she'd been at the house, the front door was seldom used except just to go out to sit on the porch.

Making her way through the house, she opened the door to find Estelle standing in the shade.

"Good morning, Estelle. Come in."

Estelle stepped inside and pinched off her gloves. "Thank you."

Her expression was no indication of what she was thinking. She always looked peeved to Kate. "What brings you out this way today?"

"I heard about the wedding." Kate had wondered when and how she would hear the news and what she would do. She was Levi's mother, after all, and it made Kate uneasy to think Estelle would be angered, but she wasn't sorry they'd decided it best not to invite her. The day would have been spoiled. "We decided very quickly," she replied. "I hope you're not upset with me and that you don't think I was hasty in making this choice. You're probably thinking there wasn't enough time between Levi's death and this new marriage, but Noah and I both thought it was a practical thing to do." "As do I," Estelle said with a curt nod. "Then.. .you're not angry with me? Or with Noah?" "I think it's a very wise choice for you to secure the future of Levi's child. He will inherit his share of the ranch. By staying here, you're assuring him of his birthright." "I feel even better about my decision when you put it like that." "I brought you a gift." Estelle turned to the door and called to the driver. "Bring the package in, please." A dark-haired man in a suit jacket carried a wrapped box inside. "Find Mr. Cutter now. Tell him I want a word with him, and then wait with the buggy." The driver left.

Estelle turned back to her. "Go ahead," she coaxed. "Open it."

"Shouldn't I wait for Noah?"

She waved away the suggestion. "It's for you, not him."

"Oh. I assumed it was a wedding gift."

"Just a little something to bring culture to your life."

Kate resisted raising a brow and untied the bow. The wrapping gave way to a wooden box. Nestled inside were several carefully wrapped items. Kate removed one at a time to discover flowered cups and saucers, a matching teapot and several tins of tea and a shiny new brass kettle with a ceramic handle. "These are lovely. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now I must speak with Noah before I leave. Once again, I congratulate you on a wise choice."

Kate watched her march across the yard. The driver waited near the barn. Everything with Estelle was perfunctory and Kate had a hard time not letting the woman get on her nerves. She was going to be part of her life, however, so she'd better learn to deal with her.

Kate unpacked the gifts, carefully washed and dried and set them out on the empty sideboard in the dining room with the doilies Mrs. Davidson had crocheted. Stepping back, she admired the lovely china set. Would Noah notice? Perhaps it was better not to mention it. It would quite likely hurt his feelings that Estelle had deliberately brought a gift for Kate alone and not included him.

That evening she sliced the bread and served it with their meal from Fergie's kitchen. She watched Noah spread butter and eat half a slice before asking, "Do you like the bread?"

He glanced at the other half on his plate.

"I made it myself." She waited for his reaction.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to learn. Fergie helped me, but next time I can do it alone."

"No need, really. He makes enough for all of us."

"I know he does, but I thought it would be good to learn how."

He went back to eating his meal and the subject was dropped.

A few minutes later she asked, "Did Estelle speak with you today?"

"Yes."

"She told me she wasn't angry about our marriage. Did she say the same to you?"

"She's not mad."

"I'm so glad. Do you think I should still be wearing black, now that we're newly married and all? I know it's respectful toward Levi, but it seems wrong in the light of a new marriage. What is right?"

"Don't know."

"I've been thinking about church and I was wondering...could you... I mean, will you consider attending church with me tomorrow? I know you don't normally go, and you told me your problem is with the people, but I thought if we went together it would show others that we're really married. And if you're with me, then Estelle won't be able to talk me into going home with her again, which I don't want to do. It was just a thought."

"No."

"Plain enough." She finished her meal and got up to pour them both coffee. She kept a pot on the stove and he always seemed to enjoy having fresh. She poured two cups and walked to set one in front of him. As she did so, she unthinkingly rested her hand on his shoulder.

Noah stiffened and sat up straight, practically recoiling from her touch.

She dropped her hand to her side and took a step back. "I'm sorry."

He looked away and waited until she moved to pick up his cup.

"Fergie sent a dish of pudding. Shall I get us each some?"

He shook his head. "I'll have it later."

After finishing his coffee, he stood, grabbed his hat and left the kitchen.

Kate watched him go, once again holding disappointment and rejection at tenuous bay.

That evening, as she intermittently read and walked from window to window looking out at the dark landscape. Kate made up her mind that she would go to church with the Bensons. If Estelle approached her, she would claim she'd promised to sit with Marjorie.

It didn't work quite that smoothly, however. Kate swore the look on Estelle's face when she saw her in her black dress was approval, but when Kate mentioned sitting with the Bensons. her haughty scowl returned. "That simply won't do. You're a Cutter, and Cutters don't sit back there with the hired help. Our pew is in the front."

Just then Annie and Luke entered, Rebecca on Luke's arm. Annie waved and joined them. "Good morning, Kate. Mrs. Cutter."

"Annie," Esteile replied. "Katherine's dress is perfect, I especially appreciate the princess pleats in her skirt and jacket that disguise her condition. Very tasteful."

"Thank you. I used the very same pattern for myself, in a blue sateen, but added braid trim and lace at the neck."

"I'm sure it's lovely, dear."

Annie turned a smile on Kate. "We'd love for you to join us for dinner this afternoon. Will you please?"

Kate immediately jumped on the invitation. "I'd love to."

Apparently, Estelle didn't consider the Carpenters beneath her because she smiled and nodded. "That sounds lovely."

Kate suspected she hoped Annie would invite her, as well, but Annie only said, "Wonderful. You'll ride with us then, and Luke will take you home this evening."

Kate could hardly wait for the service to close and for her sentence in the Cutter pew to end. She practically shot up and ran toward the door while the organist played the closing strains of a hymn.

The Davidsons greeted her and she shook the preacher's hand.

"Glad to see you back, Mrs. Cutter," he said with a smile.

Kate greeted a few neighbors in the door yard as she waited for Luke and Annie, and then they found her.

Annie led the team herself. Luke rented buggies to churchgoers, so he had to wait until they were returned to the livery and then put up the horses. "We always hold dinner for him," Annie told her. "Even my mother's come to accept that my husband has a job where he gets dirty and occasionally smells like a horse."

To Kate's surprise, Sunday dinner wasn't at Annie's home, but at the Sweetwaters'. A huge porch surrounded the front and sides of the house. The enormous lawn was thick and green, and flowering trees and spring flowers grew in abundance. Annie introduced Kate to her older brother Burdell and his wife, Diana, who held their one-year-old daughter. Elizabeth. Their four-year-old son, Will, watched as his grandfather set up a croquet game.

Charmaine and her parents arrived, too, and Kate found herself in the midst of a lively family. Children ran and laughed while adults conversed and occasionally disagreed in a friendly fashion. Kate had never known anything similar and took it in with appreciation and surprise.

Luke arrived and sought out Annie. He took her hand and leaned forward to give her a quick kiss in greeting. Kate experienced a pang of envy at the devotion the two showed for one another.

Mildred Sweetwater and her kitchen helper served dinner. Conversation continued, and Eldon opened two bottles of wine. Annie and Kate declined when glasses were passed around.

The meal was delicious. Mildred's helper had gone home, so the women shared the task of cleaning up. Kate was delighted to be able to scrape and wash dishes and feel useful. She enjoyed listening to the women talk and occasionally she answered their questions about herself.

She joined a croquet game with Burdell, little Will, Rebecca and Charmaine. She'd never played before, so little Will explained the rules and the techniques in childishly convoluted sentences that Burdell interpreted. She watched to see how the others swung their mallets and hit the wooden balls.

When Rebecca swung, she hit her father in the shin. Luke fell to the ground, howling in mock pain. Kate laughed out loud. Rebecca ran over and kissed his knee, then showered his face with kisses.

Laughing, Luke tossed her in the air. Watching him with his daughter created in Kate a physical ache. She'd never known a father's attention or acceptance. Had never known a parent's attention or acceptance. She wanted so much more for her child that the need burned in her heart. She wanted what Annie's children had. What Diana and Burdell's children seemed to take for granted.

Would Noah play games with her child? Would he ever set aside his embarrassment about his appearance long enough to let anyone get close? Tiring after the second game, she went to sit on the shaded porch with the women. Wayne arrived in a buggy and invited Charmaine for a drive. She waved to her parents and the couple rode away.

Kate exchanged a knowing look with Annie and knew they were both thinking of Charmaine's growing impatience for Wayne to propose. The afternoon grew long and Luke offered to take Kate home. Rebecca begged to come along, so he made her a pallet on the tiny rear seat of the buggy. She fell asleep on the way.

It was dusk as they reached the Rockin' C, and the ranch seemed quiet and deserted. Noah walked from the barn to meet them and assisted Kate down. "Thanks for bringing her home," he said with a nod to Luke, who remained on the seat. He wasn't wearing his gloves or hat, but Kate noticed he kept his head averted.

Luke touched the brim of his Stetson. "My pleasure. Have a nice evening now."

"Same to you."

Kate watched Luke go, then glanced at Noah. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes."

She picked up the hem of her black skirts and walked toward the house. "Well, goodnight, then."

Noah studied her back, wondered what she'd done all afternoon. He'd been surprised to see Luke

Carpenter bring her home, though he shouldn't have been. Kate and Annie had become friends. Apparently she'd avoided dinner with Estelle. He wondered how that had come about and how Estelle had handled it.

He felt strangely bereft that she hadn't chattered about her day and all the things she'd seen and done, though he couldn't imagine why. He'd always spent Sunday afternoons alone at the ranch, a day of chores just like any other, but with fewer hands to do them. Strange, but since Katherine's arrival, the place seemed quieter when she was gone. The time passed more slowly.

Before her arrival he'd taken his evening meals alone. He'd liked it that way, preferred the solitude.

Today, however, had been oppressively quiet. As he'd eaten, he'd been able to hear the tick of the Seth Thomas mantel clock all the way from the parlor. The sound reminded him of Katherine. Of their wedding. Of the way she'd held his hand without cringing and allowed that affirming kiss with no outward sign of revulsion. Katherine was a strong woman, no doubt about it.

He'd secured her presence here by playing into her desire for a home for her child. She deserved to have friends and to see people. Whatever it took to make her happy.

Whatever it took to make her stay.

Noah had been asleep for only a few minutes when a tap startled him awake. He sat. Swung his feet to the floor and hurried to open the door.

Katherine stood in the silver moonlight that arrowed through the tall windows in the stairwell to the right of his room. She wore a white cotton nightgown and her hair lay in a thick braid across her shoulder and breast.

"What's wrong?"

"I just wanted you to know... I just had to say. . . ."

"What?"

She raised her chin. "You may seek my bed any time you wish."

"What?" he asked again.

"You said you preferred our sleeping arrangements to stay the same, and that's fine. But I'm your wife

now, and I wouldn't object if you came to my room for...well, I won't object if you come to my room." Her sense of duty was admirable, however insulting. He'd be damned before he'd have a woman sleepwith him out of a sense of duty?or out of pity. God forbid His body didn't have any such reservations however and reacted immediately at the thought of going to her room and "seeking her bed." His arousal angered him all the more.

"I stay to myself," he said, hearing the bitterness in his voice. "I expect you to do the same."

"I meant no harm, Noah," she said softly. "I certainly didn't intend to bother or to offend you. Do excuse

my lack of understanding. I?I won't bother you again." She turned and hurried away, her white gown

trailing the floor behind her.

He didn't allow himself to step out into the hall to watch her enter her room. She wasn't his sort any more than any woman would ever be. He was what he was and nothing would ever change him.