really use something to eat. Is Mrs. Masters in the kitchen?”
“
Sí
,” Maria said. “But I can put something together for you,
señor
.”
“Thank you, but I need to talk to Mrs. Masters,” he replied, trying not to wince at
her eager expression. “Privately.”
She looked a little disappointed, and then nodded her head politely.
“I understand,
señor
,” she said, although the expression on her face said that she
clearly didn’t. He sighed, stepping into the kitchen.
“Hello, Cat,” he said. She whirled to face him, her face filled with surprise and what
might even be pleasure.
“Wade, how was your trip?” Cat asked. “I didn’t realize you were leaving.”
“I just needed some time to think,” he said, looking at her ruefully. “This little game
of ours is getting out of hand. I wanted to cool off so I wouldn’t make a stupid mistake.”
“You mean, so that you wouldn’t sleep with me?” she asked quietly. “We’re
playing with fire, Wade, but it feels so good. If I were a smart woman I’d be screaming
at you right now, blaming you for taking advantage of me.” She gave a soft laugh. “But
we both know that wasn’t what happened.”
He stepped closer to her, reaching out to touch her chin, tipping her face up to look
at him.
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Catherine’s Awakening
“I don’t regret it a bit,” he said. “But that’s the kind of thing that should happen
between married couples, Cat. Either that or with a whore. I don’t think you qualify as
one of those.”
She blushed, and he leaned in, resting his forehead against hers. They stood still for
long seconds, enjoying their closeness, and Wade felt his arousal stirring. No matter
what he did, his body hungered for hers. He had a suspicion that nothing would ever
change that.
“You know, what’s between us doesn’t just happen all the time,” he said. “We have
the chance to build something special. We could be happy together.”
“Happy until you got bored?” she asked, her voice turning cool. “Ryan got bored.”
“Ryan was an idiot and a bastard,” Wade said, leaning back to study her face. He
gripped her shoulders, squeezing just enough to catch her attention. “Ryan didn’t care
about anybody but himself, and he never did. He was charming and he played you for
a fool, but don’t judge me based on his actions. We’re two very different men.”
“I know you’re different,” she said, pulling away from him. “But I think it’s too late
for me, Wade. I just don’t think I can trust anyone again, not after what I went through
before. I’d rather be free to take care of myself.”
“Even if that means you’re lonely?” he asked.
“I think so,” she said, meeting his eyes. “I can’t take the risk, Wade. All I can offer
you is my body, and only for a night or two, until I take the teaching job. That has to be
enough.”
He pulled away from her, shaking his head and walking out of the kitchen. How
could she be so damn stubborn? He slammed the door behind him as he strode onto the
kitchen porch, leaving Maria staring after him with wide eyes.
If they gave her the teaching job tomorrow, he wasn’t sure what he’d do. One thing
was certain—he wasn’t ready to give up. Wade hadn’t survived the War Between the
States just to walk away from the woman he loved. Hell no.
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Joanna Wylde
Cat had better brace herself, Wade thought, because he’d already made up his
mind. Time to play dirty.
* * * * *
Catherine braided her hair with care, making sure it was loose enough to frame her
face before she pinned the braid around her head in a pretty coronet. She eyed her
reflection in the tiny mirror, satisfied with the results. She looked well-groomed, but not
too showy. Just like a respectable teacher should.
And Lord, her waist was nice and small with her corset on!
Smaller than she’d seen it in a while. It helped to have Maria there to pull it tight for
her. She’d never managed it well on her own. Now if only she could breathe, Catherine
thought ruefully. She pulled her new dress over her head, the loose fabric of the skirts
floating down around her petticoats. It was a little bright, she had to admit. But she’d
never found a blue so exactly like her eyes before, and there had been just enough fabric
in stock at Milton’s store. She couldn’t say no to it. Maria’s quick fingers had helped
with the detail work. Otherwise it never would have been done in time for the dance.
The dress was perfect on her, Catherine thought as she buttoned it up and across
her bosom. Decorous enough for church, but pretty enough for a party. It covered her
breasts fully, but the fabric fitted closely enough to really show her figure to perfection.
She couldn’t wait until Wade saw it.
Catherine finished dressing, and then pulled her biggest apron on over the gown.
The last thing she needed was to get it dirty as she packed the food into the wagon.
Every woman within miles had spent the day cooking pies and cakes and enough fried
chicken to feed an army. They’d eat well that night at the social, and she’d be darned if
Sweet River Ranch wasn’t well represented at the supper tables.
The platform wagon and the buckboard both sat ready outside the kitchen, which
surprised her at first. Usually they would only take one vehicle. Still, there was a lot of
food, plus all the camping equipment, so it made sense. Most of the men would ride
52
Catherine’s Awakening
their horses into town, but Wade and his father must be driving. They needed room for
Maria too.
The girl was already outside, talking brightly to José as he helped her load the
baskets of food. Catherine understood a little Spanish, but the brother and sister were
talking far too quickly for her to follow.
Then Wade walked out of the house, and she lost interest in trying. He wore a new
suit, one he must have ordered in town, because she’d never seen it before. It was made
of fine, dark brown wool, with a vest and jacket to match. He wore a new hat too, and
his boots had been polished to gleaming brightness. He looked like a prosperous
cattleman, the kind of ranching king he aspired to be one day. Not bad at all, she
thought. She wanted to slip her hands inside that coat and see if this new side of Wade
was as much fun to touch as the cowboy, but she forced herself to turn away, taking off
her apron and folding it carefully. Time to let him see her pretty new dress. The
expression on his face when she turned back around didn’t disappoint.
“You look beautiful, Cat,” he said, giving her a smile that went all the way to his
eyes. “But I think you’re missing something.”
“What?” she asked. He held out his hand toward her, and she saw an exquisite pair
of sapphire eardrops lying in his palm.
“Those are beautiful,” she whispered, reaching out to touch one of them. Her finger
grazed his hand, and she shivered. His skin was hard, rough, and she knew just how
good it would feel running across her flesh. She glanced up at him, eyes bright.
“But I can’t take these, Wade,” she said. “It’s not appropriate to accept a gift from a
man.”
“It’s perfectly appropriate to accept a gift from a family member. I’m just like a
brother to you, remember?” he said, watching her steadily. “And they’ll look beautiful
with your dress and eyes. Let me put them on you.”
She shook her head, but when he stepped closer to touch her ear, all she could do
was lean in toward him. She wore very plain little earrings, ones that had belonged to
53
Joanna Wylde
her mother. He slipped them off easily enough and put in the drops, sending shivers of
desire through her with every touch. Then he put both hands on her shoulders, and
looked over her with approval in his eyes.
“You’re even more beautiful than I thought you would be,” he said softly. She
smiled at him, but before she could respond, Maria squealed and started clapping her
hands.
“They’re gorgeous,
señora
!” she sang out. “Oh, you look like a princess! You’ll be
the prettiest lady at the dance!”
Catherine gave a little smile, but didn’t let herself get carried away. Maria was a
young girl, expected to be excitable, but matrons like herself kept their emotions under
control.
“You look pretty as a picture, Catherine,” John said as he came out of the house. He
was wearing a new suit too, although it didn’t sit as well on his figure as Wade’s did.
“But it’s time to get going,” he continued. “Maria, you ride with me on the spring
wagon. Catherine, you and Wade can take the buckboard.”
Catherine looked at Wade, who gave her a perfectly blank expression as he
gestured toward the buckboard. He helped her in, then swung up beside her and
started away from the ranch house toward town. John and Maria followed, trailed by
José on his horse. Catherine figured she shouldn’t enjoy riding next to Wade quite so
much, but she loved the smell of him, the light hint of whiskey and tobacco that hung
around him.
He was freshly shaven and about as handsome as a man could get without causing
a riot. She had no doubt that the girls would be hanging off him at the dance. Of course,
there wouldn’t be a shortage of partners for her, either. There were always more men
than women, and by the end of the night some of the cowboys would be dancing with
each other. Still, it would be nice to arrive with a man as handsome as Wade by her
side.
54
Catherine’s Awakening
By the time they reached town they had joined a procession of wagons rolling in
across the range. It looked like there might be a couple hundred people at the dance,
most of whom lived far enough away that they’d be spending the night.
The spring social and dance was an old tradition revived after the war ended. It
took place inside a barn built by one of the earliest American settlers. He and his ranch
hands spent days clearing the building out and scouring in preparation for the big
night. Trestle tables were set up outside for the food, and families from far and wide
camped out in the pasture surrounding the building. The Sweet River Ranch contingent
arrived early enough to get a good spot, which Wade and José quickly staked out with
the tent. Maria and Catherine took care of the food. Everywhere Catherine found faces
she hadn’t seen for months. She discovered new babies to coo over, new dresses to
study and enough hugs to keep her busy for hours. Throughout it all, she kept her eyes
open for George Reynolds. When she spotted him, he gave her a pained look, and a
sick, nervous sensation raced through her stomach. She put on a smile anyway.
“Mr. Reynolds!” she called, coming up beside him. “I’m so pleased to see you here.
Has the board made a decision about the teaching position yet?”
He coughed, and looked a little nervous.
“Mrs. Masters, I’m sure you know you are an excellent candidate for the position,”
he said. “And I’d like very much to offer it to you, but you have to answer one question
for me. Are you absolutely sure you won’t be leaving the school to marry?”
She nodded her head firmly.
“Yes, although I believe I already told you that,” she said. “Has somebody been
saying something to the contrary?”
“Your brother-in-law,” Mr. Reynolds replied. “He tells me that he’s going to marry