But Ethan wasn't one of those kind. Chloe knew that, in her heart, Ethan was special. And that was what had made the last two days almost inexplicable. He wouldn't have stayed away from her unless he had good reason to do so. She was certain of that. All morning, she'd asked herself what she could do. The urge to take the carriage and ride up to the ranch was almost uncontrollable. But, she didn't want to go there only to discover a situation that might be none of her concern.
Pressing the last pin into the wall and securing the bunting on the dining room wall, Chloe stepped off the small ladder she used to reach the highest parts around the house. She surveyed her work and felt satisfaction. As if sensing Chloe's nervousness, Eugenie had encouraged Chloe to give free reign to her imagination when it came to decorating the Buchanan ranch for Christmas. And, Chloe had taken full advantage of that freedom. Almost every room on the ground floor had been decorated with ribbons, colored paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling, painted images of the nativity scenes and every other possible expression of the Christmas season Chloe could think of. She'd been so busy, the time had flown by. That was how she liked it. Being busy was a great way to forget disappointment.
Chloe made her way into the parlor and readied herself to spend the next hour tracing some snowflake patterns onto paper which she could then cut into decorations. The snowflakes reminded her of the snowball fight with Ethan.
Suddenly, from outside, she heard horse's hooves pounding on the snow-covered yard. Chloe looked out the window and saw Zane riding to a halt in front of the porch. He was dressed in boots, jeans, heavy leather jacket and Stetson. He leaped down from his horse and started to dash toward the front door. Chloe leaped up and made her way into the hall, arriving at the door just as Zane thrust it open. A blast of cold air rushed into the room. Zane shook some snow from his boots and the shoulders of his jacket. He was breathing heavily, as if he'd been riding fast.
Chloe felt nerves twist in her middle. "What's wrong, Zane?" she asked.
"Do you know where my father is?" he asked breathlessly. Walking into the hall, he lifted his head and yelled. "Pa! Are you here?" His voice echoed throughout the house.
Chloe heard Caleb call out and, a few moments later, he came running down the stairs. "What is it, Zane?" he asked as he reached the bottom stair.
When Zane glanced at Chloe, and she saw the worry in his eyes, she knew something was wrong. "Its happened again, pa."
"What? The cattle?" Caleb exclaimed, reaching out and taking Zane by the arm.
Zane nodded. "Ten head. Gone. Disappeared overnight."
Caleb grunted loudly, sounding like a raging bull. "Darn it. I knew this would happen." Chloe saw Caleb glance at her. Her uncle hesitated, words hovering on his lips. She guessed he wanted to say something about how he'd been right not to trust Ethan when he'd visited the house the other day. For now, though, much to her relief, he kept his peace.
"And there's one other thing, pa," Zane continued. "A hole in the fence on the north side of the spread. Someone cut their way through. I'm guessing that's how the cattle were taken."
Caleb smiled sarcastically and shook his head. "Why am I not surprised? Just like before."
Chloe desperately wanted to defend the Armstrongs. It was too obvious for it to be their doing, she told herself. Couldn't her uncle and cousin see that? She wanted to speak up, but right now, the tension in the air could have been cut with a knife. There had to be an explanation that made sense. Anything except the Armstrongs being the ones who'd taken the cattle. Chloe couldn't for one minute believe that Ethan and some of his ranch hands would stoop so low.
"I'll get my things, and come with you, Zane," Caleb announced heading back upstairs.
Chloe peered up into Zane's eyes. She knew he was a man of good judgment. A decent man who'd always struck her as being sensible. He was also a man of faith. And, right now, Chloe knew that might be her only way of getting Zane to see sense.
"Something about this doesn't seem right, Zane," Chloe said.
Zane's brows furrowed. "How do you mean, Chloe?"
"Do you really think that, if Ethan Armstrong wanted to steal cattle, he'd do it in such an obvious way?"
"Desperate men don't always act in ways we can understand," Zane said.
Chloe faced Zane directly. "Ethan Armstrong isn't the kind of man who'd steal Buchanan cattle," she declared.
"How can you be so sure?" Zane replied.
"Because I know Ethan isn't that type of a man, that's why," Chloe stated firmly.
"Based on what? Your friendship with him?"
Chloe felt her cheeks warm. Had people been talking? Had word gotten around that she and Ethan had been stepping out together? Chloe folded her arms and shook her head. "You could say that I've gotten to know Ethan pretty well since I came here. And I can tell you, for sure, that he and his family aren't cattle rustlers."
Zane paused for a few moments, considering Chloe's defense of the Armstrong family. He sighed and looked sympathetically at Chloe. He laid a hand gently on Chloe's shoulders. "I know this must be hard for you to accept. But, the evidence is overwhelming. The Armstrong family have been trying to cause trouble for us since the day they arrived."
"Does that include Jake Armstrong?" Chloe asked. "I hardly think he can possibly be any trouble to this family." Chloe felt emotion fill her voice. Zane's brows furrowed with concern. "Maybe the men in this family need to think hard about what they're doing," she said boldly. "They should try and see the truth, instead of being fooled into believing lies."
Zane's eyes widened. Chloe had never spoken to her cousin like that before. The shock was visible on Zane's features. But, Chloe was convinced that she was the only one who could see the situation clearly. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Caleb was wrapping his jacket around his shoulders. His eyes widened when he saw what was going on in the hall.
"I've been thinking," Caleb stated, looking at Zane. "Maybe it's time we spoke to the sheriff again. You know the last time this happened, he told us to go speak to him. I think it's time we did that."
"Is that really necessary, uncle Caleb?" Chloe asked, emotion cracking her voice.
"I think so, Chloe," Caleb replied. "We need to put an end to all this trouble."
"But it can't be anything to do with Ethan Armstrong," Chloe exclaimed. "I just know that can't be true." Her voice echoed in the hallway. Zane and Caleb stared at Chloe. Neither man said a word. Chloe saw her uncle looking at her with incredulity on his face. He was about to start to say something to her when Chloe pushed her way past him and ran up the stairs. Chloe went into her room and slammed the door behind her, leaning back against the closed door. Her heart was pounding and her eyes were filled with tears. She refused to believe that Ethan could be behind the continuing problems her family were experiencing. Chloe knew there had to be another explanation.
There was only one way to find out. She'd have to go to the Armstrong ranch and find out the truth for herself. The time for waiting on Ethan was over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Pastor Joseph had been inside the Armstrong house for almost an hour. Ethan had waited in the parlor for the pastor to finish talking in private with Jake. But now, desperate for some fresh air, Ethan had stepped out onto the porch. His mother and Gretchen were in the kitchen. Like Ethan, they had been prohibited from being anywhere near his father's room at the back of the ranch house.
Stepping out onto the porch, Ethan buttoned up his jacket, The mid-afternoon air was cold. Snow had fallen about a half hour before, but it had stopped for the moment. A thin layer of snow lay on the yard. Ethan leaned against the wooden porch support and contemplated going across to the barn. But, he was so curious about what was going on inside the house that he decided to wait a while longer. Just in case Pastor Joseph needed to speak with Ethan or his other family members before heading back to Inspiration.
Ethan thought back to the events of the morning. His father had taken Ethan aside and spoke
n with him in the parlor. Ethan had been shocked when Jake had asked his son to go into town and ask the pastor to pay a visit to the ranch. That hadn't happened before. At first, Ethan had been worried that something was wrong. Maybe that his father didn't feel well. Or that there had been a deterioration in his condition. However, to Ethan's surprise, his father had smiled at him. Again, something which had been rare in recent months. Ethan was perplexed as to why his father's spirits could be so bright. But, Jake had made it clear that he wouldn't talk to Ethan about the reason why he wanted the pastor to come to the ranch house.
Dutiful son that he was, Ethan had ridden into town and asked the pastor to come see Jake. Pastor Joseph had agreed. He had arrived an hour ago, and still there was no sign of him emerging from Jake's room. Ethan couldn't figure it out at all. Barely a week ago, Jake had made it absolutely plain that his accident had weakened his faith to such an extent that there wasn't even any point in him attending church. Being stubborn, Jake had resisted all attempts to change his mind.
Ethan sighed, his breath clouding the air in front of his face. Something had changed Jake's mind about faith. Ethan couldn't figure out what, or who, had been responsible for that transformation. He'd find out soon enough.
He heard the sound of rattling wheels and saw a carriage rolling beneath the high gate over which hung the words "Armstrong Ranch" in big letters. Ethan recognized the figure holding onto the reins of the carriage.
Chloe.
He dragged in a cold breath and prepared himself for a tongue-lashing. Staying away from the Buchanan ranch hadn't been easy over the last two days. But, he'd had to do it. There was too much going on that he didn't want Chloe getting involved in. Especially after what he'd seen up at the forest.
The carriage slid to a halt and Chloe got down from the seat. Just seeing her again was enough to make Ethan's heart swell with delight. Chloe was dressed in the same dark-red dress shed worn on the trip to the forest. The kissing trip, as Ethan had come to think of it.
Ethan smiled at Chloe. "To what do I owe this visit?"
When Chloe scowled at Ethan, he knew right away this wasn't going to be easy. Chloe planted her booted feet in the snow. "Ethan Armstrong, what do you think you're up to?" she demanded.
Taken aback, Ethan gazed wide-eyed at her. "What are you talking about?"
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about," Chloe exclaimed. "This silly feud has to stop. And you know it."
Ethan ran a hand through his hair. As he did so, he couldn't help noticing that Chloe's eyes widened and her cheeks flushed an attractive shade of pink. "I told you before. I haven't had anything to do with what's going on at the Buchanan place."
Chloe frowned and started tapping her foot impatiently. "Then I presume you don't know anything about ten missing head of cattle?"
Ethan looked incredulously at Chloe. "Of course I don't know anything about that. How would I?" He took a step closer and lowered his voice. "Keep your voice down, Chloe."
Her mouth opened to form an O shape. "Did you just tell me to shut up?" she exclaimed, clearly outraged.
"No." Ethan glanced at the ranch house. "We've got a visitor. At least, my pa has. And I'd be obliged if you could keep it down for a while."
"Who's here?" she asked.
Ethan sighed, thinking how he was going to explain the surprise visit. He glanced across at the barn. "Let's go somewhere private where we can talk without causing a rumpus."
Chloe stood still, gazing at Ethan. She had a defiant look on her face. One he was getting used to seeing. One he was beginning to like, in a peculiar sort of way, he realized. Trying to encourage her, he cupped her elbow in his hand. She stared down at his hand and then into his eyes. Ethan got the message. He removed his hand and gestured in the direction of the barn. They both walked across to the barn, saying nothing to each other for the moment.
Ethan unlocked the padlock and opened the barn door. As he did so, he readied himself for what he knew was going to be a mighty reaction from Chloe. Closing the door behind him, he wasn't disappointed when he heard her gasp.
"Ethan! What have you done here?" she exclaimed.
Trying to restrain the urge to grin, Ethan followed Chloe's gaze. It was true. He'd achieved something over the last couple of days. Being away from Chloe had given him a powerful motivation to keep himself occupied. And he'd taken full advantage of the opportunity.
One side of the barn's interior had been transformed into a Christmas dream. The centerpiece was still the large nativity scene. But, Ethan had been busy making sure that the entire space around the scene was as colorful and eye-catching as he could make it. He'd constructed a narrow walkway leading to the nativity by raising miniature wooden fences on either side of a pathway he'd laid. The pathway was made of a roll of carpet which had been cut from a spare which had been in storage in the ranch. On the little wooden fences hung paper lanterns and assorted decorations made of red and green ribbon. On top of the fence were placed unlit candles.
The entire display had been designed to focus attention on the most important thing of all. The nativity. The carved figures had been taken out of their box and arranged perfectly to depict the birth of the Lord. The other figures were there, along with the three kings, bearing gifts.
Chloe walked in rapt silence, very slowly toward the display, her feet treading carefully on the carpet. She ran her fingers along the little fences and examined the decorative touches that hung there. She turned to Ethan and frowned. "Did you do this all by yourself?"
Ethan nodded. "I have been listening to you, Chloe. You kept telling me what kind of things belong here." He shrugged. "So, I did my best." He smiled. "Do you like it?"
"Like it?" she gasped. Gazing more closely at everything, she breathed out. "I absolutely love it!"
Ethan felt a surge of pride swell in his chest. Before meeting Chloe, he never would have believed he would have been capable of doing anything like this. Up until now, all he'd known had been ranching. But, Chloe had shown him other possibilities.
Ethan went to Chloe, standing close to her. Eyes bright, Chloe smiled up at him. "I'm proud of you, Ethan," she murmured.
"Really?" he asked.
Chloe nodded. "I had no idea you could do this?"
He lifted his hand and touched his fingers beneath her chin. He felt the softness of her skin against his fingertips. Her gaze softened and he knew what he needed to do. Taking her gently by the shoulders, he drew her to him. Chloe lifted her chin as he lowered his head and kissed her. Chloe gasped as he pressed his lips against hers. Desire had been building inside him since he'd last seen her. A need which was impossible to ignore. Her lips were soft. Her scent was a dizzying fragrance which made his senses flare into life. Time seemed to stand still as he held her in his arms.
The kiss ended and he lifted his head away, gazing into the welcoming pools of her beautiful eyes. "I missed you," he murmured.
She smiled. "It's only been two days."
Ethan shook his head. "An eternity."
He wrapped his arms around Chloe and held her close, feeling her soft breathing against his chest. Ethan held her for a few long moments, savoring the feel of her body next to his. Then, reluctantly letting go, he gazed into her eyes. The moistness of emotion was visible in her eyes. Suddenly, he wondered what he could do next. What he should say now that they had kissed for a second time. Desire still warmed his heart, but he knew he dare not take another step toward satisfying that need in any way.
From outside, in the yard, Ethan heard the sound of voices and the closing of a door. Worried how it would look if anyone saw himself and Chloe leaving the barn together, Ethan went quickly to the door, pushed it open a crack, and looked out. Pastor Joseph and Lilian were standing on the porch. They were talking in quiet voices. Ethan ducked back into the barn.
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