Page 15 of Belle Fourche Legacy

Alice grippedher rag and dipped it liberally into the wax. The baseboards would gleam when she finished. Why had she waited so long to do the chore? Probably because she’d been out riding and helping around the ranch, but at that moment outside was the last place she wanted to be.

Drat him. Kent had stolen her enjoyment of working outside. She put a little more force into her rubbing. That wasn’t strictly true. She loved being outside, almost as much as she loved looking into those deep blue eyes of his. She would not weaken.

I’m sorry for making you care. . . She scrubbed at a scuff marring the surface of the wood as if she could scrub Kent’s words from her mind. How dare he apologize for caring for her? Didn’t he realize that brief time in her life was the best there was? There would be none better, especially now that he’d lost all interest in her. That had been her mountain and now he’d plunged her into a deep valley.

He cared for animals. That much was clear. The way he’d bandaged Blaze’s cuts and spoken softly to him to calm him showed his knowledge and care. He’d practically snuggled the puppy into a little cocoon in the back of his wagon, making sure it wouldn’t bump around on the trip. When had he stopped protecting her and turned his focus on other things?

Tears blurred her vision, and she stopped at the last moment before using the waxing rag to wipe her face. Hard work had helped her shut off her pain these last five years. Why wasn’t it working now? Why didn’t the filthy, dusty wood take her mind off the man out in the barn that very minute?

She wiped her hands on her apron and dabbed at her eyes. The cleaning she’d done so far left the wood shiny and, by contrast, what she hadn’t yet touched was dull. Kent’s good qualities had been just as bright at first. She’d carefully encouraged him, as had her family. He’d never been given the chance to show any emotion besides anger and derision before that.

Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.When the only thing one knew was anger, anger is all one knows to respond. She dipped her rag into the wax once more.

Kent had known nothing but hardship and hatred. Of course the moment he left her the world didn’t offer him any better than his father would’ve. The world was known for its chill, not warmth. Why would Kent grow when he had no experience to draw from other than the hard master?

She slowly put her back into the work at hand. Kent had other qualities. Perhaps she wasn’t giving him enough credit. He’d always been vastly intelligent. She’d thought so even when he frightened her. He could turn any situation the way he saw fit, just by using his wits to confront it.

Beyond that, he had the physique of a hardworking rancher, lean and tall with strong shoulders and capable hands. Those things wouldn’t change even with his new title of animal doctor. Those qualities were just the things that had drawn her to his side all that time ago.

And those things wouldn’t change. She sat back and wiped her brow with her sleeve. Kent was a man worth having. Worth fighting for. But was she up for the task? Not if she was here wiping her tears and scraping the grime off the walls. The wood could wait. Kent might not return to check on the puppy if he didn’t feel welcome to do so. And her word could be what tipped the scale either in favor or against.

She quickly picked up her mess, chiding herself on leaving a job half-done as she deposited everything in the cleaning closet. She whipped off the soiled apron and tossed it into the hamper Mrs. Eliza stored there for her own aprons.

The house wouldn’t work half as well without the help of Mrs. Eliza, they knew that for certain and she said a prayer of thanks for the help of one amazing woman. As she headed through the kitchen, she stopped in front of the glass window and checked her reflection in the sunny pane.

At least Mama and Mrs. Eliza were too busy elsewhere to see her frantically chasing about. She washed her hands, then took up a few cookies she’d forgotten to leave with Hannah and headed outside to appease the man who thought himself a beast.

Kent strode from the barn, storm clouds in his eyes. He’d either left on or had tugged back up the dratted bandana, robbing her of the view of most of his face. Someone had unhitched the wagon and taken her horse out to the paddock while she’d been outside. She hadn’t realized the wagon had been Hannah’s.

His gaze met hers and he strode purposefully toward the horse, saddled and waiting. She’d wondered why there had been a saddle in the back of the wagon when she’d gone to sit back there. Her mind immediately wandered to riding with him on the back of that horse, holding him. Feeling him tense under her touch . . .

Her cheeks heated. “Kent?”

He thrust his boot into the stirrup and gripped the cantle and gullet, flexing his arms to help him mount.

“Please, Kent.” She wasn’t sure if her words were loud enough to stop him, but before he raised even a few inches, he dropped back to the ground, but didn’t turn. He hung his head slightly.

“The puppy is struggling. I gave him a bottle that Gideon prepared. He’ll show you how to manage in a few hours. Lilly did not take to the pup.” He raised his head again.

“Kent, look at me.” She stepped forward, praying he wouldn’t hold all her anger against her as she’d held every word and deed against him that he’d done since he’d left. Forgiveness didn’t hold a grudge.

He finally released his grip, slipped his foot free, and turned to face her. “Have I not answered your questions? I have work that needs to be done back home and I’ve arranged to go to the Oleson ranch later today.” He tugged the bandana centered over his nose as if he wasn’t sure it covered him well enough.

She quelled her immediate desire to march up to him and yank it back down. If she approached him with that much vigor, she’d probably take hold of those cheeks he so clearly hated and plant the kiss she’d been dreaming about for so long there on his angry lips. They wouldn’t stay angry for long. The thought made her smother a giggle.

“Something humorous?” he growled, his blue eyes turning darker, stormier than they had been.

Instead of answering, she took a step forward, careful like she would to a wee lamb, and handed him the napkin wrapped cookies. Her throat went inexplicably dry, and she swallowed hard. But it was no use. Her voice was simply gone.

He stepped forward, slowly and hesitantly taking them, reminding her of the bully he once was. She’d offered him the use of her slate once when she was eight. He’d forgotten his at home and the teacher had made a mockery of him in front of the class. He’d been confused then, too. Why would someone he’d harassed ever do something to help him? She hadn’t been sure why then, but she was sure now.

He slowly unwrapped the treat and stared at it as if he wasn’t sure what to do. She wanted him to pull down his mask and take a bite. No one could resist Mrs. Eliza’s brown sugar cookies once they tried one, but she could see she wasn’t going to get that wish today.

“If you’re not going to eat them now, wrap them back up and put them away. Enjoy them later.” She maintained her stance and steadied her voice. He’d probably spent the last hour not only nursing that puppy, but a foul attitude as well. If she could only go back and be the meek woman she once was, but that was not to be. If he was going to grow to care for her again, he’d have to care for her as she was now. No turning back.

His gaze traveled from the cookies to her and back again before he carefully wrapped them back up and turned from her to put them in his saddlebag. “Thank you,” he mumbled so quietly she barely heard the words.

“You’re welcome. And thank you.”

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