Debra Cowan – Whirlwind Bride (страница 2)
“Yes.” Still looking surprised, he tossed the wrench aside, then pulled a rag from the back pocket of his denim trousers and began wiping his hands. “What are you doing out here? How did you get here?”
“I thought … didn’t Adam tell you I was coming?”
“Yes. Well, to Whirlwind.”
“Oh, good.” A beam of sunlight showed up the gold in Riley’s sun-streaked brown hair and angled over his bronzed features. His blue eyes set her pulse to pounding.
Nothing about this man was pretty or soft or gentle. Strength and power carved every line of his body. His worn white shirt molded a wide shelf of shoulders, a deep chest. He was commanding and rugged and authoritative.
That intent gaze suggested a leashed restlessness, as if he were surrounded on all sides by walls or worse, a firing squad. A raw tension vibrated from him, belying the polite smile that never really reached his eyes, the low calm voice. Everything about him spoke of hard work and labor and sweat, a far cry from the men who’d squired Susannah about, men who spent their days in their father’s law office or shipping business. Riley was a man of the land who owned his world.
His gaze skimmed over her, from her loose chignon to her dusty shoes. A wariness slid into his eyes, and something sharp, hungry.
Though he’d become fast friends with Adam at university nine years before, Riley had never returned Adam’s visits or come to St. Louis. But Susannah had seen a photograph of him with her brother. The grainy image looked nothing like this man. The poor reflection certainly couldn’t capture the blue of his eyes or the power in that body.
His gaze dropped to her lips and her pulse tripped. Taking a step back, she pressed closer to the door. He made her as nervous as those horses did. There was a restive energy about him that reminded her of the animals, as if he were too wild to be confined.
He looked away, shifted from one foot to the other. “I didn’t realize you were coming to the ranch.”
“Oh. Yes.” She tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear, glad she’d taken the time at the stage depot to brush out her skirt and wash her face. Still, she would’ve liked a bath. She felt awkward and unwelcome. “I’ve interrupted you.”
“Just working on the pump.”
He seemed to be waiting for her to say something else. When she didn’t, he frowned, tucked the dirty rag back in his pocket. “How was your trip? Did you take the stage?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you staying?”
Maybe that jarring stage ride had addled her brain, but she suddenly felt as if she were in the wrong place. Susannah frowned.
Riley studied her. “Adam sounds happy in his new marriage.”
“Oh, he is.” Pressure tightening her chest, Susannah rushed to take advantage of the opening Riley had given her. “Pardon me for being forward, but don’t you think we should discuss the marriage?”
He stared blankly at her.
“I’m in agreement. Are … you?”
Tilting his head, he studied her, shadows softening the hard angles of his face. “Sure. I think Adam will be happy.”
“No?”
She swallowed. Why was he making this so difficult? Was he teasing her the way he had a moment ago? She could see no humor in those dark blue eyes, only a mild curiosity. “I know you never spoke to me directly, but Adam said you were in agreement.”
“I was in agreement?” Riley’s eyes narrowed dangerously. He took a step toward her; his hard body seemed to close off what little air she had. “About what?”
Feeling as if she were being cornered by a wild stallion, Susannah noted how her heart was thudding painfully against her ribs. Adam had said Riley wanted her and she’d believed him. However, at the moment, Riley didn’t seem like a man who wanted her. At all.
Unsettled, she rushed on. “I realize my coming to you was forward, but I had to. Since you’d already spoken for me, I didn’t think it would be too much a breach in etiquette.”
“Yes.”
“Spoken for you? Are you saying.” He cleared his throat, his gaze locking on hers. “You think we’re going to get married?”
“Yes.” She nearly shouted in relief. “Everything’s in order. I’m in complete agreement. There’s just one thing—”
“I’m sure as hell not in agreement,” Riley exclaimed.
“What?” Susannah squeaked.
For just a moment, his eyes hardened and he paled as though she’d stuck a gun to his head. Then he grinned and stepped around her to move outside. “Where is he? Adam!” he called. “Come on out! The joke is over.”
“This is most certainly not a joke,” Susannah huffed, turning in a swirl of skirts. Panic flared. What was going on? The only reason she had come to this godforsaken dust pit was because Adam had said Riley wanted to marry her, and she needed security for her baby.
“Phelps, you snake!” Laughing, Riley started for the house, his strong legs eating up the distance over the hard ground.
Susannah followed, her senses spinning. Honestly! “He isn’t here. I’m alone.” And destined to remain that way, it seemed.
Riley pivoted, causing her to stop abruptly or run into his massive chest. He braced his hands on his hips. “What’s all this talk about marriage then?”
Temper flaring, she mimicked his pose. “Didn’t you say you wanted to get married?”
“Me? No.” He chuckled.
“You
“No. Absolutely not.”
It took a second for the full import of his words to sink in. “No?” she said weakly, her hand falling to her side.
He must’ve seen the color drain out of her face because his smile faded. His voice softened. “No.”
She thought she might be sick all over his dusty boots.
He’d never even met the woman and she thought he wanted to marry her. Amazing.
Riley watched Susannah’s face grow pale. The disbelief in her eyes shifted to shock. She swayed and he stepped toward her.
“Are you okay? You look like you might be sick.”
“I’m fine.” She marched around him toward the house. “I won’t bother you any longer.”
For a moment, Riley stood there. Adam had sent her to him, and for some ridiculous reason, Susannah believed Riley might actually want to marry her. Not so ridiculous, he reminded himself as he followed her. People agreed to arranged marriages all the time. Mail-order, too. But not him.
He caught up to her. “I’m sorry I reacted badly. You took me by surprise.”
She looked away. “I noticed.”
“I have no idea why Adam would say I wanted to marry.”
“Marry me?”
“No, anyone. I don’t know what he was thinking. He knows I have no intention of doing that again.”
She glanced over, skirts swishing against the ground, stirring up little puffs of dust. “Would it be so awful?” How was he supposed to answer
“Don’t worry. The misunderstanding is cleared up.” His gaze traced her slender curves. Silver-blond curls gleamed in the sun, revealing a long elegant neck. Her light vanilla scent drifted to him and his heart gave a hard kick. He squared his shoulders against the reaction.
After his wife’s death four years ago, he’d focused all his attention on building the Rocking H with his father. A short three years after their marriage, Maddie had been suddenly wrenched from him, her life snuffed out when she’d lost her way in a dust storm and broken her neck. Riley hadn’t been interested in another woman since, nor had the inclination to find one who did interest him.
He slowed as he neared the porch, while Susannah steamed ahead, sweeping past him and up the steps, her skirts brushing his boots.
She bent to pick up two small valises, stuffing one under her arm and gripping the other in her hand. “Just what did my brother’s telegram say?”
“That you were coming to Whirlwind.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes.” He wondered what Adam had told Susannah. Before the sun set, he intended to find out. Whatever it was had convinced her to travel hundreds of miles to marry a man she didn’t know.