“How’d they get up here?”
“Horses for most of the way. Then the skis and sled the last of the distance.”
Just like he’d thought. “Why’d they come to you and not to me?”
“Reckon it’s because I’m better-looking.”
Sterling wasn’t in the mood for joking, and he urged his horse faster, pulling ahead of Beckett. He didn’t know what he’d say to Violet when he got to the cabin. But he had to say something to reassure her that they could get along together on the ranch just fine. He’d let her know he wasn’t planning to restart their relationship and would give her as much distance and time as she needed. He thought he’d already made that clear, but apparently not enough.
Whatever the case was, he didn’t want her running off to the cabin every time she felt like she needed to get away.
At the top of the next incline, he wasn’t surprised to see two horses tied up to a tree. But he was surprised to discover one of the horses didn’t belong to the Noble Ranch. The creature looked familiar, but he couldn’t place where he’d seen it before.
He and Beckett dismounted, tied up their horses, then donned the skis that Beckett had left there for them. Once again, Beckett refused to say anything about the horse and skis, insisting that Sterling would discover the answers soon enough.
Sterling was a better skier than Beckett and left him behind in his haste to reach the cabin. Within five minutes, the log structure came into view in the forested nook near the creek. Smoke rose from the chimney, which thankfully meant this time the women had been able to start a fire. Or maybe Beckett had been there earlier and helped them get one going.
Whatever the case, Sterling finished the distance in record time. As he stood in front of the door, he thudded it loudly with one gloved hand while he unlatched his skis with the other. “Violet, open up. We need to talk.”
He heard voices inside as he tossed aside his first ski. He finished with his second ski as Beckett came into view on the opposite side of the creek.
Sterling knocked against the door again. “Please, Violet. Whatever is wrong, we can work it out, can’t we?”
The door cracked open, and Hyacinth’s face appeared in the crack. “Hi, Sterling. It’s about time.”
It’s about time? What did that mean?
Hyacinth peered beyond him, her gaze latching onto Beckett. Something flashed in her eyes. Was it interest? Or loathing? Sterling could never tell with those two.
“What’s wrong?” Sterling asked. “Is Violet okay?”
“She will be in just a moment.” Hyacinth moved back and then opened the door wider.
Sterling hesitated. “Is there any way I could talk privately with her for a few minutes?”
Hyacinth motioned at him. “Just come in.”
A tremor pulsed through him. He didn’t want to be afraid, didn’t want to be a coward, didn’t want the bitterness andfrustration to return and fill him. He needed to be stronger this time, needed to move forward with his resolve to love her unconditionally.
He took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Violet stood in the center of the cabin in the same green gown she’d worn a few days ago, her hair styled up. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes shimmering…with fear but also something else.
The anxiety pounding inside Sterling grew suddenly quiet.
In a sweeping glance, he took in the cabin, still decorated with all the pretty things Violet and Hyacinth had made the last time they were here. But this time there were candles on the table, along with two place settings and a covered platter.
It was the same setup that he’d dreamed of when he’d been a young man and planning his proposal with his best friend Maverick Oakley. It was the same setup that Mav had arranged that day Sterling had brought Violet out and proposed to her.
What was Violet doing?
At a movement from behind him, Sterling shifted to find Reverend Livingston standing by the stove, rubbing his hands together. The strange horse belonged to the reverend. That’s where Sterling had seen it.
But why was the reverend at the cabin?
Sterling turned back to Violet to find her on her knees, her gown pooling around her. “Sterling,” she started, her voice quivering and her hand trembling as she held out a ring—a simple gold band.
His heartbeat stopped.
