Sunrise Ridge (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 3) (19 page)

Rachel nodded, touched by the extension of friendship. “You’ll find there isn’t as much formality here as there is back east. At least not like in Boston, where I’m from.”

“I visited Boston once, during the winter months. Nick wanted me to see big city saloons.”

“Have you known Nick long?”

“We grew up together, a result of our mothers working in saloons. He’s older and always took on the role of protector, similar to a brother or uncle.” She glanced at the wall behind Rachel, a wistful look crossing her face before she masked it. “He dragged me to school, even though it was obvious the other students’ parents didn’t want me there. Nick refused to let them force me away, believing education would be my way out as it had been his.” She snorted at how their education had helped them.

“Yet both of you stayed in the same business.” Rachel cocked her head. So much about Lena fascinated her.

She laughed. “Believe me, it wasn’t what we planned. Nick won a saloon in a card game in New Orleans, deciding to improve the place, then sell it. Instead, he started making so much money, it didn’t make sense to sell when he understood so much about the business. You see, he has a way with numbers, and I have a way with people. Together, we built and sold several saloons over the years. Of course, if it hadn’t been for him, I don’t know where I would’ve ended up.”

“You must have been quite young when you started.” Rachel guessed her to be in her mid-twenties with radiant olive skin and expressive eyes.

“Nineteen when Nick declared I was old enough to work for him. He was in his thirties by then. I’d come back from finishing school, where he sent me to become a lady.” She rolled her eyes. “The one rule he had was that I never worked as the others girls. I hired them, made sure they were clean, didn’t work when they were sick, and didn’t fleece Nick out of his cut. By the time I turned twenty-two, he’d given me some ownership. Now we’re fifty-fifty, although I never thought we’d be opening a place in a town like Splendor.”

Rachel laughed, deciding she liked Magdelena Campanel. “My guess is there are few of us who thought we’d settle in a place such as Splendor. Dax and Luke grew up in Savannah, sons of a wealthy businessman. My family was quite unhappy when I decided to become a nurse, work in Union field hospitals during the war, then venture west to help my uncle with his clinic. You’ll hear similar stories as you get to know the townsfolk. Somehow, fate, luck, good fortune—whatever you choose to call it—brought us all here.”

“Well, it’s supposed to be a stop before traveling to San Francisco. Nick’s always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean.”

“And you, Lena…what do you want?”

The question surprised her. Long ago, practically another lifetime, she’d believed all her dreams stood before her in the form of one man, an Englishman who’d escaped his aristocratic life to seek adventure in America.

He’d stormed into her life, and Nick’s, working his way past their defenses to become a friend and confidant. Tall and lean with a broad, charming smile and quick wit, both men and women were drawn to him, wanted to call him friend. Lena had fallen hard. He didn’t bother to hide his attraction to her, and over the months he frequented their saloon, he’d bestowed on her the type of flattery common when courting a woman. Other than Nick, no man had ever shown her such respect or attention.

He’d asked Nick’s permission to escort her to supper and the theatre, rented a carriage for picnics in the country, and taken her on long walks. They talked of his travels across England and the rest of Europe, of the title and wealth he left behind when spurning his father’s appeal to take his place and accept the duties he’d been born into. Her feelings for him grew, as did his declarations of love for her, and they talked of marriage and a family.

After months, her willpower faltered and she’d allowed him into her bed. He’d been the only man to ever walk across the threshold of her door and heart. He’d taken what she offered, as well as tens of thousands of dollars, and disappeared. All in one night, she’d lost her heart, virginity, and the savings Nick and she had slaved to earn. Neither had ever seen him again.

It took months before the keen sense of betrayal and pain began to fade. Nick’s report of the theft was met with amusement by the sheriff and his deputies, even though most were steady patrons of their saloon. Nick hunted the Englishman with a focus that frightened her, until Lena convinced him to stop, to spend his time and energy rebuilding what they’d lost. She’d vowed to never speak of him again.

Although her pain never turned to hatred or complete distrust in men, it did force her to take stock of her life and accept realistic expectations of her future.

She still had dreams, but knew a woman in her profession wasn’t allowed to hope for long. Most everyone expected she’d worked as a prostitute at some point, and over the years, she’d grown weary of trying to change their perception.

She clasped her hands together and leaned forward. “This is my life, the one Nick and I have built together. I’ll go where he wants, doing what is needed to survive. Beyond that, I have no dreams.”

Noah swallowed the last bit of supper, noticing the large amount of food still left on Abby’s plate. After meeting with the men who would make up the posse tomorrow, he’d worked for a few hours, trying to give Abby time to rest. He found her sitting in the front parlor, reading a book. She was so engrossed, she didn’t look up when he entered.

He stayed silent, watching her face change expressions as the story unfolded. One moment, a smile would curve her lips—the next, she’d furrow her brows or let out a sigh. He no longer tried to convince himself he wasn’t right for her. Her decision to forsake life on her father’s ranch, living under her own terms, altered all the hesitation in Noah’s mind.

They were a perfect match, even if his meager cabin wouldn’t be an adequate home for her. His chest tightened. If all his hopes came true, he’d be watching her reading this way until they grew old.

“Noah! When did you arrive?” Abby jumped up to join him by the entry, smiling as she slipped an arm through his.

“A moment ago. I didn’t want to interrupt your reading.”

She held up the book. “I’ve read this a hundred times and could recite most passages by heart.”

He smiled at the pleasure she took in something as simple as reading a book. “I thought we could take a ride up the hill behind town and watch the sunset while we eat. Suzanne packed supper for us.”

“It sounds lovely. Let me get my wrap.”

He could hear her dashing up the stairs, returning a few minutes later with a bonnet on her head and wearing a light coat.

“The horses are out front.”

Hasty, the horse she’d ridden to her father’s on Sunday, had proven to be a gentle ride, responding to Abby as if they’d been together for years. Noah had already tied blankets to the back of her saddle and loaded their supper into his saddlebags.

They meandered up a path behind the boardinghouse, traveling to the top of a hill above the town. Wildflowers bloomed everywhere as spring turned into early summer. Noah reined up at a spot he’d found the summer before, offering a perfect view of the spectacular sunsets he’d come to expect this time of year.

Noah helped her down, taking it slow, letting her body brush his until her feet touched the ground. He kept his hands on her waist longer than necessary, wanting to pull her into his arms and kiss her until they both gasped for air. Instead, he dropped his hands and stepped away.

“This is a wonderful place. Have you come here before?” Abby made a slow turn, taking in the view in all directions.

“A couple times. It’s rare when I’m able to stop work to ride up. I made an offer on the land a year ago, but the owner turned me down.” He laid a blanket out under a pine, facing the eastern range.

“Who owns it?”

“Your father.”

“My father?” Abby’s shocked expression didn’t surprise Noah. “Would he even listen to your offer?”

“No. Turned me down flat without explanation.”

She remained silent, not surprised her father wouldn’t even consider an offer from Noah.

“I thought I’d try again in the fall. He doesn’t use it and it’s miles from the ranch.” Noah believed it would be the perfect spot for the house he planned to build for Abby. He could already see it—two stories with a wraparound porch where she could watch the sunrise in the morning and sunset at night.

They settled on the blanket, Noah handing her the chicken, biscuits, and pie Suzanne prepared. Neither spoke as they enjoyed their meal, watching as the sun moved to hug the western mountains.

Abby couldn’t believe she’d never been up there. She suspected there were many beautiful places around Splendor, and a fresh wave of resentment wrapped around her. Her father had allowed her to come home for Christmas and a few weeks during the summer, totaling perhaps six weeks a year. She’d been allowed to ride into town and back, with an escort, but never beyond Splendor’s southern boundary. She could count on one hand the number of times he’d allowed her to ride unaccompanied, and her joy of being permitted this small bit of freedom precluded striking out on her own to explore. Now, with Noah, she could.

He set their empty plates aside and moved so his back rested against the tree trunk. “Come here, Abby.” He motioned for her to sit in front of him, nestled against his chest. She didn’t hesitate, settling between his legs as he wrapped his arms around her stomach and drew her back. “See the twin peaks to the right?”

His breath teased her skin, producing shivers as her heart thundered in her chest.

“Yes,” she breathed out, unable to say more due to the sensations flooding her body.

“If you trace a line down from where the two peaks meet, and if it weren’t hidden by the forest and hills, you’d be looking at my cabin.”

She sat up, trying to see where his home might be, even though they were miles away. Glancing over her shoulder, she shot him a brilliant smile, causing his chest to seize and the air to rush from his lungs.

“Tell me about it?” she asked, leaning back again.

He pulled her against him, trying to get control of a body on fire, hoping she didn’t feel the proof of it as she snuggled closer.

“It’s nothing special. You already know Dax and Luke gave me the property for helping to save Rachel, Doc, and the Frey brothers. I built a cabin made of logs, a barn, and work shed. It’s large enough to run a few head of cattle and horses, but it will never be a working ranch.”

“And the cabin itself?”

“There’s a kitchen with cook stove, and enough space for a table and chairs. I hauled up an old sofa Luke found in the loft of their barn and built a table to set next to it.” He shrugged, believing he’d summed up his home.

“Where do you sleep?”

He grimaced as an image of his bleak quarters popped into his mind. “There is a sleeping room, but all it contains is a pallet with blankets.”

He leaned forward, losing his fight to nuzzle her neck, inhaling her clean scent with a trace of rose. His lips traced a path from her ear, down the soft length of her neck to her shoulder, then back up, nibbling her earlobe, feeling her shudder.

“Noah…” she breathed out, letting her head fall back against his chest as his hands splayed across her stomach, inched upward, then stopped. She turned to face him, settling on her knees between his thighs as she wrapped her arms around his neck, eager for his kiss. He didn’t disappoint.

He drew her close, capturing her mouth and taking control, delving inside and exploring her with languid strokes. Ripples of sensation spread through him as his hands smoothed down her sides, settling on the graceful swell of her hips.

Abby could feel her body tremble at the intensity of the sensations. Heat flamed through her, curling around to pool low in her belly. A moan spilled from her lips as his mouth moved across her cheek to nip her earlobe, tracing the line of her jaw, then searing a path to the hollow at the base of her neck. She squirmed, trying to get closer, shocked at her own eager response.

He moved back up to claim her mouth in a smoldering kiss. Passion radiated from her, scorching each place their bodies pressed together. Noah had never felt the wild desire for any woman as he did for her, wanting to take everything she offered, knowing he had to stop. Raising his mouth from hers, he gazed at her face, seeing her damp lips swollen from his kisses, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.

He traced a fingertip across her lower lip before kissing her once more, trying to calm his ragged breathing.

She swayed at the loss of contact, reaching out to grip his arms, her breath coming in labored gasps. She opened her mouth to speak, but words failed her the moment her eyes locked on his.

“We should start back before it gets dark.” Noah kept his voice low and gentle, feeling his heart continue to thunder. He reached for her hand, threading his fingers through hers as he helped her stand, then crossed to where the horses grazed several feet away.

Noah lifted her onto Hasty’s saddle, secured the blankets, and swung up on Tempest. He glanced at her, worried he might have pushed too far. What he saw humbled him. Her eyes still glistened with passion, a warm smile breaking across her face as she let her gaze settle on his.