A Country Affair(93)

“Maybe we need to get away from each other for a while,” Kate said. “Maybe if we aren’t in such close proximity, we’ll be able to sort out what we really feel for each other.”

“When are you moving to town?”

“Monday,” Kate said, looking at the cardboard boxes stacked against the opposite wall.

“Do you need help? Skip, Clay and I could easily lend a hand.”

“That would be wonderful.”

The rest of the weekend passed in a blur. Kate didn’t see Luke once. So much for Rorie’s assurances that he’d come by soon to talk everything out. Apparently he meant what he’d said.

Monday morning, when she was about to leave for school, Kate paused before she got into her car, deciding she should at least say goodbye to Luke before she moved out.

Luke wasn’t in the barn, but Bill Schmidt was.

“Good morning, Bill.”

“Howdy, Kate,” he said with a wide grin. “Glad to see there’s no ill effects from your accident.”

“None, thanks. Is Luke around?”

Bill settled his hands in the pockets of his bib overalls. “No. Thought you knew. He left yesterday afternoon for New Mexico to look at some new equipment. He won’t be back until Thursday.”



Ten


Kate was carrying the last of the cardboard boxes to the recycling bins outside the apartment building on Thursday evening when she saw Luke’s pickup turn onto Spruce Street. He came to a grinding halt at the curb, vaulted out of the cab and stood there scowling. His features were contorted, but for the life of her Kate couldn’t understand why he was so irritated. Didn’t he tell her to move? Wasn’t this what he wanted?

She was about to make her presence known, but before she could act, Luke brought his fist down on the bonnet. She heard the sound from where she was standing. It must have smarted because he rubbed his knuckles, gazing intently at the redbrick building. Then, tucking his hands in the back pockets of his jeans, he squared his shoulders and strode toward it. He stopped abruptly, then retreated to his truck. Opening the door, he balanced one foot on the side rail, as if he was about to leap into the cab.

Kate leaned forward on the tips of her toes and stretched out her hand to stop him. It took everything in her not to rush forward. She was afraid she’d burst into tears. Viewing Luke’s behavior had touched something deep within her.

If Luke had planned to drive away, he apparently changed his mind, because he slammed the door shut and resolutely faced the building again.

Knowing that the time to make her move was now, Kate casually turned the corner.

“Kate.”

“Luke,” she said, pretending surprise.

For a moment, Luke didn’t say a word. “I just got back to the ranch and discovered that the main house was empty. I thought you’d be there when I returned.”

“Mrs. Jackson said I could have the apartment Monday, and since Rorie, Clay and Skip were able to help me move, I couldn’t see any reason to delay.”

“You might’ve told me.”

Kate lowered her eyes, feeling a little guilty, since they’d parted on such unfriendly terms. “I tried, but you’d already left for New Mexico.”

“Bill did say you wanted to talk to me,” he conceded.

“Would you like to come inside?” she asked, opening the door for him.

“All right.” He sounded reluctant.

Once in the apartment they stood looking at each other, and Kate felt suddenly awkward. Luke’s eyes were dark and luminous and his face had never seemed so dear to her—familiar, yet in some exciting new way, not fully known. She would’ve liked nothing better than to walk into his arms. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was about the way they’d parted, to tell him she was ready to accept his proposal on any terms. But her pride made that impossible.

“Nice place,” he said when the silence became painful. He tucked his fingers in his back pockets again.

“Can I take your coat?”

“Please.” He took it off and gave it to her.

She motioned toward the sofa. “Would you like to sit down?”

He nodded and sat on the edge of the cushion. Leaning forward, he balanced his hands between his knees and rotated his hat with his fingers. Luke had sat on this very same sofa a thousand times, but he’d never looked as uncomfortable as he did now.

“I came to apologize for the last time we spoke.”

“Oh, Luke,” she whispered, sitting in the overstuffed chair across from him. “I felt bad, too. Why do we argue like that? Some days I feel we’re growing further and further apart, and I don’t want that.”

“I’d like to suggest we put an end to this nonsense, but you’ve made your views plain enough.”

“You still want to take care of me?”

“I don’t think that’s so wrong.”

“I know.” She sighed, tired of repeating the same arguments. “But I’m fully capable of doing that myself.”

“Right,” he said with deadly softness. “You took care of yourself pretty well during that snowstorm, didn’t you?”

“Why don’t you throw Eric Wilson in my face while you’re at it? I thought you came because you regretted our last argument, but it looks to me as if you’re trying to start another one.”