Country Brides (20 page)

“I don't understand.” Surely Luke knew what she was talking about, yet he seemed to enjoy watching her make an even bigger fool of herself by forcing her to explain.

“Well,” he said in an easy drawl, “if you only meant half of what you said, then it leads me to wonder what you did mean and what you didn't.”

“I can't remember
everything
I said,” she murmured, her cheeks hot enough to pop a batch of corn. “But I do know I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd forget the part about marrying me.”

“I don't want to forget it.”

“Luke, please,” she cried, squeezing her eyes shut. “This is embarrassing me. Could you please drop it?”

Luke rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “I don't think I can.”

So Luke was going to demand his pound of flesh. Kate supposed she shouldn't be surprised. She had, after all, brought this on herself. “You were so kind to me at the reception…After the wedding ceremony you kept saying you wanted to help me and, Luke, you did, you honestly did. I don't think I could've made it through Clay's wedding without you, but…”

“You want to forget the kissing, too?”

“Yes, please.” She nodded emphatically.

He frowned. “That 's not what you said last night. In fact, you seemed a little stunned at how pleasant it was. As I recall you told me—and I quote—‘why didn't you tell me you were so good at this?'”

“I said that?” Kate muttered, already knowing it was true.

“I'm afraid so.”

She covered her face with both hands as the hot color mounted in her cheeks.

“And you made me promise to marry you.”

She bit down hard on her lower lip. “Anyone else in the world would have mercifully forgotten I said that.”

With a certain degree of ceremony, Luke set his hat farther back on his head and folded his arms. His face was a study in concentration. “I have no intention of forgetting it. I'm a man of my word and I never break my promises.”

Kate groaned. In light of her father's news this morning, she'd hoped Luke might be a bit more understanding. “It 's obvious you're deriving pleasure from this,” she muttered angrily, then pressed her lips together to keep from saying more.

“No, not exactly. When would you like to have the wedding? And while we're at it, you might as well learn now that—”

“You can't be serious!” she interrupted, incredulous that he'd suggest they set a date. If this was a joke, he was carrying it too far.

“I'm dead serious. You asked me to marry you, I agreed, and anything less would be a breach of good faith.”

“Then I…I absolve you from your promise.” She waved her hands as if she was granting some kind of formal dispensation.

He stroked the side of his face, his forehead creased in a contemplative frown. “My word is my word and I stand firm on it.”

“I didn't understand what I was saying—well, I did. Sort of. But you know as well as I do that the…heat of the moment was doing most of the talking.”

Luke's frown deepened. “I suppose everybody in town will assume you're marrying me on the rebound. Either that, or I'll be the one they gossip about. That doesn't trouble me much, but I don't like the thought of folks saying anything about you.”

“Will you stop?” she cried. “I have no intention of marrying anyone! Ever!” She was finished with love, finished with romance. Thirty years from now she'd be living alone with a few cats and her knitting needles.

“That wasn't what you said last night.”

“Would you quit saying that? I wasn't myself, for heaven's sake!”

“Well, our getting married sounded like a hell of a good idea to me. Now, I know you've gone through a hard time, but our marriage will end all that.”

Kate brushed a shaking hand across her eyes, hoping this was just part of a nightmare and she'd soon wake up. Unfortunately when she lowered her hand, Luke was still sitting there, as arrogant as could be. “I can't believe we're having this discussion. It's totally unreasonable, and if you're trying to improve my mood, you've failed.”

“I'm serious, Kate. I told you that.”

Keeping her head down, she spoke quickly, urgently. “It's really wonderful of you to even consider going through with the marriage, but it isn't necessary, Luke. More than anyone, you should know that I can't marry you. Not when I love Clay Franklin.”

“Hogwash.”

Kate's head jerked up. “I beg your pardon?”

“You're in love with me. You just don't know it yet.”

It took Kate only half a second to respond. “Of all the egotistical, vain, high-handed…” She paused to suck in a breath. If Luke's intent was to shock her, he'd succeeded. She bolted to her feet and flailed the air with both hands. Unable to stand still, she started pacing the kitchen. “I don't understand you. I've tried, honestly I've tried. One moment you're the Rock of Gibraltar, steady and secure and everything I need, my best friend, and the next moment you're saying the most ridiculous things to me. It never used to be like this! Why have you changed?”

“Is it really that bad?” he cajoled softly, ignoring her question.

“I don't know what happened to you—to us—at the wedding reception, but like you said, something must've been in the air. Let's blame it on the champagne and drop it before one of us gets hurt.”

“If you gave the idea of our getting married some serious thought, it might grow on you,” he suggested next.

Then he got to his feet and moved purposefully toward her, his mouth twisted in a cocky grin. “Maybe this will help you decide what's best.”

“I—”

He laid a finger across her mouth. “It seems to me you've forgotten it's not ladylike to be quite so stubborn.” With that, he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her gently against him.

Knowing what he intended, Kate opened her mouth to protest, but he fastened his lips over hers, sealing off the words, and to her chagrin, soon erasing them altogether. Her fingers gripped the collar of his blue button-snap shirt and against every dictate of her will her mouth parted, welcoming his touch.

When he released her, it was a minor miracle that she didn't collapse on the floor. He paused and a wide grin split his face.

“Yup,” he said, looking pleased, “you love me all right.”

K
ate had never felt more grateful for a Monday morning than she did the following day. At least when she was at school, she had the perfect excuse to avoid another confrontation with Luke. He seemed to believe he was somehow responsible for her and to take that responsibility quite seriously. She had absolutely no intention of holding him to his promise and couldn't understand why he was being so stubborn. To suggest she was in love with him simply because she'd proposed marriage and responded ardently to his kisses revealed how truly irrational Luke Rivers had become.

Kate paused and let that thought run through her mind a second time, then laughed aloud. No wonder Luke insisted on marrying her. Kate had to admit she could see why he might have the wrong impression. Still, she wished she could think of some way to set him straight.

Luke was right about a few things, though. She
did
love him—but not in the way he implied. She felt for him as a sister did toward a special older brother. As a woman did toward a confidant and companion of many years' standing. The feelings she'd experienced when he kissed her were something of a mystery, but could easily be attributed to the heightened emotions following Clay's wedding. There'd been so many changes in Kate's life during the past few months that she barely understood herself anymore.

She could never love Luke the way she'd loved Clay. For as long as Kate could remember, she'd pictured herself as Clay's wife. Joining her life with any other man's seemed not only wrong but completely foreign.

“Good morning, Miss Logan,” seven-year-old Taylor Morgenroth said as he walked casually into the classroom. “I saw you at Mr. Franklin's wedding on Saturday.”

“You did?” It shouldn't surprise her, since nearly every family in town had been represented at the wedding. Probably more of her students had seen her there.

“You were with Mr. Rivers, weren't you? My mom kept asking my dad who you were dancing with. That was Mr. Rivers, wasn't it?”

“Yes.” Kate had to bite her tongue to keep from explaining that she hadn't actually been “with” Luke. He wasn't her official date, although they'd attended the wedding together. But explaining something like that to a second-grader would only confuse the child.

“My dad made me dance with my older sister. It was yucky.”

Kate managed some remark about how much of a gentleman Taylor had been, but she doubted that he wanted to hear it.

Before long, the students of Nightingale Elementary were filing into the classroom and rushing toward their desks. From that point on, Kate didn't have time to think about Luke or Saturday night or anything else except her lesson plans for the day.

At noon she took her packed lunch to the staff room. Several of the other teachers were already seated at the circular tables.

“Kate!” Sally Daley, the sixth-grade teacher, waved her hand to gain Kate's attention. She smiled, patting the empty chair beside her.

Reluctantly Kate joined the older woman, sending an apologetic look to her friend Linda Hutton, the third-grade teacher, with whom she usually had lunch. Sally had the reputation of being a busybody, but Kate couldn't think of a way to elude her without being rude.

“We were just talking about you,” Sally said warmly, “and we thought it would be nice if you'd sit with us today.”

“I'll be happy to,” Kate said, feeling a twinge of guilt at the lie. She opened her brown bag, taking out a container of peach-flavored yogurt and two rye crisps.

“Clay's wedding was really lovely, wasn't it?” Sally asked without preamble. “And now I understand your father and Dorothea Murphy are going to be tying the knot?” Her questioning tone indicated she wasn't certain of her facts.

“That's right,” Kate said cheerfully.

“Kind of a surprise, wasn't it?”

“Kind of,” was all Kate would admit, although she realized she should've known her father was falling in love with Mrs. Murphy. They'd been spending more and more time together since early summer. If Kate hadn't been so blinded by what was happening between her and Clay, she would've noticed how serious her father had become about Dorothea long before now.

“It's going to be difficult for you, isn't it, dear?” Sally asked sympathetically. “Everyone knows how close you and your father have been since Nora died.”

“I'm very pleased my father's planning to remarry.” And Kate was. The initial shock had worn off; she felt genuinely and completely happy that her father had found someone to love. He'd never complained, but Kate knew he'd been lonely during the past few years.

“Still, it must be a blow,” Sally pressed, “especially coming on the heels of Clay and Rorie getting married. It seems your whole life's been turned upside down, doesn't it?”

Kate nodded, keeping her eyes focused on her sparse meal.

“Speaking of Clay and Rorie, their wedding
was
lovely,” Susan Weaver, the kindergarten teacher, put in.

“I thought so, too,” Kate said, smiling through the pain. “Rorie will be a perfect wife for him.” The words nearly stuck in her throat, although she was fully aware of their truth. Rorie was an ideal complement to Clay. From the moment she'd stepped into their lives, she'd obviously belonged with him.

“The new Mrs. Franklin is certainly an ambitious soul. Why, the library hasn't been the same since she took over. There are education programs going on every other week. Displays. Lectures. I tell you, nothing but good has happened since she moved to Nightingale.”

“I couldn't agree with you more.”

Sally nodded. “You've taken this…disappointment over Clay rather well,” she murmured with cloying sympathy. “And now your father remarrying so soon afterward…” She gently patted Kate's hand. “If there's anything I can do for you, Kate, anything at all, during this difficult time, I want you to call me. I know I speak for each and every staff member when I say that. Your father must see what a wonderful daughter you've been, and I'm sorry all of this is being added to your burden just now. But if it's ever more than you can bear, your friends at Nightingale Elementary will be honored to stand by your side. All you have to do is call.” The other women nodded.

If Sally was expecting a lengthy response, Kate couldn't manage it. “Thank you. That's…really good to know,” she said in a faltering voice. To hear Sally tell it, Kate was close to a nervous breakdown.

“We're prepared to help as you pick up the shattered pieces of your life. And furthermore, I think Luke Rivers is a fine man.”

“Luke Rivers?” Kate repeated, nearly choking on her bite of rye crisp. A huge lump formed in her throat at Sally's implication.

“Why, yes.” Sally smiled serenely. “Everyone in Nightingale saw how the two of you were gazing into each other's eyes at the dance. It was the most romantic thing I've seen in years.”

“Dance?”

“At the wedding-reception dance,” Sally elaborated. “From what I understand, Beth Hammond's been so depressed she hasn't left her house since that night.”

“Whatever for?”

Sally laughed lightly. “Surely there's no reason to be so reticent—you're among friends. Everyone knows how she's had her eye on Luke for years.”

Susan nodded vigorously. “Apparently they dated a few times a year ago, but Luke's kept her dangling ever since.”

“I don't have a clue what you mean,” Kate said faintly, her heart beating hard enough to pound its way out of her chest. She'd hoped that with her father's engagement, the rumors about her and Luke would naturally fade away. So much for wishful thinking.

Sally exchanged a meaningful look with the other teachers. “Well, I thought that, you know…that you and Luke Rivers were involved.”

“Luke and me?” Kate gave a short, almost hysterical laugh. “Nothing could be further from the truth. Luke's a dear friend, and we've known each other for years, but we're not romantically involved. There's nothing going on between us. Absolutely nothing.” She spoke more vehemently than necessary, feeling pleased that for once Sally couldn't get a single word in.

After a moment, she made a show of looking at her watch. “Excuse me, ladies, but I've got to get back to my classroom.”

As she left the faculty lounge, she heard the whispers start. Groaning inwardly, Kate marched down the hall and into her own room. Sitting at her desk, she snapped the cracker in half and examined it closely before tossing it in the garbage.

“Don't you know it's wrong to waste food?” Linda Hutton said, leaning against the doorjamb, arms folded.

“I wished I'd never talked to that woman,” Kate muttered, feeling foolish for allowing herself to be manipulated into conversation with a known busybody.

“Well, then,” Linda said, with a grin, “why did you?”

“If I knew the answer to that, I'd be enjoying my lunch instead of worrying about the tales Sally's going to spread about me…and Luke Rivers.”

Linda walked into the room.

“The least you could've done was rescue me,” Kate complained.

“Hey, I leave that kind of work to the fire department.” Linda planted her hands on the edge of Kate's desk. “Besides, I was curious myself.”

“Curious about what? Luke and me? All we did was dance a couple of times. I…was feeling warm and went outside for a little bit. Luke met me there and after a few minutes, he…drove me home. What's the big deal, anyway?”

“A couple of dances…I see,” Linda said, her words slow and thoughtful.

“I'd be interested in knowing exactly
what
you see. Everyone keeps making an issue of the dancing. Taylor came into class this morning and the first thing he said was that he'd seen me at the wedding. He didn't talk about running into me at the grocery store earlier that day.”

“Did you have your arms wrapped around a man there, too?”

“Don't be silly!”

“I wasn't. Honestly, Kate, nearly everyone in Nightingale saw the way you and Luke were dancing. You acted as though there wasn't anyone else at the reception. Needless to say, rumors were floating in every direction. Everyone was watching the two of you, and neither you or Luke even noticed. Or cared. I heard the pastor mumble something about maybe performing another wedding soon, and he wasn't referring to your father and Dorothea Murphy—which is another matter entirely.” Linda paused to suck in a deep breath. “Are you sure you're going to be able to handle this on top of—”

“Clay and Rorie? Yes,” Kate answered her own question emphatically. “Oh, I had a few bad moments when Dad first told me, but I got over it.” The comfort she'd found in Luke's arms had helped her more than she cared to admit. He seemed to be making a habit of helping her through difficult moments.

Linda eyed her sceptically. “There 's been so much upheaval in your life these past few weeks. You know, sometimes people go into shock for weeks after a major change in their lives.”

“Linda,” Kate cried, “everyone keeps looking at me as though they expect me to have a nervous breakdown. What is it with you people?”

“It isn't us, Katie girl, it's you.”

Kate pushed her hair off her forehead and kept her hand there. “What do I have to do to convince you that I'm fine? I'm happy for Clay and Rorie. I consider myself resilient and emotionally strong, but this makes me wonder why you and Sally and the others don't.”

“I don't think anyone's waiting for you to fall apart,” Linda countered. “We all have your best interests at heart. In fact, with one obvious exception, everyone's really pleased you have Luke.”

“But I don't
have
him. Luke isn't a possession, he's a man. We're friends. You know that.” Kate expected Linda, of all her friends and colleagues, to recognize the truth when she heard it. Instead she'd made it sound as though Kate's dancing with Luke and then letting him take her home meant instant wedding bells.

Linda shook her head. “To be honest, Kate, you're doing a whole lot of denying and I don't understand why. It seems to me that the person you're really trying to convince is yourself.”

By the time Kate arrived home that evening, she was in a fine temper. Her father had already left for a meeting at the Eagles Lodge. He'd taped a note to the refrigerator door telling her not to worry about fixing him any dinner because he planned to stop at Dorothea's later for a bite to eat.

Kate read his scrawled note, pulled it off the fridge and crumpled it with both hands. She was angry and impatient for no reason she could identify.

Heating a bowl of soup, Kate stood by the stove stirring it briskly when Luke let himself in the back door. After her encounter with Sally and Linda, Luke was the last person she wanted to see. Nevertheless, her eyes flew anxiously to his.

“Evening, Kate.”

“Hi.”

He hung his hat on the peg next to the door, then walked to the kitchen counter and examined the empty soup can. “I hope you're going to eat more than this.”