He frowned. “Are you cold?” Before she could answer, he crossed to the stove and began to add more wood to the flames.
When he straightened, he stared at the fire for a few seconds before shifting to look at her again. “Hopefully that keeps you warm for a while.”
“You’re such a kind man, Sterling.” She was growing warmer, but not from the stove’s heat. It was from his scrutiny, the way he seemed to linger over her. And yes, it was also because she was letting herself get her fill of him. In the dim lighting, his features were even more chiseled, his jaw strong, his cheekbones prominent, and his scruff dark. He was all brawn, lean and muscular.
She hadn’t met many cowboys before Sterling, and she’d been fascinated by him from the moment he’d introduced himself to her. Tonight, at this moment, as her gaze slid down him, she couldn’t keep from noticing just how incredibly appealing his body was—a body that had been honed and shaped by the land and weather and the animals he raised.
The warmth inside seeped deeper, creating a strange craving to be close to him, to lie next to him and press against that hard chest.
What in heaven’s name was she thinking?
She quickly shifted her gaze to her blanket. Why was she having such wanton thoughts? She’d never had brazen desires for him previously. So why now?
Was it because of their close living quarters? Because she was in bed and sleeping so near to him? Or because he was more rugged and handsome and attractive than she’d remembered?
For several moments, she could hear him shuffling around the cabin. She kept her gaze off him, half afraid to look at him again in case she stirred up more cravings for him.
Besides, she didn’t want him to see it. That would be mortifying.
Finally, he put out the light, then made his way in the darkness to the bunk bed across from her and situated himself there.
When all was silent again, she allowed herself to take a peek at him. She’d expected to have to strain to see him in the darkness, but the glow from the fire provided enough light that she could see he was lying on his side, facing her, his eyes closed. With the frustration and determination gone from his face, he was even better looking—so much so that her heart pattered an extra-hard beat.
She situated herself more comfortably on her side. Maybe she would watch him all night. Would that be odd? Too much?
She let her gaze linger on the arm that he’d tucked under his head to act as a pillow. His shirt was taut against his bicep, his hair thick and mussed, and his shoulders relaxed.
He cracked open an eye and raised one brow at her as though questioning her scrutiny.
Oh bother. How had he known she was staring? She prayed that, through the darkness, he couldn’t see how mortified she was that he’d caught her ogling him.
“I’m sorry for sending you away.” His whisper was unexpected, as was his apology, and the sincerity in his eyes wasalmost more than she knew what to do with. “I shouldn’t have told you to leave the house by dawn.”
“It’s all right. I understand why—”
“No, I was wrong and rude and insensitive.”
“Sterling…” A powerful affection swelled inside her—an affection that was unlike anything she’d felt before. Once again, she wanted to be close to him and let him wrap her in his arms all night long. Instead, she closed her eyes to hide that longing from him and herself.
“Good night, Violet.” His voice was a caress.
“Good night,” she whispered, fighting the urge to open her eyes. If she did, she wasn’t sure what she might do with all the strange yearnings that were pulsing through her with growing intensity. The best thing was for her to go to sleep and force herself to forget that Sterling was there.
In fact, the best thing was to forget that she was attracted to him at all.
12
Sterling’s muscles burned from the exertion of pulling Violet on the sled. But the ranch was in sight, and he’d kept the two women safe for the duration of the long hike down from the miner’s cabin.
Although they’d left early in the morning, it was already past midday. The journey had taken twice as long as it usually did, not just because the sled had slowed them down but because the snow had been thick and treacherous in some places. He’d had to circle off the trail so that the way would be smoother. A few times he’d even lifted Violet onto his back and carried her through areas that had been too rough for the sled.
Relief and gratefulness welled inside him that they’d made it back. He hadn’t wanted to cause Violet more pain during the journey, but he also hadn’t wanted to chance staying and having another storm blow in, trapping them even longer. Not when the amount of food had already been slim.
He paused on the final rise and took in the sight. Nestled in the valley, the ranch was picturesque, with the rugged mountain range in the east rising up and dwarfing the house and the barns and the outbuildings. Everything looked so peaceful with the fresh snow covering the pastures, and the cattle milling about in the field also appeared to be fine.
Were they, though? How many more steers had died while he’d been gone? The closer he’d gotten to home, the more he’d begun to dread what he’d find.
Behind him, he could feel Violet wiggling out of the sled.
