watched, powerless to intervene. Until the lady wanted and asked for his help, his hands were tied. Things were in a sorry state, and his confrontation with her hadn’t accomplished a thing except to raise Greely’s dander.
It wasn’t over yet, though. He still wanted an answer to his burning question.
And he meant to get it one way or another.
Chapter 2
The last thing Rue Ann wanted was to risk running into Logan Cutter again. But she had little choice in the matter.
Their nearest neighbors, the Williamsons, invited her and Theodore to the betrothal party for their daughter. And since Bethany had managed to snag one of the town’s most eligible bachelors, they’d spared no expense. The Williamsons were beyond delighted for a chance to crow a little.
The end of January wasn’t the most ideal time for such a social affair, but the crisp weather was clear and beautiful, especially on this night.
Buggies and buckboards packed every square inch around the barn. Seemed people from most all of the ranches had come.
Inside the Williamsons’ barn, Rue Ann cast a glance around the gathering, tapping her foot nervously. Feeling like a spring that’d been wound too tight and was about to come undone, she hugged the hostess. Pressing close beside her, Theodore Greely must’ve felt some anxiousness himself because he was clingier than usual. His cloying scent circled around her head.
For the umpteenth time, Rue Ann asked herself why she was marrying the man. She didn’t love him, would never love him. But her father had handpicked Theodore to be her mate, and no one ever dared cross the powerful Devlin Spencer, who ruled the Texas Senate and his family with an iron fist.
No one crossed him without serious repercussions anyway.
Besides, weren’t security and comfort good enough reasons to marry? Some people had tied the knot for less. All she had to do was smile and pretend. She could do that. Except for the months she’d known Logan Cutter, she’d done that most of her life.
Failing to see the man in question, she relaxed. With a bit of luck, he wouldn’t show up.
Maybe he’d stayed at his ranch, the one bought and paid for with her father’s money, and would pass on this social affair. Though, given Celeste’s penchant for parties and the like, Rue Ann couldn’t see the woman missing an opportunity to gloat.
And maybe Logan had given up trying to talk to her. They really had nothing to say to each other. He’d made his choice. He could offer no excuse that would undo the moment of his betrayal.
The musicians had finished warming up and launched into a waltz. The beautiful strains of the fiddle reached into that quiet place in her soul and calmed her jitters. She swayed to the rhythm, enjoying the feel of her ruffled satin skirt swishing around her ankles.
She didn’t object when Theodore swung her out into the midst of dancing couples.
For once she didn’t have to pretend. She loved waltzing. And good fiddle music just added the icing on the cake. The only problem was her partner. Theodore was cold, stiff, and unyielding. It was like dancing with a fence post bound with leather that had been left out in the elements until it was dry and cracked and beyond hope.
She closed her eyes. If she tried really hard, she could imagine the arms around her were the kind that could heat a woman’s blood. Strong and caring, they could easily carry the burdens of the world.
For a second she allowed herself to feel cherished.
These arms should belong to—
“I can’t believe this,” Theodore spat angrily, interrupting her daydream. “He has a lot of gall showing up here.”
Rue Ann’s eyes flew open. “Who?”
She followed his gaze to the barn entrance, and her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach.
Logan Cutter stood with his feet apart as though bracing himself for trouble. His dark hair, shining with a deep luster in the lamplight, brushed the collar of his coat, which had seen plenty of wear.
It wasn’t over yet, though. He still wanted an answer to his burning question.
And he meant to get it one way or another.
Chapter 2
The last thing Rue Ann wanted was to risk running into Logan Cutter again. But she had little choice in the matter.
Their nearest neighbors, the Williamsons, invited her and Theodore to the betrothal party for their daughter. And since Bethany had managed to snag one of the town’s most eligible bachelors, they’d spared no expense. The Williamsons were beyond delighted for a chance to crow a little.
The end of January wasn’t the most ideal time for such a social affair, but the crisp weather was clear and beautiful, especially on this night.
Buggies and buckboards packed every square inch around the barn. Seemed people from most all of the ranches had come.
Inside the Williamsons’ barn, Rue Ann cast a glance around the gathering, tapping her foot nervously. Feeling like a spring that’d been wound too tight and was about to come undone, she hugged the hostess. Pressing close beside her, Theodore Greely must’ve felt some anxiousness himself because he was clingier than usual. His cloying scent circled around her head.
For the umpteenth time, Rue Ann asked herself why she was marrying the man. She didn’t love him, would never love him. But her father had handpicked Theodore to be her mate, and no one ever dared cross the powerful Devlin Spencer, who ruled the Texas Senate and his family with an iron fist.
No one crossed him without serious repercussions anyway.
Besides, weren’t security and comfort good enough reasons to marry? Some people had tied the knot for less. All she had to do was smile and pretend. She could do that. Except for the months she’d known Logan Cutter, she’d done that most of her life.
Failing to see the man in question, she relaxed. With a bit of luck, he wouldn’t show up.
Maybe he’d stayed at his ranch, the one bought and paid for with her father’s money, and would pass on this social affair. Though, given Celeste’s penchant for parties and the like, Rue Ann couldn’t see the woman missing an opportunity to gloat.
And maybe Logan had given up trying to talk to her. They really had nothing to say to each other. He’d made his choice. He could offer no excuse that would undo the moment of his betrayal.
The musicians had finished warming up and launched into a waltz. The beautiful strains of the fiddle reached into that quiet place in her soul and calmed her jitters. She swayed to the rhythm, enjoying the feel of her ruffled satin skirt swishing around her ankles.
She didn’t object when Theodore swung her out into the midst of dancing couples.
For once she didn’t have to pretend. She loved waltzing. And good fiddle music just added the icing on the cake. The only problem was her partner. Theodore was cold, stiff, and unyielding. It was like dancing with a fence post bound with leather that had been left out in the elements until it was dry and cracked and beyond hope.
She closed her eyes. If she tried really hard, she could imagine the arms around her were the kind that could heat a woman’s blood. Strong and caring, they could easily carry the burdens of the world.
For a second she allowed herself to feel cherished.
These arms should belong to—
“I can’t believe this,” Theodore spat angrily, interrupting her daydream. “He has a lot of gall showing up here.”
Rue Ann’s eyes flew open. “Who?”
She followed his gaze to the barn entrance, and her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach.
Logan Cutter stood with his feet apart as though bracing himself for trouble. His dark hair, shining with a deep luster in the lamplight, brushed the collar of his coat, which had seen plenty of wear.
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