Hidden in a Whisper (39 page)

Moving to the back of the room, Reg picked his way through the maze of buzzing belts and humming machinery. He knew very little about power stations, but it was of no concern. Nothing mattered now—nothing but the success of accomplishing what Smith had sent him here to do.

Lifting a trapdoor, Reg gingerly made his way down the ladder. He reached up to his right and felt for the light cord. Finding it, he gave it a yank and light flooded the lower level of the powerhouse. Here the noise of the waterwheel and belts were marginally diminished, but not by much. He glanced around and found to his satisfaction that stacks of linens and silver were securely stored away for future sale. He smiled as he thought of the ingenious plan to sell off the most valuable pieces of Casa Grande. He thought of how he manipulated the inventory and how pleased Smith would be with his share of the money.

Hearing a noise, his smile broadened. The most valuable treasure of all awaited just around the final stack of crates. Rachel Taylor.

“I came to make sure you were all right,” he said softly. She was bound and gagged and could in no way communicate with words, but her eyes flashed anger and fear that made him feel the need to explain.

“You are quite right to be put out with me,” he said, coming to sit beside the small cot where she lay. “I don't suppose you'll believe this, but I've done this for your own good. You have to understand. There is about to be a tragedy, and I don't want you anywhere near harm's way.”

Her eyes widened and she muttered something from beneath the gag. Realizing that no one would ever hear her above the roar of the power station and the waterfalls, Reg pulled the cloth from her mouth and smiled. “Better?”

“I want you to let me go,” she managed to say before a spell of coughing hit her. “Water, please,” she pleaded.

Reg got up quickly and walked to where the Casa Grande goods were stacked. He pulled out one of the crates and searched until he found a small silver sugar bowl. It would have to do, he decided. He went to the far end of the station, to the place where the waterwheel was partially exposed and water splashed over the edges of the paddles. Carefully, so as not to get his arm caught by the wheel, he extended the bowl and collected the water for Rachel. It wasn't exactly cold, having come from the hot springs, but it had cooled considerably as it had blended with other streams that joined to form Morita Falls.

“Here,” he said as he made his way back to her. He helped to lift her to a sitting position and held the bowl to her lips. “I'll bring you something to eat later.”

Rachel drank the entire contents before pulling away to look Reg in the eye. “Why are you doing this to me? I trusted you and thought we were friends.”

Reg felt the sting of her accusation. “I did what I did in order to protect you. You have to understand that. I know what Parker is and why he's done what he has. He sees Ivy as his ticket to wealth and power. He can run Morita and lack for nothing.”

“I don't believe you. Braeden didn't do anything wrong. I'm sure what we saw was all Ivy's doing. She thinks if she can convince her aunt that Braeden has dishonored her, Mrs. Needlemeier will force him to marry her. But that will never happen.”

Reg shook his head and reached his hand up to gently touch Rachel's cheek. “You're wrong. They are already married.”

“What?” Rachel asked, jerking away from his touch. “What are you saying?”

Her voice rang of desperation, and Reginald instantly felt sorry for having grieved her. “I say, I know this comes as a shock. But you have me. I won't allow Parker's actions to further hurt you.”

“They're married?”

“Yes. In fact, they've already taken the train east.”

“I don't believe you,” Rachel said, recoiling against the wall. With her feet tied to the end of the cot and her arms tied behind her back, it was difficult to maneuver, but she was accomplishing the job nevertheless. Reg shrugged. “I'm so sorry to be the one to give you bad news.

I never wanted to see you hurt. I know you loved Parker, but I hope that with this turn of events, you might come in time to love me. I want to take care of you, Rachel. I want to take you away from this hurt and pain you've suffered because of Parker's indiscretion.”

“That was Ivy's doing. I know it was.” She sounded even more desperate, almost pleading.

Reg knew she wanted him to confirm her suspicions and because it caused her such pain, he decided to give her that much. “Yes, it was Ivy's plan. She told me all about it and enlisted my help.”

“You?” Rachel said, shaking her head. “But why would you help her? I thought you were my friend.”

“It was because of our friendship that I agreed to help her,” he said softly. “I wanted to prove to you once and for all that Parker was not what he seemed. He didn't deserve your heart or your trust. Ivy told me she could help prove this to you by setting a scene where Parker would come to her and behave in a less than honorable way. She would get what she wanted, and I would get what I wanted.”

“And what was it you wanted?” Rachel questioned, her expression still betraying her disbelief.

“I wanted you. I want you to love me,” Reginald admitted.

“I can't love you, Reg,” Rachel replied flatly. “I have loved Braeden for so long that I don't know how to love anyone else in that way. I had resigned myself to spend the rest of my life alone, and then he reappeared in my life. I'm sorry, but he has my heart and always will. Now, won't you please let me go? I promise not to tell anyone that you've been keeping me here. I just need to see him.”

Reg leaned back against the beat-up chair on which he sat. He eyed her seriously for several moments and shook his head. “He's not there. I've already told you. They were married yesterday, and Mr. Harvey demanded they pack their things and go. You know his rules. The man was positively livid. Mr. Parker had no choice.”

Rachel blanched and Reg realized he'd finally hit upon a truth she had no doubt of. “Ivy made a big scene yesterday morning. You don't know this, but her aunt is dead. She succumbed to the shock of seeing Ivy and Braeden together.”

“No!” Rachel gasped.

“It's true,” Reg replied. “Ivy showed up at the hotel and announced this. Mr. Smith and Mr. Harvey were both on hand to receive the news and, well … one thing led to another and the truth about the night before came pouring out. Ivy was distraught because of her aunt's death, and Braeden was sympathetic and concerned for her. I suppose no one thought much of the matter until she mentioned the possibility of being with child. That was when Braeden decided they should be married.”

Tears came to Rachel's eyes as she shook her head. “I don't believe you, Reg. Why are you lying to me?”

“Listen,” he said, reaching out to touch her again. She pulled away, but he didn't let it stop him. He wanted to feel the softness of her cheek, the silky curls of her hair. He wanted to breathe in the scent of her perfume. Without warning, he grabbed her and pulled her across the cot and into his arms. “I don't want you hurt,” he murmured against her ear. He tightened his grip as she struggled against him. “I want to take care of you. I love you, Rachel.”

“No,” Rachel said, fighting his hold.

“Shhh,” he whispered. “You must understand. There are things that will happen tonight. Things I can't explain. You must stay here and be safe, and when it is over I will come for you.”

“No! Let me go! I won't go away with you. I won't!” she declared.

Reg frowned, realizing she might not be the grateful, fragile being that he had earlier presumed. He might have to resort to other means in order to get her out of Casa Grande without having to answer a lot of questions or deal with an unpleasant scene.

“I need your cooperation, Rachel. You know about the missing inventory now. But it's only a part of my scheme. If you hadn't found my men hiding the materials, you might not be here now. But since you are, I can better protect you from harm. In the long run, after we're in England and married, you'll understand that my love has kept you safe tonight.”

Rachel became still in his arms. She looked up, shaking her head.

“Reg, you've gone mad. You mustn't think that you can steal me away like this. I won't go willingly, and how will you explain that? No minister will marry us without my permission, and I will never give it. You are a sick man and you need help.”

“I assure you that I am quite sane,” Reg said, thinking how pleasant it would be to kiss her lips. He had nearly convinced himself to do just that but decided against it. No, he would preserve her purity and innocence until they were married. It was only right.

Lowering her back onto the cot, he tossed aside the gag. “I don't suppose this much matters,” he said, looking at the piece of cloth. “The machinery is loud enough to keep your screams from carrying, and if not that, then the waterwheel. Besides, in a few hours I'll be back to take you away and there will be enough commotion that no one will even remember that you're missing.”

“Braeden will remember,” she said, sniffing loudly as tears streamed from her eyes.

“He might remember you, but I doubt Ivy will allow him little more than his memories,” Reg said. He pulled out his watch and got to his feet. “I have to go. There are plans to set in motion.” He smiled down at her. “Don't be afraid, my beautiful Rachel. I'll come back for you.”

He left her there crying. He felt horrible that he could not offer her comfort. She had called him mad, and maybe he was. The lure of money had driven him to do this job. And when it was all said and done, he would have enough money to retire quietly to England and reclaim the family holdings that had been sold to cover his mother's debts. He would spend a quiet life with Rachel, and maybe they would even have children. Little curly-headed children like their mother.

Stepping into the darkness of the night, Reg was nearly knocked over by a powerful gust of wind. The air chilled him to the bone and made him pull his coat tighter. Crossing to the resort, he was nearly startled out of his wits when Tomas called his name.

“Senor Worthington,” the boy said, coming quietly out of the shadows. “I have your money.”

Reg smiled. The boy had been an excellent help in moving the stolen goods and selling them in Santa Fe and elsewhere. “You've done a good job by me, Tomas,” Reginald said as he took the cash. He handed a portion over to the boy and added, “This is your share.” He glanced upward toward the mountains as another gale whipped down and moaned through the trees, chilling them both. “It would probably be best if you slept at home tonight.”

Tomas looked at him with a questioning expression. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then nodded and pocketed the money.

“It has been good to work with you, Tomas. Why don't you come into the kitchen and take what food you would like for your family?”

“Truly, senor?”

“We won't be needing it,” Reg said flatly, slipping the money into his jacket pocket. He looked at the boy and smiled again. “We won't be needing any of it.”

  
TWENTY-SIX
  

REG MADE HIS WAY UPSTAIRS to his room after the revelry of the ball died down. He was confident of his plans and in having had no contact with Braeden Parker since morning. Perhaps this entire matter would be easier than he'd previously thought.

Once inside his room, he pulled out his suitcases and began to pack. There was much to consider and much to remember. Tonight's plans would have to run in perfect order or innocent people would suffer, and while he had no problem in watching the guilty endure such trauma, he would have no part in creating undeserving victims.

He threw his clothes into the cases in a haphazard manner and went to retrieve his toiletry articles. Forcing himself to slow down and breathe deeply, Reg tried to pace his actions. There was no hurry, no need to rush. Everything would come about in its proper time. His superiors would be pleased and proud to have him as an associate, and he, in turn, would be rich.