The Kissing Tree (19 page)

“Confound it, girl! What were you thinkin’? You’ve succeeded in scarin’ away any trout I planned on catchin’, that’s for sure!”

◁ ◊ ▷

Ridge looked at Georgiana standing in front of him. She was soaked through from head to toe. A moment ago he had been concerned, but when her temper flared, he had become instantly angry too.

Would he ever be free from this woman? He had vowed he would steer clear of her until she went back to New York with Dawson, which he was fairly certain would be soon. But even though he managed to avoid being near her most of the time, he couldn’t seem to banish her from his thoughts. She’d plagued his dreams all night. Now here she was again, making him think about her some more. He was tired and in a foul mood.

When Angus had asked him if he wouldn’t mind seeing if he could catch a few trout for lunch today, he’d jumped at the chance to get away. He planned on staying away until after breakfast. Didn’t figure he’d have much of an appetite anyway, watching her and Dawson make eyes at each other.

Ridge was taken aback and a little annoyed when he saw her wander over to the creek carrying a bucket of berries. He’d walked by the very bush he was sure she had picked from, before heading up the creek a bit to cross the bridge. He always seemed to have better luck fishing on the far side. He had just relaxed under the shade of his favorite tree with his pole, waiting on his first catch.

So he’d watched her silently, knowing she couldn’t see him from where she was—until she’d tumbled into the water, that is. He would have laughed out loud if his concern for her hadn’t been greater.

Knowing there were often sharp rocks embedded in the creek bottom, he’d jumped to his feet and plunged directly into the water, shoes and all, and crossed to the other side to help her.

Now as he looked at her, all danger gone, dripping water and hair hanging in her reddened face while she glared at him with those gray and violet eyes, he couldn’t help himself. Throwing his head back, he laughed, loud and hard.

“What are you laughing at?” She narrowed her eyes at him even more.

“If you could see yourself, you wouldn’t be asking me that,” he countered. Even drenched and angry, she was beautiful.

Sharply turning from him, she waded over to the creek’s edge, nearly slipping again on the rocks and falling back down. He followed closely behind.

Grabbing onto the branch of a tree that hung over the water, she began pulling herself out onto the bank. But the bank sat high, and the water was low. When she nearly fell a third time, he reached out to steady her.

“What are you doing?” she snarled.

“I’m
trying
to help ya. Ain’t that obvious?” Ridge snapped back.

“I most certainly do not need your help, Mr. Carson, so if you don’t mind, I would appreciate it if you would go back to wherever it was you came from.”

“Just doin’ my job, Miss McLaughlin. Your grandfather wouldn’t be too pleased with me if I let ya injure that foot of yours again.”

She let go of the branch and turned back to look at him, placing her hands firmly on her hips.

“I am most certainly not part of your job description,
Mr. Carson, despite what you think my grandfather would want. Now, if you won’t go away, at least turn around. This is difficult enough as it is, let alone trying to preserve my modesty.”

Ridge turned away from her as she had asked, but he couldn’t hold back the chuckle that escaped or his retort. “I’m afraid your modesty has already been compromised after that near flip you did into the water.” He didn’t turn to look at her, but he could imagine the expression she wore.

She didn’t answer back, but he could hear she was still struggling to get out.

“What are you doin’ out at the crick this early anyway?” he asked curiously.

“It’s my business where I am and at what time.” He heard her feet splash back down in the water. “But if you must know, my grandfather suggested I come and pick some wild berries before the critters got to them.”

Ridge shook his head knowingly. He had suspected for a while what old Angus was up to.

“What are
you
doing here?” He turned around after she asked because he could tell by the sound, or lack of it, that she had given up.

“Your grandfather asked me to catch a few trout for lunch,” he answered, and she raised an eyebrow at him.

“Well, if he would have told me that, I . . . I wouldn’t have come and dis-disturbed your p-precious fishing spot,” she exclaimed, giving him an annoyed look, despite the fact she was becoming obviously chilled.

“I think that’s exactly what he had in mind,” Ridge mumbled to himself softly.

“Ex-excuse m-m-me?” Georgiana asked, narrowing her eyes.

“I said ya might as well let me give ya a lift from behind before we both catch a chill.” She looked at him doubtfully, but by this point she had begun to shiver quite uncontrollably.

“I’m . . . I’m afraid I’m going to have to . . . to accept your help,” she began, trying terribly to keep her voice from trembling, “I . . . I fear I have been living in . . . in the city to-too long. I’m not as nimble as I used to be.” Georgiana narrowed her eyes and looked at him sternly. “But pray, you . . . you watch where you place your hands, Mr. Carson. We . . . we may b-b-be alone out here, but I’m sh-sure if I
am
part of your job description, my gr-grandfather would want you to preserve what’s left of m-m-my modesty at . . . at all costs. Especially, since y-you have just informed me that it has b-b-been compromised already.”

Ridge was finding it almost too difficult not to laugh again at the indignant look she wore, especially since she couldn’t keep from stuttering her words. Pushing aside his worry, he playfully took a step forward and bowed graciously before her.

“Ya have my sincere promise, Miss McLaughlin, that I will truly endeavor to be ever the utmost gentleman as I help rescue you from this crick.” He chuckled softly and stood to meet her eyes. For a moment he thought he caught a brief look of amusement, but she turned from him quickly and once again grabbed hold of the branch.

Ridge waded over behind her and placed his hands on her waist, hoisting her up until she was able to secure her feet on the creek’s edge. She was then able to pull herself the rest of the way up.

Ridge was surprised when she turned, leaned toward him, and extended her hand as if to give him aid. Her other arm she wrapped securely around the trunk of a tree. He had no choice but to take her hand if he didn’t want to offend her again. So, grabbing the same tree branch with one hand and her hand with the other, he began pulling himself out of the water.

When he was almost out, Georgiana’s face abruptly changed from soft and serene to one of mischief, and he knew immediately he was in trouble. Before he could even register his disbelief, she took her uninjured foot and wedged it against his chest. Then letting go of his hand, she shoved him back into the water.

When he had run across the creek to rescue her, he had only become wet from the waist down. Now as he unexpectedly fell back into the water, his whole body was submerged. Quickly, he sat up and stared at the satisfied, smug look she wore. He glared back.

“Now, don’t you . . . you look at me like that, Mr. Ridge Carson. You de-deserved that and you . . . you know it.” The corners of her mouth curled up slightly. “You have had your laughs at me more than once today already, and it’s m-m-my turn to laugh.”

With that, she turned and walked away, stopping only to gather her shoes and her bucket of berries. As she headed up the lane back home, he heard her begin to whistle, interrupted only by a stutter and a giggle now and then.

As he listened to her a moment, he smiled at the sound of her laughter. The sound brought with it a healthy sampling of memories waiting to be indulged in. Regretfully, he pushed them away. Just then a thought occurred to him.
What was she tryin’ to get out of the crick?

Looking around him, it didn’t take him long to spot the chain in the water. He instantly knew what it was and why she was so earnestly trying to fish it out.

Standing himself up, he reached down and grasped it. He took a moment to examine it. Its condition showed it had been in the water a long time. Slipping it into his pocket, he waded back to the other side to gather his pole and head back to the house. Angus was sure to be disappointed, but there wouldn’t be any fish caught in the creek this morning, the gal had seen to that. ’Course it served Angus right, meddling like he was.

Thinking back to the mischievous look that had spread across her face, Ridge couldn’t help but grin. His Georgie still had a little spunk, just like the old days, though soon, he reminded himself, she wouldn’t be “his Georgie” ever again.

◁ ◊ ▷

Georgiana couldn’t keep the smile from drifting back every time she pictured the look on Ridge’s face as she’d pushed him back into the water. She really hadn’t planned on doing it when she’d first extended her hand to help him out. What had possessed her, she didn’t know, but she had to admit it felt good to, for once, have the upper hand.

Ever since she’d returned to Crystal Creek, she had been subjected to one humiliating situation after another. Her pride was suffering greatly. Now, thinking of her appearance as she approached the house, she girded herself up for another knock to her ego.

Grandfather and Roddy were out on the side of the house inspecting the fire pit. Jonas and Jeremiah weren’t far away, cleaning up by the water barrel. Tiny and Dawson sat on the porch stairs intently discussing something. Dawson had a stick and was working the dirt and mud from off his new boots. Jimmy had finally returned from helping his brother, but he was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he’d ridden into town.

The men were probably hungry by now, but she suppressed the feelings of guilt. She hadn’t meant to be so long, and she certainly hadn’t planned on falling into the creek.

Grandfather noticed her first and walked forward. She knew she looked a fright, barefoot, soaked, and still dripping water. She must have unconsciously given him a “Don’t say a word” look because he cringed noticeably. His interference had backfired, and he knew it.

Next, Jonas and Jeremiah turned toward the house, then stopped and stared.

“Good mornin’,” Jonas suddenly piped out.

“Miss Georgiana,” Jeremiah added quickly.

She nodded her head as she passed by. “Jonas . . . Jeremiah . . . I trust you’re both having a good morning?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they both said in unison.

As she walked to the bottom of the porch stairs, Tiny stood up and removed his hat.

“Mornin’, Miss McLaughlin,” he said, stepping aside to allow her access to the stairs.

“Good morning, Tiny.”

Dawson jumped up too but didn’t say anything, only stared with his mouth gaping open, forgetting to brush himself off as he stood.

“Good morning, Dawson.” She smiled at him, climbed the stairs, and went in the house door, straight to her room.

They were still gaping after Georgiana when Ridge came walking up the road. Jonas saw him first.

“Ridge, what have you done to Miss McLaughlin this time? If I miss breakfast because of you, I’ll—”

Ridge headed straight for Angus.

“You’re placin’ blame with the wrong man this time, Jonas.”

He stopped in front of Angus and handed him the fishing bucket. Angus took the bucket excitedly and looked sorrowfully down at the empty bottom.

“Fish weren’t bitin’ today, lad?” he asked innocently.

“Yep, they weren’t bitin’.” Ridge fairly glared at him. “I figure ya just must’ve sent me the wrong kind of bait.”

The man immediately wore a look of chagrin, and Ridge knew Angus realized he’d been found out.

“Now, Angus . . .” Ridge took a deep breath in an effort to hold back his anger for he respected this man immensely. “I know she’s your granddaughter and all, but that doesn’t give you the right to—”

Before he could finish, Angus glanced over at Dawson. Ridge followed his gaze. Dawson was watching them, listening intently. Ridge felt sorry for the man. It wasn’t his fault Angus had gotten the fool’s notion that he and Georgie were meant to be together. The man was in love with her, probably near as much as he was. Why else would he have come so far to bring her back?

Ridge sighed, and Angus suddenly looked encouraged that he had escaped a severe tongue-lashing. Though Ridge would never have disrespected him in front of the others, he wasn’t letting him off the hook that easy. Georgiana had a right to make her own choices, and he certainly didn’t want to win her by default.

“You and I will talk later,” he said to Angus, giving him a look that said he meant it. “For now, I’m needin’ to get out of these here wet clothes.” As he walked to the bunkhouse, he felt at least one set of eyes boring into his back.

Samantha came running out to the wagon even before Georgiana had time to set the brake and climb down. She was tired of having to rely on the men to drive her around, so after breakfast she insisted Dawson show her how to drive the team herself. It had been rough at first when she’d started out on her own, but her determination had overridden her feelings of nervousness, and soon she was able to get the team under control.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Samantha said, out of breath from her mad dash. “We still have so much to do. I just know we’ll run out of time. Oh, why did I have to go and volunteer to head up this year’s committee?”

Georgiana leaned over and gave her friend a reassuring hug.

“You’re doing a fine job, Sammy, and I’m sure this year’s fall social will be the best one ever, all because of you.”

Samantha finally cracked a smile.

“Oh, I hope you’re right, Georgie.” Her face lit up, and Samantha took Georgiana’s hand, dragging her toward town. “You’ve got to come and see the decorations so far. They are absolutely wonderful, and I know you’ll love them. Ridge and Tiny volunteered to help and spent all morning, since after breakfast, hanging streamers and . . .” Georgiana stopped and pulled her hand from Samantha’s grasp when she’d heard Ridge’s name mentioned. He was the last person she wanted to see right now. She’d done a lot of thinking on the wagon ride over and had decided that after this morning’s incident, she was foolish to think things would ever work out between her and Ridge. Every time they were together, she found herself getting so frustrated and angry about the simplest things. Maybe if she finally let go of Ridge, her feelings would change toward Dawson.

Samantha had grabbed her hand again and was once more coaxing her toward the town social hall, which was really an old abandoned warehouse.

“Wait, Samantha, I don’t want to . . .”

“Georgie, please . . . don’t be such a stick in the mud. It’s not like Ridge is going to bite you or anything. Besides, he’s not even there right now.”

Georgiana relaxed and allowed her friend to continue dragging her along. While she did, her thoughts turned to Dawson once again.

He’d hardly said two words at breakfast, and when Georgiana had coaxed him into teaching her to drive the team, he had seemed so distant.

On the wagon ride over, she’d spent the whole time contemplating their relationship. She decided she wouldn’t be hasty in giving up on Dawson, despite everything she had confessed to Samantha. She truly cared for him. Wouldn’t it be better if she made sure of her feelings before she broke his heart? Georgiana pushed the nagging feeling aside that the answer to that question had already been given to her.

“Georgie!”

Samantha was talking to her. Startled, she looked around. They were standing at the door to the social hall. Georgiana looked at her friend’s beaming face.

“I asked if you’re ready.”

Georgiana nodded her head yes.

“Okay, but first you have to close your eyes.”

“Sammy . . .”

“Oh, come on, Georgie . . . I want it to be a surprise,” Samantha pleaded.

Georgiana still wasn’t sure about all this, but she couldn’t bring herself to disappoint her friend.

“All right,” she conceded, “but I’m warning you, Sammy, if this is any kind of trick to get me and Ridge—”

“No, no, I promise . . . I told you, Ridge isn’t even here right now. He told me earlier he needed to run some errands and he’d be back later this afternoon.”

Georgie could tell her friend was sincere. So she closed her eyes and allowed Samantha to lead her into the center of the hall.

“Okay, now open your eyes.”

Georgiana opened her eyes and could hardly believe what she saw. They were standing in the middle of the dance floor. Streamers, made from colorful strips of fabric, were strung back and forth to create a false ceiling. Randomly, bright-colored balls hung at different lengths intermittently and more streamers hung down the walls. On tables waiting to be loaded with every imaginable treat, were brightly colored cloths. In the center of each table was a big basket filled with the last of the summer flowers and adorned with bows. Every corner or wall in the room was decorated. The transformation was astounding. Ridge and Tiny had certainly got a lot accomplished in a short amount of time.

Georgiana turned and looked adoringly at her friend.

“Well?” Samantha asked.

“Sammy, it’s absolutely wonderful!” Georgiana exclaimed, and Samantha beamed again.

Grabbing each other’s hands, both girls shrieked excitedly.

◁ ◊ ▷

Ridge was up in the loft when he heard some commotion below. He had to come back to fetch his toolbox he’d forgotten so he could make repairs to the widow Swansen’s roof. Leaning the ladder on the outside wall, he had climbed in through the open window. If he dragged the ladder back inside, he’d risk knocking down the decorations he and Tiny had hung that morning. Worried someone needed help, he looked over the railing to the dance floor below.

Samantha and Georgiana were standing in the middle of the room, hand in hand, while Georgiana gazed about her in amazement. He felt a slight twinge of jealousy of how the two women had quickly reignited their friendship, but quickly pushed it aside. Of course, he couldn’t expect it to be the same between Georgie and him.

Assured nothing was wrong, he turned to leave but nearly jumped out of his skin when both girls squealed loudly again. Setting his toolbox back down, he leaned over the loft to make sure none of his carefully hung decorations had come crashing down on them.

Samantha and Georgiana were now waltzing around the room. Feeling foolish for worrying, he watched them for a moment. He should have realized it was a woman thing. They were always squealing and making funny noises when they were excited. The problem was they made the same sort of noises when they were in trouble. They sure knew how to keep a man on pins and needles sometimes, trying to figure out if they were happy or needed to be rescued.

After a few minutes, both women tumbled to the ground in the middle of the dance floor, giggling and laughing as women do.

Then they both became suddenly quiet.

Ridge had a sense the conversation was about to turn intimate, and his conscience told him to leave, but curiosity got the better of him. He turned and sat down, leaning his back against the short railing of the loft. He was well hidden from sight by all the hanging decorations.

Samantha spoke first.

“Oh, Georgie, I’m so glad you came back. These last weeks have been so much fun, almost like you never left.” Samantha paused for a moment, then asked. “How much longer do you think you’ll be able to stay?”

Ridge held his breath as he waited for her to answer.

“I really don’t know for sure. It depends on a lot of things, I suppose.”

On how long it takes Dawson to convince her to return with him,
Ridge thought sarcastically but quickly turned his attention back to the women when Georgiana started speaking again.

“Grandfather got a letter from Aunt Cecelia. When I came back from my walk this morning, I saw it sitting on the edge of the table. I asked him what it was about, but he told me not to worry. It had made him angry though, I could tell right away. Nothing good comes from Aunt Cecelia.”

“I’m sorry you were forced to live with such an awful woman.”

“Well, for three years I didn’t have to live there. I can be thankful for that. You would have loved the Harriet Wilmington’s School for Proper Young Ladies.” She pronounced the name in the tone he imagined Ms. Wilmington did herself, and it made Samantha laugh.

Again he felt a twinge of jealousy. They were so comfortable with each other.

Ridge called to mind the few days before they’d left for the mountain. When she began confiding in him some of her feelings, he’d felt a closeness returning. Then all those letters arrived, and he remembered that she had a life without him hundreds of miles away. He began to doubt himself and the solidarity of their returning friendship. He knew things would never really be the same. However, it hadn’t done him any good to try avoiding her. The more he forced his thoughts away, the more powerful his thoughts of her became.

Ridge heard the two women giggle, and he sorely wondered what he’d missed when his thoughts had run off.

“Remember the spring social when we were nine and we talked your parents into letting you spend the night over at my house?” Georgiana asked. “They never did let us stay at the socials very late. It was always so awfully unfair.”

“Yes, they’d send us home to bed and then stay and have all the fun,” Samantha bemoaned.

“It was a good thing they’d decided on old Mrs. Wickers to babysit us that night. I never knew a woman as senile as she was.” Georgiana laughed.

“How old was she then anyway?”

“I don’t know. I was amazed to hear she’s still around, but even back then she was so . . .”

“Old!” they both said it in unison and laughed.

“We told her we were going to bed, and we promptly climbed out my bedroom window and snuck into the back of the wagon under a blanket.”

“That’s right,” Samantha exclaimed. “Your grandpa had gone to check on that old pregnant mare for your grandmother before he headed back to town.” Samantha added, “Were you as scared as I was?”

“Probably more than you!”

“Nah, you were always the brave one, Georgie.”

“No, I was just better at pretending.”

Neither one of them said anything for a while. Finally, Georgiana spoke again. “It was worth it though, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, it was worth it . . . all except the part of seein’ Agnes Fitzgerald kiss Harvey Hancock under the kissin’ tree.”

“Eeew!” They both spoke in unison again, and they both laughed, harder this time.

“You know, we only thought it was disgusting because we were nine.” Samantha pointed out. “It wasn’t too many years later you kissed Ridge under that same tree.”

“You dared me!”

“You never took dares, Georgie. You only took that one because you wanted to kiss him,” Samantha accused.

Both women were silent for a moment, but when Georgiana spoke again, her voice was almost a whisper.

“That was a long time ago.” Georgiana said thoughtfully.

“Yeah, I suppose it was . . . but . . . but was it worth it?” Samantha asked.

There was silence again, and Ridge wondered if she would answer. Did Samantha know that wasn’t the only kiss they had ever shared?

“Oh, Sammy, it doesn’t matter anymore anyway. Call it fate . . . call it destiny . . . but that very day, I unknowingly walked out of his life for good.”

Ridge sighed deeply at her admission.

“Don’t say that, Georgie . . . I know you still love him.”

Ridge’s heart began to beat faster as he awaited her reply. This was the moment he was hoping for.

“It doesn’t matter,” Georgiana finally blurted out.

Ridge sighed, his disappointment sinking deep.

“Of course it matters,” Samantha argued. “Why ever would you say it doesn’t?”

“Because I’ve already made my decision, Sammy.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“Have you decided to follow your heart or follow your head?”

“I’ve decided to do what hurts the least, for everyone involved.”

“Everyone but you?” Samantha accused.

“Listen, Sammy, I really don’t want to discuss this right now.” He heard her sigh of frustration. “Look, we really should get back. We have lots to do, remember?”

“But, Georgie . . .”

“Come on, Sammy . . . let’s go,” Georgiana said firmly.

A second later, he heard the doors open and close.

Ridge didn’t move for a while, just sat contemplating everything they had talked about and what it all really meant. He had to admit it didn’t sound very encouraging.

Before he could think any more about it, another thought suddenly turned up the corners of his mouth.

She really had wanted to steal that kiss.