Читать книгу Rich, Rugged Ranchers - Kathie DeNosky - Страница 18

A knot formed in Sophia’s stomach as she parked her Camry by the ranch house garage. She sat in the car a minute, still unsure what to do about Luke. If Logan was home, maybe he’d already had a conversation with him. Or maybe he’d left that privilege for her. Sophia had wanted a little more time with Logan. And after her visit from Gordon today, she’d hoped she could be honest and up-front about things he didn’t want to talk about. She’d hoped she could make headway with him. It would require faith and trust on both their parts.

Sadly, she still didn’t have a clear definition of her relationship with Logan. And she still didn’t know what she would say to Luke. She got out of the car and made her way toward the house, wondering if she could find the right words. Deep in thought, she climbed the steps and entered the house, closing the door behind her.

Instantly, two booming male voices resounding from the long hallway stopped her cold. She couldn’t make out the words, but she certainly knew harsh tones when she heard them. And it was clear that Logan and Luke were butting heads again. When she heard her name mentioned, Sophia moved down the hallway, compelled by a force stronger than good etiquette allowed to secretly listen to the two men she cared most about. She leaned against the outside wall of Logan’s office, out of sight.

“You’re telling me that Sophia has moved into the house?” Luke’s voice was full of his displeasure.

Logan’s impatient words rang out. “I told you about the threats at the cottage.”

“So she’s here for her own safety?”

“There’s more. We’re not going to tiptoe around now that you’re home.”

“Meaning what?”

Logan’s voice carried a distinct certainty. “Meaning she’s with me now.”

There was a long pause, and Sophia squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t know what to expect from this conversation. Logan hadn’t been subtle or taken the time to ease Luke into the idea.

“You son of a bitch.” Disbelief reverberated off the walls. “You’re sleeping with her.”

“That’s right, Luke. It’s a mutual arrangement.”

Again there was a long pause as Luke absorbed that for a minute. Sophia didn’t know if she should make her presence known, but his next words made her rethink revealing herself until she’d heard Logan’s answer.

“So then you’ve forgiven her of all crimes? You don’t think she’s out for our money?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You’re not cutting her any slack, are you?” Luke asked angrily.

“I’m watching our backs, Luke.”

“You’re going to hurt her and if you do, I’ll—”

“I’m making damn well sure you don’t hook up with her.

You’d be foolish enough to fall in love with her. At least with me, I know that’ll never happen. I’m protecting our interests.”

“You’re a bastard, Logan.” Luke’s words were sharp, cutting. “Sophia deserves better than that.”

Logan lashed back, “Yeah, what do you know? You didn’t wake up one night and wander into the barn as a kid to find our father, the esteemed Randall Slade, sprawled over her mother in the tack room. The two of them were going at it—”

Sophia gasped. Stunned, she moved on shaky legs into the office doorway. The Slade men both looked up at the same time, shocked to see her standing there in full view.

She felt the blood drain from her face. Her body went limp as she faced Logan. She’d overheard everything. Logan had never cared for her. He’d never fall in love with her. She took a swallow, having to look deep into his eyes and hear him repeat the one thing that brought it all together. The one thing that proved his wicked deception.

“The t-tack room, Logan?”

Logan’s hard eyes softened. “Sophia.”

Luke let out a curse. “Don’t listen to him, Sophia. He’s an—”

“Answer me, Logan,” she demanded, raising her voice. Luke wouldn’t understand why this was so devastating to her. “You saw our parents together in the tack room?”

Logan blinked and began shaking his head. “You weren’t meant to hear this conversation.”

Sophia couldn’t breathe. Her chest pounded and her stomach twisted in agony. She’d never felt so completely betrayed. This was all a game to Logan—and a way to keep her away from Luke. He must have had a good long laugh over it when he seduced her in the very place he’d found his father making love to her mother. She was at a loss so profound a cold wave wrapped around her body and threatened to freeze her out. It was as if the light beaming inside her died. She was numb and brokenhearted, but forces from deep within would not allow her to walk out of here until Logan heard the truth.

“First of all, Luke is right. You’re a bastard.”

Logan flinched, which gave her a measure of satisfaction. The man wasn’t made entirely of stone. If her words cut him, they were only a tiny tear, unlike the way she’d been ripped apart.

“You’ve never wanted to hear the truth about your parents. I’ve wanted to tell you but I thought I should wait until I had your trust. But I see now I’ll never have that. Luke, you should know this, too. When your mother and father married it was more an arrangement to bring two powerful ranching families together. There was never great passion between them. Randall married because she’d gotten pregnant with you. He didn’t love her the way she wanted to be loved though. The way every woman deserves to be loved. But your mother and father did merge the ranches and did build a family together.”

Sophia put her head down. She couldn’t bear to see the look of pain in Logan’s expression. After a few seconds, she forged on. He needed to hear this. Even if he didn’t believe her, she owed this to her mother and to herself. She faced Logan again, looking him straight in the eyes, holding back her tears. “When we came to live at the ranch, there was nothing between my mother and your father but mutual respect. Over the years, they grew closer and fought the attraction with everything they had but eventually they fell deeply in love. My mother was tormented. I would hear her crying during the night. Often she’d speak of leaving the ranch, of finding another job somewhere else. But I loved living here. I loved it so much and I couldn’t understand at the time why my mother wanted to leave. I pleaded with her to stay on. I couldn’t bear the thought of not living at the cottage or on Sunset Ranch. So we stayed.”

Early memories of her mother’s sadness were fresh in her mind. Sophia remembered her mother crying and the defeat in her voice in those brief moments when she’d let her guard down. It had been a painful time for her. “Your father was set to divorce Ivy. It wasn’t an easy decision for him but he’d been determined. My mother stopped him. She wouldn’t allow Randall to break up his family for her. Everyone thought that Ivy found out about their affair and fired my mother. But the truth was that my mother went to Ivy to apologize. She offered to move away so that she and Randall could patch up their relationship and keep the family together. Mama always told me she’d done the right thing. She couldn’t have lived with herself if she’d broken up your family. She never took a penny of Randall’s money and she made him promise to never follow her. To my knowledge he never did.”

“But he did provide for you in his will,” Luke pointed out.

The room got quiet. Logan’s face masked his emotions.

“My mother loved Randall Slade with her whole heart and she gave him up. It was the hardest thing she ever had to do.” Sophia choked up then and tears spilled from her eyes when she looked at Logan one last time. “Mama … always said … it was a waste of love.”

His dark eyes flickered and he moved toward her. But Sophia backed away, putting out a hand warning him not to come closer. “I’m moving back into the cottage. I want to be left alone. I hope both of you will respect my wishes.”

“Sophia, me?” Luke asked.

Warmth filled her heart for the man who was her friend. It was a blessing to see Luke looking so fit, regardless of the cast on his arm. She could barely breathe, barely talk. Her words were soft, a quiet plea for Luke’s understanding. “I’m sorry, but I need to be alone right now.”

She turned then, and walked out the door. She’d never had hope torn from her body this way before. She’d never had such devastating disillusionment.

She missed her mother more now than ever before. And she knew that she would miss loving Logan Slade almost as much.

Logan lowered down into his chair and squeezed his eyes shut. But the image of Sophia appeared in his head anyway. Her fiery spirit gone, she’d looked broken and beat down. Accusation and betrayal had marred her beautiful face.

The tack room, Logan?

Logan winced. It hadn’t been planned. He hadn’t set out to seduce her that night. It had been an ironic twist, a coincidence that Logan hadn’t thought about until after the deed was done. When he realized he made love to her there, he hadn’t put much significance in it. Until now. Until the angry words had slipped from his mouth during his argument with his brother and Sophia had overheard. He’d said brutal, harsh things about keeping Luke away from her, about how he would never fall in love with her. She’d heard it all.

Luke walked over to him, his voice menacing. “Stand up, so I can knock you on your ass.”

Logan didn’t bother to look at him. “With your left hand?”

“Jerk.”

Logan’s love/hate relationship with his brother was getting on his nerves. He wanted to be left alone with his miserable thoughts. “Get outta here, Luke.”

“Sophia shouldn’t be alone at the cottage.”

“I know that,” he snapped.

“I’ll go over there tonight. She’ll let me in. She likes me.”

Logan stood now, and got directly in his brother’s face. He felt the veins in his neck popping. “Don’t go near her. If anyone’s gonna protect her, it’ll be me. You understand that?”

Luke opened his big mouth, but nothing came out. They stared at each other, practically nose to nose, and then Luke’s eyes widened and he burst out laughing. Logan balled his fists.

“This is rich,” Luke said when his laughter died down. “You love her. You have fallen head over heels in love with Sophia, and now she can’t stand you. She’d rather risk a stalker’s threats than be under the same roof as you.”

“You’re delusional, bro.”

“All this time you’ve been convincing yourself that Sophia is just like her mother. And it would serve you right to find that she was exactly like Louisa—a goodhearted, kind woman who deserved a break in life. A woman who made our father happy for a short time. Hell, Logan. I knew Mom and Dad weren’t happy for years. They were partners in business and they had kids to raise so they stuck it out. Their marriage wasn’t what you thought it was.”

“You know this because you’re the sensitive one and all.”

“I didn’t see Dad as a god. He was mortal and had human flaws, just like the rest of us. I don’t say what he did was right and I know Dad did love Mom in his own way. They raised us and managed to keep the family together. But maybe our folks shouldn’t have stayed together. Maybe they’d have both been happier apart. Maybe you got it all wrong, Logan. Ever think of that?”

Logan’s nostrils flared. “I don’t have it wrong.”

“Okay, then fine. Let Sophia walk out of your life.”

“She just did and I didn’t go after her, did I?”

A look of disgust spread over Luke’s face. “Your loss.”

Logan watched his pain-the-ass brother turn around and walk out of his office with slower than usual steps. The trip home had taxed his strength but at least he did look stronger than when he’d left. And the accident sure hadn’t changed his stubborn nature.

Once Logan was alone in his office, he made a call to add extra security to the premises. He would drive by the cottage tonight as well to check up on the place.

No one on Slade property would be in danger. He’d see to that.

Sophia included.

“I need your signatures here, here and here,” Logan said, leaning over her desk pointing to three lines on a contract necessary for a revamping of the stables. The winters were harsh and the old barns needed new heating.

Logan had made it his business to stop by her office every day for the past five days for some reason or another. Every time he’d walked in she’d turned away, unwilling to meet him eye to eye. She knew he was checking up on her. She’d seen his car by the cottage on several occasions, but she also knew that Logan wasn’t so much concerned about her welfare as he was about protecting his ranch from an intruder. He couldn’t fool her any longer with a look or a smile. She knew his black heart now and even though the pain was still there, hovering like stormy gray clouds, Sophia was coping.

“Leave them and I’ll read them over later.” She used her very best business voice.

“I’ve had our attorney look them over. They are good to go.”

Sophia nodded and signed on the dotted lines, shoving the papers back across the desk. She quickly withdrew her hands so their fingers wouldn’t brush. She stepped back so she didn’t have to breathe in his subtle earthy aftershave and be reminded of the nights they’d spent together.

“You’re still not talking to me?” he asked.

“I talk to you every day.” She was cool and dismissive on the outside, but inside her blood boiled. She prayed it would get easier seeing Logan each day. That he would leave her alone and let her go on with her life. Even when she was aloof with him, she sensed his eyes constantly on her, watching her movements.

Hands on hips, he stood over her desk and let out a frustrated sigh. “I never made false promises to you.”

“Yes, you’re right,” she said. “You didn’t.” She wasn’t going to go there. She wouldn’t argue. She wouldn’t defend. Her indifference was her only protection. “Now, is there anything else?”

“We can’t go on working like this.”

Sophia shut down her computer screen, still unwilling to look at him. “We won’t have to. Luke’s well enough to take over the lodge duties again. You’re free as of today.”

She heard Blackie’s high-pitched barks from outside. Edward was probably on the grounds playing fetch with the dog. It was late afternoon and her work was finished for the day. She straightened the papers on her desk and rose. This time she cast a look at Logan. It was hard not to notice the way his clothes fit his body so perfectly, the stretch of soft cotton over his broad chest and jeans hugging his hips. There was a sexy five-o’clock shadow on his face and a tick went to town on his jaw. All of it made her heart do crazy things. It was dangerous to look at Logan. Dangerous to be so near.

“I have to go,” she said quietly.

He spoke through tight lips. “Talk to me, Sophia.”

“I can’t. I have a … an appointment.”

Logan’s brows dented his forehead. “With who?”

She lifted her chin and kept her voice steady. “I’m having dinner with your brother.”

Logan’s face pinched tight. “Luke? Why in hell does it always come back to Luke?”

Sophia closed her eyes briefly, hoping to tamp down her emotions. Five minutes alone with Logan Slade was five minutes of torture. Heaven help her, she still loved him. “Because he’s something to me that you never were, Logan. He’s my friend. And right now I really need a friend.”

As Sophia brushed by him, her nostrils drank in his scent. Leather and musk would be forever imprinted on her brain. She had almost escaped the room when Logan spoke up. “What if I told you I’m green with jealousy over your friendship with my brother.”

Sophia didn’t move a muscle. She stood half in, half out of her office, her throat constricting. His admission had stunned her.

As a child, Logan had been the outsider, but purely of his own making. She and Luke would have welcomed him into their little friendship ring with open arms. But he’d never seen it that way. Logan had had a chip on his shoulder when it came to her. She’d always suspected Logan had thought she’d usurped his brother’s attention.

She kept her back to him and spoke softly. “And what if I told you you could’ve been a part of our friendship? Luke adored his older brother and I would’ve accepted you as a friend.”

She scurried out the door, fearing her own gentle heart. She couldn’t bear to see Logan’s expression now. A part of her hated him and a part of her felt sorry for the boy who’d been disillusioned so long ago.

Dinner at Dusty’s Steakhouse was delicious and safe, Luke and Sophia having decided to leave the fire-alarm chili at Kickin’ for another night. Her friend had been true to form, charming and fun-loving, and they’d had a few laughs. It was good to see Luke’s health improve each day. But Sophia had been distracted all evening, struggling to keep her mind from jumping back to her conversation with Logan.

“What’s wrong, Soph? Still can’t get my brother out of your system?” Luke put his good arm around her shoulder in the friendly way he had as they walked up the cottage path.

“It’s not that … exactly.”

“Then what is it?”

She shrugged. She didn’t want to ruin the peace of the night by talking about her problems with Logan. “Nothing. Sorry if I haven’t been good company tonight.”

“Don’t be putting words in my mouth, Sophia. The company’s fine. You’ve got something on your mind and I’d like to hear it.”

Sophia stopped when she reached the entrance to the cottage. She turned to look into Luke’s sky-blue eyes, wondering if she should be discussing Logan with his younger brother. The two men hardly got along, but she knew they loved each other. She didn’t want to add fuel to the fire.

“Okay, if you’re not going to tell me, let me guess. Logan said some other bonehead thing to you that’s got you upset.”

Sophia sighed and shook her head. “Not really … this is different.”

“I’m surprised you’re talking to him at all.”

“You know I have to. Sunset Lodge is important to me. I can’t let my personal life get in the way of my work.”

His eyes lit with mischief. “Honey, I’m amazed you haven’t slugged him yet, or kicked him in the—”

“Seriously, Luke,” she said cutting him off. She’d never admit that the thought had crossed her mind to do both of those things to Logan in crazy fleeting moments of despair.

“Seriously, Sophia.” Luke’s voice grew softer, a plea from one friend to another. “You gonna tell me what my brother said to you?”

She looked away for a moment, nibbled on her lower lip and then finally answered Luke. “Logan admitted he was jealous of us when we were kids. I wasn’t going to bring it up but—”

Disbelief and surprise crossed Luke’s expression as his voice rose in pitch. “He thought you and I were—”

“No, no. Not in that way. He was jealous of our friendship. Did you know that?”

Luke’s blond brows furrowed and he shook his head. “No, I never thought he gave a damn. Son of a gun. I thought we were too immature for him. He was always going on and on about how stupid we were, playing games, whispering secrets to each other. Doing things good friends do.”

“Maybe he wanted to join us.”

“Nah … I don’t think so.” Then Luke thought about it a moment. “But maybe.”

Sophia nodded. “Yeah, maybe.”

“If it was true, I’m kinda shocked he’d admit it to you now. It’s not like Logan to confess something like that. Maybe the hard-hearted guy is finally softening up a bit. Even King Kong had a soft spot for a beautiful woman.”

Sophia smiled at the reference comparing Logan to a giant ape.

“At least I made you smile.”

She was grateful for Luke’s company, but the stresses of the past week had taken their toll on her stamina. She tried to cover up a yawn and failed.

“You’re beat,” Luke said, stating the obvious.

She was. “Dinner was delicious.”

“And this time you didn’t wind up with a bellyache afterward.”

“True.”

She opened the front door and Luke stepped in behind her. She sent him an eye-roll and he just shrugged. “I’m outta here as soon as I find out where you hide the good stuff.”

They’d had this disagreement in the restaurant, but in the end, Sophia agreed to let Luke inspect the cottage before he went home.

He moved down the hallway. The sound of doors opening and closing made her shake her head. There hadn’t been any suspicious behavior or any more notes in days, thank goodness. Sophia was ready to put it all behind her. When Luke walked back into her parlor, he had a smile on his face. “Apparently you really don’t drink. Couldn’t even find a can of near beer.”

“Thank you for checking. Now, let me get some sleep. I have a big day of meetings tomorrow and they start first thing in the morning.” Sophia rose on tiptoe. She touched her lips to his cheek in a chaste kiss. “Thanks for dinner.”

Luke walked out the door and waited until he heard the click of the lock before bidding her farewell from her doorstep. “Sleep tight, Sophia.”

“Good night, Luke.”

It’s hard not to love Sophia.

Gordon Gregory’s parting shot had stuck in Logan’s mind days after he’d sold Storm to the old geezer. Logan’s response to the man’s declaration had been an unintelligible grunt. He wasn’t going to discuss Sophia with him. He’d believed that Gregory had come to the ranch to stir up trouble, and when he’d left that day Logan had done an internet search regarding his marriage to Sophia. He found that at one point, Revealed magazine had splashed Sophia’s name across the front cover with a picture of her in full titillating Fantasy Follies costume. Logan had ground his teeth seeing her decked out in sequins barely covering her body with the old codger groping her waist.

Now as he stared at that cover shot on his office computer, he saw something he hadn’t noticed before. When he’d looked at the picture, his focus had been on her body, shrink-wrapped into a showgirl’s costume. Hell, any man would go there. She was perfect in all ways that mattered to men and it was natural to look at her full breasts, small waist and slender, smooth legs. But what he hadn’t noticed before was the look in her eyes.

He studied those amber eyes now. They gave her away. There wasn’t joy or contentment or even satisfaction on nabbing a rich man in those tawny depths. The photo revealed something entirely different. And for the first time since Sophia had come to Sunset Ranch, a shiver of cold dread worked its way down Logan’s spine.

Logan had once made Sophia’s eyes beam with joy. He’d made her eyes glow with contentment. He’d seen a look of sheer satisfaction spread across her beautiful face.

Marrying Gregory hadn’t done any of those things for her.

Instead, the look in her eyes spoke of desperation and regret.

The phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. He picked it up and growled, “What?”

“Mr. Slade? It’s Peggy Coswell from Human Resources at the lodge. I was wondering if … well, if you knew where Ms. Montrose is? She’s late for our eight-o’clock meeting.”

Logan glanced at the computer clock at the corner of his screen. “That was forty-five minutes ago.”

“Yes, sir. She hasn’t come into her office today.”

Logan’s heart beat faster. “Where else have you checked?”

“No one has seen her on the hotel grounds this morning. She’s not answering her phone.”

Fear gripped Logan’s gut and twisted it like a pretzel. His mind turned to Luke. He’d had dinner with her last night. If he’d spent the night with Sophia … Logan’s mind wouldn’t go there. She wouldn’t do that. Sophia just wouldn’t sleep with his brother. And in that instant he knew two things. Sophia wasn’t the kind of woman he’d made her out to be. She wasn’t a gold-digging opportunist bent on getting rich any way she could. She wasn’t out to take over Sunset Ranch or make a mockery of the Slade family. The other thing he knew would have to wait. He could deal with only one thing right now: finding Sophia. Making sure she was safe.

“Call security and have them comb the area for her. Call me back on my cell if you hear anything.”

Logan rose from his desk, his breathing rapid and his strides long and efficient. He made it to Luke’s room on the other side of the house in seconds. Pushing open the door, he found Luke still in bed. Alone. Relief registered that he hadn’t been wrong about his brother’s relationship with Sophia. He wouldn’t have to beat the stuffing out of him.

“Logan, man … don’t you believe in knocking?”

“Sophia missed a meeting with the staff today. No one’s seen her all morning. She’s not answering her cell phone. When’s the last time you saw her?”

Luke came out of his haze. Since his accident, he’d been sleeping longer than usual in the mornings, making up for uncomfortable nights. “Uh, about nine last night. I checked out her place after dinner and then came home.”

“Stay here and make some calls. See what you can find out. I’m going to the cottage.”

Still hazy, Luke sat up straighter in the bed, running a hand through his hair. “Will do. Find her, Logan.”

“Planning on it.”

Logan fired up the truck’s engine and sped down the road. Half a mile never seemed so long a drive. He arrived at the cottage and saw that Sophia’s car was parked outside. Hope pulled through his fear and he bounded out of the truck, not bothering to knock on the door. He inserted the key he’d kept with him and pushed through the door. “Sophia? Sophia?”

Clearly, she wasn’t in the parlor or kitchen. With stealthy steps, Logan moved down the short hallway, wishing he’d taken his gun on the way out. He’d never had cause to use it on the ranch except once when a snake spooked his horse while on a perimeter ride along the property. He’d been thrown within three feet of the irritated rattler. Damn thing had been ready to attack and Logan took aim and shot him dead with that Glock.

Logan didn’t know what to make of Sophia’s disappearance. She wasn’t in the house, but her clothes were still hanging in the closet and her car was parked outside. When he put a hand to the coffeepot, it was lukewarm. She’d used it this morning.

After scanning the kitchen area he searched the parlor. Something caught his eye. He’d almost missed it because the sole thin-stemmed purple wildflower blended in so well with the floral cushions of the sofa. He didn’t think much of it. Sophia liked flowers, but as he picked it up and moved pillows around searching for clues, he found something tucked under one square pillow that made his breath catch in his throat.

A note.

Typed on plain paper and folded neatly.

You are very beautiful.

“Son of a bitch!” Logan’s mind raced. He’d hoped to high heaven that Sophia’s disappearance had been something innocent, a miscommunication that could be cleared up and explained easily enough. He’d hoped she would come waltzing through that front door and find him standing there, worried sick over her.

He took his hat off and stared at the tan leather band, plaguing his mind for a clue. For guidance. The sheriff should be alerted, although the law wouldn’t put much credence in a report of a missing woman who’d been gone only an hour. Still, he’d make the call. He’d do anything to make sure Sophia was safe.

Before he could punch the buttons, his cell phone buzzed. He answered his brother’s call before it rang again. “Did you find her?”

“Not exactly,” Luke said. “Constance said Edward is missing, too. He took Blackie for a walk an hour ago and hasn’t returned. He missed his school bus.”

“Okay, could be a coincidence. The boy could have lost track of time. Constance have any idea where he might have gone?”

“He likes to walk the dog up by the stream over by the old feed shed. She’s mighty worried, Logan.”

“I’m on it. I’ll check it out and call you—”

Logan stopped midsentence. An unmistakable black-and-white blur raced past the cottage. Logan pushed through the front door and shouted for the dog. “Blackie!”

The dog stopped when he saw him and trotted over with his tail down, completely out of breath. Logan knelt to his level. “Where you going, boy? To the lodge? Where’s Edward? Does he need help?”

The dog turned his head in the direction he’d just come from. It didn’t take a detective to figure out that Blackie was looking for help. Logan grabbed the dog in his arms and deposited him in the cab of the truck as he finished his conversation with Luke.

“I’m not that far away from the stream. I’m heading there now. I’ve got the dog. Hopefully, he can lead me to both of them.”

Logan drove the truck off-road for three quarters of a mile over gopher holes and rough pasture lands that had been played out. He was headed to the old feed shack that faced a rocky stream that flowed into a pond. It was a perfect place for a young boy to play. Logan and his brothers used to go there after school to look for worms and water snakes.

When he spotted the shed, Logan shut down the engine and parked. He opened the door and the dog scurried over his lap and bounded from the cab racing toward the stream. Logan followed him.

Sophia came into his line of vision first. She sat on a big granite boulder, her leg elevated and her right shoe off. Something squeezed tight in Logan’s heart. He shook with profound relief. He’d never been so glad to see anyone in his life. He’d never experienced the kind of fear that threatened to swallow a man up whole and spit him out in small chunks. He’d never been so sure of anything in his life now, looking at Sophia Montrose and realizing that he’d almost let her slip through his fingers.

Edward approached him, his head downcast, a guilty look on his face.

“What happened, Edward?” he asked, still moving toward the boulder where Sophia sat immobilized.

“Ms. Sophia t-twisted her foot. She c-can’t walk.”

Logan made eye contact with Sophia. Her hair was a mess, her blouse was hanging loose around her skirt and her ankle was twice the size it should be. Raw deep emotion lodged in his throat.

“Why are you out here?” he asked the boy.

Edward shoved his head down again.

“It’s okay, Edward. Tell Logan about the notes,” Sophia said.

Logan blinked and his voice came out gruff and demanding. “Yeah, tell me about the notes.”

Edward stared at the ground. “I t-typed them t-to Ms. Sophia.”

Logan’s deep voice rose from his throat like a big boom.

“You did what?”

Edward’s body visibly shook.

“It’s okay, Logan,” Sophia rushed out, putting silent warning in her tone. “Edward explained it to me. He wasn’t trying to scare me. Just the opposite. He was feeling a little shy about wanting to be my friend. We’ve had a long talk this morning. I put two and two together today when I found another note along with the same purple wildflowers that he’d given his grandmother once. I decided to follow Edward out here so we could talk. But I didn’t expect to step into a gopher hole and twist my foot along the way.”

“Your grandmother is worried sick.” Logan tamped down his fury at the boy. It was clear that Sophia wanted to go easy on Edward. Her expression called for mercy and Logan would take heed. Even youngsters like Edward were smitten with Sophia. The rich old coot had it right.

It was hard not to love Sophia.

He was about to call Luke when his brother’s Chevy Silverado pulled up next to his truck. Luke and Constance got out and Constance ran over to Edward. The boy was nearly squeezed to death with a big grandmotherly hug. Edward gave her his explanation of what had happened and how he’d sent Blackie for help because he didn’t want to leave Sophia alone.

“Luke, take the boy and Constance back to the ranch, will you?” Logan said after all the apologies were made. Sophia made sure Edward’s actions were painted in a better light than he deserved, in Logan’s opinion. And Constance was happy enough to have her grandson back safely. She promised to make sure Edward understood the consequences of what he’d done. Logan thought the boy skated, but his concern now was for Sophia. “And call off the search.”

“Will do.” Luke glanced at Sophia’s injured foot and took a step toward her.

“Luke.” Logan gave his brother a firm warning. “I’ve got this.”

Luke’s gaze darted to Sophia. She sat regally on that boulder, doing a good job of concealing her physical pain with her arms crossed over her body and displeasure curling her mouth. “Sure thing, bro. You just let me know how that works out for you.”

Logan waited for Luke’s engine to roar to life, and the three of them were well on the road before he walked over to Sophia. She eyed him suspiciously and flinched a little when he leaned close to inspect her injured leg. He took it as a good sign that he still made her nervous and at this point; he’d take any crumb she offered.

He pushed his hat back on his head and lifted her ankle gently.

“Ow!”

“Did you hear a snap when you stepped in that gopher hole?” he asked.

“No.”

“Probably just sprained, then.”

She looked away. “Great.”

Logan finished his inspection of her leg and set it down with care.

“You were too easy on the boy.”

“It wasn’t his fault. He honestly had no idea that I’d be frightened by the notes he sent. He’s a shy boy who’s had a rough life and I think he wanted us to be friends.”

“The boy is smitten with you.” He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I get that. You have that effect on most men.”

“That’s not true.”

She was being argumentative, and considering that he was her ride back to the ranch, Logan had to give her credit for her feisty attitude. “Let’s say that you’re right and I’m wrong.”

“I am right,” she said with a curt nod as if the subject was closed.

Logan sat his butt down next to her on the boulder. He stretched out his long legs, his boots digging into the earth. The soft purr of the lazy stream flowing by and a few birds flitting from tree to tree filled the silence. “Okay, then it’s just me who thinks you’re a beautiful, smart, kindhearted, hardworking woman with a body that makes me want to cry, and those big—”

“Logan!”

Logan chuckled and the movement knocked his shoulder against hers. “Eyes, Sophia. I was going to say big eyes.”

Sophia didn’t crack a smile. Her face crumpled with confusion. “You’re not making any sense. You don’t think those things about me. You’ve let me know exactly what you think of me, and it doesn’t bear repeating.”

“I know I was scared half out of my mind when I thought you were missing. Horrible thoughts entered my head of a stalker getting to you. I was going a little crazy until I pulled up and saw you on this boulder. I know I wouldn’t have survived if anything had happened to you. I was wrong about you, Sophia.”

“You were cruel to me. Those things you said.”

“I didn’t know you were listening. I said those things to Luke, because … I’ve always been a little jealous of your friendship. And I knew then what I was afraid to admit to myself up until today. I love you, Sophia. I love you so much, it scares me silly.”

Sophia’s ankle throbbed and she thought for certain the pain had gone to her head. She was sure she was hearing things. “You love me?”

“I’ve never said those words to a woman before. I’ve never wanted to. I’ve never believed in true love. Until now.”

“So you don’t believe all those awful things about me?”

“If you explain it to me, I’m ready to listen. I’ll believe you, no matter what.”

Sophia didn’t hesitate. She’d wanted to clear the air for a long time. She’d wanted Logan to hear the truth and really have him hear her. “I didn’t marry Gordon for his money, you have to know that. He was a friend and I needed his help.”

Sophia spent the next few minutes explaining about Gordon Gregory and his granddaughter Amanda. She told Logan about the friendship that had developed afterward and how Gordon had offered to help both Louisa and Sophia when they’d had nowhere else to turn.

“I didn’t ask for anything else from Gordon. And I never slept with him, Logan. I never did. That’s why we divorced. After my mother passed, he put pressure on me. He claims he fell in love with me, but I didn’t love him. I never felt that way about him.” She repeated, “I never slept with him.”

“But you slept with me.”

Sophia closed her eyes briefly, taking a leap of faith again because there was nothing left for her to lose. Because everything she wanted was right here in front of her. She placed her faith and trust in Logan one last time. “Yes, I slept with you. I fell in love. Don’t ask me why, Logan. I have no idea why I love you. By all rights I should have fallen in love with Luke. But I don’t feel that way about your brother. He and I are friends. Period.”

Logan turned his body to fully face Sophia. She saw a look in his eyes, the same look Randall Slade had for her mother. The same look that every woman deserved to see in the eyes of the man she loved. “You love me?”

She nodded.

His lips rose in a quick smile and he took her hand, applying sweet pressure. He spoke in a voice steeped with determination. “I don’t want our love to go to waste, Sophia. Not the way our parents’ did. I can’t deny what I feel for you anymore. Ever since that kiss in high school, I think I’ve always known there was something special between us. Something undeniable.”

“I felt it, too,” she whispered. “And I don’t want our love to go to waste, either.”

“Forgive me for being hard on you. I was a fool.”

Hearing Logan admit his past mistakes and ask for her forgiveness was an intoxicating gift from the man she loved. “I think I can forgive you.”

Logan’s arms came around her. Gently he lifted her from the rock and cradled her, taking care with her swollen ankle. He brought his mouth ever so close. “Kiss me, Sophia.”

She smiled. “You won’t think I’m easy?”

“Nothing about you and me is easy, sweetheart.”

She brought her mouth close and brushed her lips over his softly. Tension released from his body, his stance no longer rigidly defensive. The walls of mistrust and suspicion he’d built to protect himself came tumbling down around her until what remained was the rightness of their love.

It was Logan’s ultimate surrender.

The battle was over. The kiss they shared was their beacon, a bright glow of light guiding their way out of the darkness. He loved her and she loved him. It had been complicated between them for most of their lives. But now it was just … simple.

“I love you, Logan Slade.”

He kissed her tenderly and when he spoke his voice was husky and rich with reverence. “Marry me, Sophia. Live with me on Sunset Ranch. Be my partner, my friend, my wife.”

Sophia set her palm on the sharp handsome plane of his cheekbone and gazed deeply into his eyes. “I was never any of those things before, but I want to be everything to you now. Yes, Logan. I’ll marry you.”

Logan smiled, love shining in his eyes. “I’m a lucky man.”

“And I’m a happy woman.”

He took off his Stetson and in one smooth move, placed it on her head, giving it a tug to secure the fit. “I can’t wait to make you a Slade. My father always said you were a woman who’d make a fine wife.”

They were words Sophia never thought she’d hear from Logan.

“Do you think your father set this up?”

Logan contemplated for a moment. “From his grave?”

“No, but maybe before he died? I could never figure out why he was so generous with me in his will. Do you think he wanted me to find love on Sunset Ranch?”

Logan gave the notion some thought. “It’s possible. My dad loved you like a daughter and, Lord above, everyone knew how much he loved the ranch.”

Sophia’s eyes misted with tears. “And his boys. He loved his sons, Logan. Don’t forget that.”

Logan nodded and clear understanding filled his eyes. “Maybe it was his secret wish that you marry a Slade, sweetheart.”

“It would be nice to think so. Can you ever forgive your father, Logan?”

“If he brought you to me I can surely forgive him.”

Sophia smiled and he wiped a tear from her cheek. “Then let’s just believe it as truth.”

“I can do that.”

Something good and long-lasting would come from Randall’s love for Louisa.

And perhaps their love hadn’t been wasted after all.

Sophia clung to that notion as hard and as tight as she held on to her cowboy.

With Logan’s love surrounding her, she could finally call Sunset Ranch … home.