Aaron's Montana Bride Part 8

Aaron looked at Eva with an earnest and serious expression. "I'm just curious to know what's on your mind. What you're thinking about."

Eva knew she could not tell him the truth. She couldn't tell Aaron that virtually the only thing she could think about was him, and what was to become of her life if he didn't agree to her marriage proposal. In fact now that she came to think of it, the proposal was beginning to seem more like a mere suggestion, an idea that was starting to look more and more foolish with every pa.s.sing hour.

"I was thinking about my father," she said eventually.

Aaron nodded. "He was a fine man."

"A hard man. But the kindest human being I've ever known," Eva said feeling the emotion rising up inside her.

"I always knew where I stood with Gabriel," Aaron said. "Even though he and I had our differences, he was always plain and straight in his dealings with me."

"Everything I am, I owe to him," Eva said. "He showed me the value of hard work, what it means to care for your family, how important it is to be a person of your word. He taught me so much," she said. "He was so kind to me. Never really raised his voice to me; he was never truly mean to me. Ever."

Eva could feel her heart start to beat faster as the memories of her life with her father came tumbling into her mind. So many treasured moments of kindness, support, approval and encouragement. Her father had truly been a good man and she felt his loss keenly in her heart. An ache that had settled there, on his pa.s.sing, started to throb even harder now.

Aaron seemed to sense her distress. "I recall a time when he and I argued over an unbranded cow," he said with a laugh. "He insisted it was his and I was sure it was one of mine. We haggled long and hard over that cow. Argument raged on for days. And then, when the time came to settle things up, that darned cow went and threw itself into a river and drowned."

Aaron laughed and shook his head. In spite of herself, and the tragedy of the outcome, Eva found herself smiling at the dark humor of it all.

"Your father just took it in his stride and gave me a long lecture on providence and how nothing was really in our power to control. He believed that if something was going to happen, there wasn't much anyone could do to prevent it. He was a wise man." Aaron concluded. "And he had a good laugh about it too," he said with a grin.

Eva smiled. "I know he had a great sense of humor. He used to tease me about being a girl growing up on a ranch, surrounded by men and cattle all day long. How I still had to behave like a little lady, no matter how rough life got on the ranch. That was my mother's influence, I guess."

"I never knew your mother."

"She pa.s.sed when I was young. But she was a fine woman. I don't think my father ever really got over the loss of her," Eva said.

Aaron sighed. "I'd like to have known her. Seen just how much you and she were alike," he said.

Eva frowned. "Why?"

Aaron shifted in his seat. "Don't they always say that if you want to know what a woman is going to be like when she gets older, you should look at her mother?"

Eva's brows furrowed. Why would Aaron make a statement like that? Was he thinking about the future? Was he hinting at a future for him and Eva?

"She was a beautiful, elegant, smart lady," Eva said bluntly.

Aaron's eyes focused on Eva. "Just like her daughter, then."

Eva felt her face color. "She had a style all her own," Eva said defensively.

"I wasn't just talking about looks," Aaron stated. "I was referring to other qualities."

Eva saw Aaron shift in his seat. He seemed to avert his eyes for a moment. When he turned to look at her, she was suddenly sure that he was debating whether to say something to her.

Eva saw Aaron swallow. His brows furrowed and he looked just so darned pensive.

"Is everything alright, Aaron?" she asked.

Aaron's eyes glanced quickly toward Eva. He sighed and cleared his throat. Eva saw warring thoughts flicker across Aaron's face. He looked so handsome by the candlelight. His skin seemed to glow in the soft light and his eyes had a fetching brightness in them.

"Do have something to tell me, Aaron?"

Aaron shook his head, his features suddenly serious. Eva felt a knot of worry settle in her stomach.

After a moment Aaron answered her. "It's nothing, Eva."

Eva frowned when she saw the expression on Aaron's face. She'd never seen anything quite like it before.

"I've been trying to figure out why your father would have thought that Jude would be a suitable husband," he said bluntly. No wonder Aaron had looked troubled. Eva felt her heart beat ever so slightly faster. Was Aaron trying to get around to giving her an answer? "It just doesn't make sense," he concluded.

Eva raised an eyebrow. Aaron was right. It was entirely natural that Eva's father had fought so hard to make sure that his daughter ended up with a good man. The kind of man that would share the values her father had worked so hard to embody in his own life. And that was what made the issue of Jude Arabin so mystifying, so perplexing. Sitting here, in Aaron Stewart's home, with the kind faced, considerate, ridiculously handsome rancher attending to her every need, making sure she was safe and comfortable, Eva could not believe that her father had wanted her to end up with a man like Arabin who was the polar opposite of Aaron.

"Speaking of him," Eva said. "Has anyone seen Jude around since the fire?"

Aaron's features went hard and serious. "No-one has seen him. Just as well for him, if you ask me. He better not come anywhere near my ranch. I'm sure he already knows better than to try that. He's not fit to look at you," Aaron said with barely disguise revulsion.

Eva thought this was her moment, a chance she had to seize. Should she ask Aaron? Could she take it if he told her he'd thought about her proposal and went on to inform her politely, gently, that it wasn't for him? The thought of refusal was barely imaginable. How would she cope if Aaron just told her that he appreciated her kind offer, that he didn't need a wife, that he couldn't see any way his life as a ranch owner could include Eva becoming his wife?

Eva felt b.u.t.terflies tumbling in her stomach at the thought of Aaron saying any of those things to her. She was suddenly aware of Aaron watching her.

"What's the book?" Eva asked, a sudden urge to change the subject overwhelming her.

Aaron seemed momentarily surprised by the question. He glanced down at the leather bound tome. He held it up for Eva to see and she burst out laughing.

"Little Women," she exclaimed. "You're reading Little Women?" she asked him incredulously.

Aaron seemed suddenly embarra.s.sed. "Mrs. Lang gave it to me," he tried to say. Eva was sure there was a flutter of relief across his features at the chance to talk about something else.

"You're sure you didn't just pick that up before you came into the room?" Eva asked.

Aaron quirked a brow and smiled. "Now, why would I do a thing like that, Eva?"

"I don't know. You tell me, Aaron," she said playfully. "It has nothing to do with the fact that it was my favorite book when I was young, has it?"

"I had no idea," he said with a smile and quirk of his brow.

"Really? You had no idea? You expect me to believe that?" she asked with a shake of the head. "Mrs. Bell didn't let you in on that little secret. Did she?"

Aaron smiled and opened the book. "Do you want me to read to you?"

When Eva laughed she felt the beginnings of a cough. She stifled the sensation and looked at Aaron. "Sure. Why not? Start at the beginning," she said to him, lying back against the soft pillows.

Aaron turned to the first page and started to read to Eva. She let her eyes close slowly and listened to Aaron's deep, slow voice. There was a warm, velvety quality to the way he spoke.

Eva had always liked the sound of Aaron's voice and now was no exception. There was something calming, even soothing about it. The opening paragraphs of the book were so familiar to Eva. She'd read the novel countless times growing up. But, somehow Aaron's soft voice gave the treasured words a whole new feel. It was as if she were being wrapped up in a warm blanket and comforted.

Eva felt herself settle back and a moment later, when she briefly opened her eyes and looked at Aaron, she had to admit to herself that she was secretly pleased when she realized that she had just caught the handsome rancher glancing ever so cautiously at her.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

The next day the Stewart ranch had visitors. And, they were exactly the kind of people that Aaron was always pleased to see.

His fellow ranchers Joshua McKenzie and Zack Buchanan had come to pay a call. Joshua had brought his lovely new wife, Laura. The newly married couple looked real happy, which was kind of amazing to Aaron given the difficulties they'd been through getting married. But, they looked so happy as Joshua pulled the buggy to a halt. Laura was a tall, elegant, immaculately attired woman. She was almost the same age as Eva. Joshua looked truly proud of his new wife as he helped her step down onto the hard earth of the yard in front of the Stewart ranch house.

It was late morning and the sky was clear, the sun shining bright. Zack tied his horse up to the hitching post and came over to Aaron.

"I heard you had some trouble at the Gillespie ranch," he said tipping his hat back on his head.

"It's complicated," Aaron said. He turned to Joshua and Laura. "How is married life suiting you both?" he asked.

Joshua smiled and looked at Laura. "I don't know. What do you think, Laura? How is married life?" he asked his new wife, a grin spreading right across his face.

Laura punched Joshua on the arm. He complained and rubbed his arm, continuing to smile.

"What did I tell you about teasing me, Joshua McKenzie?" she complained with a pretend scowl.

"I can see things are just fine and dandy between you two," Aaron observed with a look toward Zack. His friend just rolled his eyes. Zack wasn't the marrying kind, or so he kept on telling anyone who'd listen.

"So what gives about the Gillespie ranch?" Zack asked.

Aaron glanced up at Eva's open bedroom window and took Zack's arm, leading him away from the front of the house. "Keep your voice down. Eva's up there, trying to rest," he said.

Zack's eyes widened. "Eva Gillespie is up in your bedroom?" he exclaimed.

Aaron raised a finger to his lips. "Keep your voice down. It's not what you're thinking."

"What exactly am I thinking, Aaron?" asked Zack.

Aaron looked over toward Joshua and Laura who'd followed him and Zack away from the front porch. They were all standing in the middle of the yard.

"I need to explain," he started to say.

"I think you do," Laura said firmly with a glance up at the open window.

Joshua glanced quickly at Laura and she, just as quickly, pursed her lips, saying no more for the moment.

Aaron told them all about the hard time that Eva had had in the previous few days. All three jaws dropped when they heard about the fire and how Aaron had dragged Eva to safety. He didn't mention other details, like how Eva faced the prospect of a forced marriage to Jude Arabin if she was going to get her hands on the ranch. He definitely didn't tell them that Eva had asked Aaron to marry her. He didn't know how they would have taken that.

"Is she getting better?" Laura demanded.

Aaron nodded. "She's improving by the hour. She's had some good rest and she's got two housekeepers fussing over her now, instead of just one."

Zack's eyes rolled again. "Now, that I just have to see," he said.

"But has she suffered any permanent damage?" Laura asked urgently.

"The doctor says she's going to make a full recovery," Aaron.

Laura nodded, but she didn't seem convinced. Zack slapped the side of Aaron's arm. "You did good, buddy," he stated.

"Yeah, Aaron. It can't have been easy running into that burning house," Joshua said.

Aaron frowned. "Eva was in there. That was all I knew. It didn't take much thought," he said.

"Don't be modest, Aaron. You saved Eva's life," Laura said bluntly. She looked up at the open window. "Is she up there, alone?"

Aaron nodded. Laura sighed. "I'm going up to see her."

Joshua took Laura's elbow. "Maybe she's resting."

Laura looked at her new husband. "She's probably feeling as if she's lost everything that's familiar. Life must seem as if it's all been turned upside down. Maybe she could benefit from a chat with another woman of her own age who knows exactly what that feels like."

Joshua nodded and Laura headed off toward the house.

Once Laura was out of earshot Zack turned to Aaron. "So, what's really going on, Aaron. You can't fool us. That's right. Isn't it Joshua?"

The rancher nodded. "No chance. We've all known each other too long not to know when there's trouble brewing," Joshua said.

"Let's go for a walk," Aaron told his two friends.

They made their way over to the far side of the corral. Down in the far valley Aaron could see a few ranch hands on horseback trying to move some wayward cattle into some kind of orderly group. Work was continuing on the Stewart ranch, even if the life of their boss had been thrown into turmoil.

Aaron was suddenly glad that his two friends had come to visit. The last forty-eight hours had been chaotic. Probably the most difficult of Aaron's life. At least that was how it felt. And now that he had Eva Gillespie under his roof, things had gotten just a whole lot more confusing.

The three men leaned back against the wooden railing of the corral.

"So what's the real story, Aaron," Zack asked.

Aaron sighed and thought for a moment. How much could he tell these men? He knew he trusted them. They'd all been through so much over the years. The idea there was nothing he could tell them was faintly ridiculous.

"You can tell us, Aaron," Joshua said as if sensing Aaron's reluctance.

Aaron nodded. "I know, guys. It's just that things are so darned complicated."

Joshua looked at Aaron. "I know how that feels," he said.

Aaron thought about what Joshua had gone through and agreed. Joshua had rescued Laura from a foolish mistake when she had almost married a complete stranger. Some fool lawyer had jilted her. How the man could have done that to someone as beautiful as Laura seemed incredible to Aaron. But that was what the idiot had gone and done. Joshua had rescued Laura, brought her home. Laura had agreed to marry Joshua, thinking that it was all going to be a marriage of convenience. But she'd soon discovered just how much Joshua had always wanted her. It hadn't been a surprise to Aaron and Zack. They'd known for years that Joshua had been sweet on Laura. It was just that she seemed to have been the last person to know. But wasn't that usually the way of love?

"So what's the deal?" Zack asked.

Aaron sighed. "Eva's in real trouble," he said flatly.