The Enchanted Land

  His face brightened, showing dancing lights in his eyes. “Did you imagine that I’d come in the middle of the night and steal you away?”

  She did not answer, but her tightened mouth gave her away. He laughed loudly, and she wanted to hit him.

  He sobered somewhat when he saw the hurt in her eyes. He reached over and placed his hand on hers and said quietly, “Did you really think I’d climb a ladder like a schoolboy?”

  The appeal in his eyes made her see the humor. No, she could not imagine this enormous man climbing a ladder in the middle of the night to spirit his bride away. She smiled back at him.

  They rode on, again in silence, but there was no more hostility between them. Morgan was no longer nervous.

  They had been riding for what seemed hours, each occupied with his own thoughts, when the coach stopped, and Seth said, “Are you sure you don’t want to change your mind?”

  She shook her head slightly. “Yes, I’m sure.”

  “Good.” His eyes danced. “I guess that means you think you can stand me for a whole year.”

  He got out of the carriage, helped Morgan out, and led her to the front of a large, pleasant, whitewashed house. Morgan looked around. She knew they had been heading south, toward Lexington, but she wasn’t sure where they were now.

  Finally a servant answered the door and Morgan preceded Seth into the hallway.

  “The judge is waiting for you, Mr. Colter,” he said.

  “Thanks, Elijah.”

  The servant led them to a door off the hallway into a cozy drawing room.

  A large man came toward them swiftly, hand extended. “Well, well, well! I never thought I’d have the honor of this day—I mean night. It’s good to see you are finally going to get married, Seth.”

  Seth smiled. “May I present Miss Morgan Wake-field.”

  “I am very glad to meet the lady who has been chosen by this young man. Why, I’ve known his father for years.”

  “And his mother, too.” A small woman entered the room. “Nora Colter is my dearest friend.”

  “This is my wife, Sara, and if this man of yours hasn’t told you, I am Judge Samuel Stevenson.”

  Morgan extended her hand, which he shook robustly. “I am very happy to meet you.”

  “Let’s begin, shall we?” said Judge Stevenson.

  The service was over so quickly that Morgan hardly realized it had taken place. The silence at the end was awkward. Finally, Judge Stevenson laughed and said, “Go ahead and kiss the bride, Seth.”

  He turned to Morgan with a winning smile and bent down to kiss her, gently taking hold of her shoulders.

  At first she was astonished. Then, just as his lips were very close to hers, she turned her head quickly and his kiss landed on her ear, just above the earlobe. His breath was soft and warm in her ear, his kiss moist, and she felt chills on her arms.

  Morgan kept her eyes from Seth’s and accepted the congratulations from the Judge and Mrs. Stevenson. In spite of their entreaties to stay, the young couple left immediately after the ceremony. They were soon on their way again in the coach.

  Morgan had just snuggled into a corner of the coach when she felt it lurch. She looked up to see Seth’s broad shoulders leaning toward the window.

  “Well, my little bride, we are here.” He stepped out of the coach and turned to help Morgan down the two steps.

  She saw before her, shining in the moonlight, an enormous white mansion. What was it the woman had said last night? The Colter plantation was one of the largest and richest in the state.

  The house had two stories, with massive, white columns extending the full height. There was a deep veranda with several large oak chairs and rockers scattered about. On either side of the veranda were two large old willows, moving slightly in the night breeze.

  On the second story there was a balcony, with a delicate, white-painted railing. She could see one pair of double doors leading onto the balcony and guessed there were others.

  Seth carried Morgan’s bag and led her into the house and up a massive staircase to the second floor. She followed him silently down the thickly carpeted hallway and into his bedroom.

  Seth lit the lamp, and Morgan could see that the room was very large. All the furniture was walnut: dark, rich, and heavy. The prominent feature of the room was an enormous four-poster bed. Morgan stood staring at it, thinking that it was just the sort of bed that a man like Seth should have.

  Seth had come up behind her and stood quietly as Morgan was staring at the bed. “It’s just as comfortable as it looks,” he whispered.

  Morgan jumped and turned toward him, their faces inches apart. He bent toward her. “Come, mi querida, and I’ll show you what it’s like to be a real bride.” His voice was low and soft and persuasive. But Morgan, unused to the presence of a man, was frightened by his large body and took a step backwards.

  Her face betrayed her fear, and Seth laughed. “Don’t be afraid, little rabbit, I won’t hurt you. Where is that look of fire I saw you flash at Cynthia Ferguson? Anyone who can give such a look shouldn’t be afraid of a mere man.”

  Morgan smiled.

  “That’s better. You may take the bed and I’ll sleep on the couch. Does that ease your fears?”

  Morgan hastily took her bag and went to the adjoining dressing room. She was nervous as she removed her dress and put on the plain, white nightgown. As she took the pins from her hair and brushed the mass into fat, shiny curls that reached her waist, she tried not to think about Seth.

  When she returned to the room and self-consciously walked across to the bed, she saw that Seth had turned down the covers. He was already wrapped in a blanket on the couch, his head away from her. He appeared to be sleeping. Somehow she felt a tinge of anger that he could ignore her so completely.

  As she blew out the lamp and snuggled under the covers, she heard Seth say sleepily, “Goodnight, mi querida.”

  Morgan smiled and said, “Goodnight.”

  The next morning, Morgan was awakened by a knock on the door. “Mr. Seth, are you up yet?”

  Morgan sat up just in time to see Seth striding across the room towards her. Morgan’s eyes opened very wide in astonishment at the sight of him. He was completely naked. Morgan had not seen many men, even clothed, and had never seen a man without his shirt. She glimpsed a broad, heavy chest covered with thick, curling hair, large arms and shoulders, all tapering to a hard, flat stomach. He climbed into bed with her before she could complete her survey.

  “Close your mouth, little one. You don’t want Bessie to think a newly wedded couple would spend their wedding night apart, do you?” He moved close to Morgan so that their thighs touched. Louder he said, “Come in, Bessie.”

  A very large woman entered the room carrying a tray of coffee. As she saw Morgan in the enormous bed sitting beside Seth, she stopped and stared. Seth moved even closer to Morgan and put his arm around her shoulders. “Bessie, I’d like you to meet my wife, Morgan.”

  It didn’t take Bessie long to recover her voice. “I declare, Mr. Seth, you didn’t give nobody word that you were bringing a bride. I bet even your mama don’t know.”

  Seth grinned and hugged Morgan closer, idly taking a curl in one hand and rubbing it between his fingers. “No, Mother doesn’t know, but then it was a rather hurried marriage. Morgan and I just met the night before last.”

  “An elopement! Your sisters are just going to love that.” Bessie had a twinkle in her eye. “Well, I must mind my manners. It’s nice to meet you,” she said to the still-silent bride.

  Morgan managed to murmur, “Thank you.”

  Bessie smiled broadly and said, “Well, Mr. Seth, I’ll just leave you two. You come down whenever you’re ready.” The twinkle deepened and she winked at Seth. He returned the wink. Morgan looked down at her hands and blushed.

  Bessie put the tray on the bedside table and turned to leave. As she did so, she stopped for a second and looked at the couch with the rumpled quilt and pillow, still dented
where Seth’s head had been. She frowned for a second, then left, closing the door behind her.

  The room seemed too quiet, and Morgan was acutely aware that Seth was making no attempt to leave her side or even to take his arm from around her shoulders. She continued to study her hands.

  Seth put his other hand beneath her chin and turned her head. Without a word, he tipped her head back and gently touched his lips to hers. Morgan felt she had never experienced anything so sweet and gentle as his lips.

  Seth withdrew his lips and looked down at her. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, capturing the brilliance of her long, golden hair. He decided he’d like very much to find out what lay under that billowing nightgown. He smiled at the thought and Morgan opened her eyes to find him smiling.

  “Do you always find me amusing?” she asked in a cold voice. Her body stiffened under his arm.

  Seth removed the arm. “Quite often. But I also find it astonishing that you can hide all that hair away in such a tight little knot.” He lifted his hand to play with a fat curl.

  Morgan’s voice was cold. “May I remind you, Mr. Colter, that our arrangement is a business one. The way I arrange my hair is of no concern to you.”

  Morgan saw his jaw muscles flex as he ground his teeth together. “You are right, madam. Your looks, or lack of them, is of no concern to me.” Morgan winced. Why did people always have to remind her of her plainness?

  “Now if you do not want to be shocked, you had better look the other way.”

  Morgan did not understand his meaning until he threw back the covers. She turned her head, but could not keep her eyes averted. She looked up to see a broad back with a deeply grooved backbone, leading to roundly curving buttocks and firm thighs. The thighs were covered with golden hair. At the sound of Seth’s laughter, she looked up to meet his eyes in the mirror over the dressing table.

  “So! My shy little bride is not so shy when my back is turned.”

  Morgan kept her eyes on his. In what she hoped was a cool voice, she said, “Only curious.”

  Seth roared. He continued laughing as he began to dress. Morgan carefully kept her eyes averted.

  He left, telling Morgan to come down when she was ready, that his family would be anxious to meet her.

  As Morgan dressed, she had time to think. She did not like the way things were going. Already she and Seth had had one quarrel, and they had been married just a few hours. If they were to live together for a full year, they must come to terms. They could not go on this way, with stolen kisses and angry words.

  His three sisters were waiting at the foot of the stairs.

  “Hello. You must be Seth’s wife,” the tallest one called. “This is Jennifer, the youngest, Eleanor, the middle, and I am Austine, the oldest.”

  “Austine and Eleanor are engaged!” Jennifer chirped.

  “Let’s go into the drawing room and get acquainted. Bessie says you two have only known one another for a day and a half!” Austine looked at Morgan questioningly.

  “Yes, that’s true.”

  “Love at first sight! I would never have guessed that Seth could be so romantic,” Eleanor added.

  Jennifer smiled, “We’re so glad it was you and not that Cynthia Ferguson.”

  “Jennifer!” Austine’s anger did not seem real. “What Jennifer means is…”

  “Just what she said,” Eleanor supplied. “You’re our sister now, and we can tell you what we think.”

  Austine seemed suddenly to notice Morgan’s unfashionable, baggy dress. “Did you bring much luggage?”

  Morgan blushed. “No, I… Seth wanted me to buy new clothes before we left for New Mexico.”

  “New Mexico!” Eleanor cried. “I thought he’d stay at home now that he had a wife.” She looked close to tears.

  “Hush, Elly. Seth and Morgan will decide what they want to do. Now we must have time to think about your clothes. Papa will take us to Louisville, and we can buy lots of fabric.”

  “And ribbons and lace.”

  “This is so exciting! Why, Morgan, we’ll make you the most fashionable young lady in the entire West.”

  “Girls! Please allow your mother to meet her new daughter.” Morgan looked to the door to see a tall, slim woman with an abundance of thick, dark blond hair coiled around the back of her head. She was so different from her plump, pink-and-white daughters. In fact, there was something about her that reminded Morgan very much of Seth.

  “Oh, Mama, Seth told her that she was to get new clothes before they left. They are going to New Mexico.” Eleanor said this with a hint of disbelief.

  The girls’ mother smiled at Morgan, and Morgan felt relieved. Here was someone she could talk to—these chattering girls were difficult to comprehend.

  “Morgan, my name is Nora. Let’s go to the morning room so that we may talk.” She ushered Morgan out of the drawing room, down the large entry hallway, and into a small room decorated in green and white. A large window faced the east, and the sun was streaming in. Nora motioned Morgan to be seated.

  “I watched you for a few moments with my daughters. You did not seem to take an active part in their chatter.”

  Morgan immediately liked this woman. She felt she could be honest. “No, I am not used to talk of clothes and lace and romance.”

  Nora did not change her expression. She continued looking at Morgan directly. “Why did you marry my son?” Nora hesitated for only seconds and then continued. “I know that one of you slept on the couch last night, and I also know my son. He does not fall in love at first sight.” She looked steadily at Morgan.

  Morgan decided to tell her the truth.

  “I will tell you. My one goal in life is to live in my childhood home, Trahern House. I am a quiet person. I am uncomfortable around many people, and I plan to live alone there.

  “Two years ago, my mother died. Since I was not of age, I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle. My parents had separated when I was one year old, and my father still lived in New Mexico.”

  Nora’s brows lifted at the mention of New Mexico.

  “A month ago, my uncle told me of my father’s death. I never knew him so I could feel little grief. Two weeks ago his will was read. It was a great shock to me. It seems that everything—the business in Kentucky, the land in Kentucky, the large ranch in New Mexico, and Trahern House—all belonged to him. He left everything to me, but he stated that everything would be mine only if I married and lived with my husband for one year in New Mexico. If I did not fulfill this contract, everything would go to my uncle. As you can see,” her hand swept across her dress, “my uncle did everything he could to keep men from noticing me.”

  Morgan paused and looked carefully at Nora.

  “I went to a ball two nights before my uncle planned to take me out of the country. I heard some women mention that your son had a place in New Mexico. I offered him twenty-five thousand dollars if he would marry me and take me to live with him in New Mexico. He accepted.”

  Nora said simply, “Good.”

  It was too much for Morgan. She rose from the chair and came to stand before Nora, her eyes blazing. “Good? Good that a father would make his own daughter stoop to buying a man’s name, to living with a man she doesn’t even know?”

  Nora waited an entire minute before answering, and her calm encompassed Morgan. “I meant that I was glad you are sensible. You were faced with an impossible situation, and you decided to fight for what you wanted.”

  Nora rose now and walked to the sunlit window, looked out for a second, and then turned to face Morgan. “Let me tell you about my son. My son believes all women are like his sisters. Don’t misunderstand me. I love my daughters. But, as you can see, they are very young and have little else in their heads but dreams. Their father loves this and indulges them. My son does not see women as people.”

  Nora returned to her chair. “So, I say ‘good’ to your story, because my son needs a sensible wife, one he can like as well as love. Seth is a very strong
man, and when you two learn to love one another, you will make an excellent couple.”

  Morgan stared at Nora. Didn’t she understand? “Mrs. Colter—Nora—you do not seem to understand. This is a marriage to fulfill a business contract. I do not intend to love your son.”

  Nora looked at Morgan with what was very close to a smirk, and Morgan realized that she had seen the same expression on Seth’s face. “Do you really believe that you can spend twelve full months alone with a man, and at the end of that time feel nothing for him? Do you really believe that you’ll be able to leave easily and return to your solitary life?”

  “I loved my aunt dearly, and I lived with her for two years, yet I left her.”

  Nora then threw back her head and laughed. “How old are you, Morgan?”

  Morgan tilted her head up and said, “Eighteen.”

  “The love a woman has for another woman is very different from her love for a man.”

  There was an awkward pause, and Nora could see the anger in Morgan’s eyes. “I am sorry. This is not happening as I meant it to. I asked you in here mainly to welcome you to the family, and to tell you that, from what I’ve seen, I like you. You are sensible, and I believe you will be a good wife for Seth.”

  Morgan opened her mouth to protest, but instead let out a sigh of exasperation.

  Nora walked to her, patted her shoulder, and said, “Please allow a mother to believe that her son has found a good partner.”

  Morgan smiled and they walked to the door together. “About the clothes,” Nora said. “There won’t be time to get but a few things made, but my daughters would love to send yards of fabric with you.”

  Morgan knew that Nora was her friend, and she felt good about their talk.

  Morgan spent the day with Seth’s sisters. It wasn’t too difficult to feel at ease with them. Their chatter required little response and no deep thought. Austine and Eleanor talked of their fiancés. Morgan gathered that Austine’s beau was an older man and very sensible, but that Eleanor’s was quite the opposite. Eleanor’s intended was Jackson Brenner, and he was the oldest son of an old, very wealthy family. Austine’s fiancé was James Emerson, a widower with a young child.