'What the hell for?' Russell exploded. 'You mean a man can't defend himself and his own property when he's bein' attacked?'
Ben shrugged as he regarded the other man. 'You know what the general opinion about your fence is, Russ. On top of that, the first rule of the code is never shoot a man in the back, whether he's law-abiding or a damn horse thief. It just doesn't smell good. '
'The rest of the county had better take a good whiff of it anyway,' Russell fired back. 'It'll help 'em understand what happens to anyone who lays a goddamn finger on my fence.'
'Daddy,' Addie broke in, 'I know your pride is involved, but there are times when-'
'I'll be damned if! need to start takin' advice from my own daughter,' Russell roared.
Addie closed her mouth, sensing the surprise that had flickered through the room, not at Russell's reaction but at her attempt to state an opinion. Disapproval was etched in every face but Ben's, and he was looking at Russell steadily.
'Russ, you know I'll back you no matter what you decide,' Ben said, his face inscrutable. 'But it's my position to make you aware of all your options.' He slid a glance in the direction of the office and looked back at Russell with an arched brow. 'Let's go have a drink, hmmn?'
Ben's persuasive tone and the welcome suggestion caused Russell's anger to fade magically. Without hesitation he nodded and preceded Ben out of the room. Ben gave Addie a reassuring glance before following. She felt better immediately, certain that he would prevent Russell from doing anything drastic.
'Peter, aren't you going with them?' Caroline prodded. 'You're a member of the family, and-'
'They don't need me,' her husband replied, yawnng and standing up. 'I'm going to bed.'
Caro fell silent and followed him, leaving May and Addie alone in the kitchen.
Addie fidgeted with the sleeves of her robe before making a move to stand up. May stopped her with a single observation.
'Ben's treated more like a member of the family than Pete, isn't he?'
Addie wasn't sure what May was really asking. 'I don't know what you mean. Peter's your son-in-law, while Ben's only-'
'Your father couldn't care less about what Pete has to say. He relies on Ben.'
'Everyone does, to a certain extent.'
'But especially your father. And you.'
She was stunned by May's bluntness. 'What do you- '
'Is Ben going to be my other son-in-law?' May asked, surprisingly resigned. 'I saw the way he looked at you just now. You're two of a kind. I couldn't bear to admit it until now.'
'Mama, maybe we should talk about this when you're not so tired.'
'I want to hear it from you. It's worse suspectin' and not knowin', Adeline. And there are things that need to be said between us.'
'It's hard to tell you how I feel about him when I know how
'It's not a personal dislike. Lord knows he could charm the birds out of the trees. I just know he's not good for you.'
'But he is.' Addie leaned forward and spoke swiftly, eagerly. 'You don't really know him, Mama, not as he really is.'
'He'll be difficult to handle.'
'Not for me.'
'If you marry him you'll never get away from here.'
'I don't want to.'
'The two of you are like fire and powder. The explosions might be exciting for now, but you'll never have a moment's peace. Later you'll regret-'
'I'd die if I married a man who wouldn't let me argue with him. We're both strong-willed, but we're learning how to accommodate each other. And he listens to me, Mama, really listens, and respects what I have to say.'
'I know. I've heard the two of you. He talks to you as if you're a man. You might enjoy the novelty of that at first, but it's not right for him to treat you as if-'
'Why not? Why not talk to me as if I have a head on my shoulders?'
'He should treat you more gently, instead of tellin' you about men's business and worryin' you with things that don't concern you. You're a woman, Adeline, with your own place and your own concems-'
'And I tell him about those too.'
'Oh, good Lord.' May leaned her forehead on her palm.
'I know it sounds a little radical, but why do there have to be lines between a husband and wife they aren't allowed to cross? Why the separation and the distance between them? There are things you and Caro and all our women friends tell each other but wouldn't dream of mentioning to your husbands. But a man has a right to know his wife's personal feelings, and-'
'A decent man wouldn't be interested in such things!' May snapped, and Addie quieted, understanding it would distress her mother to hear any more. There was silence between them, and then May spoke wearily. 'I guess you plan to marry him.'
'Yes.'
'I suppose you've taken time to figure out he's after the ranch as much as anything else.'
'He'd end up with Sunrise anyway. Daddy's planning to make him trustee in the new will.'
'I know. That would put him in charge of the ranch. But by marryin' you, he'll own the biggest piece of it. '
'He would marry me if I were a pauper.'
'Are you certain of that?'
'I've never been more certain of anything.'
May looked at her daughter's serious eyes and stubbornly set jaw, and her own face wrinkled with unhappiness. It was difficult for her to accept defeat in this, of all things. 'You've never looked so much like your father,' she said, and left the room.
Addie sat alone, massaging her temples. An abnormal quiet reigned over the house and the ranch, the silence after the storm. She waited until she heard Russell's office door opening and the sound of subdued voices. Warily she crept out of the kitchen and stood in a shadow, watching as Russell went up the stairs to catch an hour of sleep before the beginning of a difficult day. Ben stood at the bottom step, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned to leave. He saw her but made no move as she walked toward him.
'Did he listen?' she asked softly.
'Some.' He sighed with a mixture of weariness and worry. 'I don't know how much.'
She reached up to him and smoothed back a lock of hair that had fallen over his forehead. 'He always respects what you have to say.'
As he felt her drawing closer to him and saw the tenderness in her face, Ben froze. He'd never turned to anyone for comfort before. He'd been raised to bear his burdens alone, and he'd always managed to get along just fine without anyone's help. The last thing he needed was a woman's solace. And yet… he had an irresistible urge to pull Addie close and pour out his frustrations to her. Here she was, confronting him, forcing him to include her in his private feelings.
Addie saw the indecision in his face and understood it more than he could have imagined. Until she'd met him, she'd fought to keep the same distance between herself and everything that threatened to come too close. But whether he admitted it or not, he needed her. She stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips grazing his unshaven jaw.
'Try to keep me at a distance,' she said huskily. 'I won't let you.'
He was still for a moment, and then he bent his head and kissed her, his hand fitting behind
