Chapter 16
A/N #1: Sorry for the delay in updating. I stepped away from this story for a couple weeks to write my 60th fic, the 10th entry in my "Hearts" series called The Sheltering Heart. If you haven't already, check it out :) Thanks for your patience, and now back to 1881...
Saturday
March 19
It was a fine early spring morning, the faint chill in the air outside gradually warming as the sun rose higher in the cloudless blue sky. Inside the barn, the air was cool and damp and smelled pleasantly of hay and horses. Standing closely beside Lucy in front of the last stall on the left of the wide center aisle, Wyatt pretended not to notice the way her slim fingers trembled slightly as she murmured to Maisie and gently rubbed her nose. He understood how important this moment was to her.
Today, for the first time since falling from her pony as a little girl and breaking her wrist, his friend was going to sit on a horse-and maybe even ride around the corral a little ways, if things went well. When Lucy had taken him aside before they sat down for breakfast with his grandparents (though he couldn't help but notice she ate almost nothing) and confided her intentions, Wyatt immediately decided he'd do everything in his power to ease any lingering doubts she might have.
Unwavering in her dedication to the goal set for herself of conquering a long-standing fear of horses, every day for the past four weeks, the brunette faithfully visited her new friend, always bringing a treat and taking a few minutes during her day to talk softly to the sweet mare and stroke her long neck. Small wonder it took no time at all until Maisie began to eagerly anticipate Lucy's arrival each afternoon. Wyatt was pleased to see how quickly the two were bonding...and that had given him an idea...
Flashback
It had been another quiet evening for the family, with Lucy reading aloud a couple chapters from Last of the Mohicans after supper for a while before going upstairs. It amused Wyatt to see how disappointed Gramps was-like a small boy-when she closed the book and quietly bid them good night. Heedless of his grandparents' presence, Wyatt's gaze was drawn to the gentle sway of Lucy's hips as she left the room. He blushed guiltily at being caught watching her like some lovesick boy when James coughed discreetly and broke the silence, a knowing expression on his face.
"Such a nice voice...I could listen to that young lady read all night," he declared cheerfully, his wife nodding in agreement. "Say, Wy, your Gran and I were wondering how it's going with Lucy and Maisie? Does it seem like she might be getting over her fear some?" Wyatt appreciated the question, and couldn't have asked for a more perfect opening to discuss a notion he'd been thinking on for the last day or so.
"Yes, sir, she's doing really well," he nodded in satisfaction, sharing that Lucy's confidence seemed to be growing every day, and it was clear to him she and Maisie were becoming quite attached to each other. "Speaking of Lucy's progress, there's something I'd like to talk to the two of you about. As owners of Sherwin ranch, of course the decision is yours, but what would you think of giving the mare to Lucy for her own? I was hoping it might be even more incentive for her to continue riding, plus since Maisie's breeding days are over, the regular exercise would be good for her as well."
His grandparents gazed at each other intently while they considered his suggestion. As they often did, the couple seemed to communicate without saying a word–something Wyatt was well accustomed to after all these years. He forced himself to sit patiently until finally, James smiled and said he thought it was an excellent idea. "What do you say, Betsy, dear?" he asked his wife, who barely hesitated.
"Oh, yes, that's quite thoughtful of you, Wy, and practical, too, since Lucy probably should have her own horse once she moves into town before the new school year begins in the fall," Betsy added, as she started to put away her knitting. What? Taken aback by the news, Wyatt stared at his grandmother. Lucy would be leaving the ranch? Just when they were spending a little time together every day and getting to know each other? The thought was more unsettling to him now than he could've imagined only a month ago.
Glancing up, she frowned slightly at the dismayed expression he hadn't been quick enough to hide from her. "You seem surprised, dear. Don't you remember we already discussed this?" Searching his memory, Wyatt supposed he vaguely recalled hearing something at the supper table back in early January about the need to make the teaching position more attractive since Brady was a very small town in the middle of nowhere. In the end, it was decided that not only would the school board pay the new teacher a fair wage, they'd also be providing her a place to live in town not far from the school, a very generous offer indeed. He wondered unhappily if Lucy remembered her stay with the Sherwins was only temporary. Well, hell. Clearly, he hadn't been paying very close attention.
And then like a bolt of lightning, he suddenly did remember the conversation...and exactly which house she was referring to. Aww, hell. Gran meant his house, the one that had belonged to Wyatt-where he'd lived with Jess and Mattie before they passed away, and ended up selling to his grandparents some months later. Sure, while the rational part of his mind understood the small house would make a nice home for any teacher the school board hired, for some odd reason, his chest felt strange and tight at the thought of Lucy living there...in the same place that Jess had...and God help him, but Wyatt wasn't really sure why that was so...
"Wy? Is anything wrong?" Betsy's concerned voice broke into his troubled thoughts. "As I said before, a home in town near the school was part of Lucy's contract, although the board agreed with your grandpa and me that the new teacher might be more inclined to stay the whole year if she wasn't so isolated over the winter while trying to settle in. That's why we made the offer to host her for the remainder of the school year. Is there a specific reason why Lucy shouldn't move into town before the next one begins in the fall?" Wyatt hastily shook his head. Good lord, he knew that tone of voice.
No need to give Gran false hope he was developing serious feelings for their guest. Plus, there was the possibility it might worry her if he voiced his unease about the house when a reasonable decision had already been made in the matter. Wyatt tried not to think about what it would be like when Lucy was no longer staying with them, when likely the only time he'd see her would be at church services on Sunday morning...a thought that surprisingly bothered him...
End Flashback
Needing to strictly focus his sttention on helping Lucy, he deliberately pushed away the disquieting mental image of her living by herself in the home he'd shared with his wife and baby son-though Wyatt couldn't help but wonder if Gran had already informed Lucy about that particular fact. Might be silly, but he'd much rather she hadn't (in case the knowledge would somehow make things between them awkward again).
And yeah, maybe it was cowardly of him, but now that he was aware of the plans for Lucy to eventually leave the ranch, Wyatt privately hoped to be otherwise occupied (perhaps out of town on a stock buying trip?) when that day came. All he could do in the meantime was be her friend and quit worrying about the future. After all, a lot could happen in six months...
Forcing his attention back to the woman beside him and today's important project, he guessed it would probably embarrass the hell out of her to learn Wyatt, his grandparents and the few ranch hands aware of the circumstances were thoroughly impressed with the grit and determination she displayed so far. But then again, this was the same young woman who'd left her childhood home and traveled halfway across the country to pursue the life she dreamed of. Yeah, no one could ever say Lucy Preston didn't have guts, he decided admiringly, content to wait for as long as it took until she was ready for him to saddle Maisie and lead her outside.
While obviously Wyatt couldn't (wouldn't) admit it to anyone-not even Gramps-the last month had been somewhat challenging for him, too, after his desperate, last-ditch apology to the teacher and their 're-introduction' that fateful Sunday afternoon. He'd kept a respectful distance from her the rest of that day, but the next night after they finished eating, mustered up his courage and quietly asked Lucy if she'd care to take a walk with him, greatly relieved when after a few seconds (that oddly felt more like an hour), she agreed in a soft voice, her cheeks pinking prettily. Purposely ignoring Gran's delighted gasp (whoa, don't be planning that wedding ceremony just yet, Betsy), Wyatt was gratified by the faint but noticeable approval he saw on his grandpa's face.
Unfortunately, things were a little strained between them at first. Once outside, they stood there peeking at each other hesitantly, neither one quite sure how to proceed (especially in his case, since the pleasure of kissing Lucy was still fresh in Wyatt's memory). Searching his mind anxiously, at last he recalled how fond she seemed to be of their dog, Spot, and hoping the old hound would ease some of the tension, he whistled sharply for the beagle to join them. And lucky for him, it worked...
Lucy's face lit up when Spot came running as fast as his short legs would carry him, barking and tail wagging eagerly. Crouching down to gently scratch behind his soft, floppy ears, the brunette glanced up at Wyatt and confessed shyly she'd never had a dog and always wanted one, but regrettably, her late father was allergic to them. And just like that, they fell into an interesting conversation about different breeds of dogs, and he was amazed at how swiftly the next hour or so passed. From then on, he and Lucy settled comfortably into a new habit of walking together after supper most evenings until it started to get dark.
As the crisp late winter days passed and spring approached with the welcome promise of warm breezes and blooming wild flowers, the two of them grew steadily more relaxed around each other. Apprehensive at first about keeping up his end of the conversation since–unlike his chatty best friends—he'd never really been much of a talker, Wyatt was pleased to discover they seldom ran out of things to discuss.
She would tell him grand tales about living in San Francisco or sometimes speak fondly of her years at the women's university. In return, he shared stories about growing up on a horse ranch in the middle of Texas and on occasion (but only when Lucy asked), talked a bit about serving with the Rangers. For some reason Wyatt didn't really understand, she seemed rather fascinated with those old Ranger stories–though, naturally, he omitted the more gruesome details out of respect for her ladylike sensibilities.
Wasn't long at all before Wyatt's first thought upon waking most mornings was seeing Lucy at breakfast, and he found himself thinking about her more often than not during the days when she was in town teaching. Secretly, he wondered if she might possibly be having some of the same feelings about him (but had no idea how to go about finding that out without messing things up). The only drawback to their newfound ease with each other thus far was that being close to the slender brunette and very rarely having a legitimate reason to touch her was tougher than he'd anticipated. A hell of a lot tougher.
It seemed nearly everything about Lucy tempted him, now that he knew what it felt like to hold that slender body against his and taste her sweet lips. Truth was, Wyatt struggled something fierce with keeping his hands to himself. Even the most innocent touches, like politely helping her in and out of the carriage seemed to make his body tighten with need. God help him, but it felt like he desired the woman more intensely every day, wanting nothing more than to take Lucy in his arms and kiss her again (and again) until they were both dizzy. Unfortunately, that was not gonna happen any time soon because Wyatt had made a solemn promise—to her, to his grandpa, and most importantly, to himself, to not cross that line, but damn, it wasn't easy.
Unlike a good many men of his acquaintance who regularly visited saloons like Miss Emma's for female companionship seemingly on the very day they turned 16 or thereabouts (a certain town sheriff came to mind), Wyatt actually had no experience being intimate with a variety of ladies before taking sacred vows with his wife. It was a source of pride to him Jess was the only woman he'd ever loved, emotionally and physically–a fact some of his fellow Rangers would've teased him mercilessly about if they ever found that out. To his way of thinking, this made their marriage (tragically brief as it was) special, like the two of them were meant only for each other.
But the reality was that sadly, the wife he loved with all his young heart had been gone for going on two years now...and a woman unlike any Wyatt had ever known was right here in front of him–tempting his usually reliable self control in ways he could never have predicted. A woman who was smart, kind, and so damn pretty she nearly took his breath away at times—though his common sense continued to stubbornly balk at the idea that whatever he felt for Lucy might be anything more than simply pure physical desire. Wasn't it way too soon for meaningful feelings between them?
Good Lord, only six short weeks ago, he hadn't even known Lucy Preston existed—and now look at him. Hell, she already occupied too much space in his mind, but Wyatt had no idea how to make that stop (or to be honest, wasn't quite convinced he even wanted to). Still, while it had been uncomfortable to hear at the time, his grandpa wasn't wrong when he wisely but kindly pointed out Wyatt's loneliness. Maybe it was time to stop being so stubborn...to listen to the well-meant advice of his family and friends...and open his scarred heart to possibilities...
"I'm ready now, Wyatt." He flushed slightly when Lucy's tremulous voice interrupted his conflicted thoughts—which happened to be mostly of her. Thankfully, she was preoccupied with what was about to happen and didn't seem to notice his discomfort. Clearing his throat self consciously, he squeezed Lucy's arm in support and moved past her into Maisie's stall. Patting her sleek neck soothingly, in a matter of minutes, Wyatt had deftly fastened a saddle borrowed from his grandmother on top of a thick wool blanket on the mare's back before slipping the bridle over her head.
"Alright, sweet girl, let's see if we can do our best to make this a good experience for our friend, Lucy," he whispered in the horse's ear before leading Maisie out of her stall to the corral with the teacher following closely behind them. Noticing the way Lucy's eyes darted nervously left and right, Wyatt was glad he'd asked his grandparents to stay away from the barnyard and arranged for the hands to be busy elsewhere on the ranch this morning. The last thing the brunette needed was an audience making her self conscious. Took enough courage as it was for a person to face their fears without distractions like that.
Gratefully aware of Wyatt's solidly steady presence nearby, Lucy continued to gently stroke Maisie's velvet-soft nose and whisper to her, praying he wouldn't notice the way her fingers shook. Why in heaven's name she decided upon waking this morning that today of all days would be the one she'd attempt to overcome her childhood fear and sit on a horse for the first time in twenty years, Lucy didn't know. Even crazier? Before she could change her mind, she'd impulsively slipped on the old pair of Wyatt's boyhood pants he lent her under her skirt before coming downstairs for breakfast. Had she well and truly lost her mind?
She forced herself to take slow, even breaths in an effort to not give into her fear. Despite her understandable anxiety at the moment, Lucy couldn't deny how attached she was becoming to the sweet mare. Every day after returning from town, she would ask Martha for an apple or carrot and head out to the barn to spend a few minutes with Maisie, petting and talking to her—secretly thrilled it wasn't long before the horse seemed to eagerly anticipate her arrival, usually letting out a soft whinny whenever Lucy approached her stall near the back of the barn. This familiarity went a long way toward easing some of her apprehension. She knew in her heart Maisie was a gentle animal who would never hurt her...and also that the man beside her would do everything he could to keep her safe.
Though he was standing there patiently enough, she was uncomfortably aware Wyatt Logan was a busy man with numerous responsibilities who certainly shouldn't waste a good part of his day waiting on her to quit being a coward. Swallowing hard against the knot of fear that threatened to choke her (and despising the quaver in her voice), she told him, "I'm ready now." With a brisk nod, Wyatt squeezed her arm briefly and slipped into the stall to deftly saddle Maisie before leading the mare out of the barn toward the corral.
Instinctively staying close to his other side, Lucy looked around anxiously, praying no one else was in the immediate vicinity to witness what might end up being a disaster. Wyatt stopped just outside the open double doors. Holding Maisie's bridle with one hand and reaching for her hand with the other, he clasped it gently and said earnestly, "You can do this, Lucy, I have faith in you."
Gazing into those expressive blue eyes, suddenly everything around them faded away, save for the sound of Wyatt's husky voice and the warmth of his strong hand holding hers. It was as if they were the only two people in the world. Not for the first time, she was astonished by the way this man was so easily able to make her heart both ache and race at the same time. "Thank you," Lucy stammered breathlessly after a long moment, struggling to not betray her inner turmoil–a task easier said than done.
Truth was, before meeting Wyatt, she'd never experienced feelings like this about any man before (not once during the months of being courted by Noah Cooke that she recalled—not even when it was clear the young doctor planned on asking her to marry him). Still, that was no excuse, Lucy told herself sternly. For pity's sake, she and the cowboy were merely friends, nothing more. But then, God help her, one side of his mouth curved in a dimpled half smile. She shivered. Not helping here, Mr. Logan...
And in a moment of stunning clarity, Lucy Preston understood how dangerously close she was to falling in love with the kind, quiet horse rancher. Her rational mind wondered how such a thing could be possible when they'd only known each other for six weeks, but her wistful heart knew there was no denying she'd been intrigued by—drawn to—Wyatt Logan from the moment they met. What that meant for her future, Lucy had no idea, but at least the doubts she experienced during the hours after Wyatt kissed her had eventually faded after his sincere apology (not to mention the way he'd charmingly and oh so properly "re-introduced" himself to her) that afternoon in February...
Flashback
"Lucy?" She jerked around at the unexpected sound of her name called out in a masculine voice to see Wyatt watching her intently. Lucy stared up at him with wide eyes, dismayed he'd caught her intruding on his privacy. Dear lord, she hoped he hadn't overheard her just now having a conversation with his deceased wife. How utterly embarrassing. They gazed at each other in uncomfortable silence until Lucy shook her head in resignation and clumsily got to her feet, cheeks warming when naturally, Wyatt politely moved to assist her, his large, calloused hand grasping her elbow firmly.
Already fatigued from a less-than-restful night (and yes, maybe a little distressed that Wyatt discovered her kneeling beside his wife and son's grave), Lucy barely noticed his slight frown when she quickly pulled her arm away from him, intent only on returning to the house and the peaceful refuge of her bedroom. Clutching her coat tightly around herself against the biting wind, she turned to leave when Wyatt abruptly stepped in front of her. What now? she wondered tiredly when, to her surprise, the words began pouring out of the normally reserved man in a rush.
"I'm sorry, Lucy, so damn sorry, for my totally unacceptable behavior," Wyatt said hoarsely, "Not only do we barely know each other, but you are an honored guest in my grandparents' home. I had no right whatsoever to take advantage of your inexperience, to touch you and kiss you without your consent, and I absolutely should never have been alone in your room last night and kissed you a second time."
Caught off guard by the fervent apology, she was struggling to form an adequate response when Wyatt sighed wearily. "Although I sure as hell don't deserve it, I'm humbly asking for your forgiveness, and a chance to start over, to maybe become friends, if you'll allow it. Can you find it in your heart to do that?" he asked before falling silent to watch her expectantly.
Staring into those anguished blue eyes, something in her chest caught almost painfully at the hopeful, surprisingly vulnerable expression on Wyatt's face, and Lucy realized she couldn't bring herself to deny his sincere plea for forgiveness. It was only a kiss, (well, two actually), and no lasting harm had been done. She was a grown woman after all, one who'd been taking care of herself since her father took sick seven years ago. Once more, Lucy appeared to be at a crossroads in her life. It was becoming clear to her that a choice must be made, and impulsively surrendering to the desires of her yearning heart, she chose Wyatt...
End Flashback
More and more strongly since then, she believed it had been the right decision. Gradually becoming friends with the man and getting to know him better turned out to be a blessing for Lucy and a true pleasure. Because breakfast every day was usually shared with one or both of his grandparents, the only time she actually spent alone with Wyatt was when the two of them walked most evenings after supper, usually accompanied by the Sherwins' faithful dog, Spot. Taking turns sharing stories from their pasts, she very much enjoyed seeing this new side of him, and in the process, becoming more familiar with his family's ranch as well.
Only trouble was, though she was confident they were growing closer in the weeks since that fateful day after the midwinter social, Lucy couldn't help wishing she knew for certain whether he felt anything for her beyond friendship. While Wyatt behaved like a perfect gentleman and never failed to treat Lucy with the utmost respect, as the weeks passed and her feelings for him inevitably grew deeper, she found herself irrationally (indeed, rather improperly) hoping he might try to kiss her again or at least hold her hand...
To her dismay, being so near to him and yet very seldom feeling the touch of those strong, masculine hands was like experiencing a kind of sweet torture. Also not helping was the fact that the handsome, blue-eyed cowboy was the first thing she thought of upon waking most mornings. Her thoughts drifted to him during the day as well, to the point where she occasionally found it hard to concentrate at times...wait, why was he smiling at her?
Good heavens. Caught daydreaming about the man standing right in front of her, she blushed hotly at the clear amusement in his deep voice when Wyatt teased, "Haven't changed your mind now, have you, Lucy? Miss Maisie here and I would both be disappointed if you were having second thoughts." And at that precise moment, gazing up at him, a stunned Lucy realized she'd been mistaken earlier…sorely mistaken. There was no 'danger' of her falling in love with Wyatt Logan...because she already had. Dear heavens, what was she going to do? Heart racing anxiously lest she somehow accidentally betray these tender, newfound feelings, Lucy cleared her throat and responded as evenly as she could manage under the circumstances, "No, no second thoughts, just trying to get my bearings is all."
Thankfully, Wyatt accepted her response at face value, and nodding towards the wooden mounting block on the other side of the corral, said mildly, "Alright, then, let's give this a try." Straightening her shoulders, Lucy hesitantly followed man and horse. Once Maisie was standing docilely in place, Wyatt turned and offered her his hand with an encouraging smile. Stopping in front of the block, Lucy closed her eyes briefly, praying for the courage to see this through. It's now or never, Lucy, she told herself, exhaling shallowly and placing her trembling hand in his.
Holding securely to Wyatt's hand, she climbed the sturdy block's three steps, and with a deep, fortifying breath, gracefully swung her leg over the back of the mare and gingerly settled into the saddle, shocked and thrilled–and absently relieved she was wearing the borrowed pants under her skirt. She'd actually done it. For the first time since she was a little girl, Lucy was sitting on a horse, and it was an exhilarating feeling. Her dear Papa would be bursting with pride at the sight...
"Well done," Wyatt declared quietly, casually placing his hand on her thigh (and making Lucy's heart skip a beat or two). After a moment, he asked if she wanted Maisie to move or if this was as far as she was comfortable with for today, reassuring her that would be fine. Looking down at him, her heart swelled with affection (and maybe a little something more). He was such a good, decent man, so kind and patient in the face of her fear, and Lucy wanted nothing more right then than to make him proud and justify his seemingly unshakable belief in her.
"Maybe a few steps?" Lucy suggested tentatively, and the approval she saw in his expression instantly soothed her nerves and gave her the courage she'd been praying for. Holding onto the horn for dear life and instinctively tightening her legs against the saddle, she held her breath as Wyatt clucked his tongue and began to leisurely lead Maisie forward, one step, then another, and another, until they eventually made a full circle around the large corral. A whole circle. She did it!
Stopping the horse beside the mounting block once more, Wyatt patted Maisie and murmured something in her ear before grinning up at Lucy. Exhilarated, she exclaimed, "Did you see? I did it, Wyatt! I rode all the way around the corral."
"Yes, Ma'am, you sure did," he agreed, grunting in surprise when she impetuously swung her leg over the pommel and flung herself into his arms. (And of course, he caught her.) Sliding down the length of his muscular body, Lucy closed her eyes and hugged him tightly, pressing her face against his neck and inhaling Wyatt's familiar scent. God, how she'd missed being held by him. Being in this man's arms felt like home...
Belatedly remembering they were standing out in the open where anyone could happen by and see what they were doing, she reluctantly drew back. Biting her lower lip self consciously, Lucy gazed up at Wyatt with what was probably ill-disguised longing. His eyes appearing to darken with some kind of emotion (desire, perhaps?), Wyatt tugged her against his broad chest and slowly lowered his head. Lucy's eyes fluttered shut at the almost unbearable sensation of his warm breath on her lips. Finally, her heart rejoiced...
A/N #2: Dun, dun, dun (ducking for cover). Oops! Sorry for the cliffhanger, my friends, but sometimes you just have to go (and apparently, stop) where the inspiration takes you :p In my defense, I feel like both Wyatt and Lucy made quite a lot of progress in this chapter, plus I really want to think about where all this is going before starting the next one. What a great 13+ months it's been working on this story about the characters I love so much. My sincere appreciation, as always, to all of you who continue to be interested in reading Timeless fanfics. Your favorites, follows, and kind reviews are so encouraging and truly make it all worthwhile :))