Wyatt tossed his head and began sidestepping his way closer to Samantha, which had Eunice nudging her horse a few feet away. “But simply because you can move, Wyatt, does not mean I’m going to appease your infatuation with Sam.”
Arthur wasn’t surprised when Wyatt tossed his head again and began pawing at the ground, quite as if he were considering appeasing his infatuation with Samantha whether Eunice was agreeable to that or not.
“Settle down,” Arthur said before he swung out of the saddle and walked to the nearest tree, wrapping the reins around a branch. Eunice steered Samantha to a tree well removed from Wyatt and slid gracefully from the saddle. After looping the reins around a limb, she strode his way, her attire leaving him grinning.
“Phillip’s most assuredly going to have a few things to say about how you seem to have embraced a fondness for trousers again overthe fashionable wardrobe he designed for you, especially when he was so proud of that riding habit he made.”
She returned his grin. “Since I have no intention of riding through the streets of New York in trousers once I return, what Phillip doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Besides, I was in no mood to ride sidesaddle today, even though I found a few of those in the tack room. Riding astride comfortably is next to impossible to do in a riding habit, hence the trousers.” She gestured to the crystal blue sky rising above the ridge of mountains in the distance. “I needed a good race across the fields to clear my head, and I’m pleased to say that the view alone has helped me with my thoughts, so much so that I’m actually considering visiting the target field at some point today.”
“The field isn’t far from here. Would you care to take a stroll over there now, or would you prefer to visit it by yourself?”
She drew in a breath. “I suppose now is as good a time as any, and I’d welcome your company. Even with Mrs. Wagner admitting to Grandfather’s murder, I’m a little wary about returning to the spot of Grandfather’s death. I know I’m not going to find that complete sense of closure, though, until I confront the fear that still lingers whenever I think of Grandfather dying on that field.”
Taking Eunice’s arm, they began walking through a grove of trees, Eunice’s pace slowing the closer they got to their destination.
“We don’t have to visit the field today,” he said, drawing her to a stop and turning her to face him. “It is your birthday, after all, and I’d hate to see your day turn melancholy, something that’s certain to happen when you revisit the spot of James’s death.”
She waved that aside. “I’m not dragging my feet because I’m in fear of turning melancholy. I’m dragging my feet because I can’t seem to stop revisiting the events of yesterday and Mrs. Wagner’s disclosure.” She shook her head. “I keep feeling something’s off about her admission. Yes, I believe she was capable of shooting Grandfather, but didn’t it seem odd to you that she up and confessed simply because of that letter my grandfather supposedly left me?”
“Itwasa rather abrupt ending to the discussion.”
“In all honesty, I didn’t actually believe when I made up the story about the letter that anyone was going to up and confess. But that’s exactly what Mrs. Wagner did, which seems out of character for her. She strikes me as a shrewd woman, and I would think she’d realize there’s a good chance that a letter could have been lost or destroyed over the years I’ve been gone.”
“I’m sure after Cooper returns from questioning Mrs. Wagner again today he’ll have information that will explain the reason behind her admission.”
“Unless she refuses to cooperate. After her admission last night, she didn’t bother to say another thing except to beg Vincent to forgive her before Cooper carted her off to jail. That she then didn’t say anything more to Cooper or Ann on their ride to jail suggests she’s unwilling to cooperate further.”
Arthur moved to a fallen tree trunk and pulled Eunice to a seat beside him. “Even though Vincent can be an unlikeable sort at times, I felt sorry for him last night. He seemed dumbfounded over his mother’s admission, and I couldn’t blame him for making a speedy exit as Mrs. Wagner was being led away.”
“I’m sure hewasshocked by her disclosure. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up leaving Butte. The townspeople may not care to frequent his bookshop once they learn his mother is a murderess.”
“Speaking of bookshops,” Arthur began, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a package wrapped in brown paper. He handed it to Eunice. “I got you a little something for your birthday, an occasion that should not go unnoticed.”
“You got me a present?”
“Of course, but don’t get your hopes up. It’s nothing much.”
“Honestly, Arthur, I’m hardly going to be disappointed with a present a friend took the time to get me.”
He stilled. “You consider us friends now?”
“I would think so, given all we’ve experienced together of late, even though I could have done without being squished by you onMain Street. Still, it was sweet of you to save me from a bullet that wasn’t intended for me, even if I had to suffer a bump on the head in the process.” With that, she untied the twine wrapped around the package, then tore the paper away, her mouth making anOof surprise. She lifted her head, her eyes sparkling. “What a beautiful copy ofPride and Prejudice, although I have no idea why you’d think I’d be disappointed because it’s the perfect gift for me. Thank you.”
His lips curved. “You’re welcome. I was hoping to find a first edition, but I didn’t have much time in New York before we left for Montana. I was then hoping Vincent might have a first edition in his bookshop, but since he doesn’t carry Jane Austen, well, my hopes were dashed. However, if you already have a leather-bound edition, I could try to find you that first edition once we return to New York, if you’ve decided you’re going to go back there soon.”
“I haven’t given it much thought, although New York feels far more like home then Montana does now.” She traced a finger over the binding, opened up the book, then bent her head and drew in a deep breath. “There’s nothing quite like the scent of a new book.”
“Then you really aren’t disappointed your present is merely a book?”
“‘Merely a book’ should never be said to an avid reader, and besides...” She hugged the book to her chest. “This is the most thoughtful present anyone has ever given me.”
Warmth flooded through him, and he found himself leaning closer to her, wondering for what felt like the millionth time how he could have been so oblivious seven years before to the charms of the remarkable woman sitting beside him.
Eunice’s eyes grew wide the closer he got, but then she closed her eyes and stilled when he pressed his lips against hers, the softness of her lips causing a groan to escape him before he pulled her closer, cradling her face with one hand while sinking his other hand into the blond mane of her hair as he caught a sigh from her against his lips.
Time seemed to stop as he drew her closer still, not wantingthe moment to end, until a loud clearing of a throat had his eyes flashing open before he pulled away from her.
He blinked and then frowned when his gaze settled on Vincent Wagner, who was standing a few feet away from them, looking rather sheepish as he shifted from one foot to the other.
