Picking Up Cowboys (14 page)

His eyes darkened to moss-green.  “Cat.”  His lips moved against her fingers.

Shedding any final remnants of her old self, Catherine raised herself over him and claimed his lips with hers, kissing him deeply as he’d taught her.

Gage groaned and pulled her to him.  Catherine relaxed against him. She’d been half-afraid he would turn her down.  She hadn’t exactly been diplomatic in her refusal of his proposal.

His fingers wrapped around the hair at her nape and held her close.  He took control of the kiss, nibbling and coaxing until Catherine’s head began to swoon.

Gage couldn’t focus on why he was supposed to be resisting Cat.  Her unexpected touch had sent him over the edge of control and he sensed if he didn’t get it back soon, it would be lost forever, along with any last portion of his soul that she didn’t yet own.

He pulled back a little and framed her flushed face in his hands.  Cat opened her eyes slowly, like a content feline.  Desire didn’t uncurl slowly but slammed into him with the force of a charging bull.  His body responded to her look with fierce urgency.

“Cat.  This probably isn’t a good idea.”  He took deep breaths, trying to regain control of his senses.

Catherine wanted to scream at the frustration.  He was turning her down.  The only time in her life she’d ever made a move toward a man, and he didn’t want her.  She let him pull away a little.

“You don’t want me.”  It wasn’t a question.  Catherine already knew the answer.  She made a move to turn her back to him.  If she could just go to sleep and escape for a while, maybe she would survive the embarrassment.

Gage held her in place.  “I want you.”

Catherine tried not to pout, she hated women that pouted, but the action seemed very appropriate at that moment and it was a real effort to hold her bottom lip in.

“You’ll hate me in the morning.”  Gage sounded desperate, as if he was trying to convince himself.

“Are you that bad?”  The devil in her made her say it, she knew his male pride would rise to the challenge.  She was counting on it.

Unfortunately, Gage was also confident and simply laughed at her challenge.  “You want me to prove I’m not, right?”

Catherine shrugged.  “Something like that.”

She wouldn’t beg.  He either wanted her or he didn’t.

Gage continued to gaze at her, his eyes dark and molten.  “I’ll hate myself.”

Catherine didn’t say anything, simply waited.  Gage brushed his fingers over her arms, setting off tiny trembles over her skin.

“It’s worth it,”  he muttered as his lips closed over hers.

* * *

The warm heat wrapped around her from behind should have been soothing, instead it awakened an instant hunger in Cat.  She wanted him again.  She opened her eyes lazily, realizing the sun was rising by the slight orange tint to the sky out the dusty little window on the opposite wall.

Gage had taken her to heights she’d never imagined possible and she wanted it all again.  He had spoiled her.  She was certain of it.  How could she ever go another day without the intense pleasure he’d shown her.

Perhaps he’d remain at the ranch as her kept man.  Catherine grinned. Yes, it was the perfect solution.

She turned to face her sleeping cowboy.  His dark lashes rested on his high cheekbones.  Tenderness curled through her and she reached out a hand and gently laid her fingers against his lips.

His eyes opened and he stared at her in sleepy incomprehension for a moment.  Catherine’s heart felt like a lead weight.  Did he regret last night already?  Then pleasure filled his eyes and Catherine breathed a sigh of relief.

“Good morning.”

Gage kissed her lips gently.  “Now we’ll have to get married.”

Chapter eighteen

Catherine couldn’t have been more shocked if he’d slapped her.

“No marriage.”

Gage rubbed his chin over the top of her head, tightening his arms around her as she tried to pull away.

“You’ve spoiled me for other women, Cat.  Since I refuse to live out my days in celibacy, you have no choice.”

“We can have an affair,” she blurted.

She refused to marry him when he didn’t love her.  She wouldn’t survive the blow to her heart once he tired of her and turned from her.  It was better to keep things uncomplicated, not to expect a lasting commitment.  Then she might survive when he left.

Gage set his jaw stubbornly.  “I’m used to getting what I want, Cat.”

“So am I.”

“Looks like we’re both good at playing poker, but I hold the trump card.”

“What do you mean?”

“Either you marry me or I demand liquidation of my portion of the ranch.”

Catherine gasped, feeling as though he’d dealt her a blow straight to her heart.  “You wouldn’t?”

“Try me.”

“That is the most underhanded, low, despicable...”

“Conniving?”

“I won’t be coerced into marrying anyone.”

“The way I see it,” he drawled.  “You don’t have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice.”  Catherine hoped the bitterness sounded in her words.  How could she love a man who would stoop to blackmailing her simply to get his hands on her portion of the ranch?

The first niggle of doubt assaulted her since their lovemaking.  Had he slept with her thinking it would help him gain control of the ranch?  Hadn’t everything he’d done since arriving been toward that very end?  She’d been a total fool.

Catherine shoved against him and Gage let her go this time.  Fury simmered through her like scalding steam in a coffee pot.  He wasn’t getting by with it.  She would not be hoodwinked into marriage.  Marriage was a sacred institution and she’d enter it for nothing less than love.

She tugged on her flimsy panties, wishing she’d stayed with the old, practical cotton ones.  She hooked her bra, aware all the while of his gaze on her.  She turned her back to him, adjusted the straps and jammed her sweater over her head.

“Guess we’re leaving,” Gage said dryly.

“I’m leaving.  You can go to hell.”  Catherine tugged on the rest of her clothes, bundled into her coat and slammed the rickety door behind her with as much force as the wind allowed.

* * *

Gage sighed and hurried to dress and catch up with Catherine before she wound up buried in a snow drift.  That proposal had gone over about as well as the others.  He’d known he shouldn’t have given a woman like Catherine an ultimatum, but he’d wanted her so fiercely, the words had left his mouth before he could stop them.

Not that it seemed like such a bad idea.  When it came right down to it, what choice did she have if she wanted to keep the ranch?  And once she was his wife, he could make it up to her every day of their lives.  Assuming she’d let him near her again.  He winced.

Catherine heard the crisp crunch of snow under Gage’s boots as he joined her.  She ignored him and kept walking.  During the night, the storm had blown over.  The day was windy but clear.  A few snowdrifts had formed around the cabin, but it shouldn’t be a problem to walk back to the ranch now that they could see where they were going.

As furious as she was with Gage, she couldn’t prevent the ache in her heart from loving him.  His threat to force her to sell the ranch still echoed in her ears and yet, she wanted him again.  Catherine took a couple of giant steps, trying to walk out her anger.

Did he really mean to force her to sell the ranch and buy him out?  Maybe she should just agree to marry him, the thought was tempting.  She’d be with the man she loved every day for the rest of their lives.  But how long would it take her to grow bitter over loving a man who didn’t love her?

She knew she could never accept the reality of that.  She’d lived far too many years already with a father who hadn’t returned her love.  Would she rather sell the ranch and have it go to a complete stranger or sell him her portion?

She didn’t like his plans to build a resort but his own passion for the land was apparent.  It was in his blood and he wouldn’t do anything he thought would blatantly destroy it.  She refused to be trapped in a marriage where she would have to watch her husband grow resentful of her and learn to hate her.  Her heart couldn’t take that.  She loved him too much. 

“Okay, I’ll do it.”  She stopped so abruptly Gage bumped into her chest.

His arms came out to steady her.  “You’ll marry me?”  His grin was wide.

“No.  I’ll sell you my portion of the ranch.”

His expression was curiously deflated.  Wasn’t this what he wanted?  He should be happy.

Gage was suddenly doubting what he’d thought he wanted all these years.  He wouldn’t feel right without Cat here.  She was the heartbeat of the ranch.  But he didn’t know how to change her mind.  She appeared so sure of her decision.  Maybe he should sign his half of the ranch over to her instead.  He couldn’t seem to find the courage to express his love in words.  Maybe she would understand by his actions.  It was just land after all.

They walked the remaining distance in silence and Gage realized they were both lost in their own thoughts.  The ride back to the ranch was fraught with tense silence.  The minute the truck coasted to a halt, Cat slung open her door and went into the house.

Gage followed her more slowly, racking his brain for a way to keep her from leaving.  He went up the stairs, the creak of the third one from the top didn’t even have the power to lift his dismal mood.

Cat was in her bedroom, suitcase open on the bed, slinging clothes haphazardly into the interior. 

“Don’t go,” he said softly.

Cat paused in her actions for a moment before shrugging and walking out of her room and down the hall to the room her father had slept in.

“What are you doing?”  Gage leaned against the doorjamb.  He should just tell her he loved her.

“Getting some papers, birth certificates and such.  I’ll need them.  I’m leaving the country.”

“Cat, don’t go.”  He pushed away from the door frame and crossed to her side.

“Give me one good reason.”  Her gaze was lowered to the floor, hiding her expression from him.

“I love you.”  There.  He’d said it.

“W-what?”  She raised her head, her cheeks streaked with tears.

Gage reached out a thumb and caught one rolling tear on the end of it. 

“I love you, Cat.”

She shook her head.  “It’s another trick.  To try to get this ranch.”

“Why would I do that?”  He spread his hands.  “The ranch is mine anyway.  You’re willing to sell it to me.”

Cat stared at him in momentary confusion.  “You really love me?”  Her voice was tinged with a shred of hope.

“More than this ranch or my very soul.”

“What about my father?  You think he was a con artist and--”

“I don’t have to love your father to love you.”

Catherine’s momentary joy faded and she turned back to the closet.  “But that’s just it.  How could you ever truly love me when you feel nothing but loathing for my upbringing?  I loved my father.  I’d soon grow to resent you for thinking badly of him.”

She tugged on a thin, metal file box in the top right corner of the closet                           

“I’ll work on it. I need you, Cat.” 

She turned to face him, amazement and something else shining out of her eyes.  Her lips curled up in the most welcoming smile he’d ever seen and his body quickened with desire for her.  He made a move to take her in his arms the same moment the black box shifted free and came tumbling down.  Cat jumped back with a shriek to avoid the falling box and bumped into Gage’s chest.

His arms closed around her, pulling her snug against him. “Marry me, Cat.” 

She turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck.  “Convince me.”  She lifted her lips to him.

Gage brushed his mouth over hers, pouring his love into the kiss.  He lifted his head and smiled at her.

“Well?  Will you marry me?”

“Hmmm,” she purred.  “I think I need just a little more convincing.”

“Wanton woman.”  He obliged her.             

After several minutes he gave her a swift hug.  “Let’s get your birth certificate.”  He nodded his head toward the spilled contents of the file.  “We’re going to file for a marriage license.”

“Isn’t it a little more complicated than that?” 

“Heck if I know.  I’ve never been married.  I don’t intend to rest until we are.”

Catherine laughed and they both knelt down to sort through the contents of the file.

* * *

Gage loved her.  The sheer wonder of it sang through her veins like a symphony.  Niggling doubts tugged at her but she pushed them away.  If they truly loved one another, they could overcome the obstacles.

She glanced over at Gage, love filling her to completion.  His face was stark white and he stared straight ahead.  Panic clawed at her happiness, striking deep grooves in the surface.

“Gage?”  Her voice was barely a whisper.

He stared into space for another moment and turned to face her, his eyes glazed over.  “I have to make a phone call.”

Catherine watched as he crossed to the old-fashioned, rotary dial phone on the night stand.  The papers he’d been holding had dropped to the floor and lay there like discarded pieces of litter.   She lifted them with a shaking hand.  Deed of sale for the ranch.

She quickly scanned over it, but failed to see what had upset him.  Rising to her feet, she fidgeted nervously.  She should probably leave.  She made a motion toward the door but Gage motioned her to his side.  He pulled her close and rested the phone so she could listen.

* * *

“Guess what I found, Mother?”

His mother’s voice trembled.  “If you’re still at the ranch, I’d say the pox.”

Fury pumped through his veins.  He’d wasted fourteen years of his life on bitterness over something that had never happened.  He’d hated Mustang Claiborne with every breath he’d taken until he’d almost destroyed his relationship with Catherine.  The sale papers had summed up his life nicely.  A lie.  It had all been a lie.

Mustang had paid a fair, more than fair, price to his mother.  Enough that she could live in style in Boston for many years to come.  Fair.  How could he possibly have ripped her off, as his mother claimed, if he paid her fair market value?

“I know how much he paid you.”

His mother gasped and Gage felt satisfaction at the harsh sound.  He loved his mother, but she’d nearly destroyed his life, his love for Catherine, with her lies.  All the time wasted.  The bitterness ate through him like acid.

“I did it for you, Gage.”

“No.  You did it for you.”

“I wanted more for you than for you to be a farmer like your father.”

“A rancher, Mother.”  She hated his world so much, she didn’t even know the difference.

“Whatever.  Your father died because of that ranch.  It sucked the life out of him.”

Or her constant battles with him had, Gage thought.  He refrained from saying it, knowing some things shouldn’t be said because they can never be forgotten.

“I knew if I could get you away from there, you would do something important.” 

Gage could hear the tears in her voice, but he let her talk.  He needed to hear this, try to understand her viewpoint, if he was ever to forgive her.

“I didn’t want you to die young or work your life away.”

“The land isn’t the most important thing in my life anymore.”

“Oh, thank goodness.  I thought you’d been bitten by the bug.”

The land was still important.  It was part of his heritage from his father.  But his goals had shifted.  For Cat, he would happily leave this ranch.  Follow her anywhere she would be happy, even if it was Boston.  He pulled her closer against him.

“So, you’re not angry with me?”

“I’m furious.  You’ve caused me to waste too much precious time because of my bitterness.”

Silence greeted his response.  After a moment, he heard a gentle sob.  Sympathy tugged at Gage.  Love made you do crazy things sometimes, his mother was no exception.

“But I’ll forgive you long enough to let you attend my wedding.”

“Wedding?”

“Yes, I’m marrying Catherine.”

“I suppose you’ll be living there.” 

“We haven’t discussed that yet.  I’ll live wherever Cat wants.”

“At least I taught you something.”  His mother’s voice sounded lighter.  “Does this mean I get grandchildren?”

Gage laughed.  “We haven’t discussed that yet either.”

“Tell her yes,” Catherine whispered against his ear, the feel of her lips brushing there nearly caused him to drop the phone.