Rio (15 page)

What was she to tell him? With her heart beating hard, she marched into his outer office and faced the pimply faced clerk. “I’m here to see Edwin, I mean, Senator Forester.”

Elmer gave her a piercing stare. “I’ll see if he is accepting visitors, Miss Sanchez.” The young man disappeared into the inner office and then returned. “The senator says he will see you now.”

She followed the clerk into the office and Edwin looked up from his paperwork. “Elmer, you may go to lunch early.”

Elmer seemed reluctant to leave. “Are you sure, sir?”

“Go to lunch!” the senator thundered.

“Yes, sir, but don’t forget that important meeting you
have this afternoon.” Elmer scurried away like a frightened mouse.

Edwin stood up, looking at her coldly. “May I offer you a chair, my dear?”

She took it, determined, but her throat went dry. She had finally decided what she was going to do and it went against everything she had always dreamed of. “Edwin, I’m sorry about last night.”

He sat back in his leather chair, looking at her with an icy gaze. “I sat there for three hours, watching my big bouquet of pink roses wilt, waiting and wondering if something terrible had happened to you.”

Should she lie? She wasn’t good at it. “I—I was detained.”

He steepled his fingers and looked at her. “I drove out to the Lessup ranch and they told me you had left in plenty of time to meet me.”

Oh dear, Fern had forgotten to tell her that. “Edwin, I’m really sorry, but—”

“And then I talked to a man on the street who had seen a pretty dark-haired girl wearing a turquoise dress, and driving a buggy, heading away from downtown.”

“What do you want me to say?” She stared at her hands folded in her lap.

“I have never been so humiliated.” He took out a small velvet box, opened it, and flung the diamond necklace across the desk where it slid and landed on the floor at her feet. She looked down. It sparkled in the sunlight. “I had bought you this expensive bauble and was planning on asking you to marry me last night.”

“I know. I’m sorry I disappointed you.”

“Is that all you’ve got to say? To keep telling me you’re sorry?” His voice rose. “Turquoise, I’ve been a great womanizer. That’s no secret. And finally when I’m ready to give
my heart to the woman I have fallen madly in love with, she doesn’t bother to show up.”

She chewed her lip, not wanting to say “I’m sorry” yet again.

“Of course.” He lowered his voice and smiled at her. “I know you are so much younger than I am, and maybe only a silly girl, not yet mature enough for marriage, but I would be willing to forgive and forget—”

“Edwin, I’m so sorry, but I’ve decided I can’t marry you.” She leaned forward, pleading for understanding with her eyes. Gazing into his, she saw the immense love there and was truly saddened that she had caused him pain.

He leaned back in his chair and sighed. “So what has happened that brought about this great change from yesterday noon to today?”

She couldn’t tell him about searing-hot love under crimson oleander bushes or the fact that she no longer cared about respectability and gossip about her heritage. “I—I just decided that we were wrong for each other, that’s all.”

“Wrong for each other?” He almost seemed to explode. “Do you realize in your silly foolishness what you are walking away from? I am a very rich and powerful man who can buy you anything you want. You’ll have travel, servants, jewels by the bucketful, a mansion, maybe even the governor’s mansion. It might not stop there. Can you imagine yourself on my arm as we attend a cotillion in Washington when I become a United States senator? Maybe I might even aim higher than that. A thousand women would answer yes if I proposed, and why in the hell only you obsess me, I’ll never know! Only you seem to complete me!”

She listened to his harangue and couldn’t be cross with him. Instead she felt deep pity for him. “Yesterday, all that was important to me. Today, it doesn’t seem to matter.”

He stood up and paced, stopping to look down at her.
“It’s your guardian, right?You dread facing him and telling him you want to wed a bitter enemy. I would face him for you gladly, if you would only be mine.”

She shook her head and looked away. “No, I think I have the courage to face the Durangos, but—”

“Then in God’s name, what is it?”

She paused, unsure how to tell him without hurting him badly.

“There’s another man.” He paused before her and glared down at her. “Yes, that’s it. You’ve found someone with more money and power and trinkets than I have. Who in hell can offer you more than Senator Edwin Forester?”

She shook her head and looked at the floor. The valuable diamond necklace reflected the light. Last night had probably been only a one-night fling for Rio Kelly and tonight, he might be back in the arms of some sultry girl from the cantina. “I’m so sorry I’ve hurt you, Edwin. I’ll be returning to the Triple D this afternoon.”

He paused, dropped to one knee, and tried to take her hand, almost pleading. “Turquoise, my darling, give me one more chance. I will shower you with so much attention and love and gifts that you could not possibly refuse me.”

She pulled away from his moist, soft hand. “I’m really sorry, Edwin, but no. I’ve changed somehow, and my priorities have changed. That’s all I can tell you. I must go now, and you have a meeting to attend.”

“To hell with the meeting!” he swore and stood up. She thought she saw just a hint of madness in his eyes. Edwin Forester had always gotten everything he wanted and he could not, would not, accept the fact that he could not have her. She was suddenly a little frightened of him.

She stood up and he tried to take her in his arms, but she pulled away from him. “Your mother will probably be relieved. I could tell she saw me as a threat to her plans.”

“To hell with her, too,” he growled. “If she offends you, I could put her in a nursing home without a second thought.”

“Edwin!” She was genuinely shocked at his ruthlessness. She had underestimated this man; there was nothing he would not do to get what he wanted.

“Oh, don’t act so shocked. I would do anything for you, anything to possess you. I did not really live until I met you and I cannot, will not live, without you.”

“You are saying that out of hurt and anger,” she reproached him gently. “After all, you’ve only known me a little while.”

He shook his head, tears in his eyes. “Turquoise, my darling, I’m begging you. Don’t leave me.”

“I’m sorry, Edwin, I just don’t love you.”

Now his expression turned threatening. “I want you to think this over before you refuse me. I always get what I want and I want you for my wife.”

“Not this time, Edwin. I’m sorry if I hurt you. I must be going now.” She was becoming a little alarmed at his rage. She hurried out the door and down the hall, listening to the mixed curses and pleadings that echoed after her.

Edwin reached over to pick up the priceless necklace off the floor and slammed it against the wall before he flopped back down in his chair and stared at the photo of his illustrious grandfather at the convention when Texas became a nation.

It was unthinkable that any woman, especially one who was part Mexican, would spurn anyone as important as Edwin Forester. And it was ironic that after all the women he had seduced, the one he loved, he could not have. What was the old Texas saying? What goes around comes around and …

There had to be a man involved. He gritted his teeth in
rage. Yes, that was it, some man with more money and power than even Edwin Forester. Last night, she had rendezvoused with some lover, but who? The thought of her lying naked in another man’s arms made him clench his fists and want to kill this stranger. He wished his father were here now to give him advice, but Father had been killed in a duel more than twenty years ago. The fine dueling pistols still resided in the bottom drawer of Edwin’s desk.

He didn’t know how much time had passed, but finally he heard Elmer moving around in the outer office and yelled at him, “Elmer, get in here!”

“Yes, sir!” The pimply faced clerk dashed in, breathless.

“I’m not going to make that business meeting—”

“But, sir—” Elmer protested.

“Damn it, don’t argue with me. I’ve got something more important to do.”

With that, he stood up and strode out of his office. Yes, there had to be another man and Edwin was not a good loser. If that man were dead or bribed to leave the state, the silly young girl would soon forget him and return to Edwin.

“I will have her yet,” he vowed to himself as he stormed out of the capitol and to his waiting buggy. “First I must track down this man and deal with him. I will possess Turquoise body and soul, no matter what it takes!”

Leaving Silver Slippers in the good care of her friend Fern, Turquoise loaded onto the train with the children and returned to the Triple D ranch. She was determined to put the happenings in Austin behind her. However, on the hot June nights, she found herself sleepless, staring out the window and when she did sleep, she relived that passionate night in Rio’s arms and woke up trembling with a sheen of perspiration on her skin.

One morning at breakfast, Trace looked at her and his brow furrowed. “I’ve been meanin’to ask what’s wrong with you.You’ve been mopin’ around ever since you got back from Austin.”

Was it that apparent? “Nothing. It’s just hot and school’s out, so there’s nothing much to do.”

“Your friend Fern is gettin’ married in August. I reckon you’re excited about that.”

She nodded. “I’m glad for her. I still need to pick out the fabric for my dress for the wedding.”

Trace sipped his coffee and winked at her. “You wouldn’t be a little sad that you don’t have a fella of your own?”

“Of course not,” she snapped and tried not to remember Rio’s kisses.

“I kinda thought you might be a little sweet on that blacksmith who worked for me for a couple of weeks.”

“Him? Why, I don’t even remember his name.” She looked at her plate to avoid Trace’s piercing gaze.

“Uh-huh.” He nodded knowingly. “You know, he kinda hinted he’d like to court you, but he admitted he didn’t have much to offer.”

Much to offer. His kisses seemed to burn her lips again. Passion and love like that were worth more than gold and mansions, but she had realized that too late.

Trace leaned back in his chair. “Didn’t see him while you were in Austin?”

She felt the blood rush to her face. “No. I mean, maybe I saw him in the market or something.”

“You don’t lie very well.” Trace laughed and stood up. “I wouldn’t mind havin’ him in the family. He’s a solid, honest hombre and he evidently is very smitten with you.”

“No.” She shook her head and looked away. She didn’t want her guardian guessing any more than he already knew. “I don’t think it could work out.”

“Well, that’s a shame.” He reached for his hat and turned to go outside. “At least Cimarron and the kids will be back at the end of the month and maybe you two can do some shopping or plan your dresses for the wedding. Remember, we’ll all go into Austin to meet her train. She’ll probably have gifts for everyone, so that’s something for you to look forward to.” He left the dining room.

Turquoise stared after him. Had her moodiness been so apparent? She must do a better job of covering up and forget about Rio. She left the table and went to find Juanita. She was going to let the girl start helping teach in their little school in September and she needed to work with her.

A week passed and then another. One morning in
mid-June she got a letter from Fern and read it with excitement as she sat down to dinner.

“Well,” Trace said, “that’s the first time I’ve seen you smile in ages. What’s up?”

“Oh, it’s Fern. She wants me to come back to Austin to help her with wedding plans.”

“You want to go?” He signaled for old Maria to serve the steak and potatoes.

“Of course. It will be fun.”

Trace shook his head as he cut his big steak. “Beats me why women get so excited and spend so much time on a wedding. Men would just as soon step up in front of the
padre
and get it over with.”

“Don’t tell me that,” she chided and helped herself to the hot rolls. “I understand that when you married Cimarron, it was the biggest party the county had ever seen and she had a dress fit for a queen.”

“Well,
si.
” He nodded chagrined. “I gotta admit I did it because I was so happy to get her.”

“Well, Luke is happy to get Fern, too, and they’ll be expecting all of us to turn up for the ceremony.”

“Oh, you know we wouldn’t miss it. She’s no beauty and I understand her dad is so relieved she finally got a man that he’s going to roast a whole cow and there’ll be barrels of beer.”

“Men.” She snorted and dug into her salad.

“You wouldn’t be going to see a certain vaquero while you’re in Austin, would you?” he teased.

“Probably not.” She sighed. “We just don’t seem to fit together.” She dared not mention Edwin Forester. Her guardian had never suspected anything, so there was no use in him finding out now.

“Okay, have it your way. You can catch the train tomorrow and you and Fern can spend days lookin’ at fabric samples and flowers—all the stuff men hate.”

* * *

She arrived back in Austin the next night. As she stepped off the train and walked through the station, she thought she saw a man she recognized, a pimply faced little rat of a man. She froze, staring at him, and he looked back, but then she glanced away and he was gone. She took a deep breath. The man had looked like that Elmer who worked for Senator Forester. Well, maybe not.

“Turquoise, you are being silly,” she scolded herself. “Even if it were him, what difference does it make? He was probably here to meet someone for the senator or take a trip himself. You know, since you told Edwin you wouldn’t marry him, he’s probably moved on and is courting someone else by now.”

Fern waddled up just then and threw her ample arms around Turquoise. “My word! You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Oh, it was nothing.” She brushed it off. “I’m glad to see you.”

They hugged each other again while Fern rattled on. “I’ve been waiting for you to arrive.” She was breathless with excitement. “I just can’t get Luke interested at all in choosing boutonnieres.”

Boutonnieres. That made her think of Edwin and his pink rosebuds, but the thought was crowded out by the image of crimson oleanders. “That’s just men.” Turquoise laughed. “All they want is to get the bride into bed.”

“Turquoise!” Fern’s freckled face blotched red with embarrassment and she giggled. “Why, I haven’t even thought about that.”

Turquoise didn’t answer as they got into Fern’s buggy and drove back to the ranch. She had thought about nothing else, she realized, since she’d left Rio’s arms last time.

“Have you seen anything of that farrier, what’s-his-name?”

“Who?” Fern looked puzzled. “Oh, him. No, I haven’t seen him, but the senator has been very visible in the papers and making speeches everywhere. I wonder why?”

“He wants to run for governor,” Turquoise said and then was upset that she’d spoken.

“Well, now, how do you know that?” Fern asked as they drove. “He’s even told the papers he’s not sure about his political future.”

“I’m just guessing.” Turquoise gulped. “I mean, anytime a politician begins to appear everywhere and make speeches, you can bet he’s up to something.”

She lapsed into silence, remembering the scene in Edwin’s office where he had let her know he wanted her to be the next governor’s lady and offered her wealth and privilege for sharing his bed. Had she made a bad mistake by turning him down? No, she thought, her priorities had changed and besides, there was something a little unbalanced and scary about Edwin Forester.

Elmer returned to the senator’s office and stuck his head in the inner office. “Sir, I was just down at the depot to get those dispatches off to Washington and guess who came in on the afternoon train?”

“I’m not into guessing games,” Edwin snapped.

“That lovely young lady with the black hair and turquoise eyes.”

Edwin immediately looked up. “Oh, where was she headed?”

Elmer adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. “I don’t know.”

“That’s interesting, but I’ve got work to do.” The senator feigned a yawn. “Now I’ve got a meeting to attend, so you get back to work and I’ll return later.”

Edwin went outside the capitol building and looked around. He had spies around town and they would tell him what he needed to know. Maybe Turquoise was coming to see him. He could only hope she was in town to tell Edwin she had changed her mind and was eager to have him court her. He smiled at the thought.

The next morning, Turquoise and Fern went to a dozen fabric shops in Austin, choosing the fabric for the bride’s gown and hers as the maid of honor, which of course, was a pale turquoise lace to match her eyes.

When they finally got back to the ranch, Fern sighed. “I’ve got to meet with the seamstress late this afternoon. You can go shopping or rest.”

“I am tired,” Turquoise admitted. “Maybe I’ll take you up on that.”

However, while Fern was meeting with the seamstress in her room, Turquoise changed into a riding outfit, saddled up Silver Slippers, and started out for a ride. It was a comfortable day for late June. Where should she ride to? She didn’t mean to, but like a magnet, her path seemed to lead to the blacksmith shop.

The little spotted dog met her at the gate, wagging its tail and leading her toward the shop.

Rio was working at his forge as she rode up and before he looked up and saw her, she watched his dark, muscular body shine with sweat as he worked and remembered how it had felt to be embraced by those muscular arms. He still wore the little cross and she watched the tattoo on his hand as he worked.

He looked up and he did not smile. “What is it you want?”

She felt like a fool. “I—my mare may have a loose shoe.
I thought you might look at it.” She started to dismount but he waved his hand to halt her.

“You can stay in the saddle.” He strode over, picked up Silver’s hoof, and examined it.

She looked down at his tousled black hair and had a terrible urge to reach down and run her hand through it, but of course she held back.

He stared up at her, standing so close she could have reached out and touched his rugged, dark face. “I don’t find anything wrong with your mare’s shoe.”

She sighed. This was so difficult for her. “I don’t suppose you’d like to take the rest of the afternoon off and maybe go riding with me?”

He did not smile. “You forget I am a poor man. To take off costs me money.”

Without thinking, she blurted, “I will pay for your time.”

And now he scowled at her. “Oh,
si,
I forget. You are used to having money and you think money can buy anything. I am sorry, senorita, it cannot buy me.” He turned and walked away, back to his forge.

Tears came to her eyes and she struggled to hold them in. “Please, I—I need to talk to you.”

He frowned coldly. “About what?”

“I don’t know—about us, about what happened that night.”

“I am a gentleman,” he said with great dignity. “If you are worried that I will talk, I would not destroy a lady’s reputation. I have apologized to you and regret it ever happened. As far as I and the world are concerned, nothing occurred that night.”

She slid off her horse and stood there holding the reins. “How can you say that?”

He shrugged and picked up his hammer. “I’m surprised to see you again, senorita. I figured that by now you would be engaged to the senator. Did he not ask you?”

“He begged on his knees.”

Rio snorted. “That should give you much satisfaction, two men making fools of themselves for you. How many diamonds and fine homes did he trade for you?”

She hated him for his sarcasm, yet loved him still. “I said no.”

“That really surprises me.” He gave her a searching look with his dark eyes.

“After that night in your arms, why would it? After that night, how could you think I could allow another man to make love to me?”

He shrugged. “Because money and social position were so important to you.”

“Maybe I was a fool. Maybe I’ve changed.”

He seemed nonchalant as he picked up a horseshoe. “The girls at the cantina were glad to see me again.”

She winced, imagining him in another woman’s arms. “I don’t doubt that. I don’t have any other experience, but I think you must be very good at what you do.”

“So this is it?” he snapped. “The privileged girl is in town and would like to be provided stud service to entertain her for an afternoon?”

She stepped to him and slapped him; slapped him so hard, she left fingerprints on his face and his head snapped back. Then she whirled to walk away, but he ran after her and grabbed her.

“Let me go, you heartless bastard!” She struggled to break his grip while he whirled her around and held onto her as she fought him.

“Wait, don’t go, my sweet one,” he whispered. “I deserved that.”

She was weeping now and trying to pull away from him, but he was too strong for her.

“Oh, Turquoise, my only love.” He buried his dark face against her hair. “You will be the death of me yet. We are
not meant to be together, and yet you are in my blood, roaring through my brain when we are not together. I lied, I’ve touched no other woman, wanted no other woman but you.” He jerked her up against his bare, brawny chest and kissed her hard.

For a split second, she struggled and felt the heat of his sweat and the raw power of his sinewy muscle and then she surrendered and returned his kiss with all the passion that was in her.

“If you only want stud service,” he whispered, “I am your lowly slave and will be content to amuse you for the afternoon, though it breaks my heart I do not mean more to you.”

She was weeping now and clinging to him. “That’s not why I came. I—I don’t know why I came.”

“You came for this,” and he kissed her deeply, thoroughly, as she clung to him and let him caress and embrace her.

After a moment, he pulled away from her and wiped the tears off her cheeks with the tip of his finger and smiled. “You have soot on you now, pretty one, and on your fine clothes, too.”

“I don’t care.”

“Of course not. Your rich guardian can buy you more.”

“Will you stop that!” she raged and jerked away from him, starting for her horse.

“Wait one momento!” he commanded and she paused by her horse. “Let me close up here and get a saddle. We’ll ride.”

She turned and looked back at him as he grabbed a rag and wiped himself off, then reached for a faded denim shirt. “I don’t know why I came.”

“It doesn’t matter.” He smiled ever so slightly. “I’m glad you did.” He came over and lifted her up into her saddle and she followed him down to the barn, where he saddled his fine bay quarterhorse and mounted.