She waited, her hands trembling now at the bold thing she’d said. “Perhaps I’ve spoken out of turn, but it seems that when a woman loves a man she—”

“Savannah,” he interrupted quietly. “Don’t say any more. Please.”

The color of acute embarrassment erupted in her cheeks. “Is saying I love you improper?”

“There’s nothing improper about you. It’s me.”

“You?” She was utterly confused, completely on edge. She feared what would happen next.

“I’m not the right man for you.”

The relief was so great she nearly laughed aloud. “Oh, Laredo, how can you say such a thing? Nobody’s ever been more right for me in my entire life.”

“Savannah, I have nothing...”

“Do you think that matters?”

“Yes,” he said quietly. Intensely. “It does.”

She waited a moment, then told him with gentle insistence, “For most of my life my parents and then Grady were sure they knew what was right for me. The amazing part of all this is that no one ever bothered to ask my opinion. I’m thirty-one years old, and believe it or not, I know what I want. I want you. I love you.”

He leaned forward and pressed his elbows to his knees as though her words had brought him pain, instead of joy.

Her back went rigid. “I apologize if I’ve embarrassed you.”

“It’s not that. Savannah, listen to me. I’m truly honored that you love me, but it won’t work. It just won’t work.” His voice sagged with regret, with defeat.

“Is it— Don’t you care for me?” It seemed impossible he didn’t share her feelings. She’d been so sure. And she’d hoped that revealing her love would free him to acknowledge his.

He hesitated. “I...”

“If you tell me you don’t return my affection, then I’ll apologize and never mention it again.” Although she made the offer, Savannah had no doubts. Laredo couldn’t have held her or kissed her with such gentle passion if he didn’t care for her.

He waited so long to answer she feared he was about to lie. “You already know what I feel.”

She closed her eyes in gratitude. “I do know.” Now that he’d admitted the truth, she felt confident enough to continue. “Once we’re married—”

“Married?” He half rose from his seat, his voice harsh with shock.

His reaction jolted her. When two people loved each other, marriage seemed to be the next step. And really, given she was already over thirty, there was no reason to wait. Especially if they intended to start a family, which she sincerely hoped they would. The sooner the better.

“I assumed...I hoped,” she faltered, then blushed when she realized he might not consider marriage necessary. “I’m afraid that if we don’t legally marry, my brother will object. I...I would, however, defy him, if that were...necessary.” But she prayed with all her heart it wouldn’t be.

Laredo stood up and walked over to the railing, holding on to it, his back ramrod-straight with tension. “I won’t marry you, Savannah.”

Her heart sank as she absorbed the firm conviction in his statement. “I see,” she said, struggling to hide her disappointment. “As I said earlier, while marriage would offer certain advantages, I’m willing to forgo the...legalities.”

He whirled around. “Savannah, dear God in heaven, don’t you understand what I’m saying?” He knelt in front of her, his eyes wide with pain. “It isn’t that I won’t marry you. I can’t.”

“Can’t?” The awful possibility dawned. “Are you...do you already have a wife?”

“No.”

She brought both hands to her heart in a gesture of relief.

“Look at me!” he demanded. “I don’t have a pot to piss in. I don’t have one damn thing to give you. Do you honestly think I’d take you away from your home, your family and friends, your roses and everything else to live in a trailer? Because that’s all I’ve got—a lousy trailer.”

Feeling his pain, his inadequacy, she touched his cheek lovingly. “Do you think it matters to me where we live? As for my garden, I can start another. You’re all I need, all I’ll ever need.”

He closed his eyes. “Savannah, I can’t. I’m sorry, but I can’t.” His hands squeezed hers with enough strength to make her fingers ache.

“I’m offering you my heart, my love, my life,” she said, her voice barely audible.

He claimed both her hands with his own, then turned them over and pressed his lips to her palms. When he raised his head, his eyes held hers. “You’d give all this up for me?”

“I wouldn’t be giving up anything, Laredo. I’d be gaining so much more.”

***

That night Laredo sat up in his bunk, his back against the wall, his mind whirling. Savannah had almost made him believe it was possible for the two of them. He was well aware that she’d be the one to make all the sacrifices; while that didn’t seem right or fair, she’d assured him of her willingness to do it. To do whatever was necessary for them to be together.

Laredo rested his head between his hands and dreamed with his eyes open. A growing sense of excitement, of possibility, grew within him. He loved her.

Richard strolled into the bunkhouse and threw himself down on the cot where he’d slept that first time. Some nights he slept in the house; Laredo wished this was one of them. He supposed it depended on whether or not Grady was in the house and likely to notice. Despite her older brother’s insistence, Laredo knew Savannah would never make Richard leave. She’d even let him stay in his boyhood room, perhaps allowing herself to believe that everything was all right again. Other nights, Richard slept in the bunkhouse. Grady must be around this evening.

“Hey, what’re ya doing?” Richard asked.

“Thinking,” Laredo answered shortly, hoping Weston would take the hint.

“So you’re trying to steal Savannah away from us.”

How did Richard know? “Do you have a problem with that?” Laredo demanded, suspicious of the other man’s intentions.

“None whatsoever.” Richard’s hands flew up and he grinned broadly. “As long as you love her,” he added in melodramatic tones.

“I do.” Not until the words escaped his lips did Laredo realize he had no problem telling Richard how he felt, although he’d never once told Savannah he loved her, not in so many words, at least.

“Ain’t love grand,” Richard said with an exaggerated sigh. He flopped back on the cot and gazed up at the ceiling. “At least in the beginning.”

Laredo let the comment slide, although it hit its mark. Bull’s-eye. What started out beautiful could often end up a disaster.

“Savannah’s a real sweetheart,” Richard continued. “Did you notice how hard she worked cooking for the party? Actually, if I know my sister, she was grateful to stay in the kitchen. It’s always been difficult for her to deal with crowds, even people she’s familiar with and known most of her life. I don’t know why she’s so damn shy. Take her out of her element and she wilts like a flower without water.”

Laredo frowned, wondering if Richard was actually delivering a subtle message, one he would deny if asked, but would gleefully recount as an I-told-you-so if it came to pass.

“If you have something to say, then just say it,” Laredo muttered.

“Me?” Richard’s voice echoed his surprise. “I’m not saying anything other than how pleased I am for the two of you.”

“Nothing’s been decided.” Laredo wanted to correct that impression right off.

Richard rolled his head to one side to get a better look at Laredo. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Well, if everything goes as planned, it’ll be wonderful. I know she’ll make you happy, and once the kids start coming...”

“Kids?” The word exploded from Laredo’s lips before he thought to censor it. They wouldn’t be able to afford kids for years, although he knew Savannah was eager for a family. He was, too, but it just wasn’t going to be possible, not until he’d established himself, had some income he could count on.

“I wouldn’t advise you to wait too long,” Richard was saying. “Savannah’s already over thirty. Apparently the older the woman the more likely the chance of complications.” He shook his head wisely and sounded as if he knew what he was talking about.