Gordon watched her go, astonished by her rudeness. “Dave, I really must apologize for Morgan. I’ve never seen her rude to anyone before. She’s really not like that. Actually, she’s a very warm person.”
“That’s all right. She just seems to have taken a dislike to me. Maybe I ought to forgo your invitation to supper.”
“No, please don’t. I owe you something for taking care of Adam. I know it’s not easy to do a full day’s work and keep an eye on a toddler at the same time. By the way, my foreman says you do one hell of a day’s work, and that you know exactly what you’re doing, too.”
“It seems I get along with animals and children a sight better than I do with women.” They laughed together.
“Well, I trust Adam. Anyone he likes is all right with me. Now let’s go wash.”
Morgan began undressing her son. He was dirty and needed a bath, but she didn’t want to wake him to give him one. She washed his face and hands and began to put his nightshirt on him. He frowned once and fluttered his eyelids when she jerked his arm too sharply.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” She kissed his cheek and finished dressing him more gently. Damn him! Why did he have to come back? Now that he’s seen Adam, he’ll probably never give me a divorce. I’ll never be able to lead my own life.
Maybe he wanted the money, the money she offered him to marry her. But, somehow, she didn’t think that was it.
She tucked Adam into his bed, brushing the hair from his forehead, and kissed him. She sat a minute, looking at her sleeping son. He was always such a whirlwind of activity that it was pleasant to see him quiet.
She went to her own room to dress for dinner. She chose a filmy sea-green dress, a gift from Theron. She had chosen it to match the jade treasures in her bedroom. She began to pin up her hair and then, on second thought, left it down, adding a ribbon that matched the dress. Just the way Gordon likes it, she thought, as she studied her reflection. And Seth—No! She wouldn’t think that way.
Tonight was Gordon’s night. She would be especially nice to Gordon. She would forget Seth, forget his laughing eyes, forget his touch. Yes, tonight would be the beginning of a new relationship with Gordon, and Seth Colter would be out of her life for good.
She started down the stairs. At least tonight she wouldn’t be troubled by Seth. She could relax, alone with Gordon.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Gordon. I had to get Adam to bed. He was so tired after being with that awful Mr. Blake.”
“Morgan!” Gordon’s tone was sharp. “We have a guest.” His eyes sent warning.
Seth’s large form was visible now, inside the dining room. His eyes were teasing. His smile was slight but his dimples were deep, betraying extreme amusement. Amusement at her embarrassment!
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Colter, if your son was so disturbed by my presence.”
“I’m sure Morgan didn’t mean that, Dave.” He looked to Morgan for support. “It’s just that…”
“Would you mind if we ate now? I am starved.” Morgan’s voice was honey-sweet and she looked at Gordon lovingly.
Gordon frowned. This wasn’t Morgan at all. What was the matter with her?
She entered the dining room on Gordon’s arm, turning her back slightly on Seth.
“I’m sorry we’re still in our work clothes, but we got back too late to change.”
“Mrs. Colter would put us to shame, no matter what we wore.” Seth smiled at Morgan’s look of fury.
“Yes, she would. I don’t believe I’ve seen that dress before. Is it new?”
She looked a challenge at Seth. “No. My former employer, Theron Shaw, gave it to me.”
Seth offered no response. He sipped his wine and smiled into Morgan’s eyes.
So that’s how it was: He didn’t care at all. Well, she didn’t care either.
They sat quietly as Martin served dinner.
“Tell us about yourself, Dave. You said you’d been in the West for some time.”
“Yes, Mr. Blake, do tell us about your life. You must have done a great many very interesting things.” Her voice was close to a sneer.
Gordon was embarrassed. She was really carrying her dislike too far. He would talk to her after dinner. He didn’t like having a guest mistreated.
Morgan ignored the looks she was getting from Gordon.
“There’s not much to tell, really. For the last two and a half years, I’ve been working in the gold fields in California.”
“The gold fields! I’ve lost several men to gold fever. I considered going myself, at one time.”
“It’s not a pleasant way to live. Dirty, and the work’s almost unbearable at times.”
“You seemed to have enjoyed it. You stayed for over two years. That’s a long time; a lot of things can happen in two years.” She looked at Gordon affectionately.
“Yes, whole lives can be created in that amount of time.”
She knew he meant Adam. He had not taken her meaning. “People can start new lives, if old ones are finished.”
Seth merely smiled.
“Well, this conversation is becoming too philosophical for my poor Indian brain.”
“Indian?”
“There now, I’ve told the house secret. My mother is a Comanche. But I know little about the Indian way of life. My mother left me when I was a baby and returned to her people.”
Morgan looked up at Gordon, her eyes gentle. “But there are times when you make a very convincing Indian, Sky Eyes.” Her voice was low, caressing.
Gordon was puzzled. You would have thought they were sharing a lover’s joke. He laughed, but he was confused.
Morgan turned to Seth. He was smiling placidly, as if he hadn’t even noticed.
Seth was now listening to Gordon, and Morgan was able to look at Seth, unobserved. His broad shoulders and thick chest were clothed in rough cottons. He was not clumsy at all, sitting amidst the silver and porcelain. When one large hand carried a fragile crystal glass to his lips, she wondered at the ease with which he controlled his strength so the glass didn’t break. His shirt was open at the throat and showed blond curling hair on his chest. She remembered the color of his skin, a great expanse of dark honey and then lighter below his waist. His thighs were so muscular. She even remembered his toes. She shuddered.
“Morgan, are you cold?”
“No, not at all.” She tried to make her voice light. At all costs, she must avoid Seth’s eyes.
“What is this dessert?” Seth asked.
Gordon turned to Morgan for the answer. “Babas au rhum,” she murmured.
“Ah, yes, now I remember.”
“Are you familiar with French cuisine, Dave?”
“Yes, somewhat. I had a brief encounter with the food once. I grew quite attached to it.”
“Morgan plans all the menus and often cooks a lot of the food. You should taste her breakfasts—they are really delicious.”
“I should love to share Mrs. Colter’s breakfast.” He looked at her across the top of a delicate porcelain cup. His eyes dropped from her face to her breasts.
Morgan stopped her hand midway before it flew to cover herself. He had no right to look at her like that! It was as if she were completely naked. She looked to Gordon for defense from the animal across from her. But he was busy with his dessert and had seen none of their exchange.
The meal was finally at an end, and Morgan realized her body ached from tension. She wanted to relax now, to be alone.
“Would you care for brandy and a cigar, Dave?”
“Yes, I would.”
“Morgan, would you like to join us?”
“No. I think I’ll have some tea in the courtyard. It’s cooler outside. If you would bring it, Martin?”
“Morgan’s right, it’s a beautiful night.”
“Then maybe Mrs. Colter would allow us to join her.”
“Morgan, would you mind?”
There was no acceptable excuse. So, silently, the three of them entered the courtyard. There wa
s no moon, and they could hardly see one another.
Gordon broke the silence. “The skies here are so clear, the stars so bright. If I liked nothing else about New Mexico, I’d love the night sky.”
“You speak with some knowledge.”
Morgan jumped. Seth’s voice was near—too near. She could almost feel his breath on her.
“Have you spent much time in the East?”
“Quite a bit, unfortunately. My father sent me to Harvard.”
“Really? You were probably the first Indian to graduate from Harvard!”
“I’m sure I’m the only one, but since they never knew about my mother, it’s not something I can publicize.”
Seth laughed, quiet and low, a laugh Morgan remembered well.
“I’m sure the people in the East feel the same about Indians as people do here.”
“Yes. Every little man needs someone to hate. Dave, would you keep Morgan company for a few minutes? I’d like to go and check on Adam.”
“I’ll go, Gordon. There’s no need—”
“I want to. After all, I didn’t get to see him all day. Dave stole the boy completely away from me.”
She watched Gordon go, seeing only his outline in the darkness. She grabbed frantically for words. “The first time we saw Gordon, he was dressed as an Indian. I was scared to death of him, but Adam wasn’t. He liked him right away. Sometimes he’d rather go to Gordon than to me.” Her voice was fast, high-pitched. She made herself stop talking and took a sip of tea. Why doesn’t he say something? He came here to punish me. Now why doesn’t he get it over with?
“He’s a fine boy, Mrs. Colter.”
Mrs. Colter! Why did he keep up the pretense when they were alone?
“I believe Gordon will return in a few minutes and I need to get up early in the morning. We’re going after some mustangs tomorrow. So, if you’ll excuse me… The dinner was delicious and the company delightful. Goodnight, Mrs. Colter.”
Morgan stood alone, speechless, and watched Seth go. How very cool of him. Goodnight, Mrs. Colter, indeed!
What did he want here? Why had he come back? Why was he such a coward that he couldn’t even come out and tell her what he wanted? She had never known another person so unfeeling.
She put aside her tea cup and left the courtyard for her bedroom. She began to undress. She’d fight Seth with all her strength, she vowed, slipping under the covers.
The knock started her and her heart began to pound. “Come in.” Her voice had a slight quiver in it. When she saw Gordon, she quieted.
“Are you all right, Morgan? When I got to the courtyard, you were both gone.”
“I’m fine, Gordon.” She looked away. Why couldn’t her heart pound at the sight of Gordon? Why?
“He upset you, didn’t he?” Gordon’s voice held a tinge of anger. “Did he say something to you while I was gone?”
“No. He was a perfect gentleman.”
Gordon studied her eyes for a moment and then relaxed. “Good. I like Dave. He’s experienced and the men like him.
“Today a fight broke out between a couple of the men. Tim came to tell Boyd and me, but before we got there, Dave not only had stopped the fight but had the men laughing as well. Boyd never got the hands’ respect like that. And Adam adores him.”
“Please, Gordon, I’m tired of hearing about this man’s virtues.” Gordon was staring at her. He’d guess more than she wanted him to know if she weren’t careful. “I’m sorry. I’m glad you and Adam like him. I just need a little more time before I trust someone completely.”
Gordon smiled at her. “You can have all the time you want.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I guess I should be glad you dislike him. I’ve always been afraid that if Seth Colter walked through the door, you’d fall right into his arms. It’s good to see you dislike a man just because he resembles Seth. Goodnight.”
Seth found it difficult to sleep. The few moments alone with Morgan in the dark garden had been hell. He had had to leave. He couldn’t have stayed there another minute without taking her in his arms.
She was the same insecure little Morgan he’d met years before, but there was also a different air about her now. She looked people in the eye. She wasn’t afraid of her own body. She didn’t hide under yards of fabric. She was a woman now and, if possible, even more exciting than before.
Even so, it was not Morgan’s lovely face that floated before Seth as, at last, he fell asleep. The face was much smaller, round, and distinctly dimpled.
Morgan was groggy when she heard the knock. She couldn’t seem to open her eyes, and didn’t really want to. She heard Adam’s squeal in the hall, and then the door opened.
“Horse!” Her son’s demands were unmistakable. She turned over and gradually focused on Gordon and Adam.
“I’ll take you on a horse in a minute.”
Morgan frowned. “He’s never going to learn to talk if no one ever makes him ask for what he wants.”
“You’re certainly in a bad mood this morning.”
“I am not. I just didn’t sleep well.” She started to get out of bed.
“You just stay there. I’ll take care of Adam and send Carol up with a breakfast tray.”
“Adam needs a bath and…”
“He’ll just get dirty again around the horses. Morgan! Get back in bed or I’ll put Adam in there with you.”
Morgan smiled. “You win. No one needs to be tortured like that.”
“Good. Now go back to sleep and Carol will be up in a couple of hours.”
Morgan tried to sleep, but after a few minutes, she knew it was a useless effort. She got out of bed and hastily donned her riding habit. Gordon and Adam were just leaving as she entered the room.
“Going riding, Morgan?”
“Why else would I wear a riding habit?” She continued toward the dining room, then stopped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. Yes, I thought I’d take lunch and a book, and go to the stream.”
“That sounds like a good idea. Maybe you’d feel better if you were outside for a while.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the way I feel! I just—” She closed her mouth. Nothing came out of it right any more.
“I want to take Adam with me again today. That is, if he’ll stay with me and not go to Dave.”
She wanted to scream. Her life was filled with the doings of Seth Colter. He was already beginning to control Adam, and Gordon liked him so much. She kept her mouth closed. No matter what she said, it would be wrong. Someone would defend Seth.
She turned to Martin. “Would you please have Roselle prepare a lunch in a basket for me?”
She kissed Adam goodbye, promising him a good scrubbing when he returned, and saw them out the door. She hurriedly ate breakfast and got her book, quilt, and the picnic basket. As usual, Roselle had packed enough for several people.
The air cleared her head and made her feel better. At the stream, she spread the quilt under the cottonwoods and settled down to read the rest of Jane Eyre. It was quiet, with only the sounds of the birds, the locusts, and the stream. She wasn’t aware of it when she slept.
Gordon turned to see Dave riding toward him. Adam was slumped against the big man, his head down. Gordon sighed and wondered if he’d ever get used to the boy’s preference for Dave.
“Gordon, I think you’d better take Adam back to his mother. It looks like two days in the saddle in a row are too much for him.”
“Pull that rope a little tighter or you’ll lose him. I can’t go right now; I need to stay here. I don’t think Morgan’s at the house, but I guess Carol can take care of him. Wait a minute! Morgan should be at the stream. Why don’t you take Adam and leave him with her? It’s closer.”
Gordon gave him directions. He hoped that, if Morgan got to know Dave better, she’d like him.
Seth stopped on top of the ridge and looked down at his wife. Her head rested on one arm and the other was sprawled, palm up, across an open book. How could she possibly be anyone??
?s mother? She looked only about six years old herself.
Carefully, Seth dismounted and picked Adam up. He secured his horse and walked quietly toward Morgan. He put Adam on the quilt on one side of his mother and then sat down on the other side. Adam turned onto his stomach. Just like his mother, Seth thought.
Seth wanted to stretch out beside her, take her in his arms. But he’d lost that privilege. He smiled at Adam. At least his son harbored no ill will toward him.
Seth tentatively touched a lock of golden hair, then stopped as he realized her eyes were open and staring at him. There was hostility in them, and wariness. His heart ached. How could he have caused such a look?
“I brought Adam.” He nodded to the sleeping child on her other side. “He was too tired from yesterday to last today. Gordon told me where you were. I hope you don’t mind my disturbing your peace.”
Adam stirred. He rubbed his eyes and then went to his mother. She sat cross-legged, now, staring at Seth. Adam sat ungracefully in her lap. He looked up at Seth and smiled. “Da da.”
Morgan was startled.
“He’s probably trying to say ‘Dave.’”
Morgan looked at Seth in total distrust, knowing he’d probably been teaching Adam to say “Daddy.”
“Thank you for bringing him to me.” She looked away, her heart pounding.
“Eat!” Adam saw the picnic basket. “Chi’en.”
Morgan laughed. “I believe that’s supposed to mean chicken. He learns new words every day, but sometimes it’s not easy to understand them.” She watched as Adam dug into the basket. He squealed when he found that he wanted. With great pride he displayed a chicken wing, a trophy.
Morgan avoided Seth’s eyes. “Most children’s first words are ‘Mama’ and ‘no,’ but Adam’s first word was ‘eat’ In fact, I don’t believe he’s ever learned to say ‘no.’ ”
Finally she turned to him. His eyes were gentle. She felt her throat tighten. He turned toward Adam.
“I can’t imagine a better word than ‘eat.’ ”