Cole's Montana Bride (Sweet,clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series Book 7) (15 page)

The very thought of that made Cole's throat tighten. He gripped the reins of the horse and drew the animal to a slow halt. He leaned on the pommel and gazed across the rolling hills. He took a deep breath and felt his jaw tighten.

Cole racked his brains and thought for a few moments, desperately seeking an answer to the questions running around inside his mind.

What was really important to him? What was the only thing that mattered to him right now? Just how far was he willing to go to win the one thing that held the key to any future happiness?

His eyes narrowed as the answers to those questions rose into his awareness. It had always been so simple, really. Now that he considered the whole thing with the care that it deserved, there was only one thing for him to do.

If it meant losing everything he had, but gaining the one thing that would truly make him happy, then that was a sacrifice he was completely willing to make.

No question about it.

The burning fire he felt inside, as well as the image of that one treasured and precious person, told him that the time to take action had come.

And he knew exactly what he had to do.

****

Cole drew his horse to a halt outside the front of Lucinda Carr's beautiful home. He tied the reins to the picket fence. There was a carriage standing empty near the front gate.

He glanced at the windows of the house, searching for any signs of activity. He hoped they were at home. Cole was sure that Victoria would have come straight home after leaving him on the trail.

When he opened the gate it made a noisy, creaking sound. Cole glanced down at the hinges and then up at front of the house. He saw a twitch of the curtain. Someone was at home.

He walked up the front steps and paused on the porch. His heart was pounding, and it had nothing to do with the frantic pace of the ride into town.

Cole stood straight and took a deep breath, lifted the metal door knocker and rapped it loudly. It seemed like an eternity before he could hear activity from inside. He heard voices and then the clear sound of footsteps and the rustling of material.

A dress.

Then the door opened and he saw her.

Victoria.

She stood in the hallway. Her eyes were wide and he was sure there was the faintest hint of a smile there. He'd expected her face to be tear stained, eyes reddened with distress. But there was none of that. She looked positively glad to see him. And she looked so beautiful it made Cole's heart ache.

Cole froze, momentarily unsure what to do when faced with such an unexpected welcome. Finally it was Victoria who broke the silence.

"Cole. What a surprise," she said. Her voice sounded like sweet music to his ears, more so when he heard the obvious pleasure in it.

"Victoria. I was passing," he explained, removing his hat. He knew she wouldn't believe that for one moment. "Figured I'd call and see if we could maybe have a talk?"

Victoria raised a hand to the collar of her dress. She glanced toward the parlor. A voice came from that direction. "Bring him in, Victoria," he heard Lucinda Carr say to her daughter.

Victoria gestured with a welcoming hand. "Please. Come in," she said inviting Cole to enter.

Cole followed Victoria into the hallway and toward the parlor. Before they entered the parlor Victoria paused and turned to Cole.

"Cole. About earlier. I'm sorry," she said quietly and leaning her head close to him. Cole inhaled the sweet scent of delicate perfume and gazed into Victoria's eyes. "Nothing to be saying sorry about, Victoria. Me and my fool mouth. Don't know when to shut up. Always been my problem," he said.

Victoria smiled at Cole. That one action made Cole's heart lift even more. She'd smiled at him. It was as if the events back on the trail hadn't even happened. He couldn't understand it.

"We have some visitors," Victoria explained pointing toward the parlor. "I think you might find what they have to say quite interesting."

Cole's felt his brows furrow. "Really?"

Victoria's lips tightened and she nodded.

Cole followed her into the parlor.

He stood at the entrance and looked around the room. What he saw made him suddenly think that maybe coming here like this hadn't been such a good idea.

Rose Edwards rose from the seat next to the divan and came toward Cole and Victoria.

"What a delightful surprise," she said extending welcoming arms.

But it was the smiling couple on the divan which really caught Cole's attention. What were Lucy Carter and Paul Edwards doing here? And why were they both looking so happy?

"Have a seat, Cole," Lucinda Carr said pointing toward another chair. Cole glanced at Victoria and raised an enquiring brow. She didn't respond. Chairs were quickly arranged and before he knew it Cole was seated by Victoria's side facing the rest of the room as if they were both on show.

Victoria hadn't said anything since entering the parlor but the look on her face told Cole that she knew something that he didn't. There was an excited glint on her eyes that he found strangely attractive. She was happy, and he didn't have a clue why that could be. But it looked like he was about to find out when Rose spoke up and addressed everyone.

"Now that we're all here, I suppose an explanation is in order. And what an explanation it is," Rose said excitedly.

Cole looked at Lucy and Paul. They were grinning at each other like two people who had just been told the most wonderful news.

Cole looked around. Everyone looked so darned pleased. How come he was the only one who looked like he was worried about anything?

"I guess everyone knows that, since coming to our little town, Victoria was helping out with a rather delicate matter," Rose said and glanced at Lucy Carter. Lucy smiled and nodded, rolling her eyes.

"Trying to help out would be a more accurate way of putting it," Victoria said.

Rose turned to Victoria. "And doing a very good job, my dear. I think everyone would agree that Victoria is a very good matchmaker. Wouldn't you all?" Rose said looking at everyone.

Cole found that he had no option but to nod in agreement with everyone else. Victoria looked real pleased when he did that.

"Thank you," Victoria murmured.

Rose continued. "Lucy asked Victoria if she would help choose a husband. And I know that the two young men in this room were very honored that she considered both of them. Isn't that right?" Rose looked at Paul and Cole. They both nodded in agreement. Cole knew there was nothing he could say about the whole matter. This wasn't the place to be getting picky about details.

"However I know that a certain person, who is not here today, had other ideas." Rose said with a mildly disapproving look. Cole knew she was talking about Lucius. "He seemed to figure that he knew what was best for his lovely daughter," Rose said smiling toward Lucy.

The younger woman shrugged and glanced at Paul.

"And that is what fathers do. They look after their daughters as best they can. And I think you'd agree that Lucius has been a very good father to you, Lucy," Rose said.

Lucy smiled and nodded. "Oh, he has. Since my mama passed on, he has done everything he can to make me happy. I'm sorry he can't be here right now," Lucy said.

Rose frowned. "He has one or two things to iron out with my husband. Banking things. Business matters. I'm sure you all understand."

Cole looked at Victoria who just raised her eyebrows as if to plead ignorance.

"He'll be along in a while. But for now, I believe that congratulations are in order," Rose said her voice filled with excitement. She stood and took her place in front of Lucy and Paul. "I have an announcement to make," she said.

Cole looked at Victoria. There was a look of satisfaction in her eyes.

Rose gestured toward Lucy and Paul. "I have the pleasure to announce that Lucy Carter has accepted the offer of marriage from my son, Paul Edwards."

Cole felt himself rooted to the chair and his body became suddenly heavy and numb. How could that be! How in God's name had that happened?

Cole saw Paul reach over and take Lucy's hand. "It will be my honor to become your husband, Lucy," he said.

Rose, Lucinda and Victoria all offered their congratulations with one voice. After a moment Cole managed to get the words out of his mouth, and gave the couple on the divan his best wishes.

Everything had become unreal. It was if he were in a dream and the people around him were phantasms engaged in some comical charade.

But it was true!

Lucy and Paul were going to be married. While Cole was happy for the couple, it really meant only one thing to him. But he wasn't sure he dare act upon the impulse that had stirred inside himself.

Cole watched Lucinda and Rose standing over Lucy and Paul. His mind was a whirl of sensations and thoughts. The hubbub of conversation was a meaningless noise to Cole, because all he could think of was whether he dare do what had come to his mind.

Victoria was still seated on the chair next to him. She hadn't joined her mother and Rose at the divan. She was sitting very still and for a moment Cole was convinced that she was waiting, biding her time. She looked so darned beautiful; so poised and elegant. Her face seemed to radiate an inner calm, the features soft and curiously expectant.

Cole glanced over at the three women and one man at the divan. Now was the time; now was the moment of truth; the one time in his life when he had to act.

Cole raised himself up straight in the chair and drew in a quiet, deep breath. He saw that his hands were shaking slightly but he took hold of himself and in a moment they were soon steady again. His heart was thudding and he was sure that Victoria must be able to hear the sound of it.

Cole turned and looked at Victoria and he saw that she was already watching him, her eyes fixed on him, a calm look in them.

Cole slid off the chair and went down on one knee and took Victoria's hand in one of his. The touch of her skin was sweet and warm. He saw Victoria's eyes widen and her bottom lip lower softly. The talking at the divan suddenly stopped and he knew all eyes must be on him. He didn't care because he had something to say to Victoria. The most important thing he'd ever say in his life.

"Victoria. I don't know quite how to say this but I feel that I must. This is the right time for me to ask you," he said. Cole paused, searching for words. But they wouldn't come.

Victoria raised a hand to her chest and smiled at Cole, encouraging him to go on.

"You know how I feel about you," Cole continued. "How much you mean to me. And I know that I haven't always done right by you. But there is only one thing that matters. I love you today as much as I ever have. And because of that I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy," Cole said.

Victoria's face flushed with color, and her eyes brightened. She smiled at him once again, but still didn't say anything. She was leaving the words to him.

Cole glanced over at the others and saw that their attention was fixed on him and Victoria. Eyes were wide and jaws had dropped and Cole knew he had their full attention. He turned one last time to Victoria, gently squeezing the fingers of her hand and noticing that she had done the same to his own fingers.

Cole took a deep breath and then spoke. "Victoria Carr. Will you do me the great honor of agreeing to become my wife?" he asked feeling a weight shift from his shoulders as he uttered the words.

Victoria face lit up into the greatest smile he'd ever seen. She positively beamed at Cole. Then she leaned toward Cole and nodded. "I would be happy to become your wife, Cole."

"Is that a yes?" he asked eagerly.

Victoria nodded again. "Of course it is. Yes. I'll marry you, Cole," she answered, beginning to laugh. Victoria glanced over at her mother. Cole turned and looked at Lucinda and saw the tears streaming down her face.

"Oh my," Lucinda said her voice cracking with emotion. She raced over to her daughter. Victoria stood and hugged her mother.

Cole stood and watched them share the precious moment. Then Victoria turned and came to Cole. He took her hands and then lifted her right hand, planting a soft kiss on the back of her fingers. As his lips lingered on her soft skin he lifted his eyes and glanced at the woman who'd just agreed to make him the happiest man alive. He saw that she was gazing down at him, a look of purest joy on her face. And then she said the words that lit him up like a man possessed with joy. "I love you, Cole," she said softly.

Cole gazed at Victoria, suddenly struck dumb, but filled with an exultant delight. He stifled the urge to yell out in celebration.

"Well, I didn't expect that," Rose said, rushing across and hugging Victoria and then Cole. "Young man. You could have given us some warning," she said with a playful wag of her finger.

Cole laughed. "It would have spoiled the surprise, Mrs. Edwards."

"Call me Rose."

Lucy and Paul came over to them. "We're so happy for you both," Lucy said. "Aren't we Paul?"

Rose's son looked at Cole and extended a hand. "Congratulations, Cole. Looks like we both managed to win the women we love," he said. "Eventually."

Cole looked at Paul and then glanced over at Victoria. "I suppose you're right, Paul."

It didn't matter how they had done so; the details of what Lucius had agreed to with Paul's father weren't important. They would come out later. All that mattered right now was that Victoria had said yes. She was going to be his wife and he was going to become her husband.

"Have you thought about where the wedding's going to be?" Paul asked suddenly.

Cole looked at Victoria who just shrugged. "I'm figuring a ranch wedding might be kinda nice," Cole said. "What do you think, Victoria?" he asked her.

Victoria glanced at Lucinda and there seemed to be a moment when they communicated almost without words. After a pause Victoria looked back at Cole and smiled. "I think a ranch wedding sounds just fine, Cole," she said, hardly able to contain the joy in her voice.

And in that exact moment Cole realized that it was all true. He and Victoria were going to be wed, it was going to happen at the ranch, and that was where he was sure they were both going to live happily ever after for a very long time to come.