Cole's Montana Bride (Sweet,clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series Book 7) by Maya Stirling
Authors: Maya Stirling
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determination grow by the minute.
"Have you had a chance to consider what we discussed at our last meeting, Cole," Lucius said dragging Cole's attention back to the spacious sitting room.
Cole looked across at Victoria and saw her frown at the mention of his last meeting with Lucius. It was obvious that she knew nothing about it. And that was just as well, as far as Cole was concerned. Because at that last meeting Lucius had made things pretty clear to Cole. Absolutely clear.
And that was why Cole was at Carter's house. Because after the way he'd felt the day before and after he'd seen the look in Victoria's eyes when he'd told her how he felt, Cole was determined to do the only thing that any man with integrity would do.
"Is there something I haven't been made aware of?" Victoria asked glancing up at Lucius who'd taken his position at the fireplace.
"Nothing that has any real bearing on the discussions of marriage," Cole said.
Lucius frowned at Cole. "Really? I would have thought our discussion had everything to do with the happiness of my daughter," he said.
Victoria looked at Lucius. "In what way?"
Lucius turned to Cole. "Am I right in saying that you've come today to discuss my daughter?"
Cole nodded. "Indeed I have, Lucius."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "Is there some kind of proposal you have in mind, Mr. MacAllan?" she asked. Cole saw her begin to shift nervously in her seat. She grasped the side of the chair and fussed briefly with the heavy fabric of her dress.
"Well, not exactly a proposal."
Lucius jammed his hand into his waistcoat pocket. "If it's not a proposal, then what is it, Cole?"
Cole stood up, raising himself to his full height so that he was looking down on the smaller figure of Lucius. Cole cleared his throat. "Lucius. I've been giving this whole situation some thought. Real hard thought."
Cole glanced down at Victoria. There was something about the way her wide eyes were looking up at him that made him feel a rush of resolve to do what he'd come to do. He'd already decided what had to be done and seeing the look of surprised hope on her features gave him an extra jolt that he was suddenly determined not to waste.
Cole turned his attention back to Lucius who was peering at Cole, lips tight and brows furrowed.
"What have you got to say, Cole?" Lucius murmured.
Cole could see that Lucius was one step ahead of him. The man hadn't achieved what he had in life by being stupid. One thing Cole knew about Lucius Carter was that the man was always ready for the worst.
"I've been giving the entire matter of your suggested marriage between myself and Lucy a great deal of thought. And I felt I had to come here today and tell you that I cannot, under any circumstances, agree to such a union," Cole said, punctuating his last remark with a curt nod of his head.
There was a heavy silence in the room, broken only by the ticking of the clock in the far corner.
Cole glanced down at Victoria and saw her mouth open, the lower lip moving with a faint quiver.
Cole heard Lucius Carter take in a deep breath and then clear his throat. The man turned away and looked into the mirror above the fireplace. In it's reflection Cole could see the the color of Carter's cheeks change to a tinge of red. But he could tell that the man was trying to exert control over himself, judging by the sudden tightness in the broad shoulders.
Cole looked quickly toward Victoria and saw that her expression had softened. Gone was the previous businesslike expression of cool, indifference. It had been replaced by a look which struck him as one of restrained delight. There was still confusion in her eyes but he could see the corners of her mouth had creased with the beginnings of an involuntary smile. Seeing that made Cole feel emboldened, encouraged to deal with whatever Lucius Carter might do.
Carter turned and stood face to face with Cole, his eyes cold and dark. "Am I to understand that you are turning down the opportunity to marry my
"Have you had a chance to consider what we discussed at our last meeting, Cole," Lucius said dragging Cole's attention back to the spacious sitting room.
Cole looked across at Victoria and saw her frown at the mention of his last meeting with Lucius. It was obvious that she knew nothing about it. And that was just as well, as far as Cole was concerned. Because at that last meeting Lucius had made things pretty clear to Cole. Absolutely clear.
And that was why Cole was at Carter's house. Because after the way he'd felt the day before and after he'd seen the look in Victoria's eyes when he'd told her how he felt, Cole was determined to do the only thing that any man with integrity would do.
"Is there something I haven't been made aware of?" Victoria asked glancing up at Lucius who'd taken his position at the fireplace.
"Nothing that has any real bearing on the discussions of marriage," Cole said.
Lucius frowned at Cole. "Really? I would have thought our discussion had everything to do with the happiness of my daughter," he said.
Victoria looked at Lucius. "In what way?"
Lucius turned to Cole. "Am I right in saying that you've come today to discuss my daughter?"
Cole nodded. "Indeed I have, Lucius."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "Is there some kind of proposal you have in mind, Mr. MacAllan?" she asked. Cole saw her begin to shift nervously in her seat. She grasped the side of the chair and fussed briefly with the heavy fabric of her dress.
"Well, not exactly a proposal."
Lucius jammed his hand into his waistcoat pocket. "If it's not a proposal, then what is it, Cole?"
Cole stood up, raising himself to his full height so that he was looking down on the smaller figure of Lucius. Cole cleared his throat. "Lucius. I've been giving this whole situation some thought. Real hard thought."
Cole glanced down at Victoria. There was something about the way her wide eyes were looking up at him that made him feel a rush of resolve to do what he'd come to do. He'd already decided what had to be done and seeing the look of surprised hope on her features gave him an extra jolt that he was suddenly determined not to waste.
Cole turned his attention back to Lucius who was peering at Cole, lips tight and brows furrowed.
"What have you got to say, Cole?" Lucius murmured.
Cole could see that Lucius was one step ahead of him. The man hadn't achieved what he had in life by being stupid. One thing Cole knew about Lucius Carter was that the man was always ready for the worst.
"I've been giving the entire matter of your suggested marriage between myself and Lucy a great deal of thought. And I felt I had to come here today and tell you that I cannot, under any circumstances, agree to such a union," Cole said, punctuating his last remark with a curt nod of his head.
There was a heavy silence in the room, broken only by the ticking of the clock in the far corner.
Cole glanced down at Victoria and saw her mouth open, the lower lip moving with a faint quiver.
Cole heard Lucius Carter take in a deep breath and then clear his throat. The man turned away and looked into the mirror above the fireplace. In it's reflection Cole could see the the color of Carter's cheeks change to a tinge of red. But he could tell that the man was trying to exert control over himself, judging by the sudden tightness in the broad shoulders.
Cole looked quickly toward Victoria and saw that her expression had softened. Gone was the previous businesslike expression of cool, indifference. It had been replaced by a look which struck him as one of restrained delight. There was still confusion in her eyes but he could see the corners of her mouth had creased with the beginnings of an involuntary smile. Seeing that made Cole feel emboldened, encouraged to deal with whatever Lucius Carter might do.
Carter turned and stood face to face with Cole, his eyes cold and dark. "Am I to understand that you are turning down the opportunity to marry my
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