Wildest Dreams - By Rosanne Bittner Page 0,272

his hand again, and Luke took it hesitantly. They squeezed hands firmly.

"I'll be back in a couple of days," Luke told him. "It will take at least a week to get the money. Most of my funds are in banks in Cheyenne and in Denver because of the mines."

Nial nodded. "I am a patient man." He glanced at Let-tie. "Perhaps too patient." He moved from behind the desk, coming around to stand closer to Lettie. "I am sure when Luke comes back, he won't be bringing you with him, so let me take this moment to say God bless you, Lettie Fontaine." He took hold of one of her hands. "You will be in my heart forever, to my dying day."

Lettie was astounded to see his eyes well up with tears. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Good-bye, Lettie."

When he had left, Lettie looked up at Luke in complete surprise. "I don't believe any of this," she said softly. "Luke, you'll be the biggest landowner in Montana!"

Luke's blue eyes showed his irritation at Nial daring to take hold of her hand and kiss her. "Let's get out of here," was his only reply.

The butler appeared at the doorway then. "Mr. Bentley said to tell you you are welcome to stay here the night and go back in the morning, if you wish. You will never get back home before nightfall."

"No, thanks," Luke answered, anxious to get out of the house. "We'll stay at the south line shack of the Double L if we can't make it back in time." He put a hand to Lettie's waist. "Let's go," he muttered.

"But, Mr. Fontaine, you've only been here a short time. Perhaps a meal—"

"We'll be fine, Henry, thank you," Lettie told the old man.

He nodded. "I will get your wraps." He left them, and Lettie watched Luke, who still looked amazed at the offer he had just received.

"He only picked me because of you," he told her.

"What is the difference, Luke? It's a wonderful offer."

Henry returned with their things. They both left quickly, climbing into the family carriage. Luke whipped the horse into motion and the carriage clattered over the brick drive that led away from the house.

From an upstairs window Nial watched them leave. "Good-bye, my Lettie, my love," he whispered. "Good-bye, my beautiful Montana. I could have been so happy here." A tear slipped down his cheek, and he turned away. He could have told Luke and Lettie that he was dying, but Lettie had suffered enough in her lifetime. Why burden her with his own impending death? He had not brought them there to gain their sympathy. He had only wanted to do something for Lettie.

He noticed a picture of Chloris on the stand beside his bed. He walked over and laid it face down. In spite of their ten years together, it was not Chloris for whom he grieved.

It was growing dark by the time Luke and Lettie reached the south line shack. "We'd better hole up here until morning," he suggested. He helped her climb down and she carried her overnight bag and a basket of food into the cabin while Luke unhitched and bedded down the horse in a nearby shed. Because all the dead cattle had attracted wolves, he made sure the horse was closed in tightly for the night. He took his rifle from the buggy and walked to the cabin, going inside and bolting the door. Lettie had built a fire in the potbellied stove and had removed her hat and cape. She opened the picnic basket. "I made sandwiches in case we had to stay the night here."

He set his rifle aside and walked to stand behind her, Nial's words awakening all his fierce jealousy and possessiveness. "Quite an interesting day, wasn't it?" he said, moving his arms around her from behind.

"I'm just glad Nial gave you first chance to buy Essex Manor." She leaned her head against his chest. "The house will make a wonderful museum, Luke."

He let go of her and began taking some of the combs from her hair. "He didn't do any of that for me, and you know it."

She turned to face him. "It doesn't matter why he did it, Luke. The fact remains that everything has come full circle. Everything is right with Tyler now, and I have Nathan back. This summer Pearl will come to visit, and your brother might even come. By next year Robbie will be home. We'll make it through this