“Oh, Judith,” Luke said against her lips, pulling her close against him. Where his mouth had been soft before, it firmed, becoming more demanding.
Her heart pulsed in her head, making her dizzy. She could hardly breathe. Then Luke pushed back, breaking free of her hand, gasping for breath.
“I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“Stop.” Judith put her trembling fingers to his mouth. “Don’t you dare apologize. I am not your sister, and I do not wish you to see me as one.”
Luke clasped her hand and pressed it against his chest. The way his heart was racing as fast as hers sent another thrill through her.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.” Judith had longed after him for months, but she’d never imagined he might feel the same way.
“And I’ve been wanting to do that longer than I should admit.” Luke took her hand again and brought it to his lips. “If you would entertain my suit, I’ll speak with your brother.”
There was something too formal in the way Luke had said the words. He couldn’t feel some kind of obligation, could he?
“You would court me because you care for me,” Judith said, choosing her words carefully, her fear making her wary, “and not because you feel you must after having kissed me like that?”
“Because I care for you, yes.” His gaze held hers with an intensity that made her entire body tingle.
“Even though I’m a felon’s daughter?” Judith held her breath.
“A lot of people come out West looking for a clean start. You’re no different, and you didn’t break the law.” Luke tried to pull her close again. When she resisted, he said, “I promise I’m already falling in love with you, Judith Breckinridge.”
Her heart soared, and she threw her arms around his neck. He’d barely touched his mouth to hers when the parlor door opened. They broke apart, but he refused to release her hand.
“Jim said he’ll come in the morning to take the photograph of that dog,” Tom said, striding into the room. Seeing Luke wasn’t alone, Tom paused. He looked at their clasped hands and grinned, saying, “It’s getting mighty cold outside. If you’re going to see Miss Breckinridge home, you’ll want to head out soon. I’ll tell Junior he’s got chaperone duty.” He winked, but there was caution in his gaze before he headed for the door. “You’d best be talking to Marshall tonight.”
8
Luke found the drive to the Circle B, besides bitingly cold, to be an awkward one. The cowhand who’d driven Judith out to the Lucky L had pulled far ahead. If Junior hadn’t been driving the sleigh, Luke and Judith would have been alone. She shivered beside him.
“Are you warm enough?” Luke put his arm around her.
“I am now.” She lifted her scarf-shrouded face to him. “New York winters can be bitter, and Marshall warned me Wyoming could be worse. I didn’t realize your winters came so early. It’s still technically the fall.”
“If it continues on this way, it could be the worst one we’ve had yet.”
For a second, Luke wished he could steal a kiss but pushed the thought aside. He recalled how recently he’d interrogated first Charles and then Marshal about courting his sisters. Well, Marshall had bypassed the courting bit and shown up at the Lucky L engaged. The sly dog.
“What is on your mind?” Judith asked. “You growled.”
Luke chuckled. “I’ve never been in a position to ask a man to court his sister before. I’m suddenly sympathizing with Charles’ position last summer.”
“Are you wishing you’d been kinder to him?” She snuggled a little closer.
“I wasn’t unkind, but at the time I was worried about Maude’s happiness. After all these years being out here alone with just myself and my ranch to worry about, suddenly having three sisters of marriageable age seemed a huge burden.”
“But you’re not sorry.”
“Never. From the day Maude was born, I wanted to be her protector. Her father didn’t take it well, as you can imagine. It was almost like he thought we were in competition for her love. I wonder now if that added to his resentment of me.”
“Had he shown signs of jealousy about your mother’s affection for you?”
“Yes. I was almost ten when Maude was born. Mother worried her new husband would send me off to boarding school, and she wasn’t ready to let me go. If he hadn’t loved her as much as he did, I’m sure he’d have sent me anyway. That was one thing I was sure of, his love for her.” Luke rubbed his chin. “Frances looks so much like her.”
“From what Doris has told me, he loved the three of them a great deal too. She and Maude have both remarked on how strange it is their father didn’t make better provisions for them upon his death. It was sudden, but it sounds as though he was a man who made plans for far into the future. As their only remaining parent, why would he not have anticipated the possibility he could die?”
“There’s a lot of truth in what you say. I admit I’ve let my own resentment of the man keep me from considering that too closely. Perhaps it’s been a mistake.”
They sat in silence for a while. It looked like Luke should have been paying more attention to many things, like the beautiful woman in his arms. How could love sneak up on a man like this? If someone had told him six months ago he’d come to have such strong emotions for her, he’d have called them a liar.
Luke’s mind drifted back to the first time he’d seen Judith. Marshall had just collected her from the train station, and she’d barely glanced around her. Dressed in her fancy gown with her coppery curls perfectly coifed, she’d been a sight to cause every man on the street to pause and take a look.
Then she’d taken her brother’s arm and walked stiffly with him to his surrey. At the time, Luke had thought her attitude showed her disdain of the little town and the people in it. She’d come across to him as one of those high-and-mighty ladies from back home, sure they were too good for people in the lowly working class.
But there was so much more to the woman. Doris had been the first one to see past the public mask Judith wore. Now that he’d gotten to understand her better, he saw her rigid posture on that first day for what it had been: protection. She’d expected the people of Lilac City to look down on her.
“You’re very different from how you first appeared,” Luke said.
“What do you mean?”
He described his first impressions, and she winced.
“How could you have any regard for me if that’s what you thought?” Judith tried to pull away.
“Because I’ve learned you’re not like that,” he said, keeping her close.
“But, in many ways, I was like that,” Judith admitted.
“Then you’ve changed.”
“Some, but it’s still a struggle. The people back home had already pulled me from my high horse, as Frances is fond of saying.” A gust of wind blew the corner of her scarf. She grabbed it and settled it around her face again. “But I’m afraid I still find myself looking down on many of the people here.”
“Well, changing our beliefs can be hard.”
“Until a few months ago, I didn’t believe I needed it.”
“See what I mean? You’ve been here, what, ten months? I don’t think the woman I saw get off that train would have purchased an expensive watercolor set for a lowly ranch foreman.” Luke’s voice was soft as he asked, “What was your first impression of me?”
Judith glanced away.
“Oh, ho,” he said with a chuckle. “It must have been as unflattering as mine was of you.”
“I saw you as just another dirty cowboy,” she said, keeping her face forward.
“Ouch.”
“I must confess I was quite surprised when I saw you at church the following Sunday.”
“So, I didn’t clean up too bad?”
“Not bad at all.”
She still didn’t look at him, but the warmth in her tone made him wish he could kiss her again.
> The Circle B Ranch house came into view, and Luke’s stomach knotted. He moved his arm from her shoulders but took her hand.
“I’m twenty-five, Luke,” Judith said, seeming to sense his unease. “He can’t refuse to let you court me.”
“Since Marshall married Doris, our relationship is the best it’s been in all the years I’ve known him. I’m just worried if he doesn’t approve of me it’ll make things awkward.”
“He wouldn’t dare.” There was something in her tone that reminded him a great deal of Frances.
“I hope you’re right.”
Junior pulled the sleigh up to the house.
“It’s late so I won’t be long,” Luke said, rising. “Keep warm in the barn.”
“Yes, sir.” Junior glanced at Judith and shot Luke a cheeky grin.
He glared a warning at the young man who chuckled. Luke shook his head, and he came around the sleigh to lift Judith. He took his time lowering her, so he could keep her in his arms longer. She gave a little gasp. Even under the scarf he could tell her cheeks were flushing.
“My brother’s office curtains are open if you want him to see,” she said, her words delightfully breathy.
“I’d like to tell you I don’t care, but I’d be lying.” Luke set her on the ground and took a step back, offering her his arm before they headed up the steps. “It’s quite sobering and reminds me that if he wouldn’t approve of my behavior, I probably wouldn’t have approved of him doing it with Doris.”
“I am not your sister.” Judith’s voice had taken on that testy edge from her early days.
“And don’t I know it.” Luke gave her an overtly appreciative glance as they paused at the front door.
“And yet you insisted on calling me your sister.”
He turned to look at her, his face only inches away from hers. “Did that bother you?” He leaned closer.
“Very much.”
Luke would have kissed her, but he heard voices on the other side of the door and turned to reach for the knob. Someone swung open the door to reveal Marshall who was glaring at them.
“Judith’s driver came back without her,” he said.
“I was late for our meeting, so I’ve escorted her home.”
“You should be more respectful of my sister’s time.”
“He had a perfectly legitimate reason for being delayed, and I will not stand here and let you castigate him for it,” Judith said now wearing her own glare.
“Marshall, you should respect that it’s cold out here,” Luke said, wondering what had made the man so cross.
Marshall’s eyes narrowed.
“This is ridiculous.” Judith pushed past him, pulling Luke with her.
“You’ll be interested in hearing what happened,” she said to her brother as she removed her scarf.
Marshall’s expression turned from irritation to concern. “Come into my office then, Luke, and tell me about it. Judith, Doris is in the parlor with the girls.” He started to turn away.
“I’m pretty sure Judith will want to come with us.” Luke glanced at her, hoping he was right and relieved when she gave a soft nod.
Marshall tilted his head as he studied how closely Luke and Judith were standing. She stiffened, but her brother only smiled, his expression turning pleased.
“Yes, it appears she should.”
They followed him into the room. A portrait of Marshall’s late wife used to grace the mantle above the fireplace by itself. There was now a series of smaller paintings surrounding it, all done by Doris. Every time Luke saw them, he was struck again by how talented she was.
Marshall strode to his desk, sat, and signaled they should too.
“Is there something of a personal nature you should talk about first?” he asked.
Luke glanced at Judith, and she nodded.
“I had planned to ask you for permission to court your sister,” Luke said, “but she’s informed me she’s of age and doesn’t need your permission.”
Marshall gave his sister a frustrated scowl before turning his attention on Luke. “And what do you think?”
“I wish to make both of you happy. I may not need your permission, but I’d very much like your blessing.”
Marshall looked at his sister. “You’ve never mentioned it to me, but a blind man could have seen your growing affection for Luke. Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Very sure.”
“Then you have both my blessing and my permission.” Marshall’s face turned serious, and he pinned Luke with a hard gaze. “But you will treat my sister with the respect owed her. I saw how you lifted her out of that sleigh just now.”
“I told you he was spying on us,” she muttered.
“And you were right,” Luke replied before saying to Marshall, “I promise to protect Judith’s reputation and treat her with proper respect.”
“Thank you.” Marshall leaned forward on his desk. “Now, tell me what’s happened.”
“Tom killed an attack dog who brought down one of my cows.”
Before Luke could say more, Judith rose. She bent to kiss his cheek. “I’ll leave you to it.” He watched as she left the room. Dang, but she was beautiful.
“I wasn’t sure you were ever going to return her regard,” Marshall said, when she’d left.
“I won’t deny she’s had my attention for a long time, but I’ve been a bit preoccupied.” Luke shook his head, bemused. “It sort of snuck up on me.”
“I understand that sentiment perfectly,” Marshall said, his voice turning soft for a second. “Now tell me about this attack dog.”
Judith could barely contain her excitement as she stepped into the parlor. Doris sat on the sofa with Florence and Lydia on each side. They glanced up from the picture book they were reading.
“I’m glad to see you made it safely home,” Doris said. “Marshall was worried when your driver returned without you.”
“Then he should have spoken to the man because he knew Luke was bringing me back.” Judith tried unsuccessfully not to smile. “He just asked Marshall to court me.”
“Oh, Judith, that’s wonderful.” Doris cried as she leaped to her feet, the book falling to the floor.
“But isn’t Uncle Luke your brother now?” Florence asked, her little brows furled in confusion.
“Isn’t it wrong to marry your brother?” Lydia added.
Judith laughed, finally free of her frustration at being called Luke’s sister. “Luke is only my brother-in-law. We share no blood connections.”
Doris pulled Judith into a hug. “I’m so happy for you. Now you’ll be my sister-in-law twice over.”
Judith’s stomach tightened. It seemed so presumptuous to speak of marriage.
“Please don’t mention that yet,” she said. “It’s too soon, and I don’t wish to scare him away.”
“Are you in love with him?” Doris asked.
“I am.”
“Then have no fear. My brother doesn’t frighten easily.” Doris gave her another quick hug and then turned to the girls. “You two need to get ready for bed.”
Judith found herself alone. What if he did propose marriage? She would leave the Circle B and become mistress of the Lucky L. How much would she have to learn? Luke served a different clientele from her brother’s. Would Luke resent her attempts to bring culture and refinement to the dude ranch experience? Worse yet, would the people who came there to experience ranch life not like it?
Now she was getting ahead of herself. Judith decided to review the items for the Christmas Fair she and Luke had discussed earlier. She collected her bag and pulled out the paperwork. As always, putting things in order calmed her nerves.
“I told you she’d be in here working,” Marshall said, opening the parlor. “Where’s Doris and the girls?”
“They’re preparing for bed,” Judith said, putting aside her papers and standing.
“Oh, I can’t miss that.” Marshall clapped a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “I’m giving you the
same warning you gave me.” His tone was serious, but he softened the words with a grin before leaving.
After her thoughts, Judith found herself uncomfortable. Would they suit? Luke seemed to sense her discomfort and extended a hand toward her, his brows raised expectantly. Was that worry in his gaze?
She took his hand, and he pulled her into his arms. “Oh, my,” she said with a gasp. Warmth flooded her along with a sense of being cared for and protected. This man would never be like her father and demean or ridicule her before his friends. Luke wasn’t like that, she was sure. Had it always been part of his mettle, or had being forced out of his home to make his own way in the world made him sensitive to others?
“What?” he asked, pressing his lips against her temple.
“I used to think it would be terrible to be held by a cowboy.” Judith met his gaze. All her doubts fled.
“I like it when you look at me like that.” The heat in his eyes made her heart flutter in a delightfully uncomfortable way. Judith lifted her chin, but Luke shook his head, his expression regretful. “I promised your brother I would be a stellar suitor.”
“Will you never kiss me again then?” She brushed her lips against his chin.
“You are a mischievous woman, Judith Breckinridge.” Luke kissed the tip of her nose, released her, and stepped back. “But, tempting as you are, I gave my word.”
Judith’s heart swelled. Her affection for wealthy and sophisticated Teddy had never come close to the regard she had for this rancher.
“I’m glad to hear you’re a man of your word about women,” Marshall said.
Judith spun around to find him and Doris standing in the doorway.
“I’m especially a man of my word about this woman,” Luke said.
Marshall shot Judith a long-suffering glance. He would chastise her once her beau had departed. Her beau. She couldn’t keep from smiling. She hadn’t expected to have a beau again, much less Luke Hamblin. Happiness made her willing to accept the rebuke she knew her brother had planned.
A Lady for Luke Page 6