The Longing (21 page)

“I think he chopped it down after Boyd busted
a rib.” Kyle shrugged and laughed. “I don’t recall.”

“Remember that fort we tried to build up
there?”

“God, yes! My father almost killed me over
that.”

Kyle laughed and Richard set his fork on his
plate. He turned to Amelia and Catherine, his smile of remembrance
genuine. “We helped ourselves to Mr. Grayson’s lumber. Every night
after chores I would meet Kyle, Duke, and Boyd at the mill and we
would haul those long planks half a mile up the gorge. It about
broke our backs, but we hauled, sawed, and pounded nails every
night for a week before Mr. Grayson realized his lumber pile was
diminishing. When he discovered we were using his prime lumber to
build ourselves a fort, I thought he was going to murder us right
in the yard.”

Richard glanced at Kyle and they both
snickered as if they were still boys. Despite her anxiety over
Richard’s presence, Amelia leaned forward, intrigued by Kyle’s
childhood and his friendship with Richard. “What did he do?” she
asked, directing her question to Kyle.

Kyle smirked. “Dad put us to work shoveling
sawdust at the mill.”

“We must have shoveled a hundred wagons full
of that damned stuff before he let us off the hook.” Richard took a
drink of ale, then laughed. “I begged my father to pay Mr. Grayson
for the lumber, but he said the work would be good for my
character.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

Richard gawked at Kyle. “I could barely stand
upright for a week!”

“You just weren’t used to shoveling. I was
glad to make some money.”

“That’s right!” Richard hooted and Amelia
exchanged a look with Catherine. “Mr. Businessman here sold the
sawdust for insulation.”

“We were able to buy the rest of the lumber
we needed for our fort, weren’t we?”

Richard lifted his glass to salute Kyle.
“True. I got my first lesson in business from you. Do whatever you
have to do to survive.”

Amelia’s gaze shifted between Richard and
Kyle and she could see the enjoyment in their eyes, the smiles on
their faces attesting to a long friendship and years of fun
memories. Despite her misgivings and anxiety over Richard, she knew
she could never break that connection between her husband and
Richard. Somehow, the two men needed each other.

As Amelia and Catherine were clearing the
last of their dishes from the table, Catherine commented to Kyle
that their home was beautiful.

Before Kyle could acknowledge her compliment,
Richard gestured toward the parlor with his glass. “Ask him to show
you the rest of the house,” he said. “The master bedroom is
especially nice.”

Catherine’s face paled and it seemed to
Amelia that the woman purposely avoided meeting Kyle’s eyes. “I’m
sure it is, Richard, but I’m not imposing on Amelia to give me a
tour.”

“Let Kyle show you through.”

It seemed they all exchanged glances
simultaneously, but no one said a word.

Richard lifted his glass. “Go ahead. I’ll
stay here and give Amelia a hand if she needs one.”

Catherine finally glanced at Kyle, but it was
a helpless look that elicited Amelia’s sympathy. Richard could be
so pushy sometimes. God pity the woman for having to live with him.
And God help Amelia if she had to spend time alone with him.

“Go with them, Richard. I’m almost finished
in here,” Amelia said, carrying their stacked plates to the sink.
She didn’t care if they took a tour or sat and visited, as long as
she didn’t have to take part.

When Amelia heard the shifting of chairs and
the sound of footsteps cross the kitchen, she breathed a sigh of
relief to finally be alone. She filled a tub with hot soapy water
and started to submerse the plates in the dishwater.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were marrying
Kyle?” Richard asked, his mouth so close to her ear that Amelia
squeaked and dropped a plate into the dishpan.

She clutched her stomach and turned toward
Richard, who had trapped her between himself and the sink. Amelia
glanced toward the door that connected the kitchen and parlor, but
Richard’s quiet chuckle drew her attention back to him. “Don’t
worry, Kyle’s giving Catherine a tour of your bedroom. They’ll be a
while.”

Although they had been provoked into it by
Richard, the thought of them alone in her bedroom put an
uncomfortable knot in Amelia’s chest. “Why aren’t you with
them?”

“I wanted a minute alone with you.”

Amelia stepped back and bumped against the
sink. “You’re in Kyle’s home, Richard.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Well, he trusts you.”

“He should. Kyle’s my friend.”

“Then act like his friend.” His eyebrows
lifted, but Amelia ignored his offended look. “You manipulated
Catherine and Kyle to get them out of your way so you could
purposely put me on edge. And
don’t
tell me you aren’t
aware of what I’m talking about.” She drew a shaky breath and
smoothed her damp hands down the front of her dress. “I don’t want
to come between you and Kyle, so please stop this nonsense.”

“Is that some sort of a backhanded
threat?”

“No, Richard.” Amelia sighed with
frustration. “I just want you to be his friend. Forget you ever
knew me before tonight.”

“Amelia.” His voice was soft, contrite. “I
know it’s too late for us and I accept that. I just wanted to tell
you that I’m sorry our past relationship is causing problems for
you and Kyle.”

“What?” She stared at him.

“Kyle has hinted that your marriage is under
some strain.”

She gasped at his audacity. “Kyle told you
that?”

Richard ignored her question and squeezed her
arm. “If you need to talk, you know where to find me.”

When Kyle stopped in the doorway and saw
Richard caressing Amelia’s arm, he could barely restrain himself
from leaping across the kitchen. Richard touched everyone like
that; a slap on the shoulder, a jovial handshake, an arm around the
shoulders. Hell, he’d just hugged Catherine in the doorway not two
hours ago. It was just his way and it probably meant nothing, but
Kyle knew better than to trust
anybody
.

His own damned brother had married the woman
who was supposed to marry
Kyle
. That was Kyle’s fault for
not paying attention. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

In three long strides, Kyle crossed the
kitchen and grabbed Richard by the back of the neck. “Get your
hands off my wife.”

Richard laughed, apparently believing Kyle
was teasing him. “I was just complimenting Amelia on supper.”

“Well, do it without the use of your
hands.”

Richard lifted his palms as if to protest his
innocence, but Kyle hauled him away from Amelia and gave him a
nudge toward the door. “Come on, you hound. Let’s take Catherine
home and stop at the Pemberton for a nightcap.” Anything to get
Richard out of his house and away from Amelia. “I won’t be late,”
he said, glancing back at Amelia’s surprised face before guiding
Richard and Catherine out the door.

Though Kyle had calmed his jealousy, and he and Richard had enjoyed
a few mugs at the Pemberton, there seemed to be an underlying
tension between them the next morning when Richard and Catherine
met them in the churchyard.

Catherine smiled and exchanged greetings with
Amelia, but she gave Kyle a brief, intimate glance he hoped no one
else noticed. It had been hell showing her through the house last
night, pretending they barely knew each other, when the whole time
Kyle’s guilt was burning like acid in his gut. He’d hated bringing
a former lover into his house and unintentionally playing Amelia
for a fool. She had been so gracious and warm to Catherine, and
though Richard seemed to make Amelia uncomfortable, she’d welcomed
him, too. He’d also hated treating Catherine so callously. Even
though she’d only wanted friendship, it still felt awkward and
cruel to show her through the house he was sharing with another
woman. The brief apology he’d given her in the bedroom seemed
pathetically inadequate.

“Richard and I wanted to wish you a Happy
birthday,” Catherine said to Kyle, her cheeks flushed a soft shade
of pink that nearly matched the overskirt of her dress. A tower of
gold curls spiraled down her neck and over the crest of one plump
bosom, and Kyle couldn’t deny her beauty, but it was appreciation
instead of attraction that made him notice.

Amelia’s startled expression made Kyle
cringe. He’d forgotten about his birthday. It was just another day
to him, but Amelia’s hurt look made him sorry he hadn’t remembered.
“Thank you, Catherine.”

An awkward pause ensued before Richard spoke
to Amelia. “The meal and...companionship last night were both
delightful,” he said, but to Kyle’s surprise Amelia’s expression
remained strangely blank, as if she were working hard to keep any
emotion out of her eyes.

Amelia thanked Richard, then turned to Kyle
wearing a fake smile. “We really must get home so I can finish your
birthday cake.”

Kyle nodded to Richard and Catherine and
guided Amelia to the carriage. The minute they were out of the
yard, she turned on him. “Why didn’t you tell me it was your
birthday?”

“I didn’t remember until Catherine mentioned
it.”

“How on earth could you forget your own
birthday?”

He shrugged. “It’s not important to me.”

“Well, it is to me, Kyle! I felt like a fool
not knowing my husband’s birthday. I felt humiliated. When we get
home I want you to make a list of your brothers’ and mother’s
birthdays so I don’t have to suffer this embarrassment again.”

“My mother’s birthday is today.”

“It is not.”

“It is. She was hoping I would be born on her
birthday so I entered the world two weeks ahead of schedule to
please her.”

Amelia snorted. “Typical of you to be an
aggressive infant.”

“When’s your birthday?” he asked.

Amelia crossed her arms over her chest,
suspecting that Kyle was trying to derail her from chastising him.
“I’m not telling you.”

He smirked at her. “Is that supposed to be a
pout on your face?”

She tried to glare at him, but his brows
lifted and Amelia caught herself staring. It happened every time he
looked at her, as if he could see right into her mind and read her
thoughts. She didn’t need to read his to know he was contemplating
kissing her, that he was at the end of his patience with holding
himself back, that they would be consummating their marriage today
or tomorrow. During the week she’d sensed his reserve breaking down
as clearly as she could now see the desire filling his eyes. Last
night she’d been sound asleep when he came home, but today, the
entire afternoon and evening stretched out before them without a
thing to do.

“I have a surprise for you,” she blurted,
hoping her outrageous idea would jar Kyle out of his preoccupation
with the mills and help her bridge the awkward gap between them.
She didn’t want to give Kyle any more reason to fill Richard’s ears
with complaints about their marriage. “We have to change our
clothes though.”

He frowned.

Before she realized what she was doing,
Amelia pressed her fingertips to the crease in his forehead. “Why
on earth do you frown over everything?”

“I don’t.”

“Yes you do!” She lowered her hand. “You have
a permanent crease between your eyebrows.”

“That’s from squinting in the sun.”

“It’s there because you’re always irritated
with something. Don’t you ever have fun, Kyle? Isn’t there
something you like to do that makes you smile?” She met his stare,
challenging him to deny his perpetual frown.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

“Who doesn’t?” she asked with a laugh.

“Why do we have to change our clothes?”

“You’re not allowed to ask questions about a
surprise. And you’re not allowed to frown for the rest of today.”
He glanced at her and she put her hand on his arm. “It’s your
birthday, the sun is shining, and it’s gorgeous outside. Can we
just try to enjoy the day together?”

“Whatever you want.” His shoulders lowered as
though fatigued. “What am I supposed to wear?”

“Your work clothes. We’re going to the
lumberyard.”

“What?” he asked, his expression appalled as
he pulled into their driveway. Sunday was their only day off and by
the look on Kyle’s face, the lumberyard was the last place he
wanted to spend his birthday.

“Stop frowning. We won’t be working,” Amelia
said, climbing out of the carriage before he could help her. She
headed toward the house. “I have to change and put water on to heat
for laundry, but I’ll meet you out here in fifteen minutes.”

Kyle nodded, but when he met her back at the
carriage, his face was devoid of his usual frown and it lifted
Amelia’s spirits so much she hummed softly all the way to her
father’s lumberyard. No matter what she had to do, she was going to
find a way to connect with her husband today.

She barely gave Kyle time to put the horses
in the barn before she caught his hand and dragged him out behind
the mill. “Your surprise is down here,” she said, picking her way
along an overgrown path that cut down into the gorge.
Please
let it still be here
, she prayed silently, her eyes scanning
the rocky, tree-lined bank.

“What are you looking for?” Kyle asked, his
forehead beginning to crease as he walked beside her.

“My boat. And stop frowning.”

He relaxed his face, but only because
surprise had lifted his ears and eyebrows. “You have a boat?”

“There it is!” Amelia hurried to a mound that
looked like a fallen tree on the rock-strewn creek bank. She tugged
it upright and huffed out a breath. “We’ll have to dig the sand and
dirt out of it before we can put it in the water.”

“That boat won’t float five minutes,
Amelia.”