Calder Pride (Calder Saga 5)

“I will be.” She had to, for Quint’s sake.

“What went on down there? What’s this all about?” Jessy persisted.

“Quint.” With that, Cat opened the door and slipped into the thickly shadowed bedroom.

The deep purple color of a fast-falling twilight darkened the room’s windows. A small night-light on the bureau threw a feeble glow into the room, its dim light touching the boy sprawled in sleep in the twin bed.

On silent feet, Cat crossed to the bed and paused a moment simply to look at him. Love welled, the fiercely protective and tender kind that knew no bounds. Giving in to the need to touch him, Cat rearranged the lay of the sheet over him and lightly smoothed the sleek strands of black hair from his forehead, then bent and brushed a kiss on the softness of his cheek.

“Good night,” she whispered, her voice breaking a little.

There had never been any real choice to make; Cat saw that now. As much as she had loved Repp, she loved her son more. As dramatic as it sounded, she knew it would kill her to lose him. She recalled Logan’s remark that he would marry the devil himself if it meant having his son. It was a sentiment she understood totally. By her own mouth she had condemned herself to it.

But only for a year, she reminded herself. Only for a year.

Cat lingered a moment longer by Quint’s bed, then left the room as quietly as she had entered it, pulling the door almost closed behind her. In the hallway, she heard the murmur of voices below, easily picking out Logan’s and her father’s, both talking in calm, level tones. Frowning, she strained to catch what they were saying, but their words were indistinct. Suddenly furious, she went to find out.

Logan was on his way out of the study when she reached the bottom of the steps. He paused to wait when he saw her coming toward him. Cat wasted no time confronting him with her suspicions.

“What other decisions did you and my father make about my future while I was gone?”

“None.”

“Really?” she said with arching skepticism. “Then what exactly were you talking about all this time?”

He ran an unamused glance over her, his expression unfathomable. “I had a few questions to ask your father, strictly official, concerning the cattle killings.”

“Oh.” His answer stole all the wind from her anger. To cover it, she lifted her chin slightly. “What kind of questions? Has there been some new development?”

Answering that meant telling her about Lath Anderson’s possible connection to the case, which would inevitably lead to a discussion of the accident. And Logan wasn’t about to mention Repp Taylor’s name. “It’s a bit involved. You’ll have to ask your father.” He lifted the hat he carried, motioning with it toward the door. “I was just leaving. Care to see me out?”

“Of course,” she murmured, clearly distracted by her own weighty thoughts when she fell in beside him.

His glance traveled over her face, noting the troubled green of her eyes. “Your father invited me to dinner tomorrow. I thought that would be a good time to tell Quint about me—and our wedding plans,” he said when they reached the front door.

Logan expected an argument from her as she turned and placed her shoulders against the massive door. “Why did you do it?”

Puzzled by the question, Logan frowned. “Do what?”

“Stand up for me against my father.”

His expression smoothed, a glint of something appearing in his eyes. “He was wrong when he threatened to take Quint away from you. Just as you were wrong when you tried to deny me the right to be with him.”

Cat shook her head. “That still doesn’t explain why you spoke up for me.”

“I didn’t. I spoke up for what was right,” he told her. “You’ll find I’m that way, Cat.”

Something told her it had nothing to do with the badge he wore. But it was something to be filed away and considered later. There was another very important concern that needed to be settled between them.

“This marriage of ours,” she began, a battle tilt to her chin, “it’s to be a business arrangement. I won’t share your bed.”

His head dipped slightly in acknowledgment, a coolness in his eyes. “That’s your decision.”

His easy acceptance didn’t bring the sense of relief Cat had expected. If anything, she felt more on edge.

“Anything else?” He laid a hand on the heavy brass doorknob, signaling his intention to leave.

“Not at the moment.” She moved away from the door.