“Tomorrow evening, I’ll help you put him to bed and read a story.” He ambled over to the swing. He’d washed up from his day of work. Clean dark-blue shirt, buckskin-colored trousers, and suspenders. A couple of bruises discolored his cheekbone and jaw. If there were injuries to his body from Arthur’s blows and kicks, he seemed to have no intention of letting on.
The swing creaked as he sat beside her. Her pulse quickened. Would he hold her hand or wrap his arm around her shoulders? Would he talk for a while before he kissed her? He would kiss her, wouldn’t he? She’d waited all day for it.
“The swing is a beautiful gift.” She lowered her gaze to her lap and fiddled with a fold of her skirt. “I love it.”
“Perfect for courting my girl.” He stretched his arm behind her, drawing her closer, thigh to thigh. The scents of bay rum and soap emanated from his presence. “Couldn’t very well cuddle like this in two rockers, even if they’re side by side.”
He seemed back to his usual self, even more so. Had her encouragement yesterday meant that much to him? Not on her own doing. Perhaps the Lord had answered her prayers.
Ben pushed with his legs, and the swing moved back and forth. The supporting chains creaked with each movement. Across the western horizon, the sunset blushed pink. The traces of light slowly faded as pricks of brightness popped into the twilight sky one by one. Katydids chirped from the swishing grasses.
She laid her head against his shoulder, and he pressed his cheek to her hair, taking her hand in his and drawing it to histhigh as they watched the fading blue of the sky give way to night.
Twilight fully reigned by the time he spoke again, his voice low and gentle but sprinkled with an edge of matter-of-fact. “We need to talk, Cora.”
“I’d be perfectly fine if we didn’t.” Surely, any serious discussion could wait until morning. She snuggled closer.
A light chuckle lifted his chest. He kissed her hair. “You are the girl who has captured my heart, and I’d like nothing better than to kiss you all night long, but I need to let you know about an obstacle.”
“If it’s about the cattle, we’ll find a way to make the finances work.” She raised her head and scooted away a couple of inches, putting just enough distance between them so she could see his face. “I didn’t mention it yesterday, but Goodnight came by a few days ago.”
“He’s already back from the trail drive? How?” Ben’s arm slipped away.
“He only had to go halfway. Ended up selling the herd to the army in New Mexico. The troops forced the Navajo onto a huge reservation there but had no way to feed them. The army officials bought all of the steers, and Mr. Loving took the cows and yearlings on to Colorado. Goodnight gave me the profit from the sale of my cattle you’d rounded up. We have cash for now. Enough to last until fall and beyond because of you.”
He rubbed his hand over his hair. “If I’d waited, I could have persuaded him to take the longhorns I purchased from the widow with him if he made another run…” A groan vibrated from his throat.
“You did what you thought best for us. You took one of Goodnight’s seasoned hands as a guide.” She curled her fingers around his biceps. “And I have a sack of coins hidden under my mattress because of your quick thinking and hard workwith my family’s herd. This is the frontier. Losses—great losses sometimes—are part of survival here.” And didn’t she know it, heart and soul. Her whole family, save Charlie. Gone. Was it worth it? She shuddered. “But Goodnight is going again. He was headed to Weatherford for supplies, and he’s roaming the range looking for more cattle?—”
“He could take our forty-five head.” Ben sat taller.
“Yes.” She brightened.
“A handful compared to what might have been.” He inhaled. His voice firmed. “I should leave tomorrow. Ask around town. Find out which direction he headed. If I ride hard, I should be able to catch him?—”
“Tomorrow? You just got back.”
“I have to catch him before he hits the trail. As is, I might need to hire a cowhand to help drive the cattle to Palo Pinto to meet up with him.”
She slid her hands down to his. “But you won’t go with him, right? Not all the way to New Mexico?”Please say no. You’ve been gone enough.“Goodnight said he might winter there.”
Ben studied her for a moment. “If he invited me, it wouldn’t be a bad idea. I’d likely learn a lot. But I have other matters to consider.” His voice trailed off. He brushed his fingertips down the length of her hair as if he’d discovered a great treasure. “The last thing I want to do is be away from you for months.”
The last thing she wanted either. “The ranch doesn’t feel quite like home anymore when you’re gone.”
His eyes widened. “It’s the only place that feels like home to me.” His voice dipped.
She touched her hand to his chest.
He tipped her chin upward. “I haven’t even told you how beautiful you are tonight. With your hair down…and the way the moonlight glistens in your eyes…” His gaze fell to her mouth.
Her lips parted. He dipped his head and brushed his lips to hers, like butterfly wings, before deepening the kiss and scattering all thoughts of the world beyond his arms. Melting in his embrace, she lost herself in love.
“Ahem.” Someone cleared their throat.
Cora startled and slipped halfway out of Ben’s arms.
A pinprick of light emanated from Mr. Franklin’s cigarette as he ambled toward the porch steps.
