Western Fate

by Janelle Daniels

  He snorted a laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind. You know, I thought you would be relaxing on your day off. Not endangering yourself to see to the welfare of others.”

  “That was my plan,” she said, trying not to squirm under his stare. “But I got restless. There’s nothing to do at home when I’m all alone. It drives me crazy.”

  Understanding lit his eyes. “It can’t be easy.”

  “It isn’t. I’m not used to being on my own.”

  “And I’m not used to having someone around,” he said quietly before shaking his head. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  Curiosity was something Grace had always struggled with. “What do you mean?”

  He let out a sigh. “I was used to being on my own. I had a routine. I stuck with it. But—”

  “Then you got Arabella,” she finished, understanding what he meant.

  “Exactly. She came into my life, and I was completely unprepared for it. I’d seen her often, loved her, but nothing could have prepared me for this.”

  Grace couldn’t imagine what it must have been like. “Was there no one to help you?”

  He shook his head. “No. As I said last night, we’re on our own.”

  Just like me. She was completely alone in the world. It was difficult and terrifying at times. “But you did it. She’s doing so well.”

  He grimaced. “I don’t know about that, but she does seem happier here.” Because of you.

  He didn’t say those last words, but she could sense them lingering in the air between them. “You’ve done a great job with her,” she said softly, knowing her words would carry only to him in the loud environment now that the men had all returned to their tasks. “You should be proud of yourself.” A serious look crossed his face, and she wondered what he was thinking.

  Finally he admitted, “It wasn’t easy. In the beginning—even now—I have no idea what I’m doing. If I’m doing something wrong. If I’m doing the right thing. I wasn’t prepared for this. I didn’t have anyone to lean on, to help me. I’m worried each day that I’ll make a mistake. That I’ll damage her or ruin her life.” He shook his head and closed his lips as if he regretted even saying that.

  She reached out, placing her hand on his arm. “Everyone would feel that way. In the blink of an eye both of your lives changed. She lost her parents, and you became a father.”

  His sky-blue eyes widened, and she found herself trapped in his gaze. Neither spoke. Neither moved.

  It was as if an entire conversation was taking place between them. She yearned for him to confide in her more, to tell her everything he struggled with. She wanted to take away some of his pain, some of his hardship.

  But just as quickly, the moment passed.

  He blinked, cleared his throat, and then stepped back. “I shouldn’t keep you. I’m sure the men would be happy for your care.”

  But she wanted him to want her care too. Without another word, she scooped the ladle and held it up to him. “You must be thirsty.”

  She thought he would nod casually and take it, but instead, he took her wrist, raising it high so she moved the ladle to his lips. Slowly, he drank, keeping eye contact with her. She’d never felt anything so intimate in her life.

  “Thank you,” he said as if the tension between them hadn’t scorched her.

  “Oh.” Flustered, she set the ladle back in the bucket. “Of course. Let me know if you need more.”

  Something flashed in his eyes, but instead of staying to find out what it was, she rushed past him toward the other men.

  Oliver made her feel things she thought were only in fairy tales. And when he looked at her like that…she shivered.

  He wasn’t staying in town for long, and that made him dangerous to her—but dangerous or not, Grace found she wanted to get a little closer to the flame.

  Chapter 6

  Oliver tiredly dismounted from his horse in front of his house, calling out for one of the home’s caretakers to ready Grace’s wagon. He’d had a long day at the mine offices, and meetings had run later than he’d anticipated. Fortunately, before dinner he’d been able send Grace a note explaining the situation.

  The sun was down, and night was in full swing. He winced, wondering if Grace would be annoyed. She’d agreed to help him watch Arabella, but she probably hadn’t been expecting to work such long hours.

  He’d need to make it up to her.

  Walking through the front door, he took several steps down the hall and past the parlor before stopping and walking back into the room.

  Grace lounged on the sofa with a book against her chest as she slept. He stepped closer, unable to stop himself from drawing near. He stood above her, watching her breathe softly as if she were some fairy-tale maiden, and he were the hero here to rescue her—or the villain sent to capture her. He wasn’t sure which.

  He couldn’t claim to be a hero. He was too ruthless with his research for anyone to ever say such a thing, but he wasn’t evil. Some might think he didn’t have a heart because he hadn’t formed a lasting attachment with someone, but that wasn’t true either.

  He’d made room in his life for Arabella—and even though he hadn’t wanted to, he’d made room for this woman as well.

  He reached out, tucking a silky honey-blond curl behind her ear. She looked innocent in sleep, and it struck a protective chord in him. “Grace,” he said softly, not wanting to startle her. “Grace, wake up.”

  She shifted in her sleep, making a soft noise in the back of her throat that made an altogether different feeling shoot through him.

  When she didn’t rouse, he cleared his throat and touched her shoulder, shaking her softly. “Grace.”

  Her eyes slowly opened, her lashes lowering slowly a few times before her soft brown eyes focused on him. “Oliver?” She looked around the room, disoriented.

  Her voice was husky with sleep, and when she spoke his name, another jolt of attraction wove through him. “You fell asleep reading. I apologize I’m so late.”

  “Oh.” She sat up quickly, her cheeks mottled with color as she looked at her toes. “No. It’s all right. I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep.”

  “Boring story?” he teased and was rewarded when her gaze shot to his.

  “No…maybe a little.” She winced. “Sorry.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t be. We can’t have the same taste in everything.” He wanted to ask her what her favorite things to read were but didn’t. It was late, and he needed to get her home. “I had your wagon readied for you. It should be out front now.”

  “Thank you.” She rose from the sofa and brushed wrinkles out of her skirt as if she didn’t know what else to do with her hands. “Are you sure you won’t need my help tomorrow?”

  He shook his head. “No. I’ve made sure to clear everything so I could spend time with Arabella. That was another reason I was so late.”

  She nodded as if she approved. “She’ll enjoy that. She’s missed you,” she said softly.

  “I’ve missed her too.” And that was true. Since she’d come to live with him, he hadn’t ever stayed away from her this much. He hadn’t realized how much he’d miss her when he was at the mine.

  Grace smiled. “Good.” She glanced at the doorway. “I’ll take my leave now. Have a good evening.”

  She tried to move past him, but he reached out and stilled her. “You don’t think I’d allow you to ride home alone at this time of night, do you?”

  Her mouth formed a circle. “Oh. Well—”

  “Because you’d be sadly mistaken.” He gave her a firm look just in case she tried to argue with his escort.

  Instead, her lips curved wryly. “Is that so? Well, I had assumed I would see myself home as it is what I’ve always done. I’m also your employee, and I highly doubt you see all of your employees home in the evenings.” Her brows rose in challenge.

  He had her there. “But this isn’t the city, and I would never feel comfortable knowing you were out there alone in the dark where any nu
mber of things could happen to you. I’m certain you are more than capable of making it home, but I would appreciate it if you would allow me to do this for my own peace of mind.”

  She softened. “All right. If you really want to.”

  “I do,” he said quickly. “I’ll tie my horse to the wagon so I can ride back after.”

  She nodded, agreeing, and he gestured for her to lead the way out of the house.

  The wagon was already out front, as he’d thought, and the stable hand was waiting by the horses. “Please tie mine to the wagon,” Oliver said, and the man quickly saw to the task.

  They approached the vehicle, and just as Grace was reaching to haul herself up, he placed his hands on her waist, lifting her easily into the seat.

  She squeaked at the unexpected help but settled quickly.

  He bit his cheek, trying to fight the grin he felt curving his lips as he climbed up and settled himself next to her. “Would you like me to drive?” he asked.

  “Yes, please.”

  He took the reins and nodded to the worker. “I’ll see to my horse’s care when I get back.”

  The man tipped his hat. “Thank you, sir.”

  Oliver nodded and set the horses moving. The road wasn’t well maintained, but luckily, with a full moon, the holes were easily visible.

  “That was kind of you,” Grace said after a few minutes.

  “Hmm?” He glanced at her before returning his attention to the road.

  “Sending him to bed. Most would have made him stay awake until they returned.”

  “That was nothing.”

  She smiled softly. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”

  “I just don’t want you to think I’m someone I’m not.” He frowned, wondering why he said that. It shouldn’t matter what she thought of him.

  “I think I’m starting to understand exactly who you are.”

  He wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that, but he couldn’t stop his curiosity. “And who do you think I am?”

  She cocked her head to the side, and he could feel her eyes on him. “I think you’re hardworking. I think you’re shrewd. I think you’d like for people to see you as a hard man, but that’s not the core of you.”

  He shifted on his seat, uncomfortable with how close to the truth she’d hit. “You can’t be soft in science. Or business.”

  “I imagine not.” She chuckled. “But science and business aren’t the only things in your life.”

  At least they weren’t anymore. In the last six months his entire life had changed. He could hardly remember the type of man he’d been back then. “Much has changed recently.”

  “I know. But not that.”

  “What makes you so certain?” They turned onto the main road, and it was safe to look at her then. He was fascinated by the way the moon gleamed off her hair, the way it reflected in her eyes as she looked at him.

  “Because if you didn’t already have those qualities, there’s no way you could have developed them this quickly. I see you with Arabella. You’re gentle with her, loving. If you hadn’t those qualities before, she wouldn’t be nearly as happy as she is now.”

  He frowned and looked away from her. “I think I’m not as good of a man as you seem to think. I’m not terrible, but I’m no saint.”

  “Are any of us?”

  He smiled a sly half smirk. “I think you are.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “No. Not anywhere close. I have my faults same as anyone else. I’ve made plenty of mistakes, and I’m sure there’s plenty more to come. But even with those mistakes, even with those struggles, I’m a good person. And you are too, even if you don’t think you are.”

  After hearing her thoughts, his heart lightened. He wanted to be deserving of those feelings. “I just hope I can be all that for Arabella.”

  She reached out and placed her hand over his. “You are.”

  She squeezed his hand before pulling away, and he felt the loss of it. He wanted to feel the sparks of attraction that simmered inside him at her touch.

  It was madness. He knew it, and yet, he couldn’t stop wanting it. Wanting more.

  They rode the rest of the way to her home in silence, the air crackling between them. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking or how she felt, but all he could imagine was taking her in his arms, kissing her, and seeing what it could be like between them.

  He’d desired women in the past, but none had ever tempted him like this. None had ever engaged him on more than just a physical level. There was so much more to Grace that he admired—that he hungered for—and he was starting to realize it was something he didn’t want to fight.

  They made it to her home, and candlelight flickered in the windows. “Is someone inside?” he asked.

  “Yes. Sylvia, the housekeeper. She normally lives in a cottage not too far away, but since Hannah got married, she’s been staying here with me.”

  Grace was out here all alone, with only another woman for protection. He knew things were different out West, but the thought left him uneasy. She was vulnerable, and he didn’t like that. “Is it safe?”

  She looked at him with amusement in her eyes. “As safe as it can be. I also have a shotgun.”

  He started to laugh, but then he realized she was serious. “Do you know how to shoot it?”

  She shrugged. “Well enough to defend myself, if necessary. Although, I might go hungry if I depended on it to hunt for food.”

  “Hopefully, it will never come to that,” he said dryly and climbed down from the wagon before rounding it to help her down.

  She reached out, placing her hands on his shoulders as he encircled her waist. It was an action he’d done hundreds of times, but this time, it was different.

  Desire wove through him, and he kept her suspended in the air an extra moment before lowering her close to his body.

  She sucked in a breath but didn’t step away when he set her down. “Thank you for driving me home.”

  “Thank you for letting me,” he said softly. He lifted her chin to keep her eyes on him. “I want you to be safe.”

  Her eyes searched his. “I can take care of myself.”

  It was true. And once he left, she’d be completely on her own again. He knew it had to happen for Arabella’s sake, but in that moment, denial wove through him. The thought of leaving her was abhorrent. “I know. You’re strong and capable, and I have no doubt you can take care of yourself. But I can’t help but want to do it too. You do so much for others, helping in ways no one else realizes. Someone should do something for you.”

  She shook her head softly. “I wouldn’t know what to do. No one has looked after me in so long.”

  Hearing again how alone she was, made him want to pull her closer. His arms wanted to wrap around her, his lips wanted to taste her. He wanted to finally put this desire to rest.

  But he couldn’t.

  He couldn’t take advantage of her in that way when he saw no future for them.

  Grace pulled so many emotions from him, he didn’t know how to process them. But instead of saying any of that, he released her slowly. “You should probably head in.”

  A look of disappointment crossed her face, but she recovered quickly. “Yes. I probably should.” She sighed as if she regretted it, but still, she moved toward the house.

  He watched as she opened the door, stepped through, and glanced over at him one last time before shutting herself in.

  Chapter 7

  Time passed by like a dream. For the next week, she and Oliver fell into a routine: she would watch Arabella while he worked, he would come home late, and he would then take her home.

  But what transpired on those drives home had changed her life. Slowly, he’d begun opening his heart. She respected him, admired him, and wanted to know even more.

  She’d opened up as well, sharing things from her past she’d never uttered to another soul.

  But even after all they’d shared, he still hadn’t kissed her. In fac
t, he seemed to go out of his way to avoid it. But she thought he wanted to, because of all the times she’d caught him staring at her lips.

  She wanted to kiss him too.

  But, while she was physically attracted to Oliver, it was his soul, who he was inside, that drew her. Everything he’d shared with her had only made her want him more.

  It was safe to say she was falling in love with him.

  It was intense and thrilling and terrifying, but she embraced all those emotions regardless of how quickly everything was progressing—even though it was foolish. Oliver and Arabella would leave in a few short weeks, and Grace knew it would take a miracle for him to fall in love with her in that time. Feelings such as these didn’t develop quickly. They took time, care, and attentiveness.

  They simply didn’t have enough time.

  She knew he cared about her but didn’t know the extent of his feelings. And even though Grace felt hopeless about the outcome, she didn’t care. She wanted to embrace every feeling she could, to experience love and longing and excitement in the short time she had with him. Even if the feelings weren’t completely reciprocated.

  And when it was time…she’d let them go.

  Her heart ached as she thought of it. Of never seeing Oliver, of never hugging Arabella. Live for now, she told herself. Enjoy what’s in front of you.

  She only wished it were that easy.

  She pulled her wagon up to the home Oliver and Arabella were renting. She expected to be there at the house for another full day, and although she could have brought only a mount, she liked riding on the seat next to Oliver in the evening. It allowed them to talk more freely than they’d be able to riding separately.

  She was climbing down when Arabella raced out of the house, a riot of blond curls streaming behind her. “Grace! Grace! We’re going on a picnic.”

  Grace caught the girl in her arms and hoisted her for a hug. “Goodness! We are?” She nuzzled the little girl’s rosy cheek, her heart clenching with the love she already felt for her.

  “Yes! Uncle Oliver just told me.”