought,” he whispered agai
nst her cheek, his forehead resting against hers.

  Kate’s face burned. She had no will of her own when he touched her. He stepped away from her, his hand cupping her face, and the tender look in his eyes made her want to cry with need.

  “I’ll try and show more restraint from now on, Kate. I told you to let me know when I’m out of line, and I meant that. I want to court you properly, and I’m sorry I can’t seem to control myself around you.”

  She gasped at his words. Court her? It was impossible. Tears filled her eyes.

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart? What are you so afraid of?” His eyes narrowed.

  Kate shook her head. She couldn’t tell him. She just couldn’t. Leaning into his strength, she rested her head against his chest. “This has been the best day of my life, Kyle,” she whispered.

  Chapter 16

  Kyle couldn’t believe the change that had come over Katelyn. She had truly come out of her shell. She was outspoken around him and Josh, offering intelligent opinions about almost everything they talked about. If she didn’t understand something, she asked questions. She eagerly participated in fixing meals, and was no longer hesitant about trying things on her own.

  He took her out on excursions almost daily. He showed her some of the nearby geyser basins, taught her how to forage in the woods and recognize a few plants that were edible, and she even learned to identify some animal tracks. He’d never tire of watching her make new discoveries, both in the things she encountered, as well as in her own abilities. She never said anything to him about her life in Boston, but to Kyle it became clear that she hadn’t been allowed much freedom or independence, both in thought or action.

  With each passing day, she became more beautiful and vibrant in his eyes. Her frequent smiles and laughter turned his stomach into knots, and he was sure his heart would burst soon if he didn’t tell her he loved her. He could no longer picture his future without her in it.

  He’d managed to curb his desires for her over the last few weeks. It was the most difficult thing he’d ever done in his life. He held her hand frequently, and touched her shoulders and back whenever he got the chance. He kissed her lightly each morning, and each night, but he refrained from the heated kisses and embraces they’d shared the day he all but forced an admission from her that she had feelings for him. The day, which she told him, had been the best day of her life.

  The harsh environment he lived in, the danger of wild animals, or hostile Indians had never been a source of fear for him. It was all a part of what he’d grown up with. Admitting his love to her, asking her to share her life with him, these things scared the hell out of him.

  He was out of time. Tomorrow they were leaving for Virginia City. He was afraid she would slip away from him once they got there. He would only be in town for a day or two, and then he had to ride off to Helena to meet that railroad owner. There wasn’t a thing he could do if she chose to return to Boston while he was gone.

  Kyle hadn’t lost sight of his vision and goal of seeing the greater Yellowstone wilderness preserved as a nation’s park. He was sure if he could persuade the railroad to come on board, with their resources and lobbying power, convincing Congress would be a much easier task. He only wished the timing was different.

  Kyle sat on the chopping block by the woodpile, absently applying bear grease to some harness. Kate stood in the nearby horse corral, stroking Rosie with a brush. The mare’s coat had never looked so shiny. Rosie held her neck and head low, her eyes closed halfway, and her ears tilted as if they were about to fall over the side of her head. Can’t blame the horse for enjoying that kind of attention. Some day…

  “How long are you gonna rub that same piece of leather? If you slather any more grease on it, it’s gonna be so pliable, it’ll be softer than bison cud, and totally useless.” Josh slapped him on the back, jolting Kyle out of his reverie.

  “Damn you, Josh. Stop sneaking up on me,” Kyle grumbled. He set down the harness, and picked up another one lying on the ground.

  “First off, I wasn’t sneaking.” Josh set one foot on the chopping block, and rested his elbow on his knee. With a wide grin on his face, he leaned in closer. “And second, I’ve never managed to sneak up on you before.” He motioned with his chin toward the corral. “Stop your mooning over her, and find a preacher when you get to town. Maybe then you can get back to normal, and won’t end up getting yourself killed because your head ain’t on straight.”

  Kyle glared at him. He tossed the harness to the ground and stood. Without another look at his cousin, he headed for the corral. Kate’s soft voice carried to his ear. He stood near the fence, mesmerized by her words as she spoke quietly to the horse. Was she talking to the horse, or wistful about herself?

  “What a good girl you are, Rosie. Do you know how lucky you are to belong to Kyle? And you get to live here all your life. Be glad you’re not a city horse. I don’t think they enjoy their life much. I’m going to miss you when I go.” She hugged the horse’s neck.

  Kyle loudly cleared his throat. Kate’s head spun around.

  “Oh, I didn’t hear you,” she said. Her radiant smile brought an ache to his gut, and his throat tightened painfully.

  “I need to talk to you,” he said, leaning over the fence.

  Her eyebrows contracted. “Okay,” she said tentatively. Giving the horse a final pat, she walked up to the fence.

  “Not here,” Kyle said, and opened the gate for her.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked, leaning toward him. “You look so serious.”

  “Yeah, something’s wrong, but I aim to fix it.” He took her hand in his. “Walk with me down by the river.”

  Kate wordlessly allowed him to lead her across the meadow toward the Madison. Kyle kept walking along the banks, following the sweeping arc of the river’s course.

  “Will you please slow down, and tell me what’s gotten into you?” Kate pulled her hand back, and stopped moving. Kyle hadn’t realized the furious pace he was setting. He gripped her hand, unwilling to let go. He spun to face her, and swallowed hard.

  “Katelyn,” he said, his voice deep and husky. He swallowed several more times. “Kate, I love you, and I don’t want to lose you when we get to Virginia City.”

  She gasped, and her body stiffened. “Kyle,” she whispered almost inaudibly.

  “Let me finish what I have to say,” he added quickly. He needed to get the words out now. He cupped her face between his hands. “Kate, I can’t even come close to offering you the kind of life you’re used to in Boston . . . But I swear, I will do everything I can to make you happy. Kate . . . I’m asking you to be my wife. Marry me.”

  Her eyes went round, and instantly pooled with moisture. Her hand shot to her mouth, and she trembled in his arms. She just stood there, staring up at him, and the tears spilled down her cheeks. Slowly, she shook her head, and pulled back. Kyle loosened his hold on her.

  “I can’t marry you, Kyle.”

  Her softly spoken words hit him harder than a gunshot to the chest. His heart sank. “I know you have feelings for me, Kate. I can’t just walk away from you in a few days.”

  “Kyle . . . I . . . I have obligations . . . family . . . in Boston.” Her voice was as unsteady as her legs. Kyle pulled her into his embrace.

  “At least think about it.”

  Kate reached her hand behind his neck, and pulled his face to hers. Her lips were soft, and trembled like the rest of her. He tasted the saltiness of her tears.

  “You are the most wonderful man I’ve ever met, Kyle,” she whispered.

  “Promise me you’ll wait for me. Don’t go home to Boston yet.”

  “I can’t make that promise.” She clung to him, shuddering in his arms.

  *****

  Kate ran. She’d never run so fast in her life. Her skirts tore, repeatedly snagging on branches that reached for her. The forest seemed intent on impeding her escape. With bare feet she dashed through the woods. She dared a quick look over her shoulder. Any
moment now, he would catch up to her. The ground beneath her was wet and muddy, and her feet sank into the stale earth time and again, slowing her progress. She stumbled over a tree root, and cried out as hot pain shot upwards through her leg. Her arm reached for the ground to stay her fall, and she sank up to her elbow in the muck. It didn’t matter. With single-minded determination, she scrambled back to her feet and struggled onward. She had to keep going. The darkness of the forest closed in all around her. She ran blindly, not knowing or caring where she went.

  Tears streamed down her face, and her hair clung in matted strands to her sweat-soaked skin. Her head spun around again. Twigs and branches cracked loudly behind her, sending a renewed wave of terror through her. Frantically, her eyes scanned the darkness. No! He was catching up. How was it possible that he found her?

  Her head shot forward again. She was wasting time. She had to keep moving forward. Suddenly, she collided with something warm and solid. Strong hands grabbed for her. Kate screamed, her arms flaying wildly through the air in her attempt to get away.

  “Kate, wake up.” A familiar, soothing voice penetrated her consciousness. She continued to struggle, and her captor’s hold on her tightened.

  “No! I won’t let you hurt me again,” she screamed, renewing her efforts to escape.

  “Kate, you’re having a bad dream. Wake up.”

  She ceased her fighting. This was not Hiram’s voice. This voice promised safety and protection. It was a voice she trusted. Kyle! Kate’s eyes opened, but the darkness made it impossible to see. Soothing, gentle hands brushed the hair back from her face, caressing her arms and back.

  “Kyle?” she rasped.

  “I’m right here, sweetheart. It’s all right.”

  She shuddered, and her body went limp with relief. Everything was going to be okay now. “Please . . . please don’t let him hurt me,” she sobbed. Her hands reached for the one person in the world who cared for her and loved her. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

  “No one is going to hurt you, Katelyn.” His breath was warm against her cheek. She wanted to believe him. The terror of her dream was still too fresh in her mind.