Wildest Dreams - By Rosanne Bittner Page 0,260

want to hear that. You'd better leave, Alice."

She drew in her breath. "Fine." She walked to the door. "Please think about everything I've said, Ty, and come spend Christmas Day with us." She turned to face him once more, holding her chin high in an effort to keep her courage. "And remember one more thing. I love you, Ty. I've loved you since I was twelve years old. I'm twenty now, and I have had lots of young men court me, want to marry me. So far I have always turned them down, because of how I feel about you. I can't turn them down forever, Ty. I want to be married, to have a family. If that sounds terribly bold, I don't care. You should know how I feel. I know that Ramona must have loved you very much, but I know in my heart that I love you more, and I understand you and your way of life better than she ever could have." She dropped her gaze then and turned away. "I know from talk that you had already... been with her. I've never... I never had the chance to have that kind of hold on you, and I don't know how I would compare; but I can learn... and there isn't another man in all of Montana I'd rather have teach me."

She ran out then, closing the door behind her. It didn't catch properly, and the wind blew it open again. Tyler hurried to close it, watching after her, but she had already disappeared into the darkness. The wind was beginning to blow harder, its howling gale carrying with it heavy snows that made it difficult even to see the lights of the house. Ty strained to catch a glimpse of those lights, aching inside to be up there with the family, but a stubborn hatred and determination kept him alone in his cabin.

He closed the door and bolted it, then walked back to the stove, his thoughts whirling in a confused mixture of memories of Ramona and visions of Alice Richards, who in many ways reminded him of his mother in her strength and personality. He and Alice had always been good friends, and he supposed that was as important to love and marriage as anything. That was one thing that had always been a part of his parents' relationship.

His thoughts were interrupted then when above the howling wind he thought he heard the sound of horses whinnying in alarm. Another sound brought all senses alert —the growl of a bobcat. He quickly grabbed his hooded wolfskin coat and a pair of wolfskin gloves and hurried out into the night to check the horses.

Everyone gathered in the parlor—Luke and Lettie, Brad and Katie and their four children. The baby, Jeffrey, was sitting in Katie's lap, Paul sat on Luke's knee, while Rachael Ann and Robert played near the fireplace with blocks.

Nathan teased Leena that in a few months they would not both fit in the love seat where they sat together now because she would be big with child again. Little Luke and his sister Julie sat on the floor in front of Nathan and Leena, giggling about how they were going to help their mother with the new baby that was due next summer.

Alice was at the piano, and her father sat nearby, smiling with everyone else; but his eyes showed the strain of his recent loss. At the moment Lettie was more concerned about Alice. She had obviously been crying when she came back from visiting Ty. The thought that Ty must have said something to hurt her made her angry with her son, and she felt like walking out to the cabin and giving him a good piece of her mind and making him come to the house. In two days it would be Christmas. It was time he rejoined his family and put Ramona behind him, time to think about someone else. She had no doubt whatsoever that Alice Richards loved Ty as much, probably more, than Ramona had.

She checked her anger and reminded herself this was to be a time of togetherness and celebration. She hoped inviting William and Alice would help get them through what would have been a lonely Christmas for them. She missed Betty Richards herself. The woman had been active in the women's club, and was a good friend to all. It didn't seem fair that God should take away so many good people.

"Please understand that