Chapter 16

16

A strange despondency had plagued her all day.

Genevieve hiked slowly back to the cabin along the creek, the early evening sunshine warming her back. With Boone in the sling—which she'd been wearing from time to time—she had her hands free and had picked another small basket of blackberries.

"And no, I don't feel this way because of missing your father." He'd left early that morning after finishing his chores, and he wasn't due back until later tomorrow.

Something in her voice drew Boone's gaze, and he paused in chewing on one of the toys she'd bought for him—one specifically for teething babies. His brown eyes resembled Ryder's more with every passing day, as did his facial features and his expressions.

She smiled down at him and brushed a finger across his puckered forehead, hoping to convince him that everything was all right, even though her thoughts were churning.

The baby watched her for another moment before resuming gnawing at his toy.

Her heart swelled with love for Boone—more love than she'd thought could develop in such a short time. She'd been so na?ve when she first arrived, when she'd believed she could keep from bonding with him. How had she ever thought such a thing possible? She supposed she'd been able to keep from getting too attached to the babies at the orphanage and had expected it would be the same here. But Boone had been all too easy to care about.

Additionally, she should have known herself—that she couldn't hold back from relationships, that she'd always loved people freely and generously. That's why Papa's death had left such a gaping hole in her heart. And that's why the growing aloofness with Lenora after Papa's death had been difficult to accept.

In spite of Lenora's coldness, Genevieve had hoped for the best—that Lenora would come to love her eventually, that they would get along, that Lenora could be family. Perhaps that's why Genevieve had been so quick to submit to Lenora's rules and control, because she'd wanted to win her over eventually. But of course, that hadn't happened, and the more control she'd given to Lenora, the more the woman had taken until it was all gone.

Genevieve paused at the last bend of the creek and breathed in the high-altitude air that she'd finally grown used to. The lowering slant of the sunlight turned the rippling water into jewels that rivaled those in her chatelaine. The light also splashed gold across the pines lining the banks.

As much as she appreciated the beauty and grandeur of the mountains and the ranch, she was growing more restless with every passing day. And today, with Ryder's absence, she'd felt that restlessness more keenly than ever.

Maybe the isolation was starting to bother her. After all, she wasn't accustomed to such a secluded life. She was used to the hustle and bustle of the busy city, the constant flow of people on the streets, even the ever-present servants in her homes.

Yes, that was it. The strange despondency of the day had more to do with missing her old life than missing Ryder.

Ryder had voiced reluctance with the plans to travel up into the mountains to find Tanner. But she'd assured him that she and Boone would be fine for a day or two, especially since he'd hired help to stay at the ranch during his absence.

Besides, it wasn't as if she spent all day every day with Ryder when he was home. In fact, both of them were usually busy with one chore or another. There had been entire days when he'd been out in the fields haying or rounding up the cattle or repairing fences and she'd only seen glimpses of him.

Even so, she supposed knowing he was close, or being able to see him from a distance, had kept her from missing him the same way she was today. Or maybe she just had to admit the longing for him had been steadily growing over the past month. Although she tried to deny it, the truth was that ever since the kiss, her yearning to be with him had increased to unbearable proportions so that he was never far from her thoughts during the day or at night.

Although his sleeping in the barn this past week had probably been for the best, his absence made the nights long and restless. And it made the awakening at dawn dismal and quiet.

As embarrassing as the topic was, she knew why he'd changed their sleeping arrangements. After sharing such passionate kisses after his nightmare, it would be all too easy to share more such kisses, especially in bed together. But because she'd indicated she didn't want their relationship to change, he was respecting her choice.

He was such an honorable man. And she loved that about him. But there had been times over the past few days when she'd wished he weren't so strong and would touch her or kiss her again.

Like after supper last night, when he'd helped clean up the meal. There had been one point when he'd stood behind her, close enough that she could hear his breathing. Her whole body had awakened to his nearness, to his warmth, to his manliness, and she'd wanted him to wrap his arms around her from behind and just hold her.

But he hadn't touched her. Instead, he'd stalked to the door, jammed his fingers in his hair, then left a moment later, and he'd stayed away the rest of the night.

"Oh, Ryder." She breathed out the longing that was tightening her muscles. "Why does this all have to be so hard?"

Should she try to figure out a way to stay with him after she turned twenty-one? To make the marriage real? To make their relationship last?

She peered around at the wilderness, the pines, and the mountain peaks. Even though this didn't feel like home yet, maybe it would eventually... if she gave it more time. If she put her mind to it, she could develop new passions, new endeavors, new charities in this new place, couldn't she? Surely she'd eventually grow accustomed to the simplicity and silence of the land.

She'd never thought she would consider living in Colorado on a ranch. But could she really leave him and Boone and return to another life? With the way she was feeling after only one month with them, how would she feel next summer after twelve months? Would it be impossible to separate?

Besides, wasn't it true that if you loved someone enough, it didn't matter where you lived or what you did, as long as you were together?

Her pulse slowed to a halt. Loved someone. Did she love Ryder?

She shook her head. How could that be possible in such a short time? And yet, she'd never felt this way about anyone before, not even Prescott.

As the son of one of her papa's closest friends and business associates, Prescott had been one of Papa's top choices for a potential husband. Papa and Mr. Price had always been very open about the prospect.

A couple of years ago, not long after she'd turned eighteen and after she'd finally started to heal from losing Papa, Mr. Price had been the one to reacquaint her with Prescott and begin arranging visits and outings. She'd always liked Prescott when they'd been children, and she'd liked him even more as an adult. He'd been kind and chivalrous and attentive.

Of course, the visits and outings had all been under Lenora's strict supervision. But it hadn't mattered at the time, because Genevieve had enjoyed getting to know Prescott and had even begun to fancy herself marrying him. Her feelings had grown strong and his had too.

She'd believed he might even consider proposing to her. At that point, Lenora had revealed everything her private detective had learned about the Prices—that they were in financial trouble, several of their business endeavors had failed, and they were hoping to use Genevieve's dowry to ease the burden.

Genevieve had confronted Prescott. He'd been shocked by the accusations and had wanted to prove the findings weren't true by marrying her without a dowry and showing her that he didn't want or need her money.

Lenora, however, had insisted that Genevieve break off her relationship with Prescott and the Prices immediately or face consequences.

Choosing to believe Prescott, Genevieve had pushed forward with the courtship regardless of Lenora's threats. Not long after that, Lenora had taken matters into her own hands and made sure all of New York City learned about the Prices' financial disasters and struggling businesses. As a result, Lenora had ruined the Price family's reputation, and the Prices had lost most of their business in the east and been forced to move out of the state to avoid complete ruin.

Of course, Lenora had insisted she was acting in Genevieve's best interest, claimed Genevieve hadn't known all the facts, and accused Genevieve of thinking too much with her heart and not with her head.

Part of Genevieve wondered if Lenora had been right. Another part suspected her stepmother had sabotaged a perfectly fine relationship with Prescott. But why? Especially when Lenora had nothing to gain from doing so. Papa's will was ironclad, with the inheritance only belonging to Genevieve. The guardianship would soon come to an end, and after that, Lenora would be allowed to take the amount Papa had designated for her. So what did Lenora have to gain by keeping Genevieve from getting married to Prescott Price?

Her stepmother would probably like Ryder even less than Prescott. Ryder wasn't wealthy, didn't have a prestigious family, and wasn't a part of the same social circles. And yet, Genevieve had the feeling her papa would have liked him a great deal. He would have liked how direct and honest Ryder was. And he would have liked that Ryder was honorable and noble and was attempting to do the right thing with his life even after making mistakes.

"Oh, Papa," she whispered. "What should I do?" Even after four years, she still missed his wisdom and his practical outlook on life. He'd always been just as direct and honest as Ryder... and he would have been disappointed to learn how dishonest she'd been over the past weeks. He would have been disappointed that she hadn't been more forthright with Ryder. Maybe he even would have been disappointed that she hadn't been more forthright with Lenora, stood stronger against Lenora's tightening control.

Genevieve started around the slight bend in the river and up the final incline that led behind the cabin. With each step, her head hung lower and her heart felt heavier. She knew exactly what her papa would say if he were here to share his wisdom. He would say to be like Ryder and correct her mistakes.

That meant she had to tell Ryder the truth about her real identity, about taking Constance Franklin's place and deceiving him into thinking she was someone she wasn't. No matter what the outcome, she had to stop living a lie.

The nerves in her stomach tightened. She didn't know what Ryder's response would be. But she needed to tell him before too much more time elapsed. Perhaps he'd understand and try to find a solution for their relationship that would be workable. Or maybe he'd be so angry he'd send her away and never want to see her again.

Regardless of Ryder's reaction or what might happen, it was past time to confess what she'd done and make amends.

As she reached the top of the creek bed and the back of the cabin came into view, the sound of approaching hoofbeats greeted her.

Her heart gave an extra beat. Was that Ryder returning already? Maybe he'd located Tanner right away, said what he needed to, and wouldn't have to be gone overnight after all.

She picked up her skirt and her pace. She rounded the cabin and made her way to the front but then halted abruptly at the sight of the three riders nearing the ranch yard. One was a woman wearing a bright blue gown that accentuated a curvy body, her blond hair piled high in fancy ringlets.

Sadie. Ryder's ex-wife.

Sucking in a sharp breath, Genevieve fell back into the shadows, out of sight. She waited several seconds until the hoofbeats tapered to silence. Then she peeked around the corner and took in the other two riders, both men.

One had to be Axe, Sadie's husband. In a light-blue suit that was too tight and a white straw hat that was at least a decade out of date, he was clearly trying to look the part of a gentleman.

But who was the other man? With a narrow face and pointed gray beard, he wore a tall black top hat and black suit and appeared to be a man of some importance.

Did Sadie's visit have something to do with the argument earlier in the week? The one where she'd threatened to take Boone away from Ryder and raise him? It wasn't as though Sadie didn't have a right to see her baby. And she even had a right to change her mind about raising him.

But after wanting nothing to do with Boone all along, why was Sadie having a change of heart now?

Genevieve suspected Sadie's jealousy was playing a role in it. When Ryder had been exhausted and struggling to raise Boone on his own, the young woman hadn't had a reason to be envious. But now that Ryder had a new wife and was happy, perhaps Sadie thought she was missing out on something.

Or maybe Sadie was the kind of woman who wanted all the attention on herself. Even if she didn't want Ryder anymore, perhaps she still wanted him to desire her.

Whatever the case, Genevieve couldn't think of any other reason why Sadie would be out here at the ranch unless it was to follow through on the threats she'd made to Ryder to get a lawyer and take Boone back.

Maybe the important-looking man was the lawyer.

"Where's Ryder?" Sadie called.

Genevieve hesitated. Had Sadie spotted her? Should she step out of the shadows and tell the woman to return on a different day, when Ryder was home?

At the lengthening silence, Genevieve sighed and started to step forward. She halted when Ross, the hired hand, called out an answer from the area around the barn. "He ain't here today. What can I do for you?"

"Came to get my baby."

A surge of possessiveness shot through Genevieve, and she wrapped her arms around the sling and Boone.

"Ryder said to start shooting if you came out and tried to take his son." At the echoing click of a rifle, it was clear the hired hand had taken Ryder's side of the dispute and not Sadie's.

Genevieve was on Ryder's side too, and she wouldn't even consider relinquishing Boone to Sadie today—not while Ryder was away and unable to fight for the child. She glanced back the way she'd come. Should she run away and hide until Sadie was gone?

"I've brought my lawyer with me." Sadie's call had a note of confidence to it that made Genevieve back up a step.

She'd been right about the man's identity.

"Don't matter," came the hired hand's reply. "You'll have to come back when Ryder's here."

"Mr. Irving says the baby belongs with me," Sadie insisted. "The tender years law does too."

"Tender Years Doctrine," came a voice that presumably belonged to the lawyer, Mr. Irving. "It's not yet technically a law here in Colorado, but most courts are beginning to accept the rationale that a baby needs his mother most during the early years of his life."

Several beats of silence followed.

"If it ain't the law yet," the ranch hand finally said, "then reckon the baby is still Ryder's."

"It's only a matter of time," the lawyer cut in, "before a court will allow Sadie to have the baby."

"Yep," Sadie added. "May as well save us all the trouble and hand the baby over today."

Genevieve inched farther back, grateful to Ross for coming to Ryder's defense. Even so, she needed to go now, before Sadie decided to take matters into her own hands and search for Boone. If the baby wasn't there, then she wouldn't be able to take him.

Without waiting to hear any more of the conversation, Genevieve slipped around the cabin and made her way back toward the creek.

As she climbed down the trail that ran along the creek, her mind raced with the possibilities of everything that could happen, including Sadie and Axe and the lawyer pushing past the ranch hand in spite of his rifle and threats.

Maybe Sadie would decide that the only way she'd get Boone away from Ryder was if she came back later under the cover of darkness and stole him while Ryder was still away and wouldn't be there to stop her.

Or what if she returned with a judge or sheriff? How would Genevieve be able to protect Boone then?

No, she needed to locate a safe place to take Boone for a night or two, until Ryder returned and could put an end to the threats. Should she go to High Country Ranch and take refuge with Ryder's family? Or would that be the first place that Sadie would look for her and Boone?

As she circled around Ryder's ranch to the north, she found herself on the rocky trail that she'd used that first day she'd ridden out from Frisco with the livery owner. Her feet seemed to have a mind of their own, and she was soon rapidly hiking the two miles toward Frisco. Even though the shadows of the evening were lengthening, she guessed she still had time to make it into town before darkness fell.

Once she was there, she would take a room in a hotel for the night and work out a plan for making certain Ryder would never lose Boone. It was the least she could do for him.