by Soard, Lori
“A date.” His green eyes were warm.
Catherine looked away. She wouldn’t allow herself to be melted by that gaze. No matter how compelling it might be. “A date?”
He moved closer, his musky cologne mingling with the smell of fresh hay and oats. Catherine felt the trembling begin in the soles of her feet and slowly work its way up to her shoulders. She really was going to have to learn to control that. She blinked several times, trying to concentrate on what he was saying.
“In the morning. At seven sharp. Wear something warm.”
“But—”
Before she could form the protest, he’d turned and sauntered away. Catherine closed her mouth. A date? What was he up to now?
“Peanut, what am I going to do?” She laid her forehead against the horse’s warm, musky smelling neck. “He’s making me crazy.”
Peanut blew out a puff of air. Catherine stroked her hand down the velvety neck.
“Maybe I should take his money and run,” she whispered, her voice catching on the last two words. “A part of me wants to. The other part loves it here.”
Catherine completed the task of feeding the horses and cleaning their stalls, her thoughts turbulent. Gage being cunning and trying to take her ranch was hard to deal with. Gage being charming was impossible. She couldn’t let him know how her knees went weak every time he smiled at her. He’d use it against her.
She still couldn’t believe he’d said those things about her father. They were all lies to try to convince her to sell. She couldn’t trust anything he said. But were they lies, Catherine? a nagging voice said. Giving the voice a swift kick back behind the door, she quickly locked the thought out.
Of course her father hadn’t stolen this ranch. He’d been a lot of things, including a lousy father. But he’d been honest. Even dead drunk, the man never welched on a debt, usually incurred from gambling. That was part of the reason why the place had gotten so run down. Any extra money had usually gone to pay his gambling debts.
Catherine knew she could turn the ranch around given a couple of years. It had always had the potential to turn a profit. True, she’d probably never get rich from it, but then she wasn’t interested in being rich. She just wanted to live on this land. And go to Europe, the inner voice piped up. Shut up. And see the world.
Catherine stomped from the barn and slammed the door shut behind her, latching it with enough force to break the metal clasp on the latch. She wasn’t going to let Gage do this to her, make her doubt her goals and dreams. Her place was on this ranch, not traipsing around a continent thousands of miles away. And she intended to prove it to him. She would go on his date, but she wouldn’t be manipulated.
Crystal flakes danced lightly down from the sky and melted on the windshield of the truck. Catherine fidgeted in her seat, wondering where Gage was taking her. She tried not to get excited but she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been on a date. Fear of what trouble her father might get into while she was gone had kept her a prisoner at the ranch for too many years.
But she loved the land, she firmly reminded herself. She wouldn’t give it up. Gage pulled a cassette tape from his coat pocket and slid it into the ancient tape player the truck still sported in an age when most cars played music digitally. The haunting strains of the Righteous Brothers, Unchained Melody filled the cab. Catherine barely stopped herself from swaying to the music. She bit her bottom lip hard to control the urge.
Gage reached across the seat and took her hand in his, twining their fingers together. Catherine swallowed against the dryness overtaking her throat. What was he up to now? Was this another tactic to get the ranch from her?
Catherine glanced out the window. Just once it would be nice to have someone really care about her. Really want to just be with her. She yanked her hand away. Gage Maddock was not going to break down the wall of resistance she’d put between them.
*
The surge of disappointment as Cat pulled away surprised Gage. He wanted her to respond, sure he did. But he shouldn’t feel this unexpected frustration at such a minor setback as her pulling her hand away. His goal was to regain the ranch. Cat obviously wasn’t going to sell. He was trying to come up with a solution that would make them both happy.
The least she could do was cooperate. He tried to turn the unfamiliar emotions boiling inside of him into anger at her obstinance. There was no reason for her to dislike him.
No reason at all. He’d only insulted her father, tried to take away the land she loved, planned to build a luxury resort where she didn’t want one and spoiled her Christmas. Yeah, she should be crazy in love with him by now, he thought sarcastically.
Gage glanced at her profile as she stared out the window. Her arms were crossed protectively over her chest and her chin jutted out at an obstinate angle. He grinned, feeling suddenly like whistling along with the song on the tape player. She might be mad at him, but this was the most time they’d spent in each other’s company since Christmas Eve.
Gage didn’t want to think about why that made him so happy. He’d think about it later, right now he just wanted to enjoy the day and break through the barricade she’d erected against him.
*
“Where are we going?”
“We’re taking a bus to Silverton and coming back on the train.” Gage’s grin was full of enthusiasm.
Catherine smiled back at him before she could help herself, feeling the wall she’d built between them crack a little. He jumped out of the truck and crossed to her door, opening it for her. Catherine slid out and allowed him to clasp her hand as they made their way to the ticket booth.
“Are we playing tourists today?” she asked.
“You’ll have to wait and see.” Gage’s laugh washed over her like the gentle fall of snowflakes. “I have lots of surprises up my sleeve.
Catherine looked away to hide her reaction to him. She knew that the one thing he wanted was the one thing she could never give him, so why did she still feel this fierce attraction to him?
Gage paid for their tickets and they boarded the bus for its historic trek through the mountains. They located their seats and sat down. Gage’s thigh brushed against hers in the close confines. Catherine’s throat went dry and her heart started to thump loudly against her chest. It wouldn’t surprise her if Gage could hear it.
“I’ve lived here my entire life and never been on this tour,” Catherine said.
“Me either.”
Gage’s response startled her for a moment. She still wasn’t used to the thought that he had been raised in the house she now lived in and called home. It connected them in some strange, inexplicable way, like a piece of each of their souls resided in that house.
“What was your childhood like, Gage?” It seemed she was always the one speaking about her father, he had said little about his family.
“Pretty normal, I suppose.” Gage shrugged.
Catherine turned to him, yearning to know what ‘normal’ felt like with everything in her. She laid her hand on his arm. He glanced down to where her fingers rested against his sleeve.
“Tell me. I don’t know normal,” Catherine pleaded.
“My sister and I would slide down the banister every morning on our way out the door to school. When we got home, my mother would often have fresh baked cookies for us and father would be out on the ranch seeing to cattle.”
“Your family raised cattle?”
“Yes. The land was in my father’s blood. The ranch had been in his family for three generations and he had never known anything else or thought of being anything other than a rancher.” The bus gave a gentle lurch as the driver pulled away from the curb.
“It sounds wonderful.”
“Not always.” She saw his throat work as he swallowed a couple of times.
Gage glanced out the window of the bus as it picked up speed and rambled along with a gentle rocking motion. Catherine followed his gaze to the tall majestic mountains with snow-capped peaks. She understoo
d Gage’s need to distance himself for a moment. It was the coping device she used when thinking of her father and her own childhood. She frowned. His childhood sounded so ideal, she wondered what could possibly be troubling him.
“My mother hated the ranch.”
Catherine glanced at Gage to find his brilliant green eyes on her. She ordered herself to keep her thoughts on what he was saying. A song beat through her veins, chanting that what he was about to say was important. She leaned toward him slightly.
“Why did she hate the ranch?”
“Hundreds of reasons.” He shrugged. “It took too much of my father’s time. She hated the solitude, she was used to living in Boston. There was never enough money.”
“Your mother lives in Boston now?” Catherine thought there was probably a lot Gage wasn’t telling her from the pained look on his face. Probably numerous fights about selling the ranch and moving.
“She and my sister, Anna. She’s quite the socialite.” He smiled fondly.
Catherine squeezed his hand. “I’m glad she’s happy.”
They grew silent, but it was a companionable silence. One of those rare moments when two people can bask in each other’s company without the threat of conversation to interrupt the calm.
The tired bus lumbered up the mountain, seeming to almost hang on one edge of the road. Catherine closed her eyes tightly, wishing she’d chosen the aisle seat instead of the window. Opening one eye a crack, she looked down the sheer drop. She quickly squeezed her eyes tight again.
Usually her fear of heights wasn’t an issue. She remained with her feet firmly on the ground even when her head was in the clouds. The unobstructed view of thin air was more than she could handle.
Gage’s soft chuckle reached her ears at the same moment his fingers closed around hers and gave a comforting squeeze.
“Almost there.” His breath whispered against her ear.
How could she stay angry at a man so considerate? First he went out of his way to give her a real Christmas, he’d taken over most of her normal chores and now he sensed her fear and was trying to distract her. Catherine dared any woman to remain immune to his charm.
“Okay, Cat, open your eyes now.”
Catherine opened them cautiously, first one and then the other. The bus crested Red Mountain, paused as if poised on the edge of forever. There weren’t many trees and the town lay before her, dusty with coal, a simple mining town. It was the most beautiful sight Catherine had ever seen. A lump formed in her throat from the simple joy of being alive and the knowledge that some brave soul had possessed the courage to build a town on this majestic mountain. She turned to Gage, unable to contain her enthusiasm.
“Now what?” Catherine felt the thrill of adventure pump through her veins. She’d wanted to break free, do something different and exciting. How could she have known all that was right under her nose? Although she suspected Gage’s company made it more exciting than the whole trip might otherwise have been.
“We explore.”
Even the buildings, which were white-washed, were tinged a muted gray. Catherine took a deep breath and tasted the tang of coal dust.
They spent most of the morning shopping, had lunch in an old hotel and boarded the narrow-gage train for the ride back to Durango.
Catherine slid into the shiny, mock-leather seat. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this content. Gage’s fingers brushed against her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear. Catherine resisted the urge to pull it loose. Normally, she hated it tucked behind her ears, but his touch was so warm and gentle, for some reason she suddenly didn’t mind.
“Thanks for today, Gage. This was fun.” She turned to look at him and he was so close she had to crane her neck back to look into his smoldering green eyes. Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest and her breaths came rapid, almost frantic.
“It’s not over yet.”
Cat’s eyes dropped to his lips. Her fingers itched to reach out and trace their sculpted fullness. She ignored the urge. The last thing in this life she needed was to fall in love with Gage Maddock, not that it wouldn’t be incredibly easy to just forget their differences and lose herself to the rising passion in her. But, she’d always prided herself on having more control than that.
That was the old Catherine, a nasty little voice reminded her. How does the new Catherine feel? Catherine ignored the other side of herself that demanded she lean forward and press her lips to his, and turned to look out the window.
The train was winding around the mountain and Catherine breathed a sigh of relief that they were following a creek, at least they weren’t hanging off the side of a cliff again. She allowed the rhythmic churn of the wheels to lull her into believing she could overcome her attraction for the man beside her. Although her heart screamed at her to feel his heat, his nearness, his body’s tenseness.
Chapter sixteen
Gage shifted restlessly, trying to hide his reaction to Cat’s nearness. He wanted her and his hunger wouldn’t be quenched easily. Never before had a woman taken over every waking and sleeping moment of his thoughts. The experience was strange and uncomfortable, but Gage was certain caused only by Cat’s reluctance. Once he’d had her, this fierce need would subside and he could concentrate on his plans for the ranch once again.
The train rumbled to a stop and Gage helped Catherine down onto the station platform. She halted, and glanced up at him through the wisps of blond hair encasing her forehead like a halo. His heart gave a funny little kick and Gage wondered for a moment if it had stopped beating before he felt its even, steady rhythm once more. Miss Catherine Claiborne was as potent as her father had been sly. Gage only hoped he knew what he was getting himself into. Marriage with Cat might just turn out to be more than he’d bargained for.
He took her arm and led her back toward the pick-up. “One more stop.” He intended to propose and it was going to be romantic this time. Just as his sister had advised.
“There’s more?” Catherine’s laughter was like the gentle chime of sleigh bells.
Gage strode to the truck, lost in thoughts of how to overcome this sudden affliction he seemed to be suffering just being around Cat. When he realized she was trotting to keep up, he slowed his pace a little.
“It’s almost dusk, Gage. Shouldn’t we be getting back to the ranch?” Catherine sounded slightly out of breath.
“An old friend of mine has a spread just outside of Durango. He offered to check on our horses and we’re going there to borrow a sleigh.”
“A sleigh?”
Gage paused at her flabbergasted tone. Why did that thought seem so ridiculous to her? He’d thought it very romantic. They would borrow Gerald Manning’s sleigh, hopefully the moon would peak through the clouds, and he would propose. His sister has sighed over the idea, proclaiming it the most romantic thing she’d ever heard.
“Isn’t it kind of cold for a sleigh ride?” Cat asked.
“We have warm clothes and there will be blankets. How cold can it get?” As if to remind him of how gruesome a Colorado winter could be, a fat snow flake drifted down and landed on his nose.
Cat giggled.
Gage glared in mock indignation. “Not funny. Okay, we’ll make it a short sleigh ride.”
Cat smiled and climbed into the cab as Gage held the passenger door open for her. He crossed to the driver’s side, whistling under his breath. She was being more receptive to him than she’d been in a long while, perhaps she’d say yes to his proposal this time.
*
Catherine stared out the slightly frosted window. What was Gage up to? He’d been unfailingly charming all day. If she didn’t watch herself, she’d be head over heels in love with him, and what would that get her but a lot of heartache?
A sleigh ride sounded cold, and the mere thought of being stuck in such close confines to the man seated next to her for any longer than was necessary made her want to run screaming. If she had any sense at all, she’d take his offer to buy the ranch and leave the co
untry. It might be the only way she’d escape this insane pull she felt between them.
But Catherine knew she’d never really give up the ranch, however tempting the thought might sometimes be. The day was coming to a close, and no matter how spectacular the brochures claimed the sunset lit up the 14,000 foot backdrop of the San Juan Mountains, she didn’t care to be in such close proximity to the man who caused this deep, unfamiliar ache in her.
Gage pulled down a narrow side road and crossed over a cattle trench, the snow was drifting down harder now, the windshield wipers waged a war on the fat flakes. Catherine didn’t know Gerald Manning, though she’d heard of his ranch, the Silver Stream. Catherine supposed it was an appropriate name considering the ranch was surrounded by sparkling crystal clear lakes and mountain fed streams.
Catherine’s sense of adventure kicked in. If they piled the blankets around them, it wouldn’t be too cold. They were both dressed warmly. Wasn’t she always complaining that she wanted to live a little, or find excitement, or do something daring. Well, this was certainly different and exciting. She wasn’t sure about daring.
“Gerald promised to have the sleigh waiting for us,” Gage said as he pulled into the circular drive that lay in front of the house.
He crossed to open her door and Catherine allowed him to help her from the truck. He grabbed her waist and slid her slowly down, their bodies almost touching. When Catherine’s feet were on the ground, Gage held her for a moment as he gazed into her eyes. Catherine bit the inside of her cheek hard to keep from begging him to kiss her.
“I hear bells.” She shook her head bemusedly.
“The sleigh.” Gage laughed. “I could make you hear bells, though.”
“I’m sure,” Catherine retorted dryly.
Gage grabbed her hand and tugged her to the stable, visible from the front yard. An adolescent boy stood holding the reins of the raven black gelding. Catherine cooed and rushed over to rub the horse’s nose.