“It’s so… so untouched,” Rachel said, her tone almost reverent. Gavin stepped down from the saddle and walked over to her horse. He lifted his hands.

“Let me help you down. There’s a spot over there where you can see even better.” Their eyes met momentarily, then she leaned forward, her hands on his shoulders, allowing him to lower her to the ground. She was light, yet there was something real and solid about her. Not like Dru, who was wasting away so quickly. The light breeze ruffled the net of her bonnet and teased him with whiffs of her honeysuckle cologne. Her eyes looked bright, excited.

“Thank you, Mr. Blake.” It wasn’t until she pulled away that he realized he’d still been holding onto her waist. His hands felt suddenly empty. He rubbed his palms on his trouser legs and turned toward the children’s voices, hoping they could distract him from the odd feeling of loss that suddenly filled him.

Chapter Nine

It wasn’t easy being the oldest. When you’re older, you know things your little sister doesn’t know. Sometimes you hear the adults talking when they think you’re asleep. Or sometimes they think you’re not

smart enough to understand. And sometimes you just know things without anybody telling you anything at all, on purpose or by accident. Like when Sabrina was seven and her pa was gored by the bull. Not Gavin, her new pa, but her real pa, Charlie Porter. She’d heard her ma’s weeping after Mr. Stubs and Mr. Chamberlain brought him in on the back of the wagon, and she’d known he was dying. She hadn’t had to be told. She’d just known. She’d been just as sure of his dying as she was of her ma’s. Nobody ever talked about her ma being sick, of course, but she was. Ma tried to hide it, tried real hard, but Sabrina still knew. Ma wasn’t going to live much longer. That’s what made today so special. Sabrina didn’t have to think of those things. She didn’t have to see her ma getting thinner and weaker. She could pretend for a little while that nobody got sick and died, not Pa or Ma or anybody else. She could pretend that her ma was as healthy and pretty as Miss Harris and that she could run and play games and laugh a lot—just like Miss Harris.

“She’d be plenty scared,” Petula whispered into Sabrina’s ear.

“Think so?”

“She’d probably scream for Pa.” There was a mischievous gleam in Petula’s eyes.

“Let’s see.” Stifling her giggles, Sabrina agreed. The two girls squatted behind the large tree, trying to stay quiet so Rachel wouldn’t know where they were. They waited for what seemed an eternity before they heard her voice calling through the trees.

“Brina! Pet! It’s time to go.” Sabrina squeezed Petula’s hand, excitement racing between them, hazel eyes sparkling, brown eyes twinkling in return.

“Come on, girls. Your mother will be worried.” Her voice was closer this time. Sabrina nodded at her little sister. In unison, they jumped up and raced around the tree and down the path toward Rachel.

“A bear!” Sabrina cried.

“There’s a bear after us!”

“It’s gonna eat us!” Petula shouted. They had expected Rachel to turn and run away with them, calling for their pa’s help. Instead, she grabbed each of them by their hands, drawing them to a sudden halt and forcing them to stand beside her.

“Really?” she said, peering up the trail.

“I’ve never seen a bear before. let’s wait and have a look at him. Is he very big? What color is he?” Sabrina felt a flash of panic, suddenly believing she would see a bear any moment. Why were they just standing there?

“You know, girls,” Rachel whispered without looking at them, her tone ominous, “when you’re planning to scare someone, always make sure they’re not listening on the other side of the tree. It spoils the surprise.” She dropped their hands and tapped Sabrina and Petula on top of their heads.

“Tag! You’re both it.” Lifting the hem of her riding habit, her laughter trailing behind her, Rachel raced off down the trail. The two girls turned startled expressions on each other, then took out after their governess with shouts and laughter of their own. Gavin turned from the horses just in time to see Rachel come running out of the trees. She had removed her hat earlier and now her hair had tumbled free of its pinnings. It flew out behind her like pale gold wings. Her laughter rang like clear bells in a mountain cathedral. Sabrina appeared just as suddenly, her arm outstretched, obviously intent on tagging her governess. Petula’s shouts were heard long before her short legs carried her into the clearing. But Rachel was far too quick for either of them. There was no hope of Sabrina catching her, let alone Petula. Except Joker entered the picture at that exact moment, his excited barks added to the shouts and laughter. The big hound bounded between Rachel and Sabrina, then turned to run a circle around Rachel. She tried to stop, but it was too late. She tripped over the dog just as Sabrina, in hot pursuit, hurled herself through the air. They fell to the ground in a jumble of skirts, then the two of them were tumbling head over heels down the grassy incline, Petula scurrying after them. Gavin sprinted forward, but by the time he reached them, their giggles told him no one was hurt.

“You’re it, Miss Harris,” Sabrina managed to say as she gasped for air.

“Yeah, you’re it, Miss Harris,” Petula parroted. Rachel touched their cheeks with her fingertips, first Petula, then Sabrina.

“I guess so,” she responded breathlessly, smiling all the while. Her face was flushed with color. Her tousled hair was filled with dried grass. There was a smudge of dirt on the tip of her chin, and her grosgrain cravat was all askew.

“Where is he?” she asked, her smile suddenly fading. She glanced up at Gavin, and he thought for a moment she was angry with him. Then she swung her head around.

“Ah! So there you are.” Joker lay on the ground a few feet away. His chin was buried in the grass, and his dark eyes watched her apologetically as his tail slapped the ground in a slow rhythm.

“Benedict Arnold.” Joker whined and inched his way forward.

“Don’t think you’ll win my forgiveness so easily.” Rachel turned her head away, her pert nose pointed into the air. Joker slinked across the remaining distance, then laid his chin on Rachel’s thigh, his ears flat against his head, his eyes pleading for absolution. Gavin found himself waiting with the same rapt attention as the girls. Rachel glanced down at the young wolfhound, one eyebrow cocked, her head tilted to one side.

“This time, you mangy hound,” she said softly as her hand smoothed the wiry hair on top of his head.

“But don’t you turn traitor on me again.” Joker’s tail smacked the ground in double time. Children’s laughter filled the air again as Petula fell on Joker, joined quickly by Sabrina. The oversized pup was on his feet in a flash, jumping away before flinging himself back into their midst. Then he was up and running, the two girls hard on his heels. Rachel clapped her hands together, laughing gaily, her sky-blue eyes sparkling with mischief and pleasure.

It hit Gavin then. Perhaps she wasn’t at all what he’d suspected.

Perhaps she wasn’t spoiled or vain or selfish. She was definitely lovely and vibrant and fun. Maybe Dru was right. There was plenty about this young woman to like. Possibly too much. He held out his hand to her.

“Let me help you, Miss Harris.” She glanced up at him, laughter still lighting her eyes.

“Thank you.” She took hold of his hand, and he pulled her effortlessly to her feet.

“I promise to have a long talk with Joker when we get back to the house.” He leaned closer, his voice falling to a confidential whisper.

“I thought that boy had better manners than to trip a lady.” Rachel’s eyes widened a fraction, her smile faded slightly.

“Yes,” she replied, sounding breathless once again.

“You should do that, Mr.–”

“Gavin. Call me Gavin.” Whatever she might have said was interrupted by the return of barking dog and laughing children. Rachel felt as if she might suddenly explode. Her nerve endings were screaming. It was hard to breathe, and her pulse was racing madly. Her eyes fell on Gavin’s back as he led the way down the mountainside. He rode his horse with an easy grace, his body moving in time with the animal. She could sense his strength even from this distance, felt his alertness as his head turned occasionally from side to side. Call me Gavin. Her heartbeat did a little somersault as she recalled the warm resonance of his voice. It couldn’t be, of course. She couldn’t be feeling this way about Gavin Blake. He turned in the saddle. Their eyes met over the top of the children’s heads. Her heart did another little hiccup. Lord help her! It couldn’t be this. It couldn’t be now. But it was. As clearly as she’d always known she was waiting for something special to happen to her, she knew that this was it. She’d been waiting for this fantastically wretched feeling. She’d been waiting to fall in love. But she was feeling it for the wrong man. She glanced away from him, afraid of what he might see if she continued looking into those steely gray depths. She stared at the slick carpet of pine needles beneath the palomino’s hooves, but her thoughts couldn’t be controlled so easily. She kept remembering the sound of Gavin’s voice, the warmth of his breath on her face as he’d leaned closer, the jaunty look of his black hair as it brushed his shirt collar, the shadow of a beard beneath his tanned skin. What was she to do? Suddenly, the magnificent mountains surrounding the valley had become menacing barriers, allowing no escape from the emotions that threatened to consume her. Maggie, what do I do? She closed her eyes, imagining herself back in the safety of her room at the Branigan ranch.

Her sister would know what to tell her. She’d always been able to count on Maggie. Her sister had raised her, shielded her from their abusive uncle, brought her West across the Oregon Trail and into the safe, loving arms of the Branigan clan. Maggie would be able to tell her what to do, if only she could get to her. Why hadn’t she listened to Maggie when she advised Rachel against coming? Why had she been so blasted stubborn, so determined to come to this wilderness with these strangers? Her fingers tightened around the reins. love might be that special something she’d been expecting, but her destiny couldn’t be with another woman’s husband. She wouldn’t allow herself to feel this way. She would simply have to take control of the emotion. Call me Gavin. It was like the ground dropping out from under her, this feeling he caused within her. She was suddenly afraid she couldn’t control the way she felt. She wasn’t prepared for this. She wasn’t supposed to fall in love with a man who could never be hers. It was wrong. She had no right to feel this way. She would have to leave. Despite her promise to Dru that she would stay through spring, she would have to return to Boise. Because if she didn’t, something terrible was going to happen. Already she could feel her heart breaking.