Reining up, Kirsty drew her mount to a halt. Logan stopped beside her. They dismounted and each tied their horses' reins to a nearby tree. Kirsty regarded the trees with satisfaction. She'd been right. They were coming along nicely. The trees were still bare, not yet producing leaves. Kirsty had made sure the pruning had been done regularly. They'd be ready to produce in a couple of years. The important thing, though, was that she'd get the extra acres after they'd matured. Then she'd have an even bigger spread to look after. She pushed any thought of how she'd cope with the extra workload firmly out of her mind.
Logan strode across to the trees. Thrusting his hands against his hips, he stared out across the many lines of trees stretching off to the edge of the ridge. He turned to Kirsty and nodded. "Impressive. And you've been looking after all these yourself?"
Kirsty walked up to Logan's side. "As much as I can. In between doing everything else." For some reason, she was pleased that Logan was impressed. Sharing things like this with him made her feel happy. "Let me get the cutters," Kirsty said, dragging her attention back to the task at hand.
She went to her saddle bag and removed two cutters. Handing one to Logan, she told him: "Let's get to work."
Dipping his head, Logan smiled. "Yes, ma'am."
Kirsty squinted at him and then shook her head.
"I suppose you'll tell me you know how to do this," Kirsty challenged.
Tilting his head, Logan sighed. "Show me what to do."
For the next hour she and Logan busied themselves, pruning the apple trees. Kirsty instructed him on where to cut and just how much to remove without damaging the trees. He was a fast learner. Pretty soon, each one of the trees had a small pile of cut branches lying on the earth. Logan chatted with her throughout the work. He kept on trying to make her laugh and, most of the time, succeeded.
The sun beat down upon them as they worked. Finally, Kirsty decided it was time to take a short break. Feeling thirsty, she went to her horse and took the water bottle. Lifting it to her mouth, she drank the slightly warm liquid. It was refreshing. As she finished drinking she was aware that Logan was watching her intently. Water had dribbled down the length of her neck and his gaze was fixed on the glistening line.
Thrusting the flask out to him, she said quickly. "Your turn."
Logan took the bottle and drank from it. At first Kirsty dragged her gaze away from Logan. But, moments later, she looked back at him. What she saw made her heart quicken. Logan's powerful throat was working hard as he swallowed the water. His chest was rising as he dragged in deep breaths. For a moment, the sight was curiously compelling. When Logan paused and glanced at her, Kirsty lowered her gaze to the earth beneath her booted feet. Shifting awkwardly, she tried to mask any hint that she'd been affected by the sight of Logan drinking the water.
Looking up at Logan again, she saw him holding the flask out to her. He didn't say a word, but there was a knowing look in his eyes. There wasn't much she could hide from Logan Kincaid.
She took the flask and placed it back in her saddlebag. Logan ran his gaze across the broad expanse of the valley floor. "Where does your land end?" he asked.
Kirsty pointed south. "Just past that gully." She turned and faced eastward. "If this works, then I'll get extra acres over in that direction. A lot of the land between the homesteads in these parts still belongs to the government."
His brows lifted in a line. "One hundred and sixty acres isn't enough?"
Kirsty nodded. "Sure it is. Abby and I can barely look after it, as it is. We only work ten acres. Not including the orchard. But my parents started this planting. I just want to make sure what they did won't go to waste."
"Are the Shaughnessy family planting trees, too?" Logan asked.
Gazing off the the south, where the Shaughnessy family had their homestead, Kirsty shook her head. "Bridget told me she has more than enough. She doesn't want more land. She figures it'll take all she has to make what she already owns work."
Logan nodded. "Some folks just reckon they have enough."
"My ma and pa planted these trees," Kirsty said. "Otherwise, I'd probably be content with what I've got. The apples will be useful. And, once I'm here on my own, it'll take all I have to look after the homestead." Realizing she'd brought up a difficult subject, she hoped Logan would ignore what she'd just said. But he didn't.
"About that, Kirsty," Logan said and took a step closer to her. "You know what I said to you before. That I want to help you, in any way I can. Have you thought about what I said?"
Kirsty frowned at Logan. "Of course I have, Logan. How could I not think about that." She looked pleadingly at him. "I'm grateful for your offer to help. I truly am." Sighing heavily, she folded her arms tightly around her. She knew his offer wasn't just about helping her around the homestead. It promised so much more than that. "But you know it isn't that easy."
"Why?"
Kirsty's shoulders sank. "Because you're asking me to consider being more than a friend."
"I want us to be closer," he murmured. "Don't you?"
She saw a sudden change in his gaze. It was darker now. More serious. Gone was the light-hearted demeanor of earlier. Now he was talking about something which meant a whole lot to him.
Kirsty swallowed, feeling her chest tighten. Just like it had when he'd spoken like this to her before. She let her arms drop to her side. It was time to lay her cards on the table.
"You're asking me to consider becoming a wife. And a mother to Jack and Alice. Isn't that what you're saying?" Her voice shook with emotion and the urgency of what she'd just said. "Do you realize what you're asking of me, Logan?" Those last words caught in her throat. It was all she could do to keep from turning away from him. But his gaze was steady. She felt rooted to the spot.
Logan didn't even flinch. He nodded his head once, his gaze locked firmly upon her. He reached across and took both of her hands. Lifting them up, he curled his fingers around hers.
Lifting her hands to his mouth, he pressed his lips against the back of her fingers. His touch sent shockwaves through her. Head bowed, his moist, warm lips still upon her hand, Logan lifted his eyes and gazed at Kirsty. Her breath eased out of her lungs. Heartbeat racing, she felt her mouth open with shock.
Suddenly the heat of the valley felt oppressive. She hesitated, allowing him to keep hold of her hands. Logan kissed her fingers for a few more seconds. He lifted his lips away from her fingers and raised his head. There was a hint of satisfaction on his features. Still not saying a word, Logan gazed into her eyes, seeking something from her. Lost for words, all she could do was desperately try to gather her racing thoughts.
Deep inside herself, she tried guessing what he'd say next. How he would try and explain what he'd just done. He'd stepped over a line. That was for sure. It had been exquisite. She was surprised at the delight she'd felt as he'd kissed her fingers. Her breath caught in her chest. She had to do something. Anything to get a hold of her emotions.
Maybe there was still time to keep him at bay. Perhaps it wasn't too late, she told herself urgently.
Tugging her hands loose, she took a step back. Logan's eyes widened with instant frustration. Whatever he'd planned on saying, the moment had passed.
"It's getting near lunchtime," Kirsty blurted out. "Abby will want me to help her." Kirsty strode across to her horse and stepped up onto the saddle. Looking down at Logan, she saw both acceptance and defeat on his features. Once he'd mounted his own horse, they both started back across the valley.
Kirsty rode fast, saying nothing to Logan. The pace of her horse's hooves matched perfectly the cascading thoughts tumbling in her mind. And, all the way home, Logan kept pace with her, saying nothing.
CHAPTER TWENTY
"How was your visit to the MacAnliss homestead?" Miss Hannigan asked Logan the morning after he'd been there.
Logan hesitated. "Fine."
Logan was entering the boardinghouse having escorted the children to the school a short while before.
/> Wiping her hands on a white apron, Miss Hannigan was emerging from the kitchen area and standing in the hallway at the foot of the stairs. "I just made coffee. Would you like to take some in the parlor?" It didn't sound like an invitation, Logan told himself. More like an instruction. Maybe Miss Hannigan had something to tell him.
"Sure. That would be nice," Logan said and headed into the parlor. He was glad to discover no-one else in there. The last thing he wanted was a repeat of the awkward conversation which had taken place earlier that morning over breakfast. The other guests had also been curious about his recent visits to Kirsty's homestead. There had been questions and lifted brows and curious looks. Lucille Brown had been the one to ask the questions while her sister, Caroline, had remained tight-lipped. Of course, the probing had been polite, even innocent sounding. Logan had managed to dodge the queries as well as could be expected. But he was beginning to think he must be missing something. Did people know something he didn't?
Miss Hannigan was soon seated alongside him on the sofa and pouring coffee from an elegant silver pot into equally tasteful china cups.
Miss Hannigan settled back on the sofa, holding her cup and saucer and regarding Logan with a steady gaze. "Well?"
Logan took a sip of coffee and lowered his cup onto the saucer. "Well, what?"
Miss Hannigan lifted a brow. "I guess you noticed all the interest, this morning, over breakfast."
Logan shrugged. "Not really," he said, realizing he didn't sound at all convincing.
Miss Hannigan scoffed. "Logan. You're not going to tell me that you haven't noticed the interest folks have in your courtship of Miss MacAnliss."
Logan was sure his eyes had widened at the mention of a courtship. He peered evenly at Miss Hannigan as he lifted the cup to his lips. "Who said I was courting Kirsty?"
Miss Hannigan scoffed once again, this time louder. "Everybody knows. The whole town is talking about it."
Trying to contain his interest, Logan lifted a querying brow. "Is that so." Pausing, he took another sip of coffee and then asked: "What are they saying?" He tried masking the intensity of his interest, but he knew there wasn't much chance of fooling Miss Hannigan. Once she got on a case, there was no stopping her. Having strangers under her roof, Miss Hannigan was used to getting to the bottom of things.
Miss Hannigan placed her cup and saucer down on the small side table. Folding her hands imperiously in her lap, she gave Logan a good-natured smile. "They're saying you're going to be proposing to Kirsty any day now."
He thought he'd been ready for anything, but he'd been wrong. His breath hitched in his chest. Clearing his throat, Logan stared at Miss Hannigan. "Who exactly is saying all this?" he just about managed to say.
"Well. For a start, Mrs Wheeler. You know. Her husband used to own the livery. She said she met you and Kirsty and the children the other day." Miss Hannigan grinned. "Mrs Wheeler is one of the town's top gossips."
"I guessed that," Logan said slowly. "She certainly seemed to form an opinion about us."
"Mrs Wheeler has been telling everyone who'll listen that she was most impressed with you and the children." Miss Hannigan paused.
"And?"
"She said there has been a terrible misunderstanding."
Logan lifted a brow. "About what?"
Miss Hannigan frowned. "You know. About that time you stayed over at the MacAnliss homestead."
Logan rubbed his slightly stubbled jawline. He felt his cheeks flush with heat. It wasn't often Logan got embarrassed. But, sitting here with Miss Hannigan, he felt like he was being grilled. Maybe it was time to make his position clear.
"Last I heard, folks were coming to all sorts of conclusions about that. And not all of them favorable to Kirsty." He backtracked quickly and cleared his throat again. "I mean, Miss MacAnliss."
Miss Hannigan smiled as if Logan had just confirmed something very important. "I told you not to worry about that. Its in the nature of people to be curious."
"There's curiosity and then there's being downright judgmental," Logan objected.
"I know it can't be easy," Miss Hannigan said. "What with you returning to Inspiration, and all. With the children to think of every day. And trying to find a place to settle down."
Logan shrugged, but he knew how bad it all sounded. To anyone looking on, it might seem like Logan didn't know what he was doing. But he did. He was determined to bring Kirsty into his life. Even if she couldn't see that it was the only way forward for all of them.
"Anyhow. It seems lots of people saw you, the children and Kirsty with her cousin, Abby around town the other day," Miss Hannigan continued, warming to her subject. "And at church. Seems like folks believe Abby MacAnliss isn't the only one who's going to be getting married soon."
Logan couldn't decide if what Miss Hannigan was saying was good news or not. He should have been pleased. Maybe he'd achieved something, after all, if the consensus of opinion in town had changed from censoriousness to cautious approval about his friendship with Kirsty. Perhaps folks were beginning to believe that he and Kirsty were intent of marriage. That might clear up any remaining scandal hanging over Kirsty's reputation. Logan was happy about that. At least he'd made some progress, but there was still a long way to go.
Miss Hannigan had no idea of the resistance he was coming up against with Kirsty. Logan was courting Kirsty. That much was still true. Thinking back to the way she'd looked at him when they'd visited the fruit orchard, Logan told himself there had been real reluctance in Kirsty's eyes. Not just reluctance, he corrected himself. More like worry at the prospect of becoming a wife and mother. There was a wall between him and Kirsty, and he wasn't sure he was going to be able to break it down.
Logan's heart sank. Was he that much of an ogre? Was the prospect of life on the homestead with him such a horrible thing to consider? Somehow it didn't matter that the opinion of the townsfolk had altered, thanks to some strategic intervention by Mrs Wheeler. None of it mattered if Kirsty wasn't willing to let him into her heart. And, after what he'd been seeing recently, the chances of that happening were diminishing by the day.
Miss Hannigan's voice brought his attention back to the parlor. "Can I ask you a personal question, Logan?"
Logan felt heat rush to his cheeks again. "Sure."
Miss Hannigan shifted on the sofa, as if she was considering her next words carefully. "Do you and Miss MacAnliss have genuine feelings for one another?"
Logan's mouth dropped open. He almost dropped his coffee cup.
Suddenly, seeing Logan's shock, Miss Hannigan stood up, fussing with her hair. Logan watched her, momentarily taken aback by the woman's reaction.
Miss Hannigan turned and peered down at Logan. "Forgive me, Logan. I shouldn't have asked that. I have no business prying into your personal life." Miss Hannigan's features flushed pink with embarrassment. "I'm almost as bad as those town gossips I've been criticizing."
Logan stood and faced Miss Hannigan. Smiling at her, he shook his head. "Don't go troubling yourself, Miss Hannigan. I understand why you'd want to ask that. I don't think you're prying."
"You don't?" she asked, her shoulders sagging with relief.
Logan shook his head. "Kirsty and I go way back. To school. Our friendship has endured some rocky patches."
"You're only friends?" Miss Hannigan asked. "Is that what you're saying?"
Logan frowned. "I thought I was courting Kirsty. I genuinely did." Logan ran a hand through his hair. "But, right now, I'm not so sure."
Miss Hannigan rested a hand on Logan's shoulder and smiled. "You know what that tells me?"
Logan narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"It sounds like a real courtship," Miss Hannigan said. "You know, the kind that doesn't go smoothly is always the one that finishes with the happy ending."
Logan laughed quietly. "You think so?"
Miss Hannigan nodded. "I think you're only trying to do what's right, Logan. For Kirsty and yourself and for the children."
Logan felt relief that at least someone understood what he was trying to do. "I've seen how good your are to my children," Logan said. "The kindness you've shown them has touched my heart, Miss Hannigan." He laid a hand on his chest. "Truly, it has."
Miss Hannigan gasped. "I suppose that's what I'm really concerned about." She sighed. "Those children are so beautiful. And they surely deserve to find a place where they can be happy. With two loving parents who'll dote over them." She sighed heavily. "It's the least they deserve, after all they've been through."
Logan nodded slowly. "I know that, Miss Hannigan. I feel it every day I wake up and realize what I must do for them. That means making a home." He paused and added: "A family."
Miss Hannigan gazed earnestly at Logan. "Miss MacAnliss would make a wonderful mother to them. You know that, don't you." Miss Hannigan lifted a hand to her mouth. Her eyes widened with shock. "I hope you don't mind me saying that, Logan. But it's the truth."
Logan smiled warmly. "I do know that. As sure as anything I've ever known." He laughed softly. "You should see Jack and Alice when they're at the homestead, Miss Hannigan. They're full of excitement. Laughing the whole time. Learning new things. It's a whole new way of life for them. I can just imagine what it would be like for them to be living there." Lifting a brow, he continued. "As a family. With Kirsty as their mother."
"And you as a father." Lifting a brow, she added: "And husband."
Those words sounded sweet, Logan told himself. But they also awakened the frustration about the way Kirsty was holding him at bay.
After hearing what Miss Hannigan had told him, Logan figured he'd gone some way to healing the wound to Kirsty's reputation. He was pleased about that.
He knew he faced what seemed like an insurmountable barrier. The wall which Kirsty had put up around her heart was strong, almost unbreakable. And, right now, Logan wasn't sure he'd be able to break through it and finally claim her as his wife.
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