Sunrise Ridge (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 3) (2 page)

Noah ignored him, turning the metal, trying not to think of the events of the past week. He felt the burning sensation from the moisture dripping into his eyes, but he didn’t care. Nor did the scorching heat of the forge irritate or slow him down. Instead, the pain served as motivation to work harder, push the loss from his mind.

Gabe placed his hands on his hips and shook his head, following Noah as he set the burning metal on the anvil, picked up a hammer, and began to pound.

“You can’t ignore what happened forever.”

Noah stood and squared his shoulders, glaring at the man he’d known since they were both shorter than the height of his workbench. “Why?”

“Because it will eat you up inside.” Gabe’s voice took on a hard edge. "And because she’ll be back someday and you’ll have to face her.”

Noah glanced outside, seeing the sun peek through the darkening clouds, and wiped an arm across his brow. He swallowed the lump lodged at the back of his throat. “She’ll belong to someone by then.”

“If you believe that, you’re a bigger fool than I thought.” Gabe grabbed a ladle, dipped it into the water trough, and poured the contents over his head and neck, shaking his head from side-to-side. “For whatever reason, the woman sees you as quite the prize—one she’s determined to win. There’s still time to go after her.”

Noah spun toward Gabe, tossing the hammer aside. “For what? To live with me in a cabin not as big as her father’s study? Do you believe for one minute I’d want her to live that way?”

“How do you know she doesn’t
want
to live that way? Did you ever take her to see the cabin, talk to her about your plans?”

He held his arms out, palms up. “Don’t you see? I have nothing to offer her. Look around, Gabe. I’m a blacksmith—”

“With a growing store and more business than you can handle. People wait weeks for your work.” He leaned against a nearby post, crossing his arms. “And I happen to know you have a sizeable sum put aside in the local bank.”

“Sizeable by whose standards?” Noah snorted.

“Most anyone in this town. Other than Tolbert or the Pelletiers, there are just a handful of successful businessmen, and you’re one of them.”

“I’m a smithy, not a businessman,” Noah grumbled, wiping his hands down his apron. “Besides, Tolbert could’ve sent her anywhere, even though he mentioned Philadelphia.”

“It is Philadelphia.”

Noah paused, turning a dark look at Gabe. “How do you know that?”

“I sent a telegram to Sheriff Sterling in Big Pine. Tolbert rode that far with Abby, then sent her on to Philadelphia with an escort to live with some distant relation.” He pushed away from the post, eyeing Noah. “It wouldn’t be hard to find out where she’s living. I’m heading to the boardinghouse for some grub.” Gabe took a few steps, then turned back. “Think about what I said.”

Noah stared at his retreating back and slumped onto a bench, leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees. He looked at his dirt-encrusted hands, turning them over to finger the calluses. His arms were marked with burns from the forge and the sparks that flew when he hammered the hot metal. He scrubbed his hands over his stubbled face and stood, walking to a small back room where he kept his necessities for when he had no time to ride to his cabin. The small mirror he’d had since the war lay on a shelf. Picking it up, he studied his face, noting the lines around his mouth and eyes had grown deeper, more pronounced since he’d arrived in Splendor.

No, he was nobody’s prize, especially Abby’s. His dark blonde hair was still thick, and although Suzanne Briar, owner of the local boardinghouse, trimmed it on occasion in trade for a new pot for her restaurant, he still kept it shaggy. He’d slicked it back for Luke Pelletier’s marriage to Ginny Sorensen the week before, slipping into his one suit and polished boots. The thought of the wedding and the reception following had him resting on a nearby chair, closing his eyes, wishing he could have that day back.

Luke and Ginny’s reception…

The wedding had been beautiful, and Ginny was nothing short of stunning. The Pelletiers knew how to throw a shindig and the reception proved it. He’d stayed in town instead of riding to his cabin, closing his mining supply and tack store so his young helper, Toby, could attend.

He’d hoped to see Abigail Tolbert, the woman he’d been in love with since the first time he spotted her getting out of her father’s buggy. Her father, King Tolbert, owned the largest cattle spread in the area, plus more land and businesses in the territorial capital of Big Pine, which was a good day’s ride from Splendor. There was little love lost between Tolbert and most of the townspeople, yet few would slight him by withholding an invitation to a wedding, especially when it involved another prominent ranching family, the Pelletiers.

His gaze had caught hers the moment they entered the church. Tolbert escorted her to seats near the front, taking what he felt was his rightful place where all could see him. Abby tried to hide it, but Noah noticed each glance over her shoulder toward him and returned her smile, seeing her blush in return. He’d sought her out at the reception, glad for a few moments alone in conversation before a group of women pulled her away.

An hour into the festivities, she walked straight toward him, laced an arm through his, and pulled him with her, asking if he’d ever had a tour of the church. He’d told her no, not imagining there was much more to see than the main chapel. To his surprise, the building included a kitchen, two small offices, and a storage room in the back. She drew him into the pastor’s office, letting the door close behind them.

Noah reached his hand toward the door, saying it was improper for them to be alone. Both knew Abby’s father would punish her and skin him if he found them together. She’d smiled and placed her hand on his, bringing it to her mouth, brushing her lips across his knuckles. He remembered thinking Abby Tolbert might just kill him before her father had a chance.

She looked into his face and smiled as her hands moved up his arms to rest on his shoulders, giving her enough leverage to lean up and kiss his cheek. She let her lips travel to his jaw, not quite claiming what they both wanted. His fragile willpower slipped as his arms circled her waist, pulling her close enough for one taste. That’s all he wanted. One taste and he’d set her aside.

He knew she had little experience, yet the one brief kiss caused a fire to flash through him, stronger than anything he’d ever felt with another woman. The thought caught him off guard, stilling his actions as he lifted his head and set her aside—at the same instant the office door flew open, an angry King Tolbert standing on the other side.

“What the hell have you done to my daughter?” King yelled, storming into the room as Noah moved in front of her. “I’ll have you hung for this.”

“Father, nothing happ—”

“This is between the men, Abigail.”

“But, Father…”

“What’s going on back here?” Luke Pelletier stopped in the doorway as his brother, Dax, and Gabe Evans walked up behind him.

“I want this man arrested, Sheriff.” Tolbert’s face glowed red, his eyes sparking.

“Father,” Abby protested, placing herself between the two men glaring at each other.

“And why would I arrest Noah?” Gabe asked as he glanced between the three people.

“He attempted to attack my daughter—”

“Noah did no such thing, and I won’t have you accusing him of it.” Abby moved closer to her father, her back to Noah.

“It’s all right, Abby—” Noah started.

“No, it isn’t all right. He’s trying to make a scene and I won’t have it.” She rested her fisted hands on her hips and glared at her father. “Tell Sheriff Evans you made a mistake.”

“I made no mistake, Abigail. I saw his hands on you.”

“I kissed him. All he did was try to set me aside.”

Noah winced at the image she painted. If they’d been someplace else, he didn’t believe he would have been able to show much restraint. He would’ve dragged her up to him, kissing her senseless.

“Abigail.” Tolbert’s hard, cold voice did nothing to cool her anger.

“It’s true.” She turned to Noah. “Tell him.”

Noah’s jaw worked as he tried to clear his mind. He couldn’t blame her for something he’d wanted for a long time. “It’s my fault, Mr. Tolbert. We never should’ve come back here.”

“Noah…” Abby’s response died on her lips as King grabbed her arm, escorting her from the room.

“You’ll hear from me, Brandt,” Tolbert said as he disappeared with Abby.

Noah cursed, dragging a shaky hand through his hair.

Gabe rested a hand on his shoulder. “It’ll blow over. In a few days, Tolbert will forget all about it.”

Noah’s gaze snapped to his friend. “Somehow, I don’t believe he will.”

The men began to leave when Rachel, Dax’s wife, came storming toward them. “What happened in here?” she asked, a look of alarm on her face.

“It wasn’t anything, Rachel,” Dax said.

“It must have been something. King stormed past us with Abby, saying he’d had enough. He said he’d made up his mind and would be taking her to Big Pine, then putting her on the first train to Philadelphia.”

Noah slowly opened his eyes, the memory of that afternoon draining the life from him. Each day since she’d boarded the stage, he’d told himself it was the best thing for her. She needed to meet a respectable man, someone with a future, money, and social status–none of which he could provide. No matter the truth of his words or the logic in his thinking, he slipped deeper into a hole of his own making each day.

Chapter Two

St. Louis, Missouri

“I won’t be long.” Abby glanced at the escort her father had provided for the trip to Philadelphia. She could only guess how he’d found someone on such short notice. For months, King Tolbert traveled to Big Pine each week to oversee his businesses and other property—at least, that’s what he said. Abby had heard rumors about a woman he’d been seeing. After several days of traveling with the woman, she felt certain her companion was her father’s mistress.

“I’ll wait on the train,” the woman called as Abby dashed into the depot, running out the front door, not once looking over her shoulder.

After the incident at Luke and Ginny’s reception, her father had almost killed the horses harnessed to their buggy in his haste to get home. Not even a day later, he’d told her to pack her belongings, then bundled her into the wagon for the trip to Big Pine. Luckily, she’d anticipated his actions.

Abby had been forthright about her feelings for Noah. Her father’s response had been to forbid her from spending any time with him outside the livery—no dinners, suppers, or conversing with him at church or other social gatherings. In her heart, she knew threats wouldn’t be enough to keep her away from Noah.

Her father didn’t know she’d saved the spending money he’d sent to her while she was at school in Philadelphia. Each month, the headmistress would provide funds sent to the girls from their families, and Abby would hide almost every cent in an old tin. She’d amassed a sizable sum over all those years. It had been the first item she packed while her father raged that evening in the parlor.

As the sound of the train pulling from the station caught her attention, she slowed her pace, trying to calm her racing heart. She’d done it.

Glancing around, she spotted a hotel and restaurant across the street. She raised her skirts, stepping cautiously through the dense muck, dodging numerous horses and buggies. She’d almost made it when she felt a shove at her back, causing her to pitch forward, saving a face-first disaster by bracing her arms in front of her.

“May I help you, miss?”

She glanced up to see a strong hand reach down toward her. Grasping it, she found herself being hauled up by a man almost as tall and broad as Noah, with deep-set eyes, long hair pulled into a queue, and weather-beaten skin. His eyes crinkled as he took in the sight of her.

“Thank you, sir. I must be a sight.” Abby tried to brush the mud from her traveling outfit, doing nothing but creating a bigger mess. She looked up at the low chuckle, then began laughing herself. “I suppose I should find a hotel and get cleaned up.”