The foothills seemed to welcome them as they grew near. A light breeze carried the fresh scent of pine and set the aspen leaves dancing, while in the distance the rugged peaks of the Rockies rose to touch the blue Colorado sky. The leaves were just beginning to turn. Soon, Sloan knew, the aspens would be coming into their full autumn glory, sending up gold and orange tongues of fire.

They were riding along a stream that bordered a wood when he saw a flicker of movement among the branches of a cottonwood. Abruptly Sloan brought the horse to a halt and reached for the rifle in its scabbard. But then his hand stilled.

In the dappled sunlight he could make out the fawn color of a deer that had come to drink at the steam. The slender, graceful animal had raised its head to stare at him, but there was no alarm in the gentle brown eyes.

Those eyes reminded him so much of Doe. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but she seemed to be speaking to him. Smiling at him. At Heather. Giving them her blessing.

The sight held Sloan spellbound for a dozen heartbeats. It was only when the doe turned and bounded off that he felt the tension in Heather’s body. She thought he was still haunted by tormenting memories, he suspected.

His arms came around her tightly. “Doe would have been happy for us,” he murmured emphatically. “Happy that I found someone to fill my heart. Happy that I love you.”

He felt her disquiet fade as she leaned back against him.

When they reached the Bar M, Sloan turned his horse over to Rusty to unsaddle and swung a startled Heather up into his arms. Like a husband with his cherished bride, he carried her up to the house and over the threshold of the back door. The place was empty; Caitlin and Jake evidently had taken Janna home with them.

Pausing, Sloan stood holding Heather in the kitchen. “Are you hungry?”

“Not really,” she murmured, struck by a sudden shyness. “Are you?”

His smile was pure sensuality. “Famished—but not for food.”

He carried her purposefully up the stairs to his bedchamber, where he gently set her down. Assailed by fresh doubt, Heather searched his hard, handsome face, wondering if he finally meant for her to share this room, this bed.

There was no reservation in his expression. He looked at her as if she were the only woman on earth, the only one he wanted on earth. “I promise you, Heather,” he said softly. “Doe won’t be sharing this bed with us. I’ve told her good-bye. But if you would rather use another bed, choose another room for our bedroom—”

“No, I want to be here.”

His smile was warm, heartrending. “I want you to be here, too.”