Marriage at the Cowboy's Command by Ann Major

life. Luke had let him build the fire. Now, as he stirred the flames a bit too aggressively with a long stick, he sent brilliant sparks popping into the dry leaves.
    â€œWhy can’t we cook the marshmallows now?” he demanded, as more sparks flew.
    Luke jumped over the ring of rocks surrounding the fire and stamped on the burning leaves with his boots. “After supper,” Luke replied for the third time without the slightest trace of annoyance.
    In spite of her misgivings, Caitlyn smiled. Luke, who’d waited at the bus stop for Daniel to return from school, was extremely patient and attentive with the boy in a way that Robert never had been. Daniel’s noise, constant demands and clutter had driven Robert crazy, especially after he’d become ill.
    â€œMom never likes me to come here,” Daniel said.
    â€œAs if that’s ever stopped you,” Caitlyn said. “This copse is your favorite hiding place, isn’t it?”
    â€œBecause I know you won’t follow me here.”
    For her, the shady grove was haunted by her memories. Here, Luke had imprisoned her against a tree trunk with his hands and kissed her until her toes had curled.
    â€œIt used to be my favorite place on the ranch, too,” Luke said, his gleaming eyes meeting hers in achallenge. “Some of my fondest memories happened in this oak motte.” He stared at Caitlyn. “I even carved my name on a tree to stake my claim on something precious that once belonged to me.”
    She gasped. “That tree was cut down a long time ago!”
    â€œYou’ve been here before, Luke?” Daniel whispered.
    â€œI used to work for your grandfather,” he said, releasing her from his gaze to look at Daniel.
    â€œFor Paw Paw? You did? Wow! When was that?”
    â€œA long, long time ago.”
    â€œHow come Mom didn’t tell me? Mom?”
    When Luke’s sardonic gaze flew to hers along with Daniel’s searching one, her heart skittered wildly. “You’d have to ask her,” he said.
    â€œMom just told me you were a rich guy who buys horses.”
    â€œWell, she was right…as far as it goes. But your mom and I, we’re old friends.”
    â€œNot anymore,” she inserted quickly. “That was another lifetime.”
    Strange, but suddenly it felt like yesterday. The past seemed all too vivid beneath the sheltering shade of these familiar trees.
    â€œBut once—we were very good friends,” Luke insisted. “The best friends ever.”
    When she shot him a warning glance, Daniel looked from her to Luke in confusion.
    â€œAre y’all keeping a secret or something?”
    Her heart thudded violently.
    â€œWe were friends—before she married your father,” Luke added.
    â€œBut I didn’t know Luke was coming here yesterday,” she blurted out. “He just showed up out of the blue.”
    â€œWell, I’m glad he did. And I’m glad he’s going to help us,” Daniel said, looking both innocent and pleased. “’Cause now you won’t have anything to worry about anymore. Luke’s great at just about everything, isn’t he, Mom?”
    If only she were still as innocent as her son and could believe in Luke’s inherent goodness. Once, she’d seen Luke as her very own hero cowboy, riding in to save the day. She hadn’t believed him capable of the low things her mother had warned her about and later accused him of.
    â€œHe’s Bubba’s son,” her mother had said. “Oh, he’s handsome, I’ll give you that, girl. But he can’t be faithful, and he’ll prove what he is soon enough.”
    Caitlyn, who’d felt the sting of his betrayal on all levels and knew the pain of innocence lost, felt increasingly threatened by him, both personally and financially.
    How would he use his power over her and her son?
    Â 
    It didn’t matter that Caitlyn knew what Luke was