Rocky Mountain Proposal. Pamela Nissen

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СКАЧАТЬ move her gaze from him as his words settled over her. For some reason, instead of bringing her comfort, they annoyed her. How could Aaron think that he could take Paul’s place? Or that she needed his help? “Take care of me?”

      He glanced at Ben, who gave him the slightest raise of an eyebrow and inclination of his head. Then Aaron slid his focus to Zach, who held out his hands as if to say, “It’s up to you.”

      With a cough, Aaron turned his complete attention to Hope, and for some reason she wanted to run all the way back to the train station. He’d been avoiding her gaze since the moment she’d introduced herself, and now that his focus was bearing down so totally upon her, she squirmed under the intensity.

      But she had nowhere to go. Apparently she had money now, but she also had a farm to run.

      “I—I know this is awkward. It is for me, too, but I…well, it meant something to Paul when I promised to take care of you.”

      “What, exactly, do you mean?” She forced herself to stay seated.

      She’d never run from difficult circumstances. Ever. When her family lost their fortune, she’d held her head high and found work at a bakery. And when her fiancé began showing signs of regret, she’d quietly bowed out of the relationship—her family hadn’t even known of the real reason the engagement had been called off.

      “I promised to hold on to hope.” His voice broke. His throat visibly constricted. “In Paul’s mind that meant that I’d marry you.”

      Hope strained to keep her shock from contorting her face, but she was pretty sure that she failed—miserably.

      How could he possibly think that she would want a marriage based out of obligation? She’d rather be a spinster for the rest of her life.

      Standing, she willed her arms to remain at her sides as she looked him square in the eye. His words pierced her soul, pricking the raw wound that still gaped from Jonas.

      She wouldn’t marry Aaron now—even if he dropped to his knees and begged. She barely even knew him. Besides, she could list off ten different reasons why this man had likely never married: his emotionless, unfeeling approach to things of great importance, being first and foremost on her list.

      “So, I guess that settles it then.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “How soon do you want the wedding?”

      “There isn’t going to be a wedding.”

      Her simple, measured answer took Aaron aback. With the fanciful way she’d likely been raised, he thought for sure she’d find relief in the offer and that she’d be glad to have someone take care of her.

      “No?” He looked for some kind of hesitation in her gaze.

      “No.”

      Though his pride was a little stung, the way she stared down her nose at him made him immensely glad she’d just declined his offer. They were as different as night and day. And she was nothing like Ellie.

      He wasn’t exactly sure what Paul had seen in the woman, although it could’ve been very easy for her to hide her true colors in letters. She was a highfalutin city slicker. The way she held her head high, he guessed that she probably considered herself above those here in the West.

      But she didn’t seem dull. In fact, she struck him as being intelligent, so why would she travel all the way from the East if she knew what she was getting herself into? Had it truly been for love?

      She slid a hand down the buttoned front of her waistcoat and then adjusted it as if it was askew. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I believe I’ll go outside for a breath of fresh air.”

      Her heeled, brown-booted feet tapped in quiet succession from the room and to the front door where she grabbed her parasol on the way outside.

      After she’d made it down the steps, Aaron collapsed onto the sofa next to Zach. He held his head in his hands, willing the incessant pounding that had started suddenly to stop.

      “Do you think you could’ve been any more insulting?” Ben’s terse voice reverberated in Aaron’s head. “I mean, really, Aaron. So, I guess that settles it?”

      “How soon do you want the wedding?” Zach mocked.

      He glared at them. “What was I supposed to say?”

      Ben gave his head a sorry shake. “I don’t know, but that definitely wasn’t it.”

      “A woman doesn’t want to feel like some obligation,” Zach scolded, slapping his knee.

      Narrowing his gaze, Aaron turned to peer at him. “And how would you know? You’re not even married.”

      “True. But do you think Ellie would’ve wanted to be proposed to in that manner?”

      Aaron pulled a hand over the back of his neck, trying to massage away the pain. He scrambled for some reasonable excuse to support his actions, but no matter what justification he grasped for, it fell apart in his hands. “No. But this is different. It wasn’t a proposal—well, not exactly, anyway. It was more like a business arrangement.”

      Zach just stared at him in that way he had that made a man feel small. “Regardless, that sure was a dead-fish way to go about it. Remind me never to ask you for romantic advice.”

      Aaron held his hands up. “Believe me. That area of my life has been sealed and shut for good. There is no way I’ll ever love again.”

      “Don’t be so sure,” Ben cautioned, raising his brows for a fleeting moment.

      Aaron dragged his hand over his scruffy face, thinking for the first time today how disheveled he must look. He hadn’t had time to clean up before racing into town to meet the train—before everything had changed, before life had taken another jolting turn.

      “I’ll watch out for her and help her on the farm,” he muttered. “Since she doesn’t want to get married, at least I can do that much.”

      “What about your job at the wood shop? Won’t Joseph need you?” Ben queried.

      Aaron recalled the orders they had waiting to be filled. “I’ll talk with him. See what we can work out. He’s been getting along so well on his own.”

      “That’s good to hear. But he’ll still need you, won’t he?” Ben was protective of Joseph. Since Joseph had lost his sight in a shop accident about a month before Ellie had died, he’d been making great strides, but Ben was always watchful.

      “I’m sure he will, but apart from lunch I’ll be working my usual hours.”

      “Well, I’ll do what I can to help.” Ben clasped his hands between his legs.

      “Me, too, but with calving season here, I’ll be hard-pressed to get away from the ranch much.” Zach stuck his legs out in front of him, draping one foot over the other.

      “Speaking of seasons…planting season is breathing down our necks. There won’t be time to try and find a hired man.” Ben peered into the fire as if looking for some answer there. “Besides, Paul said that any man she’d hire had to first СКАЧАТЬ