Cole's Montana Bride (Sweet,clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series Book 7) by Maya Stirling
Authors: Maya Stirling
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remember when I said those very words to you. And in this very room, I do believe," he said. Cole seized control of himself, not wanting to submit to the distempered reaction which he felt mounting inside.
"I was under the impression that you had no intention of acquiring a wife. In fact you told me yesterday that marriage to Lucy Carter was not something you wished to seriously consider,' she said.
"As you so eloquently reminded me yesterday, Lucius is an influential man in these parts. It does a man no good to go provoking a man like that. If he wants me to consider his daughter as a wife then I can do that. But only consider. Nothing else."
"So you're saying that my visit has no purpose?"
Cole took a deep breath and gazed out the window, seeing the scattered clouds. The sudden silence in the room was so intense that Cole was sure he could hear his own heart thudding. Hard. Could Victoria hear that sound too? They'd gone from civility to ill humor almost in an instant and he didn't like it one bit. He took another deeper breath and clasped his fingers together. After a moment calmness started to settle upon him.
"On the contrary, Victoria. I hoped your visit today would serve an entirely different purpose," he said quietly.
Cole saw her clear blue eyes lock on his, a sudden curiosity in them. "After my conduct yesterday I wanted to take the opportunity to remind you of something important. To me at least." Cole glanced away. He searched his mind frantically for the right words, the most persuasive words he could find, words that would stand a chance of convincing her that she wasn't just visiting his ranch in the capacity of a matchmaker. He wanted to tell her straight, using plain words that would awaken her heart and bring her back to him.
Cole opened his mouth to speak but suddenly Mrs. Stone entered the room, carrying a tray laden with teapot, cups and a mound of biscuits. "Sorry this took so long," she explained. "But the biscuits were still cooling. Don't want you two dears to burn your sweet little mouths," she said.
Cole sighed and wondered if fate was conspiring to prevent him from saying what he felt he must say to the woman who'd briefly reappeared in his life.
"Those look lovely," Victoria said to Mrs. Stone. Cole saw Victoria glance in his direction as if prompting him.
Cole followed her lead. "They smell real tasty, Mrs. Stone," he said.
Mrs. Stone laid the tray down on the table with a clatter of china.
Victoria started to help Mrs. Stone with the tea. Cole watched the two women engaged in such a simple task. But just looking at Victoria pouring out the tea took him back to a better time, a time when happiness had seemed ensured and love a certainty.
But now, watching the woman he'd loved so long ago, here in his parlor busy with such a familiar and ordinary task, Cole MacAllan knew that he'd have to work a whole lot harder if he was going to have any chance of stopping Victoria from disappearing one more time. And if Victoria was so intent on keeping things between them businesslike, then how on earth was he going get them the way he really wanted.
Personal.
CHAPTER SIX
After the tea, Cole showed Victoria around the ranch house. The changes he'd made since she'd last been in the place had provided more space, extra rooms. As she followed him around the house, as she saw the extra rooms, the empty spaces, she couldn't help asking herself just what good would such a lot of space do for a man who was so resolute in remaining unmarried. The thought passed through her mind that this was the kind of house that called out for a family, a home filled with children to fill up the empty space. But every remark that Cole had made about marriage since she'd come back into his life, albeit in a professional capacity, had made Victoria believe that the rooms would remain vacant for a long time to come.
"Why do you need such a big house?" she asked him bluntly as they stepped out onto the yard on their way
"I was under the impression that you had no intention of acquiring a wife. In fact you told me yesterday that marriage to Lucy Carter was not something you wished to seriously consider,' she said.
"As you so eloquently reminded me yesterday, Lucius is an influential man in these parts. It does a man no good to go provoking a man like that. If he wants me to consider his daughter as a wife then I can do that. But only consider. Nothing else."
"So you're saying that my visit has no purpose?"
Cole took a deep breath and gazed out the window, seeing the scattered clouds. The sudden silence in the room was so intense that Cole was sure he could hear his own heart thudding. Hard. Could Victoria hear that sound too? They'd gone from civility to ill humor almost in an instant and he didn't like it one bit. He took another deeper breath and clasped his fingers together. After a moment calmness started to settle upon him.
"On the contrary, Victoria. I hoped your visit today would serve an entirely different purpose," he said quietly.
Cole saw her clear blue eyes lock on his, a sudden curiosity in them. "After my conduct yesterday I wanted to take the opportunity to remind you of something important. To me at least." Cole glanced away. He searched his mind frantically for the right words, the most persuasive words he could find, words that would stand a chance of convincing her that she wasn't just visiting his ranch in the capacity of a matchmaker. He wanted to tell her straight, using plain words that would awaken her heart and bring her back to him.
Cole opened his mouth to speak but suddenly Mrs. Stone entered the room, carrying a tray laden with teapot, cups and a mound of biscuits. "Sorry this took so long," she explained. "But the biscuits were still cooling. Don't want you two dears to burn your sweet little mouths," she said.
Cole sighed and wondered if fate was conspiring to prevent him from saying what he felt he must say to the woman who'd briefly reappeared in his life.
"Those look lovely," Victoria said to Mrs. Stone. Cole saw Victoria glance in his direction as if prompting him.
Cole followed her lead. "They smell real tasty, Mrs. Stone," he said.
Mrs. Stone laid the tray down on the table with a clatter of china.
Victoria started to help Mrs. Stone with the tea. Cole watched the two women engaged in such a simple task. But just looking at Victoria pouring out the tea took him back to a better time, a time when happiness had seemed ensured and love a certainty.
But now, watching the woman he'd loved so long ago, here in his parlor busy with such a familiar and ordinary task, Cole MacAllan knew that he'd have to work a whole lot harder if he was going to have any chance of stopping Victoria from disappearing one more time. And if Victoria was so intent on keeping things between them businesslike, then how on earth was he going get them the way he really wanted.
Personal.
CHAPTER SIX
After the tea, Cole showed Victoria around the ranch house. The changes he'd made since she'd last been in the place had provided more space, extra rooms. As she followed him around the house, as she saw the extra rooms, the empty spaces, she couldn't help asking herself just what good would such a lot of space do for a man who was so resolute in remaining unmarried. The thought passed through her mind that this was the kind of house that called out for a family, a home filled with children to fill up the empty space. But every remark that Cole had made about marriage since she'd come back into his life, albeit in a professional capacity, had made Victoria believe that the rooms would remain vacant for a long time to come.
"Why do you need such a big house?" she asked him bluntly as they stepped out onto the yard on their way
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