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lifted his head and smiled at her arrogantly, his pale eyes glittery. "I'll have you, all the same. And
you'll like it."
"You arrogant, unprincipled, overbearing—"
"Save it up, honey," he interrupted, jerking his hat down over one eyebrow. "I've got a man waiting on
a cattle deal."
He dropped a hard kiss on her open mouth and left her standing, fuming, behind him.
Harden had given her permission to ride any of his horses except an oversize, bad-tempered stallion
named Rocket. Normally, she wouldn't have gone against him. But he was acting like the Supreme
Male, and she didn't like it. She saddled the stallion and took him out, riding hell for leather until she
and the horse were too tired to go any farther.
She paused to water him at a small stream, talking to him gently. His reputation was largely
undeserved, because he was a gentle horse as long as he had a firm hand. In many ways, he and she
were kindred spirits. She'd left behind her unbridled youth, and Tim had made her uncomfortable with
her femininity. She'd felt like a thing during most of her marriage, a toy that Tim took off the shelf
when he was bored. But with Harden, she felt wild and rebellious. He brought all her buried passions
to the surface, and some of them were uncomfortable.
When she glanced at her watch, she was surprised to find how much time had elapsed since she'd
taken Rocket out of the barn. At a guess, she was going to be in a lot of trouble when she got back.
Sure enough, Harden was marching around the front of the barn, a cigarette in his hand, his normally
lazy stride converted into a quick, impatient pacing. Even the set of his head was dangerous. Miranda
got out of the saddle and led Rocket the rest of the way. Her jeans were splattered with mud, like her
boots, and her yellow cotton shirt wasn't much cleaner. Her hair, pinned up in a braid, was untidy. But
her face was alive as never before, flushed with exhilaration, her gray eyes bright with challenge and
excitement.
Harden turned and stiffened as she approached. Evan was nearby, probably to save her from him, she
thought mischievously.
"Here," she said, handing him the reins. She lifted her face, daring him. "Go ahead. Yell. Shout. Curse.
Give me hell."
His face was hard and his eyes were glittery, but he did none of those things. Unexpectedly he jerked
her into his arms and stood holding her, a faint tremor in his lean, fit body as he held hers against it.
The action shocked her out of all resistance, because it told her graphically how worried he'd been.
The shock of it took the edge off her temper, made her relax against him with pure delight.
"I forgot the time," she said at his ear. "I didn't do it on purpose." She clung to him, her eyes closed.
"I'm sorry you were worried."
"How do you know I was?" he asked curtly.
She smiled into his warm neck. "I don't know. But I do." Her arms tightened. "Going to kiss me?" she
whispered.
"I'd kiss you blind if my brother wasn't standing ten feet away trying to look invisible. That being the
case, it will have to wait." He lifted his head. His face was paler than usual. "Monday, we're getting
married. I can't take anymore. Either you marry me, or you get out of my life." She searched his eyes.
It would be taking a huge chance. But she'd learned that they were pretty compatible, and she knew he
was beginning to feel something besides physical attraction for her. At least, she hoped he was. They
got along well together. She knew and enjoyed ranch life, so there wouldn't be much adjustment in
that quarter. Anyway, the alternative was going back to Chicago to live with her ghosts and try to live
without Harden. She'd tried that once and failed. She wasn't strong enough to try it again. She smiled
up at him softly. "Monday, then," she said quietly. Harden hadn't realized that he'd been holding his
breath. He let it out slowly, feeling as if he'd just been handed the key to the world. He looked down at
her. "Good enough. But just for the record, honey, if you ever, ever, get on that horse again without
permission," he said in a seething undertone,
"I'll feed him to you, tail first!"
She lifted her eyebrows. "You and whose army, buster?"
He grinned. He chuckled. He wrapped her up and gave her a bear hug, the first really affectionate
gesture of their turbulent relationship.
They were married the following Monday. Miranda's brother, Sam, gave her away, and Evan was best
man.
Joan, Sam's wife, managed to get a radiant Miranda alone long enough to find out how happy she
really was.
"No more looking back," Joan said softly.“Promise?"
"I promise," Miranda replied with a smile. "Thank you. Did I ever just say thank you for all you and
Sam have done for me over the years?"
"Twice a week, at least." Joan laughed, and then she sobered. "He's a tiger, that man," she added,
nodding toward Harden, who was standing with his brothers and Sam. "Are you sure?"
"I love him," Miranda said simply.
Joan nodded. "Then it will be all right."
But would it, Miranda wondered, when Harden didn't love her.
"What a bunch," Sam said with a grin as he joined them. He put an affectionate arm around his sister.
"At least you're no stranger to horses and ranch life," he said. "You'll fit right in here. Happy, kitten?"
"So happy," she assured him with a hug.
"Well, Harden will take care of you," he said. "No doubt about that. But," he added with a level stare,
"no more leaping on horses' backs. I'm not sure your new husband's nerves will take it!" She laughed,
delighted that Harden had shared that incident with Sam. It meant that he liked her, anyway. He wanted
her, too, and she was nervous despite the intimacy they'd shared. She didn't know if she was going to
be enough for him.
Evan added his congratulations, along with the rest of the family. Theodora hugged her warmly and
then looked with bitter hopelessness at Harden, who'd hardly spoken to her.
"He'll get over it one day," Miranda said hesitantly.
"Over the facts of his birth, maybe. Over Anita? I don't think he ever will," she added absently,
oblivious to the shaken, tragic look that flashed briefly over Miranda's features before she quickly
composed them.
Suddenly aware of what she'd said Theodora turned, flushing. "I can't ever seem to say the right thing,
can I?" she asked miserably. "I'm sorry, Miranda, I didn't mean that the way it sounded."
"You don't need to apologize to me," she told the older woman quietly. "I know he doesn't love me. It's
all right. I'll try to be a good wife, and there will be children." Theodora grimaced. Harden joined
them, gathering Miranda with easy possessiveness under his arm to kiss her warmly.
"Hello, Mrs. Tremayne," he said softly. "How goes it?"
“I’m fine. How about you?" she asked.
“I’ll be better when we get the reception out of the way. I had no idea we were related to so many
people," he chuckled. Then he glanced at Theodora, and the laughter faded. few of them are related to
me, of course," he added cuttingly.
Theodora didn't react. Her sad eyes searched his. "Have a nice honeymoon, Harden. You, too,
Miranda." She turned and walked away, ignoring her son's hostility. Miranda looked up at him
worriedly. "You can't keep this up. You're cutting her to pieces." His eyes narrowed. "Don't interfere,"
he cautioned quietly. "Theodora is my business."
"I'm your wife," she began.
"Yes. But that doesn't make you my conscience. Let's get this over with." He took her arm and led her
into the house, where the caterers were ready for the reception. The reception was held at the ranch,
but Theodora ran interference long enough for the newlyweds to get away.
Connal and Pepi showed up for the wedding, and Miranda found that she and Pepi were fast becoming
friends. Connal reminded her a lot of Evan, except that he was leaner and younger. Pepi was an elf, a
gentle creature with big eyes. She and Connal had little Jamie Ben Tremayne with them, and he [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]