“I’m going for a ride before breakfast,” Angela said.
“I would like to join you,” Hank said quickly, rising from the table.
Angela finished her coffee and left the kitchen, not waiting for Hank to catch up with her.
The early morning was pleasantly cool. The sun was shining brightly, but it would be a while yet before it would make itself felt. Winter was approaching.
Hank finally caught up with Angela when she reached the barn, and offered to saddle her horse for her. Since none of the hired hands were nearby, she agreed. She was bursting with questions, but she held back. It would serve no purpose to have an argument here. Bradford might overhear.
With the sleek brown mare saddled, Angela mounted her without Hank’s assistance, then waited while he saddled his own horse. But before he finished, Bradford appeared at the front of the barn.
He glared at her. “Just where do you think you’re going dressed like that?” he demanded, taking hold of her horse’s muzzle.
“I’m going riding,” she replied hotly.
“Not like that you’re not!”
Angela sat tensely, clutching the short riding crop in her right hand. “You are my partner, Bradford—my equal partner. You have no authority over me. I am my own woman— answerable to no one!” she stormed, fury evident in the deep blue-violet appearing in her eyes. “I will do as I please. Is that clear?”
“What you’re going to do is get down from that horse!” he growled.
At that point, she lost control of her fury. “You go to hell, Bradford Maitland!” she cried, slashing her riding crop against die horse’s flank.
The animal reared once and then bolted out of the barn in a swift gallop. Angela clung desperately to the mare’s neck. Her hat flew away from her head, the thin string attached to it cutting into her throat. Only when the horse slowed a little did she look back.
A rider was just leaving the barn, half a mile behind her. Angela relaxed now and slowed her horse even more, giving Hank time to catch up. She rode over a small hill and down to an outcropping of trees on the other side of it. There, she pulled her horse up, out of view of the house and barn, to wait for Hank.
She had quite a few things to say to him, and this was a good place to do it. Dismounting, she tethered her horse to a low branch. She paced fretfully, tense, and still bristling over Bradford’s audacity. He had no right to issue orders.
When she heard the other horse approach, she turned around swiftly, glad to have something to occupy her mind instead of Bradford. But it was not Hank who jumped down from his horse and came bounding over.
“I ought to horsewhip you!” Bradford said as he grabbed her shoulders and shook her roughly.
Angela pushed away from him and stumbled backward. She didn’t feel quite so reckless out here in the open, alone with him. Suddenly she wanted to crawl away and hide from his anger, but she wouldn’t let her feelings betray her.
“How dare you go out like that? Look at you!” he continued storming, his eyes running the length of her body. “That damn getup leaves very little to the imagination. There’s no telling who you might run into out here!”
“Unfortunately, I ran into you!” she snapped. “Where is Hank?”
His eyes narrowed. “Was it your intention to seduce him out here? Is that why you’re dressed like—”
“Stop it, damn you!” Angela screamed. “I didn’t even know the man was here when I got dressed to go riding. I can’t very well ride in a skirt, unless I pull it all the way up to my thighs. Would you prefer that?” She waited for him to answer. When he didn’t, she continued more calmly. “I haven’t had a chance yet to get proper riding clothes made. And I can’t help the fact that these breeches have shrunk through so many washings. They are the only pair I have right now.”
He approached her slowly, but Angela refused to flinch. She stood proudly, inches from him, and boldly met his eyes.
Angela waited for him to strike her. When he didn’t, she started trembling. Suddenly she found herself crying.
“You told me you loved me once,” she cried. “How can you hurt me so after all we shared together?”
He turned abruptly away. “How dare you bring up the past to me, when it was you who killed our love?”
Her eyes widened with confusion. “For God’s sake, what did I do?”
“Damn your whore’s heart!” he growled, turning back to her. “Did you really believe I would never find out about you and Grant? How many others have there been, Angela? Is Hank one of your lovers too?”
She was utterly stunned. “Is that what you think? Is that why you hate me?” She threw her hands out to him in an imploring gesture. “There has never been anyone but you! The only man who has ever made love to me is you. You. Damn you, Bradford!”
He could not allow himself to believe in her. “Don’t play innocent with me, Angela! I said I found out about you and Grant. Do you think I would say that if I were not sure?”
Angela didn’t wait to hear more. He was set against her, and she couldn’t make him listen. She ran for her horse and quickly mounted it. She turned back to look at Bradford once, her eyes sparkling.
“I’m beginning to find that hate comes easily, indeed,” she said bitterly.
She rode away without looking back.
Neither Bradford nor Angela was aware of the man concealed on a faraway bluff, with a spyglass turned on them. The place where he was lying was worn, for he had come to this spot often. He was waiting, waiting for the opportunity he prayed for daily. Angela couldn’t always be protected. One day would find her alone on the ranch, with no hired help about and Maitland out of the picture. One day...
Chapter 44
ANGELA stood on the porch, leaning against a post, looking up at the star-studded sky. She pulled her shawl closer about her shoulders and felt her teeth begin to chatter. It was very cold outside, but she preferred that to the different kind of cold inside the house with Bradford.
Now she understood why Bradford had been so cruel, why he hated her. He felt that she had betrayed him. And he wouldn’t believe her when she denied it.
Condemned, but innocent. She might as well be guilty of his accusations. But no, she just didn’t want to bed a man she didn’t love.
Angela sighed. Maybe she should leave the ranch.
“You look very unhappy, menina.”
She started. “Do you have to sneak up on a person?” she snapped.
Hank stood close by her side, the ever-present smile gracing his lips. “If you had not been so lost in your troubles, you would have heard me.” He stretched languidly. “It is a beautiful night—and I finally have you alone.”
“Where is Bradford?”
“Your partner has retired for the night,” Hank said lightly. “I guess he feels it is safe to leave me alone with you now, since he has warned me that you are off limits.”
Angela’s expression turned incredulous. “Did he really say that?”
Hank laughed. “Those were not his exact words, but he made himself clear. I think that if Bradford did not feel indebted to me, he would have kicked me off this ranch by now. As it is, I am sure he regrets his invitation.”
“You make it sound as if he were jealous. I can assure you that is not so.”
Hank quirked a slim brow. “What else could cause the blind rage he has been in all day? I have never seen a man so furious over a woman before.”
“It’s not jealousy, though,” Angela replied wistfully, wishing it were. “You see, it’s my presence that incites Bradford, not yours. He can’t stand me, and is doing his best to make me leave.”
“Then why don’t you?” Hank asked, gently picking up a lock of her hair. “I told you once that I wanted to take you to Mexico with me. Circumstances have changed now, and I am going home to claim what is mine. Mexico is not much different than Texas. Come with me, Angelina.”
“As I recall, you said you would take me there whether I protested or not.
Am I to fear abduction now?”
“No,” he grinned. “But the thought has crossed my mind.”
She smiled. “You make it very hard for me to detest you, Hank. But I’m afraid Mexico is not for me. If I went anywhere, it would be to Europe. But what are you doing here anyway? I didn’t expect ever to see you again.”
“I followed you to this area to return the rest of what I owe you, but I can see now that you have no need of it. This ranch is one of the largest in the area, from what Bradford tells me. You are quite a wealthy woman.”
Wealth. Angela looked away. She would rather have the wealth of love than all the money in the world.
“Since I no longer have financial worries, you might as well keep the rest of what you stole,” Angela said. “After all, you risked your life for it.”
“You are generous, menina, but then, you can afford to be,” he stated simply, his gray eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “And I will admit the extra money will come in handy. It will be rough going for a while, until my lands start to produce.”
She looked back at him and studied him with shaded eyes. “You told me why you came here, but how did you meet Bradford? And what is this about his being indebted to you?”
“He seems to think I saved his life the other night,” Hank replied with a shrug. He related the story. Then, after a long silence, he took her hand and brought it to his lips. “A woman such as you should be happy. Come away with me, Angelina. I offer you my love.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Hank, but no. I could not return your love.”
“You feel nothing for me?”
“I hardly know you.”
“You are being evasive, Angelina,” he said pointedly.
She couldn’t help but grin. “And you are being persistent.”
“Only because I cannot accept your refusal. I will be honest with you and tell you the money was only an excuse to find you again. I have tasted the passion of your kiss, menina. I would be a fool if I did not try more than once to win you for myself.”
He put his hand behind her neck and started to draw her to him, but Angela braced her hands on his chest to stop him.
“Hank, please.”
He hesitated a moment, then let her go, reluctantly. “I will leave in the morning, for my presence here cannot help if Bradford is the man you really want. But I will wait in Dallas for a while. If you do not find your happiness here, menina, then come to me. I swear I can make you forget him.” And he walked away before she could refuse him again.
Angela sat in the old rocking chair in her room, staring dismally at the shooting flames in the fireplace, fingering her gold coin absently. Life dealt such ironic quirks of fate. Her whole life seemed to revolve around Jacob Maitland. He took her in when she was desolate. He had her schooled. And she loved his son.
Angela went to her bureau and found the letter. She stood with her back to the fire and reread Jacob’s letter slowly. Jacob had wanted her and Bradford to marry. They could have been married now if not for Crystal and her scheming. But then, maybe not. Most likely something else would have happened to stop them. It just wasn’t meant to be.
And it was certainly too late now. She cried for a long, long time, sitting before the fire.
Chapter 45
ANGELA reclined against the corral fence, one foot resting on a lower plank as she watched the branding. It had been going on for weeks now, the cattle branding and the breaking in of three hundred or so wild horses. It would all be over today, or so Grant said.
Grant stood beside Angela, calling out orders to the men in the corral. She saw very little of Grant lately. He elected to stay out on the range with the men. She supposed the reason was that Grant preferred to stay away from Bradford and his foul temper.
Dust swirled as another cow was brought down by its horns to await the hot branding iron. Angela turned away and faced the house. Bradford was sitting on the railing at the end of the porch, watching her. He seemed always to be watching her, watching her with brooding eyes.
Ever since she had learned that Grant and Bradford would be going on the trail drive together, she had had bad feelings about the drive. She was sure something terrible was going to happen. It would take at least two months just to reach the boomtown of Ellsworth, Kansas, where the cattle would be shipped East. The men were starting out tomorrow morning. Angela shivered just to think about all the time the two of them would be in each other’s company.
Bradford and Angela hardly talked to one another now. Ever since Hank had gone, Bradford had been silent. When they did talk, they were barely civil. She asked herself why she stayed on, but she never answered the question.
Mary Lou visited one afternoon and Angela tried to explain her fears about the cattle drive.
“You see, ever since Bradford came here, things have been very tense between him and Grant. Bradford got it into his head that there was something going on between Grant and me.”
“You mean Bradford’s jealous of Grant?”
“It’s past the point of jealousy,” Angela replied forlornly. “Bradford thinks I betrayed him with Grant and he won’t forgive either of us.”
“Maybe he’ll feel different when he learns that Grant and I are going to get married.” Mary Lou grinned.
“What?”
“You can’t really be surprised,” Mary Lou laughed. “Grant’s been visiting me regularly ever since Daddy and I were here for dinner that Saturday night. Do you know Grant was waiting for me at my ranch that night? We must’ve talked till dawn.”
Angela leaned back and sighed happily. “No wonder he hasn’t been around here lately.”
“You don’t mind, do you?” Mary Lou asked. “I mean, you’re going to be losing a good foreman.”
“I think it’s wonderful. I secretly hoped you two would get together.”
“I hope you’ll stop worrying now, Angela. Things are going to work out fine.”
No, things wouldn’t work out fine. Nothing would ever be fine again, Angela thought bitterly.
* * *
The bright moon began to edge over the rim of the mountain range. A young cowboy strummed a tune on his guitar by the campfire, and the soft melody carried through the quiet night to Bradford, some hundred yards away, perched on a large boulder for the first night watch.
Soon the camp grew silent and the night wore on. Bradford pulled a blanket over his shoulders as the chill wind slapped his face. He could no more stop the biting wind than he could stop those violet eyes from haunting him. The eyes seemed to follow him everywhere, day and night.
Only a week had passed and already he missed Angela desperately. He swore silently, cursing himself and cursing her. She had become a part of him, growing under his skin. He couldn’t shake her.
“You plannin‘ on takin’ the full watch by yourself?” Grant asked as he came up behind Bradford.
“What?”
“Perkin’s came in for his relief and woke me at the same time. Thought maybe you’d fallen asleep.”
Bradford grunted but didn’t move.
“Here, I brought you some coffee,” Grant offered and sat down beside him.
Bradford accepted the coffee, but didn’t reply. “Guess now’s as good a time as any to tell you I’m quittin‘ soon as the drive’s over.”
Bradford looked at him squarely. “I see,” he said coldly.
“Ain’t you even interested in why I’m quittin‘?” Grant questioned.
“No, I guess not.”
“Well, I’ll tell you anyway, seein‘ how Mary Lou’s plannin’ to invite you to the weddin‘.”
“Wedding?” Bradford was incredulous. “You and Mary Lou Markham?”
“Yeah,” Grant grinned. “That little gal’s gone and stole my heart.”
“What—about Angela?”
“What do you mean?”
Bradford’s muscles stiffened and his eyes suddenly burned with an intensity that could surely have melted stone.
“I ought
to tear you apart!” Bradford stormed, coming to his feet.
“What the hell’s got into you?”
“You steal my girl from me, and then you dump her!”
Grant was thoroughly bewildered. “Hold on, Brad.”
Bradford raged, his fists clenched at his sides. “Stand up or I’ll lay you flat right where you are!”
“You stubborn bastard,” Grant growled, his own temper rising. “So you’re still festerin‘ over a fool idea?”
Bradford grabbed Grant by the front of his jacket and yanked him to his feet. With lightning speed, Bradford’s fist slammed into Grant’s jaw, sending him sprawling back against the rocks.
Grant fingered his jaw tenderly, but stayed where he had fallen. “You know, Brad, if I didn’t know you better, I might take offense at this. But the fact of the matter is, you’re a love-sick fool.”
“Get up!” Bradford demanded. “I should have done this long ago, when I found out you’d brought Angela to Texas with you.”
“It’s not as simple as that,” Grant began, sitting up slowly. “She asked me to bring her along, but I turned her down. But that little lady’s as stubborn as all get out. She followed me—without my knowin‘ it.”
“She followed you?” Bradford asked suspiciously.
“She just wanted an escort, Brad,” Grant explained quickly. “She came out here to find her mother. There was never anything between her and me. Not that I didn’t give it a try.”
Bradford’s eyes blazed again.
Grant didn’t wait for Bradford to reach him, but bolted forward and caught him. They tumbled down off the boulder and landed in the dirt below., Grant had the advantage of landing on top of Bradford, and when Bradford swung at him and missed, Grant let his fist fall twice.
“Will you listen to me now, damnit, without flyin‘ off the handle?” Grant demanded, straddling Bradford’s chest. “I asked Angela to marry me, but she turned me down. She never explained why she took off from you, and I never pressed her. All she would tell me was she couldn’t marry you—even though she still loved you. And she wouldn’t marry me because of her love for you. It didn’t make sense to me, but that’s the truth.”