In His Eyes: Blemished Brides Book 1, page 10
“You’re having a hard time dealing with the fact that you’re smitten with Katie, aren’t you?” Sally’s lips twitched. Trace stared at her.
“You’re too much like our mother was,” he grumbled. “Nothing gets past you, does it?”
Sally’s grin widened. “I’m observant,” she said, shrugging. She moved around him, coming to a stop just in front of him. She tilted her head to the side. “I wonder if Katie’s aware of it, too.”
“Aware of what?” Trace grumbled.
“Are you trying to court her, before Chantal parades her in front of a bunch of suitors?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Trace frowned. “I have no plans to court Katie.”
Sally’s face turned serious. “Katie’s birthday is coming up. Chantal plans to find a man for her to marry at that party. She’s invited every eligible bachelor she’s deemed worthy and, I suspect, whom she thinks she can control.” She shot him a meaningful look. “I can get you an invitation.”
Trace laughed while his insides seethed with anger. “Why would I want to be at one of Chantal’s elaborate parties? You know I don’t like to mingle with the wealthy, aside from when it’s about business.”
“Trace, if you’re interested in Katie, you need to make your intentions known, before Chantal marries her off. There’s a clause in the will to this ranch, which requires that a man be in charge of the Red Cliff at all times, and that if the heir is a female, she must produce another heir before her twenty-fifth birthday.”
Trace clenched his jaw. He laughed scornfully. “Sally,” he said slowly. “It don’t matter if I’m interested in Katie. I can’t go courting her.”
“Why not?” she asked. Her voice rose in outrage. One of her hands shot to her hip, and she glared at him as if he were daft. “I think you’d be absolutely perfect for her. Luke and many of the other ranch hands used to joke that you and Katie should be together someday.”
Trace leaned forward, returning her stare. He remembered those remarks, and the good-natured jabs from the other hands all too well.
“What do you think will happen if I show an interest in Katherine Montgomery?” he asked between clenched teeth. He turned away from his sister and cursed under his breath. He’d already let those stirrings Katie brought to life in him get out of hand. Hell. He’d come close to kissing her just before Sally had arrived.
His sister marched around him again, coming to a stop directly in front of him. She threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know, Trace,” she challenged. “What will happen if you make your intentions known to Katie?”
Was Sally really this daft? Trace stared at her to see if she was mocking him.
“I have no intentions where Katie is concerned. I may run this ranch and make Chantal Sinclair a lot of money, but at the end of the day, I’m nothing but a hired hand.” He paused, looking at her intently to make his meaning clear. “Do you honestly believe that she’s going to allow me to court her daughter?” He paused and sucked in a deep breath. “And furthermore, do you think the good folks in town aren’t going to accuse me that my interest in Katherine is purely to get my hands on this ranch?”
“Do you believe that any of the men Chantal chooses will want Katie for anything other than the ranch?” Sally challenged. “At least you care about her. If my hunch is correct, I’d even go so far and say that you’re in love with her, even if you don’t want to admit it. Maybe you should stop worrying so much about what other people think.” She studied him intently.
Trace wheeled around and slammed his fist against the barn wall. He cursed repeatedly. How had he allowed feelings for Katherine Montgomery to overrun him in the short amount of time that she’d been home? Thoughts of courting and, dammit, even thoughts of love, had entered his mind repeatedly over the course of the last few days.
The conversation between his old boss and his father, and Trace’s subsequent argument with John about it, played through his mind.
You’ve thought of her more than you’d like to admit over the years.
Sally’s hand on his shoulder brought his head around.
“Why haven’t you left yet?” she asked, her voice softening.
The question caught him off guard.
“What?” He shook his head in confusion.
“For as long as I can remember, you’ve talked about saving enough money to buy your own spread. Why are you still here? I know you don’t squander your money. You must have enough saved at this point.”
Trace ground his teeth. Sally wouldn’t stop pestering him until he told her everything. There were some things she didn’t need to know, though. His sister’s lips drew together in a tight line, and Trace braced himself.
“Why did you come to see me, Sally? Is there something you wanted to talk to me about, other than Katie?” Maybe if he redirected the questions, she’d stop interrogating him.
Sally expelled a loud breath. She studied him intently for a moment. “Well, it’s actually got something to do with that foal that was just born.”
Trace cursed silently. “What about him?”
“I was going through some of the expense records from last year, and I couldn’t find the breeding contract, or the transaction for the stud fee. I know you bred that mare to some unknown stud. I’ve heard some of the talk about how you’re taking a huge risk with such an expensive mare, but there had to be some sort of fee.”
Trace weighed his options. If he told her a lie, that there was a breeding record somewhere, she’d keep digging until she found – or, in this case – didn’t find it.
“You won’t have a record of it,” he said slowly.
“Why not?”
Trace ran a hand along his jaw. Asking her why she’d come to the barn had led him right back to what he didn’t want to discuss.
“Because the ranch didn’t pay the stud fee.”
He stared at his sister. She jutted out her chin, her forehead wrinkled, waiting for him to continue. He may as well tell her the truth. Clearing his throat, he said, “I paid it. That mare and her colt belong to me.”
Sally’s mouth dropped. “Trace, that mare is worth a small fortune.”
Trace began pacing again. “If you go back a few years, you’ll see the bill of sale. I made Chantal an offer for the mare that she couldn’t refuse, just before Frank Sinclair would have sold her out from under me.”
“Why would you do that? There are other mares, less expensive ones, to start up a breeding herd.” Her eyes widened as if something finally made sense to her. “That’s why you haven’t left yet, isn’t it? You used up all your money to buy that mare.”
Trace continued to walk the small space of his makeshift office. “I did it for Katie. John wanted her to have this mare. I made a promise to him that she’d get Goldfinder’s last foal.”
“What else aren’t you telling me?” Her gaze narrowed on him.
Trace closed his eyes for a moment. He met her gaze when he spoke again, picking his words slowly. “He wanted me to look out for Katie.” He turned abruptly when she remained unmoving. “And that’s exactly what I’m doing. I was too young and self-absorbed ten years ago to honor my vow to look out for her then, but I’m fulfilling my promise to John now.”
Sally grabbed his arm and stared a hole right through him. “And how are you going to do that, if she’s married to another man?”
Chapter Fourteen
“Are you ready?”
Katherine swallowed past the hard lump in her throat. She couldn’t even force a smile in response to Wilma’s question. She was anything but ready to be put on display. At least she wouldn’t be able to see everyone staring at her. She rubbed her sweaty palms together and inhaled deeply. Her ribs protested the confining corset.
“I think most of the guests are here, and your mother is anxious for you to come downstairs.”
“I just bet she is,” Katherine hissed quietly.
She clutched at the lace curtain on her window, the late-afternoon breeze doing little to cool her flushed cheeks. The sounds of soft laughter and people talking drifted into her room.
How many countless hours had she stood in this exact spot over the course of the last week, trying to come up with a way to get out of a forced marriage? If she hadn’t lost her sight, would she still have been in this predicament? Would she have found a man on her own, and not allowed her mother to make the choice for her?
It was too late to dwell on what ifs.
Many years ago, she’d often sat in the hayloft, or under a tree by the creek on a lazy summer day, and daydreamed like any other girl her age about her knight in shining armor. That knight had always been Trace, even though he’d made no bones about it that he’d found her exceedingly annoying.
You deserved it back then. You were horrible to him, always teasing him, trying to rile him. It had been the only way she could draw his attention, get him to notice her, even if it was the wrong kind of attention.
A little over a week ago, her dream seemed to have come true and Trace had finally taken the right kind of notice. Her knight had come to her rescue and treated her like a normal person, allowing her to forget her limited abilities. In the course of a few hours, he’d not only shown her what she’d nearly forgotten, but had also stolen her heart. Not a young girl’s heart, but that of a grown woman who harbored feelings for a man.
A shiver passed down her spine. The breeze against her cheek was like Trace’s breath when he’d spoken in that sultry tone against her ear, challenging her to remember who she used to be. Goosebumps formed on her arms in response to memories of Trace’s hands guiding her to rub the foal dry.
Katherine inhaled slowly. Trace hadn’t made any more appearances at the house, or invited her to visit the barns or the newborn foal. Her silly notions had given her false hope that there had been something between them that day. He’d behaved like she’d always imagined a beau would, and he’d completely swept her off her feet. Obviously, she’d read too much into his actions that day.
She hadn’t forgotten, however, what he’d told her about not letting her lack of sight get in the way of doing what she wanted to do. Several days ago, she’d managed to leave the house undetected. Her mother had left to visit a friend and, to her great surprise and delight, Wilma hadn’t been around to stop her, either. Taking advantage of her sudden freedom, Katherine had made her way to the barns in the hopes of running into Trace. She’d stood outside the mare’s stall, and the little foal had even sniffed at her hand. She’d been ready to leave when Luke’s voice had called to her.
“Miss Katherine, you shore don’t come to the barns enough these days.”
Katherine had smiled in the direction of the old blacksmith. Soon, everyone would know of her blindness, but for now, she’d keep it a secret if she could. It felt nice to be treated like a regular person.
“You’re right, Luke. I need to get back into the habit of visiting the horses more often.”
“Well, I know you’re all growed up now, and a proper lady and such, but t’ain’t good to be cooped up in that big house all day long.”
Katherine had nodded and smiled. “I was thinking the same thing.” She’d hesitated, then asked, “Have you seen Trace?”
“He ain’t been around much the last week or so,” the old man said. Katherine had detected a note of puzzlement in his voice. “Seems to have some pressing business elsewhere. Ya might want ta ask your friend what he’s up to.”
“Sally?” Katherine’s forehead scrunched. “I suppose she might know where her brother is.”
“No.” The word had rumbled in his throat as he chuckled. “That prissy woman that come from back east with ya.”
“Wilma?” Katherine hadn’t concealed the surprise in her voice.
“Yeah, I done seen Trace with her just this mornin’.”
Katherine had shaken her head in puzzlement. There wasn’t a single good reason that had come to mind as to why Trace and Wilma would be conversing. Wilma hadn’t said anything to her about having a talk with him, and she surely would have mentioned it if she had gone to give him a piece of her mind. Wilma had told her on several occasions what she thought of Trace, and none of it had been flattering.
“I’ll be sure to ask her the next time I . . . see her.”
Katherine had excused herself and made her way back to the house, intent on finding Wilma. When she finally did, her guardian had merely told her that she and Trace had come to an understanding, but wouldn’t elaborate as to what that meant.
“Katherine, it’s time to greet your guests,” Wilma said quietly behind her. Katherine blinked and released her hold on the curtain. She turned and nodded. Before she took a step forward, someone knocked loudly at her door, and it opened before Wilma had a chance to respond.
“Is there a reason you’re still in your room, Dear?” Her mother’s taffeta dress swished loudly.
Katherine bit her lip to curb her response to her mother’s sharp words.
“We were just getting ready to come downstairs, Chantal,” Wilma said quickly.
“You go ahead, Wilma. I need a few words with my daughter.”
“You want to wish me a happy birthday in private, Mother?” Katherine asked sarcastically. Wilma squeezed her arm, then let go. Silence followed, until her bedroom door closed again.
“I expect you to act like a lady when you greet your guests, Katherine,” Chantal said in a threatening whisper.
“You mean, your guests.” Katherine turned in the direction of her mother’s voice. She tilted her head slightly.
“I believe I’ve already narrowed the field to two contenders for your hand,” her mother said, evidently ignoring Katherine’s retort. “One of them should suit you. I’ll make the introductions, and you’ll be sure to spend some time with each of them. I trust that you can act like a normal person.”
Katherine laughed. “Normal? I suppose it wouldn’t be acceptable to let my future husband know that I am flawed.”
“Once the right man is chosen, and once you are betrothed, we will let him know.”
“You can’t simply cover up my blindness like some unscrupulous horse trader trying to hide a lameness.” Katherine shook her head. “What if I had died in that fall down the stairs ten years ago, Mother? Where would that leave you now?”
Chantal laughed softly. “The ranch would have been handed over to your grandfather’s nephew after Frank’s death. The important thing is, you didn’t die, and everything is as it should be.”
“Is it?” Katherine didn’t hide the anger from her tone. She took a step toward her mother. “You hated your father because he forced you to marry someone you didn’t love. How can you justify doing the same to me?”
“Because we don’t want to lose this ranch, Katherine,” Chantal replied, her tone sickly sweet. “It’s as simple as that. The Red Cliff has provided everything I’ve needed to be content. It will do the same for you.”
“Content . . . You mean, money,” Katherine retorted.
Chantal laughed again, a scornful laugh. “Yes, Katherine. Money. Men are too weak to remain faithful to a woman. Even Frank, whom I thought I’d cared for, couldn’t be trusted. At least he never knew that I needed him because of that will. I let him think he was in control of this ranch, but he was a simpleton. As long as he had enough money at his disposal to mingle with other influential men and look important, and go carousing with his whores, he left me to deal with the ranch.” She snorted with disdain. “Although he did try to meddle every once in a while.”
Chantal gripped Katherine’s hand. “After you marry, nothing will change. All you have to do is produce an heir, and we’ll retain control of the finances. I’ll make sure of that when I choose your husband.”
“You have it all worked out, don’t you?” Katherine spat.
Her heart sank. Her future had been decided for her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Regardless of what Trace had told her, she would always be forced to be dependent on others. He’d given her the confidence she needed to stand her ground about doing more on her own, but her blindness prevented her from being completely independent.
“What in the world has come over you, Katherine?”
Katherine’s spine stiffened at her mother’s harsh voice. She raised her chin, and moved toward her bedroom door. She stopped, and turned to face her mother.
“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll honor the terms of the will, but I’m not doing it for your benefit. I’ll get married to keep my father’s dreams alive.”
Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heels and left the room. The thought of marrying a man for whom she had no feelings repulsed her, but she would go through with it because she loved her father. If the ranch were to go to someone who didn’t care about the horses, it would be worse than what the future had in store for her.
* * *
Katherine’s cheeks hurt from the smile she’d plastered on her face. She kept her eyes trained on the man whose hand at her waist drew her much closer than what would be considered proper, making her neck sore from bending it backward. Sebastian Franco was a tall, thin man, and Katherine tuned out his incessant chatter while he twirled her around the dance floor.
Her feet ached from nearly three hours of dancing with every eligible bachelor her mother had invited and to whom she’d been introduced. She couldn’t remember any of their names, except for Sebastian. He was one of the two men her mother had singled out for her, and this was the fourth time the banking associate from Helena had asked her to dance.
Sebastian led her across the floor, and Katherine gritted her teeth when the toe of his shoe kicked the side of her foot for the third time in as many minutes. She sucked in a quick breath and stumbled forward, right against his chest.
