Page 79 of Beyond Montana's Sky
Edith tilted up her head to absorb the sensation of butterfly kisses fluttering over her skin. She soaked in Cai’s warmth, his strength, hisaliveness, after all the long and lonely years on her own.
“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” His voice was low and hoarse.
“How much?” she demanded with a flirtatious smile and flutter of eyelashes.
Cai framed her face with his hands. “More than all the stars in Montana’s sky.” He dropped a kiss on her lips and lowered his arms to slide his hands around her waist. “No corset.” He waggled his eyebrows.
Laughing, Edith pulled back and playfully smacked his shoulder. “Corsets aren’t worn with tea gowns, silly.”
“Umm.” He slid his arms around her again and pulled her into a long hug, murmuring endearments.
Edith snuggled against him and absorbed the wonder of his presence.Thiswas what she’d wished for—a welcome pair of arms to enfold her, a powerful heart beating against hers, and a low voice telling of love. She’d longed for this moment—this embrace, this connection, with a man who, against her inclination, against her better judgment, made her fall in love with him. “Why are you here?”
“Marry me, Edith.”
Gasping, she pulled away, frightened and excited at the same time. “How can you ask that? I’ll admit seeing you is heavenly, but we barely know each other. We live different lives.”
Cai gestured from himself to her. “Sparks danced between us from the start. From when we’d just set eyes on each other. For all that you acted all prissy, admit that you felt them, too.”
“I’ll admit no such thing,” she bantered, secretly thrilled he, too, felt the attraction from those first moments.
His eyes glinted. “We’ve been writing, getting to know each other that way.”
She sobered. “We live more than half the country apart.”
He ran his knuckles down her cheek. “Recently, a very wise, old woman reminded me of this marvelous invention called a train, which can go back and forth from Boston to Sweetwater Springs in a matter of days.”
Edith smiled, picturingMormorgiving him advice. Then she remembered Ben and her in-laws, and her smile faded. She shook her head. “I have a son who needs to be here. He has school andmustspend time with his grandparents. My in-laws need me, too. Besides, you can’t leave your ranch.”
His expression turned serious. “The wise, old woman also told me that I wasn’t needed on the ranch. Her sons and grandsons were more than capable of running the place without me there every day.”
Edith threw up her hands. “What kind of ranch wife would I make, anyway?”
He captured them in his, clasping them together and drawing her toward him. “The wise old woman also said that plenty of Anderson women are around who’ll do what needs to be done around the house, so you could sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam if you had a mind to.”
Edith laughed, for the first time feeling hopeful. “I’m not particularly fond of sewing.”
He leaned to drop a kiss on her nose. “The wise, old woman also suggested you could teach the children how to play the piano. Polish up their manners before we pack ’em up and ship ’em off to school in Concord,” he drawled.
Oh, how I missed hearing that drawl!She nodded several times. “Recently, a wise,youngman pointed out that next year he’ll be attending one of the universities and not living with me anyway.”
“Ah, we are both lucky in our wise advisors.”
She chuckled.Ben would love being acknowledged asa wise advisor.
“I can’t tell you if I’m the man who’s best for you.” Cai released her hands and made an up-and-down gesture toward his clothes. “If you line me up next to your other suitors, I won’t look polished like the gentlemen around here, that’s for sure. But I guarantee no one will ever want you—” he flattened her palms against his heart “loveyou the way I do.”
He loves me? Goodness, my dream’s coming true!“We’ll go shopping tomorrow. Kit you out in fine duds,” she teased, pretending her heart wasn’t racing. “That is if you’re staying long enough.”
He lightly touched the tip of her nose. “Thought I’d stay a month or two or three. Get acquainted with this city of yours. Meet your friends and family. Get to know your son. I’ll need to kit myself, as you say, in fancy togs. Give you a chance to compare me to your Brahmin suitors.”
With a teasing smile, Edith shook her head. “Even so, you’ll stand out.” She curled a hand around his arm and placed the other on his chest. “I’ll love showing you around Boston and introducing you to everyone. Giving you and Ben time to know each other.”
He smiled, obviously relieved and looking more relaxed.
Leaving a hand on his chest, Edith placed the other over her heart. “In here, there will never be another man as special as you.” She sighed. “I want to sayyesso much! But from my letters, you know the situation. Ican’tleave Ben. Ican’tleave the Graysons.”
He dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “Will you allow me to court you, and perhaps, more importantly, court your family? See how things play out?”
