Page 18 of Beyond Montana's Sky
Oh, no. Not again.
Firming her inner walls as tight as the corset stays encircling her ribs, Edith stepped back, ignoring how her heart constricted. She offered her practiced, polite, oh-so-very-social smile. “We must return to your ranch house. I have a long drive back to Sweetwater Springs, and I don’t want to lose the light.” She made to toss away the flower but found she couldn’t part with the bloom.
With a swish of her skirt, Edith turned and took several quick steps to put distance between them. But her hem caught and held her in place.
She looked down to see the lace trapped by the thorny pad of another prickly pear, the yellow flower on top seeming to mock her efforts to escape Cai, escape the pain of Nathaniel’s death, escape ever loving another man with the ardor she’d felt for her husband.
Disregarding the possible damage, she grabbed at the back of her skirt and jerked, hearing the sound of tearing.
Back stiff, Edith stormed off down the hill in the direction of the surrey, not caring if her strides were longer than a ladylike glide. Right now, escaping Cai Driscoll’s mesmerizing presence was far more important than the way she moved.
Rounding the corner of the barn—made of logs like the house—Edith saw her surrey and halted in dismay. No chestnut geldings waited placidly between the shafts. She whirled, about to march back to the annoying man and demand he immediately produce her horses, only to step back startled.
Cai must have followed as quietly as a Blackfoot Indian, because he trailed only a few paces behind. His close presence made prickly heat race over her skin. As much as she wanted to put a more comfortable distance between them, Edith didn’t allow herself to shift away.
“Edith—”
She shot him a reprimanding glance for daring to use her given name without permission.
As if she held a gun on him, Cai raised both hands. “I don’t like the look of the eastern sky.” He lifted his chin in the direction to indicate clouds with charcoal underbellies. “We have bad weather heading in.” He lowered his arms. “Snow’s coming. I can smell it.”
“Smell,” she scoffed.
“Yes,smell, city girl.”
“What does a storm smell like?”
“How can you have lived in Montana for years and not know?”
“Why would I need to know that?” Edith knew she sounded waspish, but she couldn’t allow herself to soften to the man’s enticing entreaties.
He made an obvious sniffing noise. “Because you’d recognize the combinationsmellof crisp and damp and cold that meansstorm.”
He’s just teasing me into staying.
“I’d like you to stay the night.Mormorwill sleep in the house, so everything will be perfectly proper. If need be…to make you feel more comfortable, I can rustle up more Anderson wives until you’re completely surrounded by appropriate chaperonage.”
Edith looked at the distant clouds and teetered in the direction of saying yes. Certainly, her arms and hands would appreciate postponing the drive home. Yet, if she didn’t return today, her family would worry. She slanted another look at the sky. Surely, the clouds were far enough away that she could beat the storm home.
“Storms often take their time arriving.”
The man seemed to read her mind.
“Could be this is one such occasion. Other times, they race in as if the hounds of hell chase after them. You can’t take the risk. Please stay.”
Enticed by the concern in his eyes, she gazed at Cai Driscoll, aware of the odd attraction she felt. The man was too handsome for his own good. Even if she were to remain in Sweetwater Springs—which she wasn’t—he was entirely unsuitable.Imagine me as a ranch wife?
I can’t allow myself to form an attachment, not even a flirtation.
Yet, in her heart, Edith sensed for all his teasing, Cai Driscoll was an honorable man.A dangerous man. Best I leave his vicinity as soon as possible.
* * *
Equal parts annoyed and concerned, Cai watched the stubborn woman drive away. Her visit knocked him harder than a cow head-butting him. He knew Edith better now, knew from their banter at the washbasins and her genuine smile that she had a dimple—one he suspected only her closest companions ever saw. He’d bet most people only received her polite smile.
I want to see that dimple again. Kiss her full sensual lips.
With a shake of his head, he turned toward the house, taking long strides.Farfarfell into step with him, forcing Cai to slow his pace. “Mighty pretty lady, that there Mrs. Grayson,” he hinted, apparently trying to tease him to talking.
