by Cate Dean
“What view?”
“That the only person you can trust is yourself.”
Kate frowned at him. “That’s a terrible way to live.”
“It took a curse for me to realize that.” He wanted to gather her into his arms, and just hold her. But he knew, now that he had been forced to reveal the curse, she would either think he was insane or lying—or both.
Either way, he had a feeling that he had destroyed his one chance with her.
Kate confirmed it by gathering up her clothing, and heading to the door. “Get some sleep, Charlie.”
Before he could respond, she opened the door and closed it behind her, leaving him alone.
There was no point in continuing to woo her.
He had already lost.
Twelve
KATE STOPPED IN her room to dress, and then sat on the edge of the bed, one hand pressed to her heart.
“What was I thinking?” she whispered.
She already knew what she was thinking. That she was in love with him.
With a sigh, she rubbed at the headache forming over her right eye, and stood. She should get back to the ranch. They were down to the last days before the buyer arrived, and she needed to have all the cattle in the lower pasture and ready to go.
The thought of haggling with the buyer knotted her gut, but she knew she’d have Mike and the other hands on her side. She wanted Charles there—more than she’d ever admit to anyone. Loving him would never be a mistake, and she would find the nearest flat surface if he ever even hinted at wanting her again.
But what had just happened with his pendant, and the supposed curse that had sent him here—she couldn’t swallow that. As much as she wanted to believe what he so obviously believed, it made him look crazy.
Never mind that she had to be the one to tell him how she felt. Her ma had always told her to let the man speak first, so she wouldn’t make a fool of herself by declaring her feelings to someone who didn’t feel the same.
Her mind argued with her. Charles had declared his feelings by making love to her, cherishing her in a way no man ever had. Certainly not Evan.
All she had to do was tell him how she felt.
“What if he leaves? You give your heart to him, and he turns out to be the pompous ass you thought he was. And now he has me talking to myself.”
She let out a sigh, picked up the room key, and walked out, leaving the door ajar to let the housekeeper know she was checking out. Halfway down the stairs she realized she should have mussed the bed, make it look like she actually slept there, and not with Charles.
They knew she was here because one of her hands had been injured. Word traveled fast in a town as small as Starwood. If she was lucky, the housekeeper would figure she hadn’t slept because she was worried about him. It was too late to regret what she’d done now.
Pushing the pointless thought to the back of her mind, she rounded up Buster and headed back to the ranch.
It was time to get to work.
Thirteen
CHARLES LEFT THE hotel before Kate had to pay for another day. He would rest just as easily in his bunk.
He halted when he heard a familiar nicker. To his surprise, Lightning waited outside the hotel, in one of the small, sheltered stalls along the side of the building. Kate must have bribed the stallion to lure him into such a small space.
“Shall we head home, boy?” Charles rubbed his forehead, taking the time to check each hoof before he mounted. It was more awkward than he expected, but the large horn made pulling himself up easier. For the first time, he was grateful for the bulky Western saddle. “Take it slow, my beauty. Your master is not at his best today.”
It took twice as long to reach The Willows, and Charles was exhausted long before they reached the iron gate. Halfway to the ranch, he saw the huge herd, all of the hands nudging them to a fenced part of the pasture.
An ache he did not recognize filled him; he would be gone before Kate sold them to her buyer, and started a new chapter in her life. A chapter he desperately wanted to be at her side to write.
As if thinking of her drew her attention, she turned her mare and headed for him.
“What are you doing here? I told you to stay in town and rest.”
“I saw no reason for you to pay for another night at the hotel, when I can rest here as easily as there.”
She sighed. “Resting there didn’t involve a two hour ride. How’s your hand?”
“It hurts. It will hurt, Kate, until I have completely healed. I would rather be among friends, while I can.”
She flinched, and he wanted to take back his words. Their last conversation weighted his heart, as much as the knowledge that he had most likely destroyed his one chance with her.
“Go to the bunkhouse and get in bed. I don’t want to see you again until breakfast. I’ll have Sally bring your meals to you.”
“Thank you, for all that you have done.” He bowed his head, but not before he saw the pain in her clear blue eyes. Pain he had put there. “I will see you in the morning. Hopefully, I will be of some use to you before I must leave.” He slapped Lightning’s reins and started moving forward, before he said anything he may regret.
Making love to Kate had already hurt her. Charles did not want to add to that burden, aware that she would have to bear it alone once the curse yanked him back to his private hell for good.
THE REST OF the day passed quickly, leaving Kate exhausted, and ready for a long, hot bath.
She managed a short one before she had to dress for supper. Charles invaded her thoughts every time she touched her skin. His strong hands, so gentle as they caressed her, his lean body surrounding her, his hard length filling her—
“Stop torturing yourself.” She knew she would, long after he left. No matter how many times she scolded herself.
Charles de Witt had made an impression on her, and she would never forget him.
She joined Pa at the dining room table, and thanked Sally for what looked like a delicious cut of beef. Too bad she didn’t have an appetite.
After poking at the meat, and fried potatoes, she finally gave up, kissed Pa’s cheek, and excused herself, heading outside. The cool night air brushed her warm cheeks. It couldn’t cool the parts of her body that still yearned for Charles.
“Fool,” she whispered, hugging herself as she stared up at the sky.
Falling in love with a proud man was stupid enough; falling in love with a man who had no intention of staying pushed over the line into monumentally stupid.
She stalked across the front yard, needing to move, to get her mind off one infuriating Brit. By the time she reached the paddock, she was stomping, her boots raising dust with every step as she headed toward the open pasture. She halted when she heard a noise in the stable.
It was too late for any of the stable hands to be working, and that noise didn’t come from a horse. She walked fast, and started to run when she saw the smoke.
“Fire!” She kept shouting as she sprinted toward the stable, knowing the single word would bring everyone on the run.
She forced herself to stop before yanking the doors open. With a badly shaking hand, she checked the door. No heat. Not yet. She opened the door carefully, and rushed inside when she saw the fire at the other end.
A figure darted across the aisle, silhouetted by the flames. Kate shouted and bolted forward, tackling him before he could escape. He kicked out at her, his boot catching her in the jaw. She ignored the pain flaring across her face and grabbed his leg, holding on when he swore, and tried to pry her off by punching her arm.
“Kate! Kate, where are you?” Mike’s shout echoed above the crackling flames.
“Mike!” She couldn’t get anything else out, and just prayed that he heard her over the panic of the horses.
He appeared just as her captive punched her one last time and yanked free. With a furious shout, Mike leaped over her and slammed him against the back wall. A solid punch to the man’s jaw knocked him ou
t.
“Kate—good God.” He lifted her, careful of her already bruising arm. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Get the horses out.”
She leaned against the nearest stall, then pushed off, limping into the aisle.
Mike was already opening stall doors, the other hands quickly leading horses out of the stable. “Get out of here—we can take care of this—”
“I’m not leaving them. Get the bastard out of here.” She opened the stall closest to her, then ran across the aisle and opened the next one, smacking the horses to get them going. They didn’t need much incentive. Kate focused on getting all of the animals out of the stable. She’d deal with the fire—and the man who set it—after they were safe.
When she got one of the more stubborn horses out into the yard, she found Charles starting a bucket brigade.
She stepped over to him. “What the hell are you doing out of bed?”
“You need assistance. The least I can do is supervise.” His voice was quiet when he spoke to her, but the rich tenor, and the animation that always lifted her when he spoke, was gone. She knew it was because of her.
“Fine. But you don’t lift anything. Not with that hand.”
She walked away from him, and helped Ricky guide the last of the horses into the paddock. Then she went back to the stable and did what she could to save it.
Fourteen
DAWN FOUND THEM all in front of the smoldering stable.
Kate walked through the half-burned building, making a mental note of the damage she couldn’t afford to repair. In her pocket was the one piece of evidence she finally needed to accuse. Even if the man tied up in the tack room didn’t say a word, she had enough to shove in Evan Kransky’s face and demand restitution.
Mike waited for her outside the tack room, Charles with him. They both looked as exhausted as she felt.
“Let’s get this done,” she said, and opened the door.
The man tried to stand, but Mike had done a fine job of tying him to a chair they hauled over from the bunkhouse. His struggles stopped when Mike and Charles stepped in behind her. Mike touched her shoulder, then moved to him, removing the gag.
“You’re going to talk to Miss Maguire, and if you don’t answer her questions fast enough, I’m going to take over—in the cattle pen.”
The man swallowed. “I got nothing to say.”
“Okay—let’s go.”
“Mike.” Kate stepped forward, cradling her throbbing arm. Most of the man’s punches had been glancing, panicked blows, but a couple of them had hit the mark. She’d be feeling it for a few days. “I know you work for Evan Kransky.” She held up the bandana. “This pattern is made special, for his hands. I just need to know if he put you up to it.”
The man glared at her. “I don’t talk to women who think they’re in charge.” He made it sound like a slur, and she felt Charles tense behind her. Without looking at him, she shook her head, and waited. The man fidgeted under her gaze. “Why didn’t you just let go?”
“Because you tried to kill my horses.”
He flinched at her quiet voice, like she’d hit him. “It was supposed to be a distraction, while I—ˮ He cut himself off, and Kate moved in, forcing him to lift his chin to see her.
“While you what?”
“Miss Kate—ˮ Sally skidded to a halt in the doorway. “One of the men told me you’d been hurt. Are you...” Her voice faded, and she turned white so fast Kate thought she was going to faint. “No—how—ˮ
“I come to take you home, Sal.”
Mike caught her around the waist when she started to sway. Pieces began to fall into place for Kate; she stepped to Sally and cradled her cheek, her voice gentle.
“He’s your husband, isn’t he? The reason you were running.”
Sally nodded, tears glittering in her eyes. “Ex-husband. The judge granted me a divorce, after Dwayne beat me unconscious.” She didn’t look embarrassed, or scared anymore. Just resigned. That hurt Kate more than the fear. “I’m so sorry, Miss Kate. This is all my fault—ˮ
“Don’t you dare take his actions on your shoulders.” Kate glanced over at Mike. He looked furious, but he held Sally like she was made of glass. They would be good for each other, and Kate would make sure they had a chance to find out. She turned to Dwayne. “Tell me if Evan is behind this, and I’ll only charge you for destroying my stable, and not the attempted murder of my father.”
His eyes widened. “I didn’t have nothing to do with that! I just wanted my Sal back.” He sniffed, and looked pathetic.
But Kate knew his type, and his act didn’t fool her. It probably kept Sally with him longer than she should have stayed. She had such a kind heart, and always believed the best of people. Dwayne was all about Dwayne, and no one else mattered, unless they made his life easier.
“Answer me, Dwayne.”
He clenched his jaw, glaring at her. When she didn’t back down, he huffed. “Fine. Kransky’s too much of a girl to come up with ways to make you hurt. I been causing trouble around your ranch, to help him get in with you. Yeah, he knew—he just looked the other way. But I had nothing to do with your pa. I weren’t even here yet.”
Kate believed him. He was a braggart, and a coward; she had a terrible feeling she knew why Pa had been targeted, and that Evan had taken care of that personally.
“Mike—have a couple of the men take him to Sheriff Langley, make sure he repeats everything he said here. I have something to do.”
She turned to Sally, wanting to reassure her before she got ideas in her head—like leaving.
Sally beat her to it. “I’ll pack my things right away, Miss Kate. Thank you for—ˮ
“You’re not going anywhere.” She took Sally’s badly shaking hands. “Pa would pin my ears back if I let you leave.” She lowered her voice, and squeezed Sally’s hands. “You won’t ever have to see him again.”
Sally stared at her for a long second, tears sliding down her cheeks. The anguish on her face tore at Kate. Then she surprised Kate by turning into Mike and pressing her face against his shoulder. He looked even more surprised. But he wrapped one arm around her and gently led her out of the tack room, whispering to her.
“Slut.” Dwayne’s voice was vicious, and Kate lost her fragile hold on her temper.
Charles stepped between them before she could punch the ass. “Might I suggest you hold your tongue? The little lady behind me has had a long night, and she packs a mean punch.”
Kate bit her lip, laughter threatening at the look on Dwayne’s face. By the time Charles moved away, she had control again, and gave Dwayne her icy look before she walked out of the tack room. It was all she could manage without either laughing or hitting him.
She kept walking, toward the house, and felt Charles before she saw him. How was she supposed to function, when she was so aware of him?
“You are not going alone,” he said quietly.
She stared up at him. “I’m not—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Charles crossed his arms. “You are going to confront him. Evan.”
She crossed her arms and lifted her chin. She could be just a stubborn. “I don’t need your help.”
“You have been up all night, Miss Maguire. You are exhausted, and not thinking clearly. Evan will take advantage.”
So, they were back to formalities. Maybe that was for the best. “I was doing just fine before you showed up.”
With a sigh, Charles lowered his arms. “I simply do not want you hurt again, Kate.”
The way his voice caressed her name made her shiver. She hated that she reacted to just the sound of his voice. His concern also deflated her anger.
“I’ll take Sally with me. He won’t try anything with a witness—especially one who brings Sheriff Langley his favorite oatmeal cookies.” The visit would also distract Sally, and give her some time to think about what had just happened with Mike. “I want you to rest today, Charles.” He raised an eyebrow at her use of his forma
l name. “I mean it. Mike and the others will be assessing the damage, so there won’t be much work going on anyway.”
“I will do as you request, on one condition.”
She sighed. “What condition?”
“If you are not back within the hour, we are coming after you.”
“Okay.” She gave him a fierce smile. “That will give me plenty of time to slap him down.” Charles’ laughter made her smile, in spite of herself. “If I lose track of time, then you can send in the cavalry.”
“Done.”
Kate watched him walk to the other men, his shoulders back, his posture stiff. But she knew he had to be in pain, and as exhausted as the rest of them. She rubbed her forehead, and walked inside the house, wanting a long bath and her bed.
Instead, she would settle for a cold wash and clean clothes. She had a man to verbally flay.
CHARLES WALKED THE damaged stable with Mike. The front half was just salvageable; the back half, where the fire started, was another matter. It would have to be completely rebuilt.
Mike shook his head, running one hand through his soot-stained hair. “That bastard knew just where to set the fire for maximum damage. I don’t know which would be easier—repairing what’s still up, or tearing down the whole damned thing.”
“If I may offer a suggestion?”
Mike shrugged. “Go ahead. Can’t be worse than any of my ideas.”
Charles ignored the throbbing in his right hand, and settled for cradling it against his chest. “I have a feeling this will insult Miss Maguire, but I do have funds available to me.”
At least he hoped he did. He was here several years before he became Earl, before he was dragged into Adriana’s curse. But he’d had his own possessions before that, as well as his own money. A simple draft at the local bank would be enough. He could deal with the consequences later.