Catherine's Awakening (9 page)

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

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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

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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.

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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