The Rancher

by Lily Graison

  "Talk the men can't hear?" Laurel asked when she stopped beside Abigail. "I'm almost afraid to ask."

  Holden's sister-in-law laughed and cast a quick look toward the men. "Well, I wasn't sure if what I wanted to ask would be embarrassing or not so I thought the less ears that heard it, the more likely I'd get an honest answer."

  Laurel's heart skipped a beat. What could Abigail possibly ask that would be embarrassing? She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and tried to smile. "Ask about what?"

  Something in Abigail's eyes let Laurel know it wasn't anything terribly bad. Mirth shined behind those inquisitive eyes. "Well, last weekend, Morgan couldn't sleep and was out making his rounds in town before the sun rose." Abigail gave her a serious look, her eyes narrowed ever so much. "Seems he saw a suspicious looking character lurking around the schoolhouse and went to investigate."

  "Oh?" Laurel bit her tongue. "Did he question the man?"

  "No." Abigail's eyes widened. "Morgan said the man looked an awful lot like Holden but he couldn't for the life of him figure out why his brother would be sneaking around the schoolhouse in the pre-dawn hours." Abigail glanced across the space that separated them from the men. "Would you know why he'd be there that early in the morning?"

  Laurel could tell by the look on Abigail's face the woman was trying not to laugh. Was this what they'd been discussing when they walked up on them? Somehow, she knew it was.

  Heat blazed across her face. Holden had been seen? Who else saw him? And what would happen if they had? Laurel glanced away before saying, "I met him in Missoula before I came here to Willow Creek."

  The mirth in Abigail's eyes dimmed. "What? Met who? Holden?

  It was Laurel's turn to laugh. "Yes. In a saloon, of all places."

  Abigail's eyes widened. "Oh, do tell."

  So she did. Laurel laid everything out, every detail she felt comfortable admitting and Abigail was grinning by the time she stopped. "I knew it. I told Morgan something was going on between you two. Holden has never pursued a woman like he has you and I just knew there had to be a reason." She blanched and reached out to grab Laurel's arm. "Not that you aren't beautiful and he wouldn't have eventually tried to win your heart, but Holden is somewhat reserved for the most part. But he wasn't with you."

  "You mean he's not always so single-minded and irritating?"

  They both shared a laugh before the men approached. Laurel could tell by the look on Morgan's face that he too had been told of their sordid past.

  The musicians took a small break, the couples around the clearing gathering in small clusters and whispers grew until it seemed everyone was shouting.

  Laurel was half listening to the conversation Holden and Morgan were engaged in when she noticed a man with blond hair walking their way, smiling. A pretty woman clung to his arm, her dark hair pulled up and pinned at the nape of her neck. The man slowed his steps as he drew near and it was Abigail who gasped when she noticed them.

  "Emmaline! Tristan! When did you get back?"

  The woman smiled prettily and blushed. "We arrived on the stagecoach earlier today."

  The men all turned and started talking to the man as Abigail embraced the woman in a hug before turning back to face her. "Laurel, this is Emmaline Avery, Tristan's wife." She turned and nodded to the man with her head. "And that's Tristan, Holden and Morgan's baby brother."

  Tristan looked nothing like his brother's. Well, except for his eyes. The same intense Avery blue shined from eyes that made Tristan seem just a little bit more intelligent than the average person. A dimple in his cheek made him appear boyish but Laurel could tell he was closer to her own age. She wasn't sure how old Holden was but she assumed older than her. Looking his way, she thought maybe she should ask. Not that it mattered but she knew so little about the man as it was.

  They talked for nearly half an hour, the musicians once again taking up their instruments and when Holden motioned to the dance floor again, Laurel was happy to oblige. Morgan and Tristan escorted their wives to the dance floor as well and Laurel noticed immediately that the musician's had slowed down the pace of the music, a soft melody floating over the area. Laurel sighed as Holden held her close. "I've had fun tonight. Thank you."

  "Not as much fun as you'll be having once we can sneak away from here."

  Laurel grinned. "You're very sure of yourself, Mr. Avery. I may be too tired by the end of the evening to offer you more than a few goodnight kisses."

  In a move so bold Laurel thought for sure her heart would explode right there in front of the whole town, Holden leaned down and kissed her. It was brief but a startled gasp from somewhere to Laurel's left let her know someone had seen. She blushed and didn't dare turn her head to see who it was.

  "Marry me, Laurel."

  Shaking her head while grinning, Laurel stared up at him. "No."

  "Why?"

  Someone cleared their throat and said, "Because she's already married." The unknown person moved into their line of sight and grabbed Laurel's arm, trying to pull her from Holden's grasp. "Now unhand my wife."

  * * * *

  Holden gaped at the man tugging on Laurel's arm. He wasn't overly tall but the bowler hat on his head made him appear to be. He was dressed in an expensive suit of light brown. He was clean shaven and appeared to be around Holden's own age of thirty.

  Reaching out to grasp the man's hand, he pulled it away from Laurel and draped his own arm over her shoulder, tucking her into his body. "I'll advise you not to try that again, mister. Touch my woman and I'll break your arm."

  The man glanced from Laurel, then back to him, before he smiled, but there was nothing amusing in the look that settled in his eyes. He straightened his spine, smoothed out the front of his suit jacket and his cheeks turned a slight shade of red before he met his gaze again. "Your woman?"

  Holden nodded his head. "Yes."

  The man actually laughed while looking between the two of them. He sobered and settled his gaze on Laurel. "Hello, Laurel." He shook his head, the smile on his face as wide as any Holden had ever seen. "I've been searching high and low for you, dove. I was about to give up. Finding you here was just plain dumb luck."

  Laurel gaped at the man and Holden's mind was reaching by the time she stuttered out a quiet, "Ethan?"

  "Do you know how hard it's been to keep track of you?"

  Holden looked down at her, saw her eyes just a bit too wide. Her mouth was opening and closing as if she was trying to speak but nothing was coming out. Turning his attention back to the man, Holden said, "Who are you?"

  The man ignored his question, his gaze locked on Laurel. "I've spent the last two months tracking your movements, Laurel. Imagine my surprise in finding you in such a primitive place." He turned his head, gazing around the clearing. "It's quaint but no where near your standard of living. I can have us out of here in two days time. The stagecoach will be back on Tuesday. That will give you ample time to settle any affairs you may have." He eyed Holden again, sneering at him. "Including this one. Now I don't wish for a scene, so say goodnight to your companion and let's go. I'm tired and we've a long journey ahead of us." He held out his hand to her and the silence surrounding them was deafening.

  Holden didn't have to look to know everyone in attendance was watching them. The music had stopped and not a voice could be heard, not even the slightest whisper.

  Glancing down at Laurel, her complexion looked wane, her eyes seemed much too large for her face and he knew his hold on her was the only thing keeping her upright. "Laurel? Do you know this man?"

  She blinked, a soft sigh escaping her throat before she nodded her head, her gaze still locked on the man in front of them.

  Holden stared at her while the man's words whispered through his head again. She's already married. Unhand my wife.

  When the implication of his words hit him, the urge to let go of her was great. He wanted to see her face to gage her reaction more clearly. He tightened his arm around her instead and lifted his hea
d, looking back at the man. "I don't recall catching your name."

  He'd seen many arrogant men in his life but something about this one unsettled him. The man lifted his nose a few inches before saying, "Ethan Dearborn, IV." He glanced at Laurel again. "And Laurel is my wife. May I ask who you are?"

  Holden ignored the man's question when Laurel moved away from them both, shaking her head so violently, her carefully upswept hair started falling down in places. "I'm not your wife."

  Ethan sighed. "A mere technicality. In the eyes of your father, we are indeed married. Now come along. I'm exhausted, and I wish to rest before venturing on."

  She turned those large, luminous eyes to him and Holden saw regret shining in them. Up until that very moment, he thought the man was delusional. Now, he wasn't so sure.

  He leaned his head to one side, assessing her thoroughly. "Laurel…?"

  She blinked, stared at him with such remorse, his heart clenched in his chest. Every conversation he'd ever had with her assaulted him in rapid succession. Their first meeting in the saloon when she claimed all men were untrustworthy to her refusal to let him court her for reasons she still hadn't explained.

  But she did finally accept, he thought. The week before he'd made love to her through the night and not once had she'd offered any resistance. Her reasons for pushing him away had been gone but the look on her face now told him they were back. Whatever made her change her mind was once again an ugly secret between them. A glance to his left and Holden knew the man causing this ruckus was the reason.

  "I'm sorry, Holden."

  Her softly spoken words were like a knife to the gut. He stared at her, watching as tears filled her eyes and knew, whatever future they may have had together was over now. Someone touched his arm and he turned to see Morgan by his side, Tristan only a step away.

  He laughed suddenly as thoughts ran through his head in fast succession. After all the time it took for Alex to accept Laurel and to get her to stop fighting him… now this? He truly did have the worst luck where women were concerned. Maybe he was just doomed to be alone forever. Looking at Laurel's haunted face, he knew he was.

  Turning, he walked away. He wasn't sure what was going on but having it displayed in front of the whole town wasn't something anyone wanted, especially him. He made it to the street and waited to see if Laurel and Ethan would follow him but after several long minutes, neither appeared.

  Refusing to look over his shoulder for them, he turned toward the livery stable, collected his horse and was mounted, riding away from the stable when he saw them emerge from between the buildings. Ethan had hold of Laurel's arm and the look on her face would haunt him for a lifetime.

  * * * *

  Laurel was so stunned she could do nothing but stand on the sidewalk and watch Holden ride away. Her heart was pounding so fast, the rush of blood past her ears was deafening.

  Holden's dark, angry gaze was painful to see. He looked betrayed and she knew she should have told him everything. The moment she decided to let her past go and just live her life, she should have told him about Ethan. Now she may not get the chance.

  He turned the horse and sent the stallion into a full run. She watched him until the darkness swallowed both horse and man and nothing but dust remained.

  Ethan still had hold of her arm and tugging free from him she turned, and sent him a resentful scowl. "How dare you."

  His eyes widened. "How dare I?" He looked shocked. "What have I done?" His shoulders sagged as he looked at her, his features crestfallen. "I've been worried sick about you. Tormented by notions that harm may have befallen you."

  He rambled for long minutes, every word a lie. Laurel wasn't as naive as the men in her life liked to believe. Her past was lesson enough for her to see through false intentions and as sincere as Ethan seemed to be, his words were false. He cared for nothing but the money in her father's bank account. Money that would be his once he married her. "How did you find me?" she said, interrupting him.

  His smile looked sincere and it was hard to tell if it was. She never knew with Ethan. "Someone was snooping into your past. You father got wind of it and sent me everything he'd learned. I've been tracking your movements for the last several months."

  That someone he mentioned had to have been Morgan Avery, or at least someone Morgan had check up on her. She should have left the moment Holden told her his brother found information on her.

  Raising her gaze to meet his, she exhaled a long breath. "Why are you here? I made myself perfectly clear last time we spoke. I no longer wish to marry you."

  His mouth opened and closed a few times before he sighed. "You no longer love me, you mean?" The look that crossed his face made her heart clench. Remorse filled his face and for a split second, she believed him.

  "It's all right, Laurel. Love isn't instantaneous. It's built over time and eventually, you'll love me again."

  Laurel knew he was wrong about that. Love could happen quickly. It took nothing more than a single glance. A warm smile or a quick laugh. She'd known that night in the saloon back in Missoula that love could happen in an instant but wouldn't admit it. Doing so now left her heart vulnerable but denying it hurt worse than knowing she'd lost Holden because she didn't trust him enough to be truthful with him.

  "You made a fool out of me, Laurel."

  She focused her attention back on Ethan. "I beg your pardon?"

  He glanced down the street to the people milling around town and straightened the front of his suit jacket. "My friends, my family… do you know how embarrassing it was for me to have you run away?"

  "I'm sorry, Ethan. I never meant to embarrass you but what did you expect me to do? I may have embarrassed you but you made a fool out of me. I'd say we were even."

  He shrugged one shoulder. "I did no such thing. It was all a misunderstanding. And we can clear this whole mess up if you'll just hear me out and come back home with me. Besides, your father misses you."

  He reached for her arm again and Laurel knew he'd drag her kicking and screaming all the way back to Seattle if he had to and she wouldn't let that happen. Movement between the buildings caught Laurel's attention and she saw Morgan and Tristan emerge from the shadows. As much as she didn't want to explain anything to Holden's brothers, she didn't want Ethan to force his will on her either. She straightened her spine, crossed the distance between them and laid her hand on Morgan's arm. "Marshal, will you escort me home, please?"

  Morgan stared at Ethan for long moments before nodding his head. "It would be my pleasure." He turned, motioned for Abigail and Emmaline, who were hiding between the buildings, and the five of them left without another word. When they reached the end of the street, Morgan stopped in front of his house, opened the gate and ushered them all onto the stone sidewalk leading to the house. "I didn't want him to follow us to the school. You're welcome to stay with us as long as you like."

  Abigail led her into the kitchen after entering the house and indicated she take one of the chairs at the table. Laurel sat, sighed and felt old beyond her years.

  She watched Abigail flit around the kitchen, setting a pot of water on to boil as Emmaline grabbed cups and saucers and Laurel could almost taste the tea she knew her new friend was brewing.

  Not a word was spoken until after the tea had been served and it was Morgan, who now stood in the kitchen doorway, who spoke.

  "Is he dangerous, Laurel?"

  She shook her head. "No. He's pompous at times and arrogant the rest, but he would never hurt me."

  He nodded, satisfied with her answer, and left the room.

  It wasn't until Abigail refilled their tea cups after they'd all finished the first cup that Laurel looked up at her. She hadn't said a word, neither had Emmaline, and for that, Laurel was grateful. She'd been expecting questions the moment they entered the house and if anyone deserved an explanation, it was Holden. "He'll never speak to me again," she said, more to herself than to Abigail and Emmaline. She looked up and noticed them both watching
her. "Holden, I mean."