The Horseman

house and three sections of land a far piece northeast of here. Good, rich land. I’ve got a herd of mares, ones I’ve picked up here and there. My brother keeps an eye on them. His land is next to mine.”

“He’s a horseman, too?”

It was a good sign she hadn’t run for the hills yet. “He is. My house isn’t what you’re used to. It’s stout enough to keep out the brutal north winds. It has a view that is just as good as this one. I promise you, on my honor, on all that I am, that it’s one place where you will be safe. No one, I mean no one, will ever hurt you there. Marry me. I’ll never give you cause to be unhappy.”

She turned away, grimacing as if he’d caused her harm.

What hopes he had slid south until they crashed to the ground in little irretrievable pieces. She doesn’t want me at all.

He was a man. He was strong. He could live with that. Taking a shaky breath, he tried to be logical. It wasn’t as if he had a real chance anyway.

“What’s your second proposition? You said there were two.” She sounded hollow and tired.

She wasn’t interested in him, he knew that. He was a practical man. So he told her what she wanted to know. “To help me with the stallion.”

“What would you do to him if I don’t accept your proposal?”

Was that fear in her eyes? “I would never hurt him, don’t worry. His welfare doesn’t depend on you marrying me. Your welfare does.”

“I can’t. I can’t ever marry anyone again.”

“Why not?”

Because I’m afraid. Because I’m barren. What man didn’t want a son? Gossip traveled on a ranch. Hennessey had to have heard the rumors, and he was here, in front of her. Why? What did he want? Did he think she had money?

“I know you were hurt. I know what happened.” The horseman laid his palm against the side of her face.

His touch made her hurt inside, like frost burning on bare skin. Maybe it wasn’t only his touch that hurt, but the compassion in his voice. Compassion wasn’t something she was used to. No man was like this in real life, was he? He had to want something. That was it.

She steeled her emotions, fought hard to be less vulnerable because this was the proof. He thought she was well-off. It would be reasonable. Brett was a wealthy man.

“Sure, you’re ready to walk away. You don’t think a horseman would be a good match for a lady like you. You may be right. But right now you’re about as frail as a woman can be. You need time to recover, but what about tonight? Your stepfather doesn’t want you here.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because I had nowhere else to go.” She hated hearing the words. Hated how alone they made her feel.

“And now?”

She shook her head. Nowhere. No one.

“The way I figure it, your stepfather is in a monetary bind. He made me an offer, but other bills are going to come due. He’s going to have to hire someone to replace me. He has no money to pay them. What about the coal bill? What about the wages? How long will it be before he offers you to someone else?”

“It has occurred to me.”

“If you stay here, then what? You want to be standing in front of Rhodes with a minister? The truth is, your stepfather doesn’t care what happens to you, but I do. You could do a whole lot worse than taking me as a husband.”

No. She started to tremble, a fine, cold quivering that began in her soul and overtook her. She couldn’t trust a man. She couldn’t do it again.

Like a gallant knight, graced by moonlight, Hennessey knelt at her feet and cradled her hands in his.

“Marry me.” Deep and true, his words rang like a hymn in the stillness. “Please, Katelyn. Be my wife.”

“No.” She tugged, but he had a tight hold on her hands. “I don’t have anything. My clothes and a few books are all I own. Cal stole what little I took with me when I was forced from my own house.”

“After childbirth?” He rose, his face twisting. “I’m sorry. That’s damn horrible.”

His hand curved around her nape, and folded her to the hard plane of his chest. She breathed in the scent of night and snow on his coat, fighting the sensations that were overtaking her. The soft tanned leather against her cheek. The heat of his body. The hardness of it. The sound of his breathing, the rhythm of it.

“I will keep you safe, I swear it.” How fierce he sounded, how sure. As if he’d move mountains if he had to, reshape the earth and raise the endless prairie to keep his word. She could feel it in his touch, in his body as he held her tight, held her safe, made her feel sheltered.

She almost believed him. “I truly don’t have anything of value. Not even this land. It will be handed down through Cal’s side of the family.”

“I told you, I have my own land. I don’t understand. Do you think that matters to me?”

“Why else would you be proposing to me?” She pulled away, out of the refuge of his arms.

“That is what you think. Do I look like the kind of man who’d marry a woman for what she’s worth?” Dillon couldn’t remember being more mad. Not at Cal Willman. Not at anyone. “Do you really think so little of me?”

“I wanted to be honest.”

“Honest? You look at me and think I’d harm an animal, so why wouldn’t I marry a woman for my own monetary gain?” He was ashamed, how wrong he’d been. “I think you are the most heavenly woman I’ve ever had the privilege to meet. You are beautiful and gentle, and I know I’m stepping out of place, a workingman like me asking for a wealthy man’s step-daughter to be my bride. Even if she has nowhere to go and no one to help her.”

“You asked out of pity?”

“No. I asked you because I couldn’t imagine a man like me being so lucky as to have a wife like you. And if you married me, I’d be grateful every day of my life.”

“It’s not what you do, Mr. Hennessey. I just can’t. I can’t.” The pain remained frozen, a hard icy clump deep in her heart as she watched him stalk away. Heard his boots snap against the wooden ladder rungs and then pound through the stable.

If you married him, you wouldn’t be here. You won’t be alone. She heard the stable door bang shut, caught on Hennessey’s emotions and a gust of wind. She didn’t need him. She wasn’t interested in his proposal.

So, then, why did she watch for him to cross through the barn’s shadow below and into sight? He’d called himself a workingman. She could not forget his words. His kind, obviously sincere words. You are the most heavenly woman I’ve ever had the privilege to meet. You are beautiful and gentle.

He was wrong, but oh, how nice it was to hear kindness. She didn’t receive a lot of that.

There he was. Striding hard, but in control. Head up, shoulders set, back straight. He was angry, yes, but had she hurt him?

Chapter Six

It was nearly daybreak, and Dillon was still feeling like a fool.

Why else would you be proposing to me? He could remember her confusion as handily as if she was still standing in front of him in all her beauty and grace. I truly don’t have anything of value. Not even this land.

She’d thought he’d been wanting to improve his circumstances in life by marrying a wealthy man’s daughter. Well, not so wealthy at this particular time, Dillon thought wryly as he grabbed the iron poker from the hook in the hearth.

Good going, Hennessey. His first proposal to a woman and it could not have been more of a ruination. Maybe he should just keep away from women entirely. Then he couldn’t act like a fool. Then he’d at least keep his dignity.

He doubted Shakespeare himself could find the words to describe how humiliated he felt this morning. And he