Country Brides - Debbie Macomber [104]
Kate Logan was a woman now.
She wasn’t sure exactly when the transformation had taken place, but it had. She’d struggled with it, fought the metamorphosis, because change, as always, was both painful and difficult. Kate realized for the first time that all the pain, all the uncertainty, had not been for nothing.
“Kate?” Luke called, as he let himself into the kitchen. “You around?”
“Here.” She was at the back of the house, packing away the library of books her father kept in his den. Every night she did a little more to get the main house ready for Luke to move in and her to move out.
She straightened and tucked in a few wisps of hair that had escaped the red bandana. She wore blue jeans and an old gray sweatshirt and no doubt looked terrible. Despite that, she was pleased to see Luke, eager to talk to him. She was wiping her dusty palms on her jeans when he walked in.
“What are you doing?” He stood just inside the door, a frown creasing his forehead.
“What does it look like?” she said. “I ’m packing.”
He hesitated, then said, “I told you, I want you to live here, at least to the end of the school year. I thought you understood that.”
“I do, Luke. It’s just that this place is yours now—or will be soon, and there’s no reason for me to stay on.” For one despairing moment, she was swept away on a crashing wave of disbelief and misery at everything she’d lost in so short a time. She could barely walk through her home and not feel an aching throb at the prospect of leaving it behind. But the sale of the ranch was part of the new reality she was learning to face.
“Of course there’s a reason for you to stay here,” Luke insisted, his voice sharp with impatience. “It ’s where you belong—where I want you. Isn’t that reason enough?”
Kate forced a laugh. “Come on, Luke, there’s no excuse for me to continue living here. You don’t need a housekeeper, or a cook or anything else. You’re completely self-sufficient. And I could do without all the gossip my living here would start in town.” She paused a moment, then added gently, “I really can manage on my own, you know. I’m a big girl, Luke, and I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”
He wanted to argue with her; Kate could sense it with every breath he drew. But when he spoke next, his remarks had nothing to do with her moving.
“I suppose I should tell you about the feed store,” he said. His voice was controlled, though Kate heard a hint of anger in his words. He’d been just as incensed as she was over the incident. Once she’d come to grips with her own outrage, she’d seen how furious Luke was.
“No…well, yes, I guess I am curious to hear how you handled that. Would you like some coffee?”
“Please.”
Kate led the way into the kitchen and filled two ceramic mugs. After giving Luke his, she walked into the living room and sat on the sofa. Relaxing, she slipped off her shoes and tucked her feet underneath her. It felt good to sit here with Luke—almost like old times. So often over the years, they’d sat and talked like this. Friends. Confidants. Companions. She cradled the mug in both hands, letting the warmth seep up her arms.
“I had dinner with Clay and Rorie last night,” she said, wanting to share with Luke what she’d discovered.
“Yes, I heard. Listen, you can close the door on the situation with Fred Garner. You don’t need to worry about it anymore.”
Kate lowered her eyes. “Thanks,” she murmured. There was so much she wanted to tell Luke. “I had a great time at Elk Run last night, although I honestly didn’t expect to.”
“I can personally guarantee the matter with Garner is over. If it isn’t a dead issue, it soon will be.”
Kate would rather not talk about the wedding lottery. The subject had become an embarrassing memory—a very embarrassing one—but as Luke said, it was finished. There were other, more important issues to discuss.