Rocky Mountain Bride (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 2) by Lee Savino Page A
Authors: Lee Savino
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left the meadow and started to climb the hill to home, she leaned more on him, grateful for his solid weight.
Halfway across the stream, she almost slipped on a rock. Without breaking stride, Miles scooped her up and continued across the river. His muscles flexed around her, but, other than that, didn’t seem weighed down by his new bundle.
After a moment, Carrie put her arm around his neck, trying to pretend she wasn’t in a man’s arms. He smelled of hay and woods, a particular scent she’d recognize anywhere as his own. It was intoxicating. Her body heated through and through, and she despaired at ever being chaste and good.
“Your horses are very beautiful,” she said, trying to distract herself.
“Thank you.”
“Why did you settle so near the mountains? I would think there are better territories for ranching.”
“I had a business partner. He wanted to stake a claim, build a mine. My only requirement was that it be secluded. He chose this place near the river, and I agreed. The mountains are an added barrier against too many folk coming to live here.”
“And you didn’t want to pan for gold?”
“No.”
They reached the porch, and she slid down, feeling reluctant to let her arm around his neck go. She couldn’t help staring up at him, trying to read the expression in the quiet fire of his eyes.
“I don’t mean to pry. I thought most men come up here to find gold.”
Gently, he drew her to stand next to him, facing the land. Together they looked down the hill, over the grassy fields and pens, horses and cattle grazing in the thick evening light.
“Those men are looking for a quick wealth and an easy life. I know what I want from life, and have the patience to work for it. These fields are my mines and there—” he pointed, and she knew he gestured to the horses and cattle, “is my gold.”
*****
That night at dinner, Miles sat beside her, head bowed with exhaustion, and shoveled away the basic stew she’d made by soaking dried meat and adding the rest of the potatoes, turnip and carrots.
She felt guilty watching him eat his fill. He worked so hard, and she did so little to contribute. Where was his business partner? The ranch seemed too much for one man to handle.
Before bed, Miles asked for her list of items to buy, and then agreed with each one.
“End of the week we’ll head into town. We’ll ask Martin to order what we need, if he doesn’t have it already.”
She nodded, rising to clear the plates.
Miles caught her hand. “The Reverend will be there.” He hesitated, then raised his eyes to hers. “We could get married, if you’ll still have me.”
Her mouth suddenly dry, she took a deep breath and swallowed hard. His tawny eyes seemed to strip all her secret longings, and deliver them to her.
“I’ll still have you, Mr. Donovan.” She squeezed his hand and smiled at him.
He didn’t return it, but the slight crinkle around his eyes warmed her heart.
*****
When Carrie woke the next day, Miles was already gone to check on the cattle and feed and water the horses before the day’s journey. He’d left his blanket rolled neatly by the door, and she took it up to place it on the bed with the others.
They’d share a bed tonight. The thought gave her pause, and a few butterflies. She felt happy and nervous at the same time.
Instead of stewing on this, she grabbed a basket and went out to get the eggs. Using handfuls of feed to distract the hens, she combed through the grass to find the hidden clutches. Her search yielded eggs of every size and color, from large and brown to tiny green, and she marveled that only a few days ago she’d learned the chore.
Miles came in when she was almost done cooking breakfast, and stood waiting, rubbing the back of his neck in his usual way. He’d taken the time to bathe in the creek, and had scraped off his beard. His brown hair looked darker wet, with red hints hidden in the dark depths.
When they sat down
Halfway across the stream, she almost slipped on a rock. Without breaking stride, Miles scooped her up and continued across the river. His muscles flexed around her, but, other than that, didn’t seem weighed down by his new bundle.
After a moment, Carrie put her arm around his neck, trying to pretend she wasn’t in a man’s arms. He smelled of hay and woods, a particular scent she’d recognize anywhere as his own. It was intoxicating. Her body heated through and through, and she despaired at ever being chaste and good.
“Your horses are very beautiful,” she said, trying to distract herself.
“Thank you.”
“Why did you settle so near the mountains? I would think there are better territories for ranching.”
“I had a business partner. He wanted to stake a claim, build a mine. My only requirement was that it be secluded. He chose this place near the river, and I agreed. The mountains are an added barrier against too many folk coming to live here.”
“And you didn’t want to pan for gold?”
“No.”
They reached the porch, and she slid down, feeling reluctant to let her arm around his neck go. She couldn’t help staring up at him, trying to read the expression in the quiet fire of his eyes.
“I don’t mean to pry. I thought most men come up here to find gold.”
Gently, he drew her to stand next to him, facing the land. Together they looked down the hill, over the grassy fields and pens, horses and cattle grazing in the thick evening light.
“Those men are looking for a quick wealth and an easy life. I know what I want from life, and have the patience to work for it. These fields are my mines and there—” he pointed, and she knew he gestured to the horses and cattle, “is my gold.”
*****
That night at dinner, Miles sat beside her, head bowed with exhaustion, and shoveled away the basic stew she’d made by soaking dried meat and adding the rest of the potatoes, turnip and carrots.
She felt guilty watching him eat his fill. He worked so hard, and she did so little to contribute. Where was his business partner? The ranch seemed too much for one man to handle.
Before bed, Miles asked for her list of items to buy, and then agreed with each one.
“End of the week we’ll head into town. We’ll ask Martin to order what we need, if he doesn’t have it already.”
She nodded, rising to clear the plates.
Miles caught her hand. “The Reverend will be there.” He hesitated, then raised his eyes to hers. “We could get married, if you’ll still have me.”
Her mouth suddenly dry, she took a deep breath and swallowed hard. His tawny eyes seemed to strip all her secret longings, and deliver them to her.
“I’ll still have you, Mr. Donovan.” She squeezed his hand and smiled at him.
He didn’t return it, but the slight crinkle around his eyes warmed her heart.
*****
When Carrie woke the next day, Miles was already gone to check on the cattle and feed and water the horses before the day’s journey. He’d left his blanket rolled neatly by the door, and she took it up to place it on the bed with the others.
They’d share a bed tonight. The thought gave her pause, and a few butterflies. She felt happy and nervous at the same time.
Instead of stewing on this, she grabbed a basket and went out to get the eggs. Using handfuls of feed to distract the hens, she combed through the grass to find the hidden clutches. Her search yielded eggs of every size and color, from large and brown to tiny green, and she marveled that only a few days ago she’d learned the chore.
Miles came in when she was almost done cooking breakfast, and stood waiting, rubbing the back of his neck in his usual way. He’d taken the time to bathe in the creek, and had scraped off his beard. His brown hair looked darker wet, with red hints hidden in the dark depths.
When they sat down
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