Homespun Hearts Page 21

  Pride filled him as he watched the crimson-colored Herefords with their characteristic white faces. It had been a long time in coming, this addition to his family’s stock. It had taken months to locate and purchase a herd appropriate to crossbreed with their previous mild-mannered red shorthorns and rangy Texas longhorns. If things went as expected, breeders would soon be coming from all over the country to see the result.

  Luke heard a shout. Turning, he saw Charity riding in his direction. He hid his surprise when he saw Faith following very slowly on Buttercup. Not two days earlier she’d told him she was frightened of horses and didn’t want to learn to ride.

  Seeing Faith with his sister reminded him again of the episode with Rachel. His sister-in-law continued to grow stronger, though she was still confined to her bed by Dr. Handerhoosen. Thank God things had turned out well. When the doctor had sobered up and heard everything that had happened, he’d been sick with remorse. He was having a hard time forgiving himself.

  Luke had visited several times and marveled over the tiny baby girl whom Faith had delivered. Still astounded by the turn of events, he shook his head and couldn’t keep a smile from forming.

  The situation with Ward was at a standstill. Without the testimony of Eagle Gray, Luke’s hands were tied. He’d lost the debate with his family of running him off, but it wouldn’t be long before he was healed enough to be able to ride on. That’s what Luke was waiting for.

  Charity had said nothing about him and had not been seen with Ward again, and Luke hoped his words had sunk into that thick skull of hers. She didn’t seem particularly interested anymore, but would she be more careful where her reputation was concerned? Only time would tell.

  “Mornin’,” Luke greeted the women. “Nice day for a ride.”

  “It’s beautiful.” Faith fairly beamed with pleasure. Her eyes sparkled as she looked his way, and Luke had the urge to snag her off the saddle and roll her in the soft grass.

  Charity looked down at the cattle in the valley. “Faith needed to get out and enjoy the beauty of the ranch. Do you like it, Faith?”

  “It’s breathtaking. I had no idea.”

  Her words warmed Luke’s heart, feeding the hope he fought to keep at bay. This land was part of him. A very big part. She couldn’t want him without wanting the land, too. With an inward smirk, he mentally chastised himself. She hadn’t said anything about wanting him. Other than the kisses they’d shared, he had no more idea of what she was thinking now than a week ago. Plus, she was purposely making sure that they were never anywhere alone together. Still, with each passing day Faith stayed and didn’t go off to Priest’s Crossing and the job waiting there, Luke was a little more hopeful.

  “These cattle look quite different from the others I’ve seen on the ranch,” Faith said.

  “You’re right,” Luke answered, proud that she’d noticed. “This breed is entirely different from what we’ve bred in the past. They’re Herefords.” He pointed. “See how that calf is strongly built at such an early age? This breed matures faster than the others. An animal that weighs the most at market time brings the most money.”

  Charity smiled, too. “They are a sight, aren’t they? I especially love watching them graze.” Dramatically, she popped her forehead with the heel of her hand like she’d just remembered something important. “Silly me. I promised Rachel I’d help bathe the baby.” Before anyone could object, she wheeled her horse around and galloped off with the ease of an experienced horsewoman.

  “Wait for me,” Faith called, fear crossing her face.

  “Just ride home with Luke,” Charity shouted over her shoulder.

  Faith gripped the saddle horn as Buttercup danced around. The horse tossed his head twice, then started off in the direction Charity had gone.

  “Pull the reins,” he told her.

  Faith tried, but the reins were long and droopy and made no contact with the bit in the gelding’s mouth. Buttercup, sensing his rider had no control, was soon trotting after his companion as briskly as his old bones would go.

  “Luke!” Faith screamed.

  Luke loped up easily alongside her, but made no effort to stop her horse.

  “Stop him, Luke,” she begged.

  She was in no danger of falling, not with him right there to grab her, so he continued riding alongside. “Promise me first.”

  “What?”

  “That you’ll share the snack I have in my saddlebag.”

  The old horse suddenly increased its pace, and Faith’s eyes grew as round as saucers. Luke grabbed her reins and brought both mounts to a stop.

  With the danger over, Faith laughed, her eyes sparkling. “I never promised!”

  “I know. But, when you really got scared I couldn’t just let him keep going.”

  She smiled. “All right. I’ll admit I am a bit hungry.”

  Luke hid his feeling of good fortune. He’d have to thank Charity for bringing Faith out. Ever since Rachel’s difficult birth, Charity had shown a new and friendly interest in Faith. She was a good ally.

  Luke dismounted first and then helped Faith to the ground. He took his canteen from the pommel and saddlebags from the saddle, then slipped the bridles free from both horses to let them graze.

  “Won’t they run off?” Faith asked.

  “They’re trained to stay put. At least mine is.” He gave her a wink. “If Buttercup decides to run home, I’ll let you ride with me.” He waggled his eyebrows, and Faith laughed.

  Cross-legged on the ground, he waited for her to take a seat. He pretended to be looking around at the contents of his saddlebags, when truthfully his awareness of her was driving him loco. Sitting out here with Faith by his side, under the endless expanse of blue sky, just the two of them, felt perfect. His blood fairly hummed through his body, making it difficult to concentrate.

  “Here.” He handed Faith a strip of dried beef. Her expression was one of bewilderment as she looked at the withered morsel. “Go on. It’s good.”

  Taking one himself, he ripped off a healthy portion and chewed with vigor. He smiled. She was trying to get a corner of the tough meat to rip off, but she wasn’t having much success. The harder she tried, the more he chuckled.

  “Give it to me,” he finally said, purposely grazing her fingers with his own. He gripped her jerky with his teeth and ripped off a section, then placed it in her mouth.

  “Tasty?”

  She nodded, all the while chewing and looking out at the grazing cattle. The sight of her fueled his blood. She was his. Dawn was his. Why couldn’t she see it?

  Luke unscrewed the cap to his canteen and held it out to Faith. “Thirsty?”

  “Yes, I guess I am.”

  She took a small sip before handing it back. Luke held it to his mouth and took several long gulps, all the while never taking his eyes from hers. Setting the canteen in the grass next to him, he scooted closer. He tried to read her expression, her mood. As always, she was a mystery.

  This was it. He had to know. Without words, he slowly laid her back in the soft, fragrant grass. He pulled the pins from her hair, releasing it to flow around her shoulders.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  “Luke?”

  “Shh, don’t talk,” he said. “Just let me feel your hair free from its bonds. I’ve been wondering about it for a long time.”

  Faith closed her eyes as he slowly feathered her long hair over her shoulder and ran his fingers through it. Picking up a section, he held it to his nose. The lowing of the cattle in the distance could be heard over her breathing. He felt the pulse at the base of her throat with his thumb and stared into her eyes. He saw what he needed to see.

  First he brushed his lips across hers, as if testing their softness. Getting no resistance, he lowered his head, letting his mouth meander over hers softly, reveling in the closeness.

  He moved his hand down her side, then back up past the curve of her waist, stopping just below the fullness of her breast. She was strong. Even for just having
had a baby, her body was firm and beautiful.

  He waited for her to tell him to stop, to show any sign she didn’t want him to take such intimate familiarities, but she lay by his side, kissing him back. She sighed and pressed her lips more firmly to his, answering his unspoken question.

  “Luke,” she whispered against his lips, “I like lying in the grass with you.”

  He slid his arm around her body and pulled her closer, then leaned back and touched her nose with a finger. “You know what I thought when I found you in that wagon, pouring rain all around?”

  “What?”

  “You were a little girl lost.” He pulled again, and their bodies meshed together as only a man’s and woman’s can. “Not a vixen.”

  It seemed she was having a hard time paying attention to what he was saying. She finally responded, a bit breathlessly. “I’m no vixen, Luke McCutcheon.”

  “Oh, I might argue with that. Every cowhand in the outfit is in love with you.” He cleared his throat. “But, I can’t blame ’em. You’re by far the prettiest woman I’ve ever known. And sweet, too.”

  “Oh, Luke…”

  To his utter amazement, this time she initiated the kiss, gently, sweetly, but with an undercurrent of passion that set his head spinning. Embracing her, he rolled until she was on her back, the tall grass making a wall around them.

  He deepened their kiss until they were both breathing heavily. When he attempted to draw away, to give her some air, she protested and pulled him back.

  “Faith?” he whispered against her temple. He’d felt the change in her body the moment she tensed. Her deep, dark secret was back building the wall between them. Whatever it was, it wasn’t going away. Her thoughts were elsewhere. He smoothed the hair from her forehead and looked down into her eyes. “Faith. Talk to me, sweetheart.”

  Faith tried to push everything from her mind except the joy of being with Luke, safe and secure in his arms, enjoying the closeness and wonder of him. She wanted to remember every tiny detail: his taste, the way his cheek rubbed against hers, the timbre of his voice when he said her name, the feel of his hands as they ran the length of her body. Her senses tingled with acute awareness of everything around her. She was finally, truly and unbelievably, alive.

  But now the world was trying to intrude. She wouldn’t let it. No. She wanted—needed—this memory to keep with her in the years to come. She reached for his hand and placed it between them on the bodice of her dress.

  When he didn’t move, she began releasing the tiny buttons. They ran down the front of her dress, from her chin to her waist. She peeled back the fabric until a thin cotton chemise was the only barrier between them.

  “What’s this about?” he whispered.

  “I want…” She rolled her head to the side where he couldn’t see her face. She didn’t have the nerve to finish her sentence.

  Bending close, he slowly kissed her lips, sending fire coursing through her veins. He lightly touched the swell of her breast and said, “Faith, honey, this is very sweet of you but—”

  “It’s the only thing I have to give you, Luke,” she interrupted.

  “Hush,” he whispered, as he took her face in his hands and turned it so he could see into her eyes. “Don’t you know I don’t want this unless I can have what’s here?” He tapped softly on both of her temples. “And this, too.” He leaned down and pressed a small kiss above her wildly beating heart. “It would mean nothing to me without the rest of you.”

  Luke rolled onto his back, taking Faith along with him, snuggling her into the crook of his arm. He looked up into the blue sky and pointed to a bird flying high on the breeze. “See the hawk?” he asked, all while his fingers were lightly tracing, barely touching, slowly moving back and forth over her heart.

  She ran her hand across his chest in answer, sneaked it inside his shirt. At his intake of breath when she actually touched his skin, she smiled. “I see it.”

  His horse nickered loudly. Lifting his head up above the tall grass, Luke looked around. His mount issued another shrill call, sides heaving and eyes bright, looking to the west. Luke followed his gaze.

  “What is it?” Faith asked.

  Luke looked down at her open bodice and quickly pulled it closed.

  “What?” Faith asked again, her voice an octave higher. She struggled against Luke, trying to see.

  “Rider. Coming this way. Looks like Roady.”

  Faith pushed Luke’s hands aside and, with flying fingers, began doing up all the tiny buttons of her dress.

  Luke took another quick peek. Roady had stopped. He sat halfway down the draw, studying their two horses grazing peacefully side by side. Without a word, he reined his horse around and loped back in the direction he’d come.

  “He’s gone,” Luke said, pulling Faith to her feet. With her hand in his, they walked through the tall grass to the edge of the bluff atop the rim rock. “Careful now, darlin’, don’t slip,” he cautioned.

  To his delight and amazement, Faith wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged him tight, her face buried in his chest. In return, he circled her in his arms and stroked her hair. They stood that way for a long time, looking out over the herd, him just enjoying the feel of her. It was a perfect day—a day that could turn into thousands just like it if she’d consent to becoming his wife.

  He kissed the top of her head, which was warm from the sun. Her hair sparkled with golden and amber highlights as it moved in the breeze. “Are you happy?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  But her sorrow was so deep it couldn’t be hidden. With his hands, he tilted her face up so he could look into her eyes. “You don’t sound too happy.”

  “I am,” she insisted breathlessly. “How couldn’t I be?”

  Not knowing what else to say, he replied, “I’m glad.”

  Faith turned in Luke’s arms to look out over the valley. Please God, not now. The day had been too sweet, too good, something she’d remember forever. But…Don’t let him ask me to stay.

  “Faith,” he said, bending to whisper in her ear. “We belong together. I feel it as sure as I see that herd out there under God’s blue sky. And I know you feel it, too.”

  Feel it? She lived it, breathed it, and it would kill her when she left. What could she say to deny feelings that were written so clearly in her heart?

  “Faith?”

  Pulling herself from his protective embrace, she turned and walked back toward the horses. Within moments, he had her by the shoulder and turned around. His face was angry with frustration. His injured eye, now a dark purplish brown, made her heart constrict.

  “For God’s sake, Faith,” he gritted out, “you’re not going to start that nonsense again about working in Priest’s Crossing. I can’t believe that after today. I just can’t.” When she didn’t say anything, he went on. “If you’re waiting for the right words…then you may be waiting an awful long time. My words, they just come out plain and simple. Just like me.”

  “Luke.” She steeled herself against her longings and looked him in the face. “I want to do this. I want to be on my own. How many times…” She almost choked. “How many times do I have to tell you before you accept it?” She looked away. “I don’t want you.” She glanced back, but his stunned expression was just too much. She turned away so she couldn’t see his face.

  It was a long time before he spoke. When he did, he said, “I finally understand. It took me a while to get it through my head, but…you don’t want to be tied to a half-breed. That would make your children half-breeds, too. I’m surprised at you. I didn’t figure you for that type, Faith.”

  She turned back to face him. “What are you talking about?” His accusation shocked her. She didn’t understand what he meant.

  “Don’t tell me you didn’t figure out Flood isn’t my father. Or that you never noticed I was the only one in the family with black hair, olive skin…You’d have to be blind not to.”

  She stared at him, silent.

  “
Now if it were Mark or Matt doing the asking, wouldn’t your decision be a mite different?”

  She shook her head, unbelieving. That would never make a difference to her. She loved him. Every itsy-bitsy part of him. Indian or not, red, green or blue, he’d always be the love of her life.

  His eyes blazed with anger, his expression a mask she couldn’t read. For the first time she recognized the Indian heritage he was speaking of.

  “You see it now, don’t you?”

  His anger was frightening. She took a step back.

  “What’s wrong? Afraid I’ll lift that beautiful head of hair? It would make a notable trophy.” He took a menacing step in her direction.

  “Stop it!” This time Faith stood her ground. “You’re acting crazy!”

  Without anther word, Luke turned and went to the horses and began bridling them. He swung the saddlebag onto the back of his saddle and tied it into place. She hurried over to Buttercup and, lifting her skirt, stepped into the stirrup.

  “Ready?” he asked as she lifted herself onto the saddle. His voice was emotionless.

  “Yes.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Back at the house, Faith paced from one side of her bedroom to the other, the crumpled telegram from Christine Meeks in her hand. She couldn’t stay much longer. Things had become too tangled, too involved; people she truly cared about would be hurt when she left. Her image of Luke as she swore she didn’t want him tortured her mind, piercing her heart like a knife.

  The inevitability of her leaving was a fact. She’d find Ward and tell him they needed to leave as soon as possible. She’d get him to agree that leaving with Joe Brunn—for cover purposes—would be best. Then she’d meet up with him on the trail. She couldn’t bring herself to let the family know she was leaving with Ward; he would just have to understand. But when was Joe going to be done and come to fetch her? Waiting any longer didn’t seem like a good idea. Especially not after today.