Big Sky Love by Cate Dean

Author:Cate Dean
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Time travel romance, historical romance, fish out of water romance, ranch Montana Wild West small town, witch rancher condemned men soldier Earl architect Highland laird, attraction love redemption sacrifice hope, pendant curse emerald
Publisher: Pentam Press
Published: 2016-04-19T16:00:00+00:00

Nine

THE EVENING MEAL was light, due to all the food consumed at the picnic. Charles ate the delicious, leftover fried chicken and hot, slightly bitter greens. After he finished eating, he handed his plate to Sally, and started to wander, restless.

He stopped in the middle of the field, just beyond the paddock. There was open pasture for miles, edged by thick stands of trees, and leading to snow covered mountains in the distance. Aside from the land next to his estate in Kent, he had never been in a place that felt so open, under a sky that felt so big.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Kate appeared out of the darkness, and stopped at his side. She looked tired, but content.

“A man could lose himself here, and be glad for it.”

“Would you want this, Charlie, after living in luxury? It can’t be easy for you.”

“I spent more time with my horses than in a ballroom.” He smiled at the surprise on her face. “Aside from the unbelievably hard bunk, I have enjoyed my time here.”

She stepped closer, and laid her hand on his cheek. “I’m glad you came to my rescue, Charlie.”

“Keep flirting with me, Kate Maguire, and I may take advantage.”

“I may not object if you do.” Her thumb traced his lower lip. Charles wanted to nip at that thumb, for a start. It took all his control to keep still. “I like you, more than I should. I want you to stay, Charlie.”

His heart pounded at her words. He took a deep breath, and forced himself to step away.

Just thinking of the word love left his stomach in a knot, and made the pendant he kept hidden under his shirt burn against his skin. Love had never been part of the equation for him. He adored women; God above, he adored everything about them. But to give his heart to one—there was the impossibility. It was also the reason he stood here now, in front of the woman who held his destiny in her hands.

How did he expect her to love him, when he would not do the same in return?

“There are things I am unable to explain,” he said. He had to choose his words carefully, reminded by the pendant that he trod on thin ice. “But, if you want me to stay, I can.”

“Everything I am, everything I have, has to be focused on this ranch, and on getting these cattle ready for the buyer my father set up. Please understand—my life, and the lives of everyone here, depends on me accomplishing this.”

She looked at him, as if she were about to say something else, then she shook her head and walked away from him.

It felt like someone had stabbed him in the gut.

Now, finally, he understood the desperation of the women he walked away from. The need to run after her was so great, he literally had to lock his knees to keep himself from doing so. By the time he controlled the urge, he had broken into a sweat.

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