Read Online Reckless Territory by Kate Watterson - Free Book Online
Authors: Kate Watterson
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one in turn. “Is there some reason all of you gentlemen are so quiet?”
They were hardly gentlemen, and Cole least of all, since he’d taken her virginity just hours ago.
Robert, ever the diplomat, was the one to answer. “I think we’re all trying to figure out how to handle what happened between you and Cole from here on out.”
“Oh.” Her response was barely audible.
Cole wasn’t sure what came next either. Just because she’d given herself to him earlier didn’t necessarily mean he had a claim. She’d offered and he’d accepted and he didn’t regret one touch, one kiss, and to his dying day he’d remember what it felt like to be inside her, but he had no illusions she was his alone.
Even in the firelight, her vivid blush was visible but she was also remarkably poised and sat with ladylike composure on a fallen log Jace had dragged close to the camp for her, demure in her trousers and boots, her blouse loose at the neck, exposing her slim throat. It took her a moment, but she said with admirable composure, “I’ve been thinking quite in depth about what will happen when we reach the Crescent Moon.”
They’d named the ranch after the shape of the small, secluded valley, and since they finally had the deed and it was all theirs, it was the subject of conversation on the trail pretty often. Victoria probably knew as much about it as they did by now.
Jace rose from where he’d been poking at the fire with a stick to stir the embers. “I think you’ll find us pretty interested to hear what you’ve come up with.”
“I can’t cook.”
No, she couldn’t. Robert had tried to teach her how to make biscuits but it was clear from the results she’d never touched a pan, much less flour and lard. “Nope,” Cole agreed laconically. “That you can’t, my lady.”
She sent him a quelling glance, but she had the innate grace to half-smile. “You didn’t have to agree so readily.”
“It took me two days to recover from eating that biscuit. Thought I’d swallowed a horseshoe.”
But he grinned when he said it, both in reassurance and because he had the impulse to grin anyway. She did that to him.
Victoria laughed, but then went on doggedly, “I can’t saddle a horse, or sew a shirt or make soap either.”
“We can buy our soap and shirts, and you’ll learn to cook,” Robert argued. “One of us will saddle your horse for you. We understand about your upbringing. It doesn’t matter.”
Leave it to Robert to know exactly how to sum up the situation. It didn’t matter to any of them she had none of the skills needed for a woman to contribute to a working ranch. She’d brought grace into their restless lives. Buying the ranch was a good start, but Victoria might take what had been a collaborative effort to escape their pasts and give them an actual future.
In the flickering firelight, she lifted her chin. “It matters to me. I have learned enough about what it is like to lose your pride. My father’s disgrace taught me some unfortunate lessons about self-reliance. I want to learn all of those tasks, and well enough that not only can I be useful, but if it was ever necessary, take care of myself.”
“It won’t be necessary.” Cole said the four words with more force than he intended.
“He’s right,” Jace chimed in tersely, tossing the stick in the fire. “We’ll take care of you.”
“You don’t understand. I no longer want to be the pampered lady. It has brought me nothing but grief.” She hesitated, her face holding a poignant expression. “I want to be a part of it all, not just a…a burden. A dependent. You are all going to work the ranch together. Can’t I fit in somewhere?”
Cole got a sense where she was going. Though he’d been the lucky one to walk her to the river, he’d wondered if it wouldn’t have been the same result if it was Robert or Jace who had been privileged to see to her safety.
And her pleasure.
Surprisingly enough, it didn’t bother
They were hardly gentlemen, and Cole least of all, since he’d taken her virginity just hours ago.
Robert, ever the diplomat, was the one to answer. “I think we’re all trying to figure out how to handle what happened between you and Cole from here on out.”
“Oh.” Her response was barely audible.
Cole wasn’t sure what came next either. Just because she’d given herself to him earlier didn’t necessarily mean he had a claim. She’d offered and he’d accepted and he didn’t regret one touch, one kiss, and to his dying day he’d remember what it felt like to be inside her, but he had no illusions she was his alone.
Even in the firelight, her vivid blush was visible but she was also remarkably poised and sat with ladylike composure on a fallen log Jace had dragged close to the camp for her, demure in her trousers and boots, her blouse loose at the neck, exposing her slim throat. It took her a moment, but she said with admirable composure, “I’ve been thinking quite in depth about what will happen when we reach the Crescent Moon.”
They’d named the ranch after the shape of the small, secluded valley, and since they finally had the deed and it was all theirs, it was the subject of conversation on the trail pretty often. Victoria probably knew as much about it as they did by now.
Jace rose from where he’d been poking at the fire with a stick to stir the embers. “I think you’ll find us pretty interested to hear what you’ve come up with.”
“I can’t cook.”
No, she couldn’t. Robert had tried to teach her how to make biscuits but it was clear from the results she’d never touched a pan, much less flour and lard. “Nope,” Cole agreed laconically. “That you can’t, my lady.”
She sent him a quelling glance, but she had the innate grace to half-smile. “You didn’t have to agree so readily.”
“It took me two days to recover from eating that biscuit. Thought I’d swallowed a horseshoe.”
But he grinned when he said it, both in reassurance and because he had the impulse to grin anyway. She did that to him.
Victoria laughed, but then went on doggedly, “I can’t saddle a horse, or sew a shirt or make soap either.”
“We can buy our soap and shirts, and you’ll learn to cook,” Robert argued. “One of us will saddle your horse for you. We understand about your upbringing. It doesn’t matter.”
Leave it to Robert to know exactly how to sum up the situation. It didn’t matter to any of them she had none of the skills needed for a woman to contribute to a working ranch. She’d brought grace into their restless lives. Buying the ranch was a good start, but Victoria might take what had been a collaborative effort to escape their pasts and give them an actual future.
In the flickering firelight, she lifted her chin. “It matters to me. I have learned enough about what it is like to lose your pride. My father’s disgrace taught me some unfortunate lessons about self-reliance. I want to learn all of those tasks, and well enough that not only can I be useful, but if it was ever necessary, take care of myself.”
“It won’t be necessary.” Cole said the four words with more force than he intended.
“He’s right,” Jace chimed in tersely, tossing the stick in the fire. “We’ll take care of you.”
“You don’t understand. I no longer want to be the pampered lady. It has brought me nothing but grief.” She hesitated, her face holding a poignant expression. “I want to be a part of it all, not just a…a burden. A dependent. You are all going to work the ranch together. Can’t I fit in somewhere?”
Cole got a sense where she was going. Though he’d been the lucky one to walk her to the river, he’d wondered if it wouldn’t have been the same result if it was Robert or Jace who had been privileged to see to her safety.
And her pleasure.
Surprisingly enough, it didn’t bother
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