Cole's Montana Bride (Sweet,clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series Book 7) by Maya Stirling Page A
Authors: Maya Stirling
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daughter?"
Cole stood firm and set his gaze on Carter's eyes. "That's exactly what I'm saying. I appreciate the consideration but I'm afraid recent circumstances make it absolutely impossible for me to accept such a proposal. Even if it has come through the good work of this fine young lady here, in Ms. Carr," Cole concluded gesturing toward Victoria with his hat.
He saw Victoria stifle a smile with a raised hand to her mouth.
Carter's eyes flashed between Cole and Victoria. Cole worried he might be putting two and two together, but the scowl on the man's face suggested he had other things on his mind. Cole wondered how Carter was going to react.
Carter paced the long, floral decorated rug, his hands behind his back. He turned and pointed at Cole. "I suppose I have to thank you for your honesty in rejecting my daughter," he said.
"It's not so much a rejection as a polite way of turning down a kind offer."
Carter smiled, his gaze burrowing astutely into Cole's eyes. "However you describe it I find myself in an awkward situation," Carter said in a calm tone. He turned to Victoria. "Don't you think it's odd that Mr. MacAllan comes to the conclusion he has, immediately after you become involved in the arrangement of what would be an ideal marriage for all parties. Although, not perhaps ideal for you, Ms. Carr," Carter concluded.
Cole saw Victoria stiffen in her seat. "What are you suggesting, Mr. Carter?" she said firmly.
"Nothing in particular, Ms. Carr. Only that I am disappointed that the outcome of my daughter asking you to help her seems to have been the exact opposite of what she desired," Carter said. "Instead of persuading Mr. MacAllan of the merits of my daughter, you seem to have fixed the idea in his mind that my beloved Lucy is not worthy to be his wife," Carter asserted with a sneer.
"I can assure you it was none of my doing that Mr. MacAllan came to the conclusion matrimony was not for him at present," Victoria said. "I was planning to express my doubts to you on that score, after my initial assessment of both Mr. MacAllan and Mr. Edwards. However, it seems Mr. MacAllan has rather preempted me."
"How very convenient," Carter said snidely.
Victoria stood and composed herself quickly, fixing the hang of her skirt. "Are you seriously suggesting that there has been something improper in the way that I have conducted myself," she demanded.
Carter said nothing, merely shaking his head slowly.
"It was my view that both Mr. MacAllan and Mr. Paul Edwards are both fine individuals in their own right. And that there were merits in both men's claim to become husband to your dear daughter."
Carter's eyes narrowed. "And that is your professional opinion?" he said with more than a tinge of sarcasm.
Cole stepped close to Victoria. He could see her hands shaking as she gripped onto the fabric of her skirt. She was clearly trying to steady herself against the suggestions of impropriety being levelled at her by Carter.
"As it stands Mr. Edwards still has much to recommend him," Victoria said, her voice shaking slightly.
"How unfortunate for Mr. Edwards that I don't concur," Carter said lowering his head.
Cole could see the distress on her face. Looking at Carter he saw that the man seemed to take some relish from making Victoria as uncomfortable as possible.
Cole took a step and placed himself between Victoria and Carter. The other man noticed the move and fixed Cole with a look that bore more than a hint of challenge. Victoria touched Cole on the arm. Cole looked down at her arm and let it rest there.
Cole peered at Carter. "You and I have history, Lucius. And I know you want my ranch," he said. "Why you want it, I don't know."
Carter tried to object but Cole stopped him with the raising of a hand. "You tried to buy me out once before and I turned you down. Heck, I think I might be just about the only man in these parts who has turned down an offer from you."
Carter's features froze into an angry rictus.
"But,
Cole stood firm and set his gaze on Carter's eyes. "That's exactly what I'm saying. I appreciate the consideration but I'm afraid recent circumstances make it absolutely impossible for me to accept such a proposal. Even if it has come through the good work of this fine young lady here, in Ms. Carr," Cole concluded gesturing toward Victoria with his hat.
He saw Victoria stifle a smile with a raised hand to her mouth.
Carter's eyes flashed between Cole and Victoria. Cole worried he might be putting two and two together, but the scowl on the man's face suggested he had other things on his mind. Cole wondered how Carter was going to react.
Carter paced the long, floral decorated rug, his hands behind his back. He turned and pointed at Cole. "I suppose I have to thank you for your honesty in rejecting my daughter," he said.
"It's not so much a rejection as a polite way of turning down a kind offer."
Carter smiled, his gaze burrowing astutely into Cole's eyes. "However you describe it I find myself in an awkward situation," Carter said in a calm tone. He turned to Victoria. "Don't you think it's odd that Mr. MacAllan comes to the conclusion he has, immediately after you become involved in the arrangement of what would be an ideal marriage for all parties. Although, not perhaps ideal for you, Ms. Carr," Carter concluded.
Cole saw Victoria stiffen in her seat. "What are you suggesting, Mr. Carter?" she said firmly.
"Nothing in particular, Ms. Carr. Only that I am disappointed that the outcome of my daughter asking you to help her seems to have been the exact opposite of what she desired," Carter said. "Instead of persuading Mr. MacAllan of the merits of my daughter, you seem to have fixed the idea in his mind that my beloved Lucy is not worthy to be his wife," Carter asserted with a sneer.
"I can assure you it was none of my doing that Mr. MacAllan came to the conclusion matrimony was not for him at present," Victoria said. "I was planning to express my doubts to you on that score, after my initial assessment of both Mr. MacAllan and Mr. Edwards. However, it seems Mr. MacAllan has rather preempted me."
"How very convenient," Carter said snidely.
Victoria stood and composed herself quickly, fixing the hang of her skirt. "Are you seriously suggesting that there has been something improper in the way that I have conducted myself," she demanded.
Carter said nothing, merely shaking his head slowly.
"It was my view that both Mr. MacAllan and Mr. Paul Edwards are both fine individuals in their own right. And that there were merits in both men's claim to become husband to your dear daughter."
Carter's eyes narrowed. "And that is your professional opinion?" he said with more than a tinge of sarcasm.
Cole stepped close to Victoria. He could see her hands shaking as she gripped onto the fabric of her skirt. She was clearly trying to steady herself against the suggestions of impropriety being levelled at her by Carter.
"As it stands Mr. Edwards still has much to recommend him," Victoria said, her voice shaking slightly.
"How unfortunate for Mr. Edwards that I don't concur," Carter said lowering his head.
Cole could see the distress on her face. Looking at Carter he saw that the man seemed to take some relish from making Victoria as uncomfortable as possible.
Cole took a step and placed himself between Victoria and Carter. The other man noticed the move and fixed Cole with a look that bore more than a hint of challenge. Victoria touched Cole on the arm. Cole looked down at her arm and let it rest there.
Cole peered at Carter. "You and I have history, Lucius. And I know you want my ranch," he said. "Why you want it, I don't know."
Carter tried to object but Cole stopped him with the raising of a hand. "You tried to buy me out once before and I turned you down. Heck, I think I might be just about the only man in these parts who has turned down an offer from you."
Carter's features froze into an angry rictus.
"But,
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