"Why, no."

"I've heard frightful things about the man. Some of the stories say he hunts with his bare hands and eats raw meat."

"That's ridiculous," Kate replied, offended for the man who'd been so kind to her. "He eats the same as everyone else. And it's all cooked by Fergie."

"I've never seen him up close," Charmaine added with a conspiratorial whisper, "but they say he's hideous to look upon."

Her words confirmed what Estelle had told Kate, though she hadn't had a straight-on good look at him herself. She couldn't really deny what she wasn't sure of. But she could certainly attest to his character. "He's one of the kindest men I ever met. I suspect much of the talk has been aggravated above the truth."

"For your sake, I hope that's so," Charmaine said sweetly. A young man approached then and she blushed at his arrival. "Katherine, this is Wayne." An unexpected Southern drawl laced Charmaine's tone as soon as he joined them.

Wayne nodded at Kate politely. "How do, Mrs. Cutter."

No one had ever called her Mrs. Cutter before and she glanced aside for Estelle before she realized he had referred to her.

"We're having dinner with my parents this afternoon," Charmaine told her, and slipped her arm into the crook of Wayne's. "And a croquet match. I'm going to let him win this time."

Estelle found Kate and took her arm then, and Kate wished the young people a goodbye. Their way of life was as far away from hers as the sky was from the ground where she walked. She'd spent her growing-up years laboring to make money for food and a place to live, and she'd earned her way by washing clothes for people just like these. She'd be willing to bet these young women had never had to want for anything. They went directly from comfortable homes with their parents to good marriages.

Kate didn't begrudge them a thing. She simply had nothing in common with them.

Or with Estelle and the Huttons as it turned out. Estelle's cook had prepared rack of lamb, string beans and something called a Caruso salad with lettuce, tomatoes and a tangy sweet fruit topped with paprika and oil dressing. Kate speared a piece of the fruit. "What is this?"

"Why, it's pineapple, dear," Estelle replied.

Kate closed her eyes. "It's incredible."

"You've never tasted pineapple before?" Rose Hutton asked.

"No, ma'am. I expect there's a lot I've missed. But I'm enjoying learning now." "I'm trying to convince Katherine to live here with me," Estelle told the Huttons. "She seems to feel an unfounded obligation to Levi's stepbrother." Estelle's home was elegant, no doubt about it. Kate had never seen furnishings so plush or rooms so ornate. Everywhere she looked there was another painting or vase or Oriental rug or brocade settee. But none of the rooms seemed as comfortable or as welcoming as the room Noah had given her. The opulence here didn't appeal to her as much as the serenity of the ranch house she wanted to think of as her home. She didn't want to have to explain her reasons to Estelle again. She'd already told her she didn't want to live in the city.

She couldn't think of much else to say that afternoon. The time seemed to drag. Once the Huttons had gone, Estelle sat her down in the parlor. "There is talk," she said. "What kind of talk?" "About you being on the ranch alone with that man." "We're not alone. There are hands." "Not living in the house, there aren't. It simply isn't proper. You shouldn't be living alone with him." "I guess I don't know much about proper. All I know is he's kind and I like living there." Estelle clearly didn't approve of her reply. When she had her groomsman take Kate home, Kate was grateful for the escape. If that's what Sundays would be like, maybe she didn't want to go to town in the future. She changed into a day dress and read in her room for an hour or so before she went downstairs and found a tin of tea. She had just brewed a pot when Noah entered the kitchen.

"Good evening. Would you like to join me for a cup of tea?"

He glanced at the pot on the table. "All right."

She took out two cups and poured the tea, setting one at the spot he preferred.

He took a seat.

She studied his carefully averted face, wishing she could see him better. "Sugar?"

"Yes."

She watched him dip a spoonful and stir. Picking up the cup, he took a sip. Raw meat indeed.

"I saw many of the folks who were here for Levi's funeral today. Most were friendly. Some stared and

whispered though. I met Annie's cousin and a fellow named Wayne. Appears they're sweet on each other."

He acknowledged her chatter with a nod.

"Estelle's home is lovely. Her cook made us an elegant dinner. Lamb, can you fancy that? And I tasted pineapple for the first time. It's the sweetest fruit I've ever had." "The hillsides between here and town are bright blankets of purple aster. It's early for those, don't you think?"

As though he thought he should reply, he said, "Might be early."

"Estelle made us an appointment tomorrow with Annie Carpenter." She set down the cup she'd been

holding. "I have to confess that I'm not entirely comfortable about having a lot of new clothing made for me."

"You need clothing."

True, she didn't have dresses to fit her growing figure, but the garments certainly didn't need to be

expensive. She wouldn't be wearing them but for a few more months. "I was thinking I could ask Annie to show me how to help her and I could do some of the sewing myself."

"Estelle sets store by Annie's work."

"And I'm sure it's worthy of the praise, but I could make up for some of the cost by helping."

"Don't bother yourself over the cost of a few dresses. If Estelle didn't say it plain enough, I will. You're a Cutter. We will take care of you."

Kate rested her hands in her lap. "It's just not what I'm used to. I'm sure you can understand."

"Your life has changed."

She tipped her head in reluctant acquiescence. "Yes."

He stood. "Thanks for the tea."

"?I found it in the cupboard."

He dipped a pail of water and left the room. Minutes later, she heard his boots on the stairs.

Kate cleaned up the few dishes and extinguished the wall lantern before dipping her own water and

climbing the stairs.

She studied the crack of light under Noah's bedroom door as she passed, hurrying on to her room.

She closed herself inside. She hadn't been uncomfortable staying here this past week. She hadn't felt

unsafe?quite the opposite, in fact. An enormous portion of her burdensome worries had been lifted and even breathing seemed easier now. She could actually see past the pressing momentary need of each day and look to the future.

She didn't need people putting thoughts in her head, making her question, making her wonder even more about Noah. Most of the local gossip was hog-wash, she'd already discovered.

But she wasn't so sure about propriety. About their living arrangement being fodder for more talk. She knew her staying here was fine and innocent, and she couldn't help what others thought or said. Even Estelle, and Estelle knew better.

That night when Kate climbed into bed it was with a dent in her formerly oblivious pleasure at having a home.

She had trusted Levi, too.

It had only been a week since she'd learned of Levi's death, Kate thought. One week and now here she was standing on a stool in Annie's dress shop, listening to talk of silks and taffetas and comparing hues of green and violet. Annie had taken her behind a screen where she now stood perched in her chemise and drawers. A lot of good the screen had done, because Estelle popped her head around and gasped. "Good Lord, what on earth are those?"

Kate looked down at her underclothing. "My unmentionables, of course."

"How can you even sit still with that dreadful jersey next to your skin? Annie, she will need underclothing, as well. I knew it, of course, but this-well, this is an emergency."

"Actually, I have some lovely pieces made up and for sale in the bureau out front. Why don't you look through and see what will fit?"

Annie met Kate's eyes with an expression of sympathy. "She means well," she said softly.

Kate nodded. "Oh, yes. I'm not offended. I didn't have much to pack when Noah came to get me, and I'm seeing now that it was no way to live. I knew, of course, but having never seen the other side of things, it wasn't quite so plain as it is now. Every day I'm overwhelmed by the abundance I see and by other's generosity. Sometimes I think I should pinch myself to make sure I'm awake, but if I'm not, I don't want the dream to end. Have you ever felt anything equal?"

"I have. It's the way my Luke makes me feel."

Annie's comment about her husband touched Kate immeasurably. She wondered how it would feel to be confident in a husband's love. "Where's Rebecca?"

"My mother adores staying with her for a few hours while I come to the shop. They're probably having a tea party on the lawn. When's your baby due?"

"August, I think."

"I don't envy either of us the summer days in the heat," Annie said in a sympathetic tone. "But you'll have your baby months ahead of me." She held a silky wrapper out to Kate and Kate slipped it on. "Let's go look at fabrics. You'll want more than black."

For the first time Kate noticed an awkward gait when Annie walked. Whatever caused it didn't seem to hamper her abilities.

Estelle was piling chemises and drawers and petticoats on the counter in a frenzy. "All of these. And will you make a few in light blue?"

The pile was bigger than all the clothing Kate had ever outgrown in her lifetime. "Whatever will I do with all those?"

"You need several changes and enough so that you can pick and choose when some are in the laundry," her mother-in-law replied.

"Do you have this many underthings?" Kate asked Annie in an aside.

"I'm sure I do. And Charmaine has even more. Why, the girl has so many clothes, she can't wear them all." She smiled. "We females are entitled to our little pleasures."

A loud clap of thunder startled all of them.

Estelle scurried to the front window. "Goodness, it's turning dark."

An immediate sense of alarm washed over Kate. All thoughts of pretty-ribboned chemises flew from her head. "I'd better get back to the ranch before the storm hits."

"Maybe you should stay with me," Estelle suggested.

"No, Tipper and Marjorie will be waiting. They went for supplies and said they'd be back for me." She found her dress and Annie helped her into it. The fact that Kate was more willing to face a storm than stay with Estelle said more than the woman would ever know.

"I think I'll close the shop and go get Rebecca and take her home," Annie said.

They said their goodbyes and Kate found Tipper and Marjorie waiting outside, the bed of the wagon covered with a tarp. "I have an extra tarp in case we get caught in the downpour," Marjorie called.

Tipper helped Kate to the seat and they headed out of town.

Angry black clouds moved across the sky and shadowed the landscape. Before long it looked like twilight rather than midday. Jagged streaks of lightning periodically pierced the ominous sky and lit the mountains in a brief eerie glow. Perhaps it was the elevation or the open landscape, but everything about this storm seemed louder and more intense than bad weather ever had in Boulder.

Anxiety tensed in Kate's body. She didn't like storms. Never had. Everything about the darkness and the power of the wind and lashing rains sent shivers of terror along her spine. She told herself it was foolish, that storms came and spent themselves and moved on, but that didn't seem to help at the moment.

She put on a brave face, held tight to the wagon seat and prayed they'd arrive at the ranch soon.

Rain pelted them before they got close. Marjorie opened the tarp and the three of them huddled beneath it. The women's skirts were drenched by the time they reached the Rockin' C.

Noah, with rain drizzling from the brim of his hat, met them in the dooryard. The barn doors were swung open wide and Tipper drove the team right inside.

Kate smelled the animals and hay and felt the warmth of the building. A small measure of comfort replaced some of her anxiety. Newt and Jump unharnessed the team as Noah reached up for her.

His bare hand was warm and strong, with calluses against her palm. She felt safe with her hand in his. He let go, however, and reached to grasp her around the waist and lift her down as though she weighed no more than a child.

Thunder shook the rafters at that moment. She jumped, her heart hammering wildly, and tucked herself against his side.

It happened so quickly, neither of them was prepared. She looked up. He looked down, and their eyes met. Lightning flashed through the open doorway, illuminating them where they stood. His eyes were brown, like polished mahogany, and fringed with black lashes.

Thunder followed and her body tensed involuntarily.

He steadied her with a hand at her waist and another on her shoulder. With fascination, she watched his mustache move as he said, "It's okay."

She became aware of the others?Marjorie climbing down behind her, Tipper moving to peel back the tarp from the wagon bed, Newt and Jump talking to the horses and each other. Cold rain dripped from Noah's hat brim to her shoulder.

Embarrassed at her childish fear, her face grew warm and she backed away from his tentative hold. "I?I'm sorry."

"You're cold," he said. "Go change." He plucked a slicker from a nearby post and handed it to her.

She draped the oilskin over herself and hurried out. Thunder cracked while she was midyard and just that quickly the rain turned to hail. With a shriek, she ran to the house, balls of ice hitting the ground and bouncing, pelting the oilskin over her head.