Cole's Montana Bride (Sweet,clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series Book 7)

by Maya Stirling

  And now, she had come back to Billings. Why?

  When he'd seen her at the wedding he'd hardly believed his eyes. It had been four years since he'd seen her. Four long years of hard days and harder nights. A guest had told him that Ruby and Marcus had found each other thanks to Victoria and her business.

  She was a matchmaker! That was ironic. Cole smiled as he thought about Victoria assessing couples for their compatibility. What a pity she hadn't applied those skills when Cole had been sweet on Victoria. What a shame that Victoria hadn't been able to fathom just how wrong she and Cole had been for each other. Maybe then a whole lot of heartache might have been avoided. For both of them.

  Cole took in a deep breath savoring the sweet clean Montana air. It was a beautiful April morning. Spring was in the air. He usually felt unusually alive at this time of the year, looking forward to the good months, when work would be hard but rewarding and profits would set him up for the coming winter. The seasons had a comforting rhythm. They always had done since Victoria had left him.

  His throat tightened as he recalled the day she'd left, telling him that she was going to live in Helena, that there were things she had to do, that everything between her and Cole was moving too fast, that she needed to figure out what her future might be.

  And Cole had really believed she would be back before the winter. Back in his arms with the scent of her hair in his nostrils and the warmth of her presence next to him.

  But she hadn't come back.

  Instead there had been a letter. A simple letter that stated in plain terms that she was striking out on her own, that she'd decided on a future as a matchmaker because she'd discovered that she loved to make people happy, loved to bring love into the world.

  Cole frowned, as he did every time he thought about that letter. His lips drew into a thin, tight line at the memory of how that letter had affected him.

  So, Victoria had become a matchmaker, bringing happiness into the lives of others, a happiness that Cole felt he'd been cheated of by her simple act of leaving.

  And now she wanted to meet with him.

  He'd bolted from that wedding reception, fearing for his reaction, anxious not to spoil the happiest day of a young couple who didn't deserve the presence of a man and woman facing each other for the first time since a painful separation.

  But there was one thing that just wouldn't shift from Cole's mind. Victoria Carr was even more beautiful than ever. Seeing her across the room had taken his heart by surprise. It had been just as well that there had been so much polite conversation to indulge in with the guests. But he'd hardly been able to keep his eyes off her. Miraculously their eyes hadn't met. Every time he'd looked in her direction she'd been looking the other way, or talking with Lucy Carter.

  But, Victoria was still so darned lovely, he thought to himself. Her blonde hair and blue eyes were as devastatingly attractive as ever. But there was a new poise and confidence in her posture, something that he'd never seen before. Her delicate, heart shaped face was just about the only thing he'd seen as he'd scanned the gathered guests in that sitting room. Just looking at her beautiful presence had made his heart skip a beat in a way that he'd forgotten was possible.

  And for that reason he'd determined to excuse himself and claim that there had been a problem at the ranch that needed his urgent attention. Luckily, as he'd left, Lucy Carter had just commandeered Victoria's attention. Lord knew what they'd been talking about, but the tightness in his chest and the tension in his jaw had made it imperative he get out of that house. On making it back to the ranch it hadn't been too difficult to find work to keep him busy.

  Cole quietened his mind for a time and after a short while he was in town and riding the horse up to the front of the restaurant. The main drag was busy in the late morning. The boardwalk was crowded with townsfolk going about their business. The stores were a hive of activity. Cole didn't come into Billings unless he had to. And today was one of those rare occasions when he felt he had no choice.

  Cole peered through the window. He could see that the restaurant had some customers. He wondered if she would be there. Knowing how organized Victoria would have to be to run a matchmaking business, he doubted she'd be late for their appointment.

  As he stepped down off the horse he touched the pocket of his jacket. He felt the thickness of the letter she'd written to him, asking for the meeting. There had been no mention of it being in any way personal. In fact, the tone of the letter had been pretty formal, simply requesting his presence at a meeting which might be advantageous to him.

  Advantageous!

  The only thing which would have been advantageous for Cole MacAllan was if Victoria Carr had never come back to Billings, let alone asked to see him. But, Cole's curiosity was strong and he figured he might never get another chance to ask the woman he'd once loved the most important question.

  Why had she left him?

  CHAPTER THREE

  When Victoria saw Cole enter the restaurant something happened which stunned her.

  She was overwhelmed by a sudden physical surge of relief that Cole had agreed to come and meet with her. He'd actually come.

  Seated at the corner table, Victoria was suddenly aware that she'd placed a gloved hand over her middle with an involuntary movement. She pulled herself upright and glanced down at the table. She reached over and quickly poured some tea from the pot into her half full cup. Her throat had suddenly become inexplicably dry. She took a sip of the tea enjoying the relieving warmth in her throat.

  Victoria glanced once more toward Cole and felt the breath catch in her lungs.

  Cole MacAllan was indeed still a fine looking man.

  His tall, wide shouldered figure seemed to fill the doorway of the restaurant. She saw him remove his hat and glance over toward the corner table where she was seated.

  Victoria raised a tentative hand and saw his eyes light up briefly. However, she noted with mild concern that he didn't smile as he started to make his way over toward her table. Cole was dressed elegantly and practically as befitted a well-to-do rancher. But, she observed with a wry smile, he'd probably made an effort to look presentable. Years ago he wouldn't have made much of an effort.

  Cole was wearing a neat brown jacket, dark pants and boots. He moved with a familiar confident grace that Victoria recalled from their time together. Had it been so many years ago? How was it that she could still recognize the easy manner, the subtle movement that said so much about the man's inner being. It was as if the quiet strength she remembered as such a key aspect of his character was reflected in his very movement.

  Cole wove his way amongst the handful of diners. There were about half a dozen others in the small dining room. Some of them glanced at Cole as he passed.

  Victoria placed the cup down on the saucer and stood. She felt her legs weak and she had to steady herself against the table. Victoria felt her heart thudding and her pulse race as the man she'd left behind so many years before made his way across the room and back into her life. For how long, she briefly wondered.

  Cole stopped at the table. There was an awkward moment when neither of them could find words and then Cole reached out and took Victoria's outstretched hands.

  "Cole. It's so lovely to see you," Victoria said, aware that her voice was quivering with barely contained emotion. Was he feeling the same as she was? Even though he was close, standing tall and handsome right in front of her, she couldn't tell. His face was impassive, his jaw firm. His voice was deeper than she'd remembered.

  Then Victoria saw a flash of something in Cole's eyes. He paused, then spoke. "Victoria. I got your letter," he said stiffly.

  "Yes. The letter," Victoria answered, suddenly feeling even more awkward. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to ask you in person. But you left the wedding before I had the chance to speak with you."

  "Yeah. I had business back at the ranch," Cole said hesitantly shifting his hat from one hand to the other.

  "Please have a seat," Victori
a said with a gesture of her hand. She sat down trying to maintain an air of calm, disguising the raging emotions that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Why was she suddenly feeling like this? She tried to pull herself together, tell herself that this meeting was strictly business, merely driven by the necessity to keep her promise to Lucy. But Victoria was feeling so much more than she'd expected to.

  Cole drew out a chair and sat down across from Victoria. His gaze was briefly probing, momentarily curious. They ordered more tea and for a few moments there was a long, tense silence between them.

  Now that Cole was sitting across from her Victoria could see the changes in him that the years had wrought. There was a most appealing rugged quality about him that she hadn't seen before. His skin was darker, a reflection of days out in the sun working with the herd. But it was the expression in Cole's eyes which took Victoria by surprise the most. There was a directness in them she couldn't recall having seen in the younger Cole. The man who sat across from her was a changed man, a different man from the one she'd left behind.

  Yes, she admitted to herself. She had left the man who now sat opposite her. And she wondered what he would say, how he would react, now that they were sitting across from each other for the first time in years.

  Cole peered across the table at her in a manner which Victoria found both disconcerting and affecting all at the same time. It was as if he was examining her, assessing her, trying to recognize the woman seated across from him. She felt he was watching her every movement, awaiting whatever had prompted her to request this meeting.

  "It was a beautiful wedding. Wasn't it?" Victoria asked.

  Cole nodded slowly. "Indeed it was. They're a lovely couple. I've known Marcus for a long time. He's a good man. Just right for Ruby."

  "Yes. They are a perfect couple," Victoria said.

  Cole glanced at the other diners in the room. "You must be pleased with your work," he said.

  Victoria glanced at Cole with sudden surprise. After a pause she responded. "It wasn't easy. Marcus took some persuading before he came round to the idea of marriage."

  "He is a lawyer," Cole said wryly.

  Victoria smiled. She looked at Cole searching for signs of similar levity but found none.

  "Ruby came to my agency in Helena and asked me to help out. She'd been sweet on Marcus for years. But he'd been so busy with his work that he hadn't even noticed she held a flame for him."

  "Sounds familiar," Cole said bluntly.

  Victoria looked at him and saw the tightness in his jaw. No use pursuing that comment, she thought. "Ruby and I were friends so I thought I'd help," she continued.

  Cole lifted the teacup to his lips and took a sip. The small cup looked incongruous in his strong, large hand. Victoria watched his throat as he swallowed the tea. Cole put the cup back down on the saucer. "So how is the matchmaking business?" he asked.

  Victoria moved her cup to one side. "It's doing very well. I've managed to bring together a great many wives and husbands. I haven't had a complaint." She smiled at Cole but yet again his face was impassive, his eyes fixed on Victoria. "Yet," she added quickly with a smile.

  Cole's brow rose and Victoria immediately knew that her comment had dug deep into him. He nodded but said nothing.

  "And the ranch? How is it?" she asked quickly.

  Cole's eyes narrowed slightly and the crease of a smile thinned his lips. "Still where it is when you left," he said quietly. His gaze dropped to the table and Victoria felt her heat sink.

  Victoria looked down. Her shoulders felt suddenly heavy and she realized there was no point in carrying on any kind of pretence. The truth was unavoidable. She'd learned the hard way that when it came to relationships honesty was often the wisest choice.

  "About that, Cole..." she started to say.

  "About what, Victoria? he interrupted. His eyes locked on Victoria's and she shifted in her seat.

  There was a long pause. The sounds of the other diners became unusually insistent for a moment.

  "About us, Cole. I know that the way I left was less than fair..."

  "Fair?" Cole asked, his voice rising. "I'd hardly call a letter like that fair." He placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward. His gaze was fixed on Victoria. "I think I deserved better," he said in a firm voice.

  Victoria glanced over at the other diners. "Please keep your voice down, Cole," she said.

  Cole responded to her request by leaning back in his chair and tightening his lips into a thin line. He folded his arms and took a deep breath.

  "I can only say I regret any distress I might have caused you by staying in Helena. But I hope you can understand that my decision was motivated by what I thought was the best thing at the time."

  "Best for who, Victoria?" Cole demanded quietly.

  "For both of us."

  Cole frowned. "And of course, being a matchmaker, you would know what was best for both of us. Wouldn't you, Victoria."

  She winced. The hurt Victoria felt at his question was strangely offset by the pleasure she took at hearing him say her name. There was something about hearing her name in his deep, vibrant voice that produced a tremor inside her that was wholly inexplicable, completely surprising.

  "I wasn't yet a matchmaker when we parted," she tried to explain.

  "Perhaps your skills weren't fully developed?" he said with a twist of the head.

  They both turned and looked away. Victoria suddenly felt that she needed to look anywhere else except across the table at the man who she'd obviously hurt, the rancher she'd known since girlhood, the Montana man who now looked like he thought that the woman sitting across from him was the worst person in the territory.

  This meeting was not going according to plan. It was becoming entirely too personal, and Victoria knew she had a job to do. She had made a promise to Lucy Carter. It was a promise that depended on the man sitting across from her trusting Victoria and agreeing to allow her to keep that promise. Even if it meant arranging a marriage for a man Victoria had once told herself she'd felt love for.

  "I asked you here for a reason, Cole," she said. Hearing his name from her lips seemed to catch his attention. He looked across at her and she thought she saw a brief flicker of approval glinting in his eyes, but it as quickly vanished.

  "You mean you didn't ask me here to apologize?" Cole asked with a quiet, defiant tone.

  Victoria fixed Cole with a firm look and she restrained the urge to respond to his obvious taunt. She couldn't recall ever having seen Cole with such an edge to his character. Perhaps the years had changed him more than she'd imagined. Maybe he wasn't the right man for Lucy Carter after all. And that was her job, here in this difficult moment that demanded she separate the personal from the professional.

  "I asked you to meet me because I have a very important proposal to discuss with you," she said.

  The mention of a proposal caused his eyes to narrow imperceptibly. "What kind of proposal," he asked after a brief pause.

  Victoria drew herself up and peered across at Cole. "I assume you are familiar with Lucius Carter," she said.

  Cole nodded. "I do business with him on a regular basis," he said.

  "And I know you have an acquaintance with Lucy Carter," Victoria said.

  Cole lowered his head and he peered across at Victoria. "Of course I know Lucy. We've known each other through my business dealings of Lucius."

  Victoria cleared her throat and paused. She wondered how Cole was going to take her suggestion. Would he throw his arms up in disgust at the suggestion of a marriage with the daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the territory? Would he accuse Victoria of meddling in his private life? Would he storm out of the restaurant and deny her the opportunity of keeping her promise to Lucy? There was only one way to find out the answers to those questions. Difficult matters required plain speaking. The time for delicacy and tact was past.

  "The proposal I have been asked to put to you is the following. Lucy Carter and indeed Lucius Carte
r have asked me to inquire if you would be amenable to considering a marriage to Miss Carter," Victoria said.

  She saw Cole's face freeze for a moment. He stopped blinking and she was sure that she saw his jaw drop ever so slightly. The words hung in the air between them. To Victoria's ears, the clink of cutlery on china from the nearby diners seemed to have become, once again, inordinately loud.

  Victoria saw a subtle change in the color of Cole's face. It had gone from the ruddy outdoor bloom to a slightly grey palor. Cole still hadn't said a word.

  "Did you hear what I said?" Victoria asked.

  Cole's brows furrowed and the corner of his mouth twisted into what looked like a sardonic smile. "I heard what you said. And I'm having a hard time believing it," he said.

  "I can explain some more of the circumstances if you like," she said.

  Cole held up a hand. "There's no need," he said. "I'm just trying to get my head around just what it is you just said. Are you seriously suggesting that old man Carter is proposing that I marry his daughter?"

  "I think "old man Carter" is hardly the right way to describe someone who plays such an important role in your own business," Victoria said.

  Cole's eyes flashed. "Lucius Carter is just someone who makes sure my cattle get to market. Nothing more."

  Victoria looked at Cole. "I didn't suggest anything other than that."

  Cole's head cocked to the side. "Really? Aren't you suggesting that maybe I'd look upon a marriage with his daughter as something that would be good for business?"

  "Lucy Carter is a sweet and lovely young woman. She obviously thinks very highly of you. Otherwise I doubt she would have ever suggested I try and arrange a marriage between the two of you," Victoria said.

  "Nothing to do with the fact that her papa is a wealthy man who might just be good for a lowly rancher like me?" His tone was cutting, his demeanor that of a wounded man.

  Victoria sighed and glanced away. She could see the anger in his eyes, hear the indignation in his voice, sense the hurt in his words. What had she done in similar situations? How had she managed to persuade reluctant suitors? For wasn't that what Cole was? A reluctant suitor who might need a whole lot of persuasion?