Page 25 of The Rancher's Bride
Ben chewed thoughtfully before pointing at her with his knife. “I thought we’d take a walk over to the beaver pond. You said Tommy was checking his traps, and that’s on this side of the creek. It’s not too far from here.”
Bethany’s eyes lit up with excitement and gratitude. “Oh, thank you, Ben! That would mean so much to me.” She glanced down at her borrowed dress. “I wish I had my buckskins right now, though.”
“Your buckskins?” Tessa asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Yep,” Bethany replied with a wistful smile. “They’re made from deer hide and stitched together by hand. They’re waterproof and mud slides right off them.”
“Wow,” Tessa breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. “I’ve never seen buckskins before. What do they feel like? Are they heavy?”
“They’re pleasantly soft and very light. They’re also strong and can withstand a lot of wear and tear. I always feel more at home in them than in any fancy dress.”
“Why weren’t you wearing them the day you fell in the creek?” Ben inquired.
Bethany paused, hesitant to reveal why she changed from the soft buttery leather to a dress. Nothing ever good came from a lie. Pa had taught her that. Her gaze drifted to the ground before she finally mustered up the courage to tell the truth. “I was hoping I’d see you while I was looking for Tommy but wasn’t expecting to get caught in the rain or the creek.” She ran all the words together, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment to even say it out loud.
Ben froze, his fork hovering halfway between his plate and his mouth. Bethany’s confession hung in the air between them.
“You were hoping to see me?” he finally asked, his voice low. Her blush deepened and she nodded, unable to meet his gaze. “Why?”
She glanced up at him shyly through her lashes. “I saw you in town the other day, and I remember you were easy to talk to when we were looking for Hope.”
Ben slowly set his fork down as if he lost his appetite. In hindsight, she wished she hadn’t spoken. Maybe it was just her imagination, but she had a feeling he felt the same connection as she did. Now she would have to let go of that idea and put it down to wishful thinking.
“Bethany, I-” he began haltingly.
A sudden crash from the barn made them both jump. Tessa leapt from her seat. “That’ll be the goats getting out of the barn again. I need to get Marigold before she wanders off.”
The young girl raced out of the room, leaving Ben and Bethany alone in the kitchen.
“I better clean up if we are going to walk to the beaver pond,” Bethany said, carrying her plate to the scrap bucket.
She finished scraping the plate, then added the dish to the wash bucket. As she turned around, her body collided with Ben’ssolid chest, his hands on either side of her against the wall. She looked up at him, her heart racing as she tried to figure out what he was thinking. His face remained unreadable as their bodies pressed closer together, his powerful arms enclosing her in his embrace. She couldn’t escape even if she wanted to.
In his arms was exactly where she wanted to be.She didn’t want to escape.
“I didn’t finish my thought.” He looked at her, and she could see his pupils dilating as he took her in. His gaze was intense and unwavering, making her heart flutter and her breath catch in her throat.
“Let’s just forget I said anything. I’ve embarrassed myself enough while I’ve been here.” She moved to go under his arm, but he was too quick, caught her, and returned her to where she was.
“If you will not let me tell you, why don’t I show you instead?” He leaned his head towards her. “Bethany, may I kiss you?”
A noise escaped her lips, and she nodded slightly. That was all the invitation he needed. Her heart pounded as Ben’s lips met hers. She had dreamed of this moment, never expecting it to become real. His kiss was tentative at first. When she responded, leaning into him, the kiss deepened, his arms encircling her waist and pulling her close.
For a blissful moment, time stood still. She lost herself in the sensation of his muscular frame pressed against hers, his woodsy scent filling her nostrils. She ran her fingers through his tousled hair as his hands traced her back. A warmth spread through her she had never felt before.
Footsteps sounded outside, breaking the spell. Bethany pulled back, her breaths coming fast.
“We should...” Bethany gestured vaguely toward the dooras Tessa bounded back inside, leading Marigold by her green ribbon. As Bethany spoke, Ben’s gaze remained fixed on her face, his eyes never straying from her lips as a playful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. She couldn’t help but feel a flutter in her stomach, wondering how he could remain so calm with his sister catching them in an intimate moment.
“I put the goats back in the pen and...” Tessa stopped by the table and looked at Bethany and Ben. Bethany was sure her face was seven shades of crimson as Tessa blinked rapidly at her. “What are you doing over there, Ben?”
Ben cleared his throat and released Bethany. “I was making sure she had recovered enough to walk to the beaver pond. It appears she has.” Giving Bethany a wink, he headed towards the door. “I’ll meet you outside when you’re ready.”
Sighing, Bethany watched Ben snatch his hat off the peg and shrug on a heavy overcoat before striding out the front door. She trudged towards the kitchen table where Tessa stood, a sly smile playing on her lips as if she knew something Bethany didn’t.
“What?” Bethany asked, grabbing the dishes from the table.
“I don’t think you have fully recovered. You look very flushed.”
