Clint Edwards no longer had a choice.He knew from Kate that one of Rafe’s remaining problems was his refusal to name the other men who participated in the robberies.
He also knew he could no longer lie to Kate and her family.She hadn’t understood his quick departure that day when Randall and Rafe had been brought in, and he’d forced himself to stay at the Circle R.But then Kate rode in to see Shea, and they had almost smashed into each other as she was leaving the ranch house and he was going in.
His arms automatically went around her protectively and lingered there.He didn’t want to go, especially when those green eyes studied him with protective reserve.He knew he’d hurt her by avoiding her so obviously.
He wanted to kiss her now, to kiss away that reserve and that hint of sadness.But he had to talk to her first.He took her elbow and led her from the ranch house, out to the horse tethered to the hitching post.“I’ll see you home,” he said.
“That’s not necessary,” Kate said.“I’m very able to take care of myself.”
Clint grinned at the independence he’d come to respect and admire, but the smile quickly disappeared.“I know.But I want to.There’s something I need to tell you … and, later, your father.”
She looked at him curiously but allowed him to help her mount, and she waited as he mounted his own horse.
Clint waited until they were halfway there, until they reached a small bluff that looked over the ranch to the east and the mountains to the west, and then he stopped, dismounting and holding out his hands to help her down.She hesitated a moment and then slid into his arms, resting in them for a fraction of a second before moving away.
Clint reached out and took her hand, pulling her back.“You don’t know how much I’ve been wanting to hold you,” he said.
She looked up at him with puzzled eyes.“Then why …”
“Because I had no right,” he said.“Because I was lying to you and to your father.”
“I don’t … understand.…”
“I’ve … been helping Rafe Tyler.I took part in those stagecoach robberies,” he said, watching shock replace the puzzlement.
“But … why?”
“He was my commanding officer for a time during the war,” Clint said slowly.“He saved my brother’s life, and mine.He violated orders to do it and was disciplined for it.After the war I heard about the court-martial, and I went to see him.I knew he couldn’t be guilty.Not the man I knew.”
“And the others …”
“All men who served with him, who thought he got a pretty raw deal.We … thought if we pushed Randall enough, the truth might come out.”
“All these months …”
“All these months,” he confirmed as he watched her green eyes cloud.
“Is that why … you …” She couldn’t say the rest, but Clint knew what she was asking and it hurt—God, it hurt.She wanted to know whether he had kissed her, partly courted her, because he wanted to know what her father knew.
“Hell, no,” he said.“I hadn’t counted on … falling in love with you, and I knew … Christ, I knew I would hurt you, but I just couldn’t keep away.”
She looked up at him solemnly.“You fell in love with me?”
His hand went up to her cheek.“Oh, yes, pretty Kate, I fell in love, God help me.”
Kate was already tall, and now she stood up on her toes until her mouth could reach his.Slow to believe she could forgive his duplicity, he hesitated at first, and then his lips met hers with a yearning and hunger he couldn’t control.
Her arms went around him, and he pulled her against him, feeling for the first time he had a right to do so.He felt his independent Kate cling to him, and he knew that whatever came, they could survive it.
He took his lips from hers and brushed them against her cheek.“I love you, Kate,” he whispered.
“It took you long enough to say it, Mr.Edwards,” she whispered.“I’ve loved you for such a very long time.”
“Then will you wait …?”
He didn’t have to say anything else.Their kiss did it for him.
Led by Clint, the six men rode into Russ Dewayne’s ranch at sunset.
