“I honestly don’t know, unless he knew they couldn’t be together.”
Guilt came over Blaze, knowing she would be that person who married another and loved someone else. Yet, there wasn’t anything else she could do.
Carrie frowned. “Blaze? What is going on? Are you in love with another man?”
The tears Blaze wanted to keep away came forth in a rush as a sob formed in her throat. “Oh, Carrie. I don’t know what to do.” She covered her face with her hands.
Her friend’s comforting arms wrapped around her shoulders, and Blaze leaned her forehead against Carrie’s shoulder. Perhaps Blaze shouldn’t have cried in front of her friend, but she was at her wit’s end, trying to hold back her emotions, and now, her flood of tears would probably drown them both.
“Shhh,” Carrie stroked Blaze’s hair. “Don’t cry. All will work out.”
Shaking her head, Blaze pulled back and looked at her friend. “No, it won’t. I’m in love with George’s son, Colt, but he doesn’t want a wife. I don’t know how to get him out of my heart.”
Carrie gave her a sympathetic smile. “Do you know if he is in love with you?”
Blaze shrugged. “We have kissed passionately a few times, and Colt keeps trying to convince me not to marry Mr. Dalton, and yet, Colt hasn’t acted as if he’s changed his mind about marriage. He’s had several chances to declare his love to me and propose, but he hasn’t.”
“When were the times he kissed you?”
“The first one was at the masquerade party when I was dressed as Cleopatra. The last time was when I had gotten myself all dolled up to meet Mr. Dalton at the stagecoach, but he didn’t show that day because he missed the stage.”
Carrie was silent for a few seconds, and soon awareness brightened her face. A grin stretched her mouth wide. “Oh, Blaze. I think I know how to get Colt jealous enough to propose.”
Blaze laughed out loud. “I doubt he’ll ever get that jealous.”
“He might when he sees what he’s missing.”
Narrowing her gaze on her friend, Blaze asked, “What exactly do you have in mind?”
“Something truly wonderful, I promise.”
* * * *
COLT WAS HALF OUT OFhis mind worrying about Blaze. But she was a stubborn woman, which coincidentally was one of the things he had first liked about her. It was already the end of another day, and still, she hadn’t canceled her wedding. Tomorrow was the big day, and he didn’t know how to stop it.
He lay in his bed, gazing out the window. The night was warm, and he had taken off his shirt, but that wasn’t cooling him down. He needed cold water, and maybe it would both cool him down and get Blaze off his mind tonight. Sleep was what he needed to stay sharp for her wedding.
Inwardly, he groaned. Was he really going to the wedding, knowing she was marrying a man she would never love? If only he wanted to settle down, he’d snatch up Blaze in a heartbeat. Yet, the more he thought of her marrying another man, the more his stomach twisted in knots. He felt helpless. Maybe he needed to leave town sooner rather than later. At least he wouldn’t have to see her as another man’s wife every day for the next year.
There was no way he’d get any sleep tonight!
He climbed out of bed and scrubbed his palms over his day-old whiskers as he moved to the back door of the barn. A gentle wind touched his chest, but it didn’t cool him off. The half-moon helped bring light to the land, and he was very tempted to head on down by the stream and soak himself in the water.
Out of the corner of his eye, there was a movement of white material. He swung his gaze in that direction and studied the figure, slowly moving back and forth near the trees. It looked as if it could be a woman, but he wasn’t sure.
He took careful steps toward the figure until he could see her more clearly. What was Blaze doing wandering around at night in her nightdress... and her glorious auburn hair hanging around her shoulders and down her back?
When he walked closer, she jumped and turned toward him. Sucking in a fast breath, she placed her hand on her bosom.
“Colt? What are you doing out here?”
Her gaze darted around the area as if she was looking for someone. Immediately, he knew. She’d come out here to meet Kent. Anger filled Colt, and he wanted to yell at her for being so absentminded. And yet, she would be marrying his cousin tomorrow, so did it really matter?
No, it was wrong no matter how much he tried to reason the excuse. “Well, I was on my way to the stream to cool off, but I saw you out here instead.”
Her laugh seemed forced and uncomfortable. “I’m sorry you had to come and check on me, but I assure you, I’m fine.”
He stepped closer and arched an eyebrow. “Blaze, what areyoudoing out here in your nightdress, looking... so very alluring?” Maybe he shouldn’t have said that last part, but the words flew from his mouth before he could stop them.
