Cole's Montana Bride (Sweet,clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series Book 7) (12 page)

"Well, forgive me, but I don't think it did," he said turning away from her and looking idly at the water.

Victoria went over to Cole and pointed. "My stone almost touched the other side of the riverbank," she said emphatically.

She saw his eyes turn and glance sideways at her, and she had to suddenly work hard to contain the laughter that rose up inside her. He was teasing her, just like he'd always done.

Victoria smacked him playfully on the upper arm. Cole yelled in pretend pain, smiling at her. "What'd you go and do that for?" he asked rubbing his arm.

"You always liked to tease me," she said. "That's for doing it again."

"Why would you want me not to tease you, Victoria," he said smiling. "I haven't had so much fun in a long time."

"I suppose I should be happy for you,"Victoria said.

Cole glanced along the length of the riverbank. "You want to walk and talk?" he asked.

Victoria looked alongside the river. The grass was flatter by the edge. She wouldn't have any problem with the length of her skirt catching on the grass. "That sounds like a nice idea," she admitted.

Cole started along the edge of the river, walking in a leisurely stroll. He kept himself between the river and Victoria. She walked by his side intensely aware of his proximity, and how he had decided to shield her from any risk of falling into the river.

"You remember the last time we came here?" he asked after a while.

Victoria sighed and wrinkled her brow, trying to recall.

"Summer. Trying to catch fish. Failing?" he prompted.

Memories of holding a fishing rod, with Cole wrapped around her trying to keep the rod in the right position, him teaching her the best way to keep the tip of the rod in the right place so that the fish would be tempted. She had almost forgotten.

"Fishing?" she asked.

Cole nodded. "Exactly right. You did catch something that day," he said, his brows rising. "Eventually."

"It seems like you taught me a lot here at this river," she said.

Cole bent down and pulled out a blade of grass and stuck it into his mouth, chewing on it. Just like he used to, she said to herself again. So much about being here with him, alone, the memories flooding back, the same sensations coursing through her, just like they'd done so long ago, so much of it felt just...right.

"I suppose I did. Fishing and now stone throwing. You're becoming a veritable tomboy, Victoria," he said smiling again.

Victoria laughed and shook her head. "I hope I've grown up a bit since then," she said.

Cole glanced over at her and nodded very slowly. "I can confirm that to be the case," he said.

Victoria felt her face get hotter and she reached up a hand to loosen her inexplicably tight, embroidered collar.

Cole chewed on the blade of grass, his eyes narrowing in appreciation that he'd had an effect on her. Victoria breathed in and gazed up ahead at the bend in the river.

This had been their special place, the one corner of Montana which they had claimed for themselves all those years ago. Here she had been so very happy, so content with this man whom she had always trusted. It hadn't mattered that she had come here unchaperoned in those days. If there was one thing she and everyone else knew about Cole MacAllan, it was that he was a man who could be trusted to behave with decency and integrity. The long summer days they'd spent here had been full of innocence as well as unfulfilled and unspoken desires.

This tall, strong rancher who now walked by her side made her feel like she hadn't felt in a very long time. And she found herself feeling glad, feeling pleased that he'd brought her to this place. Still there were questions that had to be answered. But for now she desperately wanted to savor just being with Cole.

The time in the cabin had made her think, had forced her to reconsider so much. She glanced at him as he walked by her side. His pace was measured and slow. He looked so comfortable being here with her and she suddenly realized that she felt much the same. There was something about this man that had been hidden deep inside her. He would always be special to her, always had been.

She'd gone to Helena trying to do what she felt was right. Striking out on her own. Having seen the pain her mother had endured after the passing of her father, there had been a part of Victoria that had resisted the complete commitment to any man, even Cole. The desire to leave the town where she had spent most of her life had seized her in an irrational fit of impulsive action that had culminated in her sudden departure, leaving behind the sweet, strong and handsome man who now strode so comfortably by her side.

They came to the bend in the river. Cole paused and Victoria went to stand by his side. The flow of the river slowed here at the turn. The river was wider and more shallow here. She recalled that more than once she had removed her boots and stockings, stepping gingerly out into the shallow, cool water, lifting her skirt and taunting Cole for being too timid to do the same. The memory brought a smile to her face, especially the recollection of the cooling effect of the water on her bare feet as she'd balanced on the submerged stones.

Cole turned and saw that she was smiling. "What you thinking about?" he asked.

"I'm thinking that I might like to cool my heels," she said starting to reach down to her boots.

Cole's brows rose in surprise. "What're you doing, Victoria?"

She tugged at her boots, but they wouldn't come off. Sitting down on the grass, she stuck out her feet. "Help me get my boots off," she said firmly.

Cole rested his hands on his hips. "You're not seriously thinking of wading into that water," he said. His chewing on the blade of grass became visibly faster.

Victoria tugged on her right boot. It wouldn't budge. Cole came over to her and knelt down on the grass. In a few moments both boots were off and Victoria was rolling her stockings down. Cole stood and turned his back in her as she did so, which made her smile. Ever the gentleman, she told herself.

She stood and wiggled her toes, enjoying the feeling of the grass between them. Now that she was barefoot she felt connected to the earth, somehow a part of it in a real and primal way. She liked that feeling. With a wrinkle of her brow she noted that there was another experience she had once taken for granted and that she'd almost completely forgotten about.

She went to the edge of the river.

"You want a hand?" Cole asked reaching out toward her.

She waved him away. "No thank you. I'm perfectly capable of doing this by myself," she said.

She lifted up the bottom of her skirt until it was almost halfway to her knees. She turned quickly and saw that Cole was having a lot of trouble keeping his eyes averted. Truth was, he wasn't doing a very good job of it at all. She found that strangely gratifying.

Grasping her skirt tight, Victoria lowered her right foot toward the water and placed it quickly down onto the submerged stones. The shock of the cool water ran up her leg. The water reached up to just above her ankle. She quickly put her left foot into the water, figuring the quicker she got used to the cold temperature the better.

Victoria planted her feet firmly on the smooth stones. She curled her toes, seeking to gain a better sense of balance. Turning to Cole she called out enthusiastically. "Come on in, Cole. The water's lovely."

Cole stood and just looked at Victoria. He seemed to be savoring the image of this woman he'd once spent so much time with, watching her standing in the water, calling on him to join her. The expression on his face was a mixture of disbelief and delight.

"I'm fine where I am, Victoria," he said planting himself firmly on the river bank.

"You scared of cold water, Cole?" she said, realizing she was probably baiting him again.

"Me scared? Not at all," he said shaking his head.

Victoria took another few steps further out into the river, feeling the round, smooth stones beneath her bare feet. The cold was exhilarating, the chill sensation of it rising up her legs curiously liberating. She wobbled slightly, caught off balance by a sudden rush of water.

Cole took a step forward. "You take care there, Victoria. Don't go falling in there," he said.

"If you don't want me to fall in, then you'd better get out here and make sure I don't," she said with a mischievous smile.

Cole paused, shook his head and sat down on the bank of the river, tugged off his boots and wrenched off his socks. He rolled up the legs of his trousers and stood looking tentatively at the water. Cole looked funny standing there with his trousers rolled up.

"Come on," Victoria called out. "There's nothing to be afraid of..." She screamed suddenly and waved her arms, swaying from side to side as if she were about to fall. She saw Cole's eyes widen and a moment later he was splashing into the water and striding out toward her.

Victoria heard him groan as the shock of the cold water hit home. She laughed and stood stock still watching him make his way toward her. A moment later he was by her side. He took her elbow, holding it firmly. He gazed into her eyes. "You okay?"

Victoria smiled at him. "Of course I'm okay."

Cole looked down at his immersed feet. "This water sure is cool."

"You remember you never would join me whenever I did this?"

"Back in the day? I guess I didn't."

"Why didn't you," she asked.

Cole looked out across the river and beyond to the surrounding flatland. "Didn't think it would do for anyone to find us here like this," he said.

"What do you mean?" she asked with a grin.

Cole's eyes rolled. "Partially clothed is what I mean," he said pointing down toward both their bare lower legs.

"Partially clothed?" Victoria repeated. She paused and gazed at Cole disbelievingly for a moment, a smile frozen on her face. Then Victoria's laughter echoed out across the water and beyond to the banks of the river. "Cole MacAllan. I do declare you are even more prim and proper than some of the ladies of our town," she said once she'd regained control of her aching sides.

She saw his eyes light up slightly. Had she just referred to Billings as "their town"? She supposed she had. And had she meant it? Had it merely been a slip of the tongue, or was it something she truly felt, something that had made it's way back into her heart since she'd returned and spent time with Cole?

Cole kept his hold on Victoria's elbow as they stood in the river. The water ran slowly around both their ankles. For a while they said nothing to each other, both of them gazing around, content to enjoy the shared moment, glancing from time to time at each other, but never for more than the briefest of moments.

When their eyes did meet Victoria felt the softest of stirrings inside herself. Cole's eyes seemed to shimmer, catching the reflecting sunlight from the water. His gaze contained the familiar kindness she'd always known, as well as the same ardent wanting she'd seen at the cabin.

Victoria felt herself shift slightly from side to side and Cole grasped her elbow more securely. He took a small step toward her and she gazed into his eyes. He wrapped an arm around her waist and she saw his eyes widen, seeking permission. She held his gaze and he leaned in closer to her. His head dipped and his lips caressed hers with a soft and tender touch. Victoria leaned her head back and savored the delicate feel of Cole's soft lips, felt the strength of his arm around her waist. The warmth of his kiss contrasted with the cool of the water.

Almost as quickly as he'd moved his head in to kiss her, Cole leaned back, their lips parting, his eyes locked on hers. Victoria smiled at Cole and reached up, touching the tips of her fingers to his lips. The corners of Cole's mouth creased as she ran her fingers along his lower lip.

Their eyes met and it was if Victoria and Cole had never been apart these past few years, as if their respective souls had maintained a mysterious, unshakeable connection. Here, standing in this river, with Cole holding her in his arms, Victoria felt the past few years slip away, the myriad of little dissatisfactions of her life alone in Helena wash away with the currents of the river. She suddenly saw that life without Cole had been a mistake, even if it had offered her the illusion of independence, the appearance of self sufficiency.

Cole drew her even closer for a moment. He held her tight and simply gazed into her eyes, the joy clear and visible.

Suddenly Victoria felt something touch her bare foot. It felt cold and slimy. She yelled and stiffened, causing Cole to release her. Glancing quickly down she saw a large fish makes it's way hurriedly away.

"That fish just touched my foot," she exclaimed.

Cole smiled. "Who's the soft one now?" he asked jokingly.

Victoria stepped to one side, trying to balance herself and felt something sharp against her foot. She yelled again, this time more loudly. Cole's brows furrowed.

"Ow. That hurts," Victoria said lifting the foot. Standing on one leg she felt herself sway. Cole reached out and grabbed her round the waist. Before she could fall, and before she was aware of what was happening, Cole had swept her up in his arms and was holding her close to him, his face pressed close to hers.

"What are you doing, Cole?" she asked, feeling herself sinking into the safety of his embrace. She grasped at her skirt, making sure none of it ended up touching the water.

"Time we went back to the safety of land," Cole said with a grin.

"I can make it back myself," she objected.

"Of course you can. It's just that I prefer to do it my way," he said firmly.

Cole turned and started back to the riverbank. The water splashed noisily around his feet. Victoria wrapped her skirt around her free arm while holding onto Cole with the other. She saw a visible grin of delight on Cole's face as he finally stepped up onto the grass verge. The sensation of being held in his arms was heady and exhilarating. She felt secure and safe in his embrace.

He didn't immediately let her down onto the ground. Instead he held her close and looked into her eyes. "You okay?" he asked.

Victoria bit her lower lip and peered into Cole's eyes. She didn't say a word in response to his question. She merely nodded and smiled. That seemed to satisfy Cole. He leaned forward and placed Victoria down slowly.