She took in a breath for courage. “I won’t deny I didn’t ... I mean, I wasn’t expecting that...” She just couldn’t bring herself to saykiss.
She raised her chin for a bit more courage. “You took me by surprise too. But that doesn’t mean it’s an unwelcome one. I...” Did she dare reveal how inexperienced she was in matters of the heart? Papa and her older sisters had always kept her so sheltered, and she’d been content focusing on her animals. She could always find a new creature in need. She’d never worried overmuch about the men of their acquaintance. In truth, there’d never been a man worth worrying about.
Not until Tanner.
His gaze softened, and his thumb stroked the back of her hand. “I’m glad.” Then his gaze slid to the side, taking in their surroundings. A line formed across his brow. “We need to take care with your reputation. Perhaps I should see you back to your sisters’ ranch, especially with White Horse gone.”
She choked out a laugh. “I’m not sure my reputation matters out here. Most people don’t know me at all. And of those who do, half already think we’re man and wife.”
He looked back at her, worry in his eyes. “I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have presumed...”
She shook her head. “Safety is more important than reputation in this land.”
Before he could answer, a distant call sounded from the direction of the trade room. “Halloo, the fort.”
Tanner released her hands and stepped back. His eyes crinkled at the edges. “Once I finish up with these customers, I’ll ride you to the ranch.”
Disappointment pressed in her chest as he turned and strode toward the trade room, his long legs covering the ground quickly. She didn’t need to retreat to her sisters for protection from him. She was a grown woman, perfectly capable of handling herself with propriety, even when alone with a man.
Yet that kiss. Even now, the memory swept a flood of warmth through her.
She’d responded with every part of herself. How could Tanner have possibly been uncertain about her feelings after that? He was a handsome, intelligent man. A business owner. Someone who’d experienced far more of the world than she had.
Was it his father’s actions that made him so unsure of himself? Or had he been spurned by a woman too?
A smile curled inside her. It seemed impossible any woman would refuse Tanner Mason, but whoever she was, her loss was Lorelei’s gain.
White Horse didn’t return until midmorning the next day.
Curly was the first to alert Lorelei of his approach, asthe calf lifted his head toward the exterior gate and bawled. The familiar nicker of White Horse’s stallion answered from outside the fort walls.
She’d been sitting against the rear wall, enjoying the sunshine and the animal’s company, especially since Tanner seemed bent on depriving her of his companionship. Hopefully now that White Horse had returned, he wouldn’t hole himself away in the trade room like he had since their kiss.
When she’d insisted she had no need to return to the ranch while White Horse was gone, he’d looked worried. Was it himself he didn’t trust, or her? They were both adults; they could act with propriety.
But apparently Tanner’s form of propriety included locking himself away, only opening the trade room door when she knocked with his meal the night before. His demeanor had been guarded, though he’d acted friendly and thankful for her delivery.
But she’d not seen him since, and as much affection as Curly showered on her, he simply didn’t fill her longing for the man on the other side of that door.
She pushed up to her feet and headed toward the gate. The barrier opened before she reached it, and White Horse’s face appeared, scanning the interior before he stepped in fully.
His gaze settled on her, but no grin flashed. His eyes slid down the length of her, as though checking for injuries. His expression showed no sign of whether his journey had been a success or not.
“Did you find her?”
White Horse’s attention flicked toward the trade room as Tanner stepped outside and approached them. He glancedher way, and her heart stalled for an extra beat as she met his look. There was the warmth from yesterday. Maybe he really had been avoiding her simply to protect her reputation.
When Tanner reached them, White Horse finally spoke. “I found valley and creek and animal trail. I did not find cave.” His brow lowered as he shook his head. “No cave on that mountain, I am sure of it. If my mother there, she would call to me.”
She knew his expressions so well now that the disappointment was easy to make out, though a stranger might not have recognized the blankness in his eyes as such.
She searched her mind for something that might encourage him. “Maybe she left that place and hid the opening to the cave. Perhaps she went to gather berries or roots. Maybe she’ll be back. We can try again in a week or so.”
He shook his head. “No cave on that mountain.” Was he trying to convince himself? Or did he really believe this had been a false lead?
Adams had sounded so certain, though his idea of a specter couldn’t be right. That might simply have been his mind playing tricks on him, trying to understand what he saw. In truth, it was more likely Steps Right had become adept at hiding. They might have caught her off guard that one time, but she managed to slip away.
Yet why wouldn’t she come out for her son? Was there a danger she protected him from?
