Midnight Flame (41 page)

The heat of summer gave way to a pleasant chill in the air as the autumn breeze swept over the countryside, awash with indigo-blue and scarlet wildflowers. Life at the Little L had picked up its pace since Laurel took over. Because the men were being paid on a regular basis and needed repairs had been made on the barn and the outbuildings, everyone was in a much better mood with the exception of Lavinia. Laurel couldn’t fathom what was wrong with her. She realized Lavinia had been quite upset over Arthur’s will and had grudgingly started packing for the move to heaven only knew where, but there was more to her disquiet than that. Laurel couldn’t put her finger on what was bothering her, but she didn’t have time to analyze Lavinia. The ranch required most of her energy.

Each day she woke early and dressed either in her blue denim pants or a split riding skirt to comb the range with Jim Castille, looking for strays. She had thought Lavinia would have tagged along, but she hadn’t. Laurel discovered that she enjoyed Jim’s companionship, finding him to be quite well educated. He told her that his mother had been a schoolteacher from Kentucky who had come to Texas on a visit to her priest brother. While in Texas, she had fallen in love with Jim’s father, a Mexican from an old and noble house, but all had been lost after Texas had gained independence from Mexico. His father, unable to bear the strain of being poor and without his lands, had committed suicide. His mother had died soon afterward, and Jim had become a young drifter until he found work at the Little L. However, his happiness had ended when someone planted evidence that he had stolen from Arthur Delaney.

By the bitter tone in his voice, Laurel assumed he was referring to Seth. “Do you think Seth had something to do with the whole incident?” she asked him.

“Yes, ma’am, I do,” came the quick response. Jim reined in his horse and stared at Laurel. “Seth never liked me. He was always trying to start trouble for me. I think he had a hankering for Lavinia, and this was why he wanted me off the ranch.”

“I’m certain you’re wrong. Seth is Lavinia’s brother.” Laurel looked as shocked as she felt by such frankness from Jim.

“Seth is her stepbrother, and if he married Lavinia, the Little L would have been all his. You see, ma’am, Lavinia and I … Well, we loved each other, and Seth couldn’t stand the idea that she loved a half-breed. He never loved her for herself, mind you, only for the ranch and Arthur’s money. Yeah, I think he framed me. Seth stole that money, and one day I’ll see that he pays me back.”

Lavinia wondered if Jim spoke the truth. Could Seth be as deceptive as Jim was leading her to believe? Was that why she had never completely trusted him when he came to Louisiana? She knew Seth had accumulated a large amount of debts. Was this the main reason he had wanted her to return to Texas with him? Did he see her as some sort of salvation for his ailing bank account and want to marry her only for her money? Though she had known Jim for a short time, she trusted him more than she could ever trust Seth. Somehow she would learn the truth. She wasn’t going to be such an easy mark, as Seth would soon discover.

“Has Seth spoken to you about your return, Jim?”

Jim nodded. A grin split his lips. “Seth’s not too happy to see me. He told me he’d fire me off the Little L if he could, but since he won’t be here much longer, he knows he can’t do anything. And he also knows that I know he framed me.”

Laurel said nothing else as she pondered all Jim had told her. By the end of the day they had found a number of unmarked strays, which the hands branded with the Little L mark. When she returned to the house, she was dusty and dirty. Her hair, which Gincie had neatly coiled at the nape of her neck that morning, lay in long curls down her back. The soft cream-colored blouse tucked into her tan riding skirt was smudged as were her cheeks. She looked a sight but felt exhilarated by the day’s activities. A part of her would definitely be sad when the day came to leave the Little L.

Entering the house, she heard voices coming from the parlor, one clearly the booming tones of Carson Turner. Laurel turned a corner and nearly bumped into Lavinia. In a flamboyant peach-colored dress, cut indecently low and edged around the neckline and hem with white daisies, Lavinia was strikingly beautiful. Her eyes were alight with mischief, and she almost purred when she greeted Laurel.

“We have guests,” Lavinia told her.

“Who? Is Carson here?” Laurel began to move forward, but Lavinia stopped her.

“Yes, and he brought the new owner with him.”

“For someone who has been moping around the house for the last few weeks with such a long face, you seem quite pleased. I thought you hated the thought of leaving the ranch.”

“I do. But I might not have to leave now. Come into the parlor and meet the man. He’s quite handsome, Laurel.”

“I have to change first.”

“No, come now.”

“Lavinia…” Laurel protested, but Lavinia, with a Cheshire cat grin on her face, practically dragged her into the parlor. Carson Turner sat facing her and rose immediately, inclining his head to the man who sat in the high-backed tufted chair facing away from her. Seth stood at the fireplace, a none-too-pleased expression on his face. He would have gone to her at her sudden and bedraggled appearance in the parlor, but the man in the chair rose and blocked his way.

The fading light from outside lent the room a misty quality. Laurel was about to suggest that the lamp be lighted as her gaze focused on the man who slowly turned toward her.

Her pulse raced, then almost died, slowing to an imperceptible beat. A weakness seized her, and she would have fallen if Lavinia’s hand hadn’t tightened on her elbow. She felt barely able to speak and couldn’t mouth the name that stuck to her tongue like resin.

“Hello, Laurel. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you again.”

“It’s Tony, Laurel. Don’t you have anything to say?” Lavinia prodded.

Tony! Of course, I know it’s Tony, you silly dolt! she screamed inside her brain. Who else but Tony could reduce her to a quivering mass of jelly? Who other than Tony had eyes that impaled her and drew her to him? She couldn’t think or move at the moment. If Lavinia hadn’t pushed her onto the couch, she would probably have stayed in one spot like a stone statue.

This position was worse than standing. Tony towered over her, but she couldn’t seem able to do anything but stare open-mouthed at him. Seth came and sat next to her, taking her hand in his. Laurel was too shocked to notice that Tony saw this proprietary gesture and the emerald and diamond ring sparkling on her finger.

Seth glared at Tony. “Laurel’s had a shock. You should have given us warning that you were coming, Duvalier. God, you should have told us you were the new owner.” He shot an equally baleful glance to Carson. “You knew all the time.”

“I admit I did,” Carson intoned and took his seat again.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Laurel asked, surprising herself with her own question.

Tony fielded that question. “Arthur didn’t want anyone but Carson to know the circumstances of the sale. I’m really sorry you’re so shocked, Laurel, but maybe you deserve to be shocked.”

“What a cruel thing to say to me!” She shoved Seth’s hand away and rose from the sofa. Green fire flared in her eyes. “I don’t deserve such treatment from you. Ever since the day I’ve met you, you’ve manipulated me, and you know what I mean. Just don’t think you’re going to play your dirty tricks on me again, Tony. I won’t allow it. I absolutely will not stand for your manipulations and deceptions again. I won’t stay another minute in this house with you.”

“You have to, Laurel. The will says you must be at my beck and call, give me lessons in ranching—”

“I don’t give a fig about the will!” she shot back and prepared to leave the room, but Tony grabbed her arm.

“Then I won’t buy the ranch. The deal isn’t final yet.”

“Don’t buy it. I don’t care.”

“Who else will buy it? Arthur asked me if I’d buy it to help him out, seeing that he was your relative and knowing that you’d wish the profits to go to Lavinia and Seth. I know just how much this ranch owes, and I know who owes it.” His eyes momentarily traveled to Seth, then back to Laurel. “The Little L has a bad reputation among cattlemen. The livestock needs improving in the bloodlines. I intend to breed the Little L’s cattle with my Brahmans. This type of crossbreeding has proved quite profitable along the Texas coast. There’s quite a bit of money to be made. Now, if the sale isn’t completed, you’ve got yourself an unproductive ranch here. The Northern markets won’t buy your cattle any longer, but they will if I take over. Think about it, and you’ll admit I’m right.”

Tony’s lips were inches from hers. She longed to kiss him, to throw her arms around him, but nothing would be gained by such a display. She had thought she had forgotten him, but she hadn’t been able to think about him as much because she had been busy with the ranch. She knew, however, that he meant everything he said. He wouldn’t buy the ranch, and no one else would either. The Little L was no longer held in high esteem by businessmen, but under Tony’s guidance and knowledge, the ranch would once more prosper. That was the one thing she couldn’t stand about Tony. He was always right. She had to help Lavinia and Seth. Arthur had appointed her as head of the ranch, knowing that she had their interests at heart. She couldn’t disappoint her father now.

Pulling away from him, she said, “You’ve made your point. Will Simone be joining you?” She sounded shrewish and hostile to her own ears.

Dark clouds seemed to gather in Tony’s eyes. Had the very mention of his love upset him? The thought crossed her mind that he must love Simone very much. “I’m tired. Can you show me to my room?” he asked abruptly.

“I will,” Lavinia chimed in and possessively took Tony’s arm to lead the way. Her auburn head tilted up, and her eyes peered into Tony’s. “We’re going to become very good friends, I think.”

“Lavinia’s on the prowl again,” Seth noted.

“Be quiet,” Laurel ground out and sank onto the sofa, holding her suddenly aching head in her hands.

Carson patted her gently on the back. “I wanted to tell you, but Arthur made me promise not to say anything.”

“I don’t know why he did this to me, but I can’t live here with my soon-to-be ex-husband.”

Carson cleared his throat and lifted her chin. “I don’t know how to say this, Laurel, but Tony and you are still legally married and will be for some time. He never filed for divorce.”

~ ~ ~

“Miss Laurel, you can’t stay in Mr. Tony’s room lookin’ like this. You ain’t bathed yet. You look like somethin’ the cat dragged in while Miss Lavinia is all prettied up. What will Mr. Tony think?”

“I don’t give a damn what Tony thinks, and stop harping on how I look. A little dust never hurt anyone.”

“Hmph! I remember a time you cared about wearin’ nice dresses. This ranch has changed you.”

“Get out, Gincie!” Laurel slammed the door of Tony’s room and paced restlessly. The faint glow of evening dimly silhouetted the furnishings. A large four-poster bed, covered with a colorful patchwork quilt, stood against a wall, a braided rug on the floor beside it. At one point she nearly tripped during her frantic pacing and, in a rage, kicked it away with the toe of her boot. Catching a quick view of herself in the mirror, bedraggled looking and dirty, she cursed at realizing that Gincie was right. She looked terrible. What a study in contrasts she was from Lavinia in her frilly, pressed gown. She was dressed like a dirty urchin.

Unconsciously Laurel rubbed at her dirt-streaked face with her fingers before finally settling down and sitting in a rocker near the window. Her gaze strayed to the mountains, hoping to find peace in their majesty, but all she could do was impatiently tap her foot and grit her teeth and talk to herself.

“How dare that arrogant bastard not file for a divorce. He told me before I left Petit Coteau he’d take care of all the arrangements. Like hell he did! I should never have believed him. He’s lied to me since the day I met him. But I’ll find out the truth even if I have to sit here all night and wait for him and Lavinia to come back. Ooooh!” She folded her arms in a huff.

Earlier in the parlor Seth had been quite disturbed by the news that Tony hadn’t filed for divorce. After Carson left for home, Seth had been ready to run upstairs and bring Tony to task. Laurel had stopped him, insisting that Tony was her problem. She hadn’t agreed to marry Seth yet. His eyes had turned a dark shade of blue when she told him this. If he had given her any hint of trouble, she would have smacked him and thrown his ring in his face. As she headed up the stairs to Tony’s room, he had said nothing.

Gincie had met her on the landing to tell her that Lavinia and Tony had sneaked down the backstairs for an evening buggy ride. This news had only served to fan Laurel’s anger higher. She wasn’t certain if she was more angry with Lavinia for spiriting Tony away, or with Tony for leaving without speaking to her about the divorce.

Now as she rocked back and forth in the chair, a sense of rivalry with Lavinia surfaced. Why had Lavinia and Tony gone off together? Did Tony think he could reenter her life, still her husband, and carry on with Lavinia? He was a notorious womanizer, as she well knew. However, to think of Simone at Petit Coteau, swelling with child and believing herself secure in Tony’s love while he gallivanted around the ranch with Lavinia, gave Laurel a great deal of perverted pleasure. But she was also wary. Tony had professed to hate Lavinia. Why was he now suddenly taking an evening buggy ride with her?