Enchanted Ecstasy (20 page)

He hired a crew of twenty laborers to begin the construction of the house and barn. It was difficult for him not to ride over to Deveraux Ranch and confront Maleaha. He was still hurting because she had not come to see him while he was recuperating from his wounds. He had heard that Jonas had gone to Spain, but he knew of course that Maleaha had not accompanied him. He found he wanted to see her, to hold her in his arms and pour out his love to her, but wounded pride and caution caused him to wait until just the right moment.

Kane was irritated that his father had not yet returned to Boston. It seemed that he had taken up residence in one of the local hotels, and nothing Kane could say would convince him to leave.

Three weeks later, Kane looked with satisfaction at the foundation of his new house. He had planned it with Maleaha in mind. It would be built in the traditional Spanish style, like the house at Deveraux Ranch. The barn had already been completed, and Kane had moved his belongings into it for the time being.

There was a fiesta being held at one of the hotels in Santa Fe, and Kane knew that Maleaha would be there. He whistled a happy tune as he dressed for the occasion. "Tonight you will belong to me, Maleaha," he said out loud as he tied his black silk tie. It felt strange to be out of uniform. He had not worn a black formal suit in a very long time. Did Maleaha ever think about the night they had made love in the Jojoba village? His hand was unsteady as he ran it through his ebony hair. He would find out tonight.

Maleaha accepted Clay Madason's invitation to go to the fiesta. She didn't really want to go, but Clay always made her laugh. And she needed to laugh. It had been a long time since she had felt like doing anything. Perhaps just for this one night she could forget about Kane and feel young and carefree again.

Kane scanned the sea of faces, looking for Maleaha, but she was not at the fiesta. He was receiving many inviting glances from some of the young ladies, but he merely smiled at them. He walked with a pronounced limp, and he doubted that he would be able to dance with anyone, since his leg still troubled him.

Kane stood in a corner watching the door. She would come tonight, he was almost sure of it. Once more his glance traveled about the room, and he saw Betsy Kincade.

Betsy smiled as she watched Kane approach. She had heard about his bravery against the Arapaho, and, like everyone else, she was impressed.

"Mr. Benedict, how nice to see you," she said brightly. "You remember my fiancé, Bob Morehead."

"Of course. It's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Morehead," Kane said, shaking hands with Betsy's fiancé.

"I am pleased to see you looking so well, Mr. Benedict. I heard about your feat with the Arapahos. It must have been a hair-raising experience."

Kane smiled. "I can tell you in all honesty, it is nothing I would care to repeat."

"You are quite the hero, Mr. Benedict. I have heard that you are no longer in the cavalry."

"Yes, you heard correctly," Kane said, returning her smile. "Tell me, Miss Kincade, will Maleaha be here tonight?"

Betsy frowned in consideration. "I'm not sure. I haven't seen her in over a month. She went with me to visit my grandmother in Albuquerque a few weeks ago. Maleaha has not been to see me since we returned."

Suddenly the air seemed charged with excitement, and Kane turned around to face the door. He watched as Maleaha advanced into the room on the arm of Clay Madason.

15

Maleaha's eyes scanned the crowd of faces. Seeing Betsy and Bob, she smiled brightly and waved to them, but the smile left her face and she gripped Clay's arm tightly when she recognized Kane. How different he looked dressed in formal attire. Even among a room of well-dressed gentlemen, Kane stood out. Her heart skipped a beat as his silver-gray eyes seemed to reach across the room to hold her spellbound. The look he gave her reminded her of the intimacy they had shared. Maleaha felt a light pressure about her waist as Clay led her down the stairs that took them onto the dance floor.

While Clay led Maleaha into the dance steps of a lively polka, she tried to forget about Kanen Benedict, but over Clay's shoulder she could see that Kane was watching her. She became so flustered that she missed a step, causing Clay to smile down at her.

"Easy there, Princess. Do you want me to think you are just learning to dance?"

Maleaha found she could not look into Clay's face. What if Clay should suspect that she was disturbed by Kane's presence, she thought. "I'm sorry, Clay. I . . . I . . ." she lowered her head.

Clay released her hand and tilted her chin up, studying her face. "What's the matter, honey? You have been acting as fidgety as an old maid at a bachelor party," he said, looking at her with concern written all over his face.

"It's nothing, Clay. I guess I'm just a little tired. I haven't been sleeping very well at night."

"I bet you miss Jonas. Are you still planning to join him in Paris this spring?"

Again Maleaha lowered her head. How could she tell Clay, or anyone for that matter, that she would not be joining her father. She would be unable to face anyone once they found out her guilty secret. What if Kane should find out she was carrying his baby, she thought in horror.

Clay didn't seem to notice that she had not answered him. The dance had stopped and he led her over to the punchbowl. Pouring Maleaha a glass of punch, he handed it to her and gave her an inquiring look. "I never did understand why Jonas went rushing off to Spain."

Maleaha took a sip of her punch. "His old friend Señor Gomez is selling off his prize Brahman, and he gave Father first chance at purchasing them."

"I never can understand why Jonas goes off so far to build up his herd."

"He can afford it, Clay, and he is interested in breeding a better beef cattle."

"When are you leaving, Maleaha?"

"I'm not sure. Perhaps in a few weeks."

"I thought you weren't going to join him until spring."

"I have changed my mind."

Soon it was impossible to talk, for as usual Maleaha was surrounded by several gentlemen admirers. She willed herself not to search the room for Kane, but she could not stop thinking about him. Why was he here? She had thought he would have returned to Boston with his father. She had noticed he walked with a limp, and it tore at her heart to think he was suffering from his wounds. Glancing over Clay's shoulder Maleaha saw Kane talking to a pretty golden-haired girl, and he seemed to be enjoying himself.

Suddenly the walls seemed to be closing in on her and she knew if she didn't get some fresh air she was going to be sick. Excusing herself, she edged her way along the wall, hoping no one would try to follow her. Mr. Kincade was talking to Clay, so perhaps he would not see her leave.

There was a little garden room that she and Betsy had once played in, and she made her way toward it, thinking she would find solitude. It had been a mistake for her to come to the dance tonight. Had she known Kane would be here, she would have stayed at home. When she reached the back wall of the garden, she discovered that the garden house had been torn down. What a shame, she thought, remembering what a lovely place it had once been. When she and Betsy were children, the garden house had been their favorite place to play when her father brought them into town. Then it had been all glassed in with padded windowseats, and the owner, Mrs. Pucket, would allow her and Betsy to have tea parties in it.

Nothing ever stayed the same. Sometimes Maleaha wished she was still a child. How uncomplicated life had been then. But now she herself was carrying a child. Kane had denied that she was his wife, where then would that leave her baby? She had been born after her parents had been married in the Jojoba ceremony and no one had ever denied her legitimacy.

Maleaha leaned back against the trunk of a tree. How was this all going to end? It was fall now, and soon winter would be here. What could she do? Where could she go? She looked up at the full moon that bathed the garden in soft light. Surely Kane would soon be returning to Boston. Perhaps he hadn't gone yet because of his leg. She closed her eyes, praying she wouldn't ever have to face him again.

"Are you waiting for a rendezvous, or did you flee from your many amorous admirers?" the deep voice she knew so well spoke up from the shadows.

Maleaha caught her breath as Kane stepped out of the shadows. "Hello, major, or Mr. Benedict, I suppose I should call you now." Her voice sounded breathless.

"I see you heard about my discharge from the army? Can I also assume you heard that I was wounded?" he asked in a biting tone.

"Yes, I had heard something to that effect," she told Kane, hoping he would not move any closer to her. "I noticed you walk with a limp. I hope your leg was not injured permanently."

Kane seemed to loom over her as he leaned his hand against the tree trunk over her head. She could clearly see the sneer on his face. "Not that you really give a damn, but I will tell you anyway. I am told that given time my leg will be as good as new."

"Does it pain you very much?" she asked, hating the thought of his being in pain.

"It's nothing I can't live with."

"You may not believe me, K . . . Mr. Benedict, but I am grateful that your wounds were not fatal."

His eyes narrowed. "Did it never occur to you to come and see me while I was recovering from my wounds? I would have thought you would come, if for no other reason than to gloat over my incapacitation." Kane leaned closer to her and she could smell the brandy on his breath.

"You do not know me at all, if you think I would take pleasure in another's pain," she said, feeling very uneasy at the anger in his voice.

He placed his other hand on the tree trunk, trapping her between him and the tree. For a moment he said nothing, but continued to stare at her with his disturbing silver gaze.

"I have been away," she said, unable to think of anything else to say.

"When did you return?" he asked, staring at her lips with such intensity that Maleaha had a hard time gathering her thoughts.

"Why?"

"I was just wondering. Surely you could have found time to come and see me. I know you said you never wanted to see me again, but I didn't take you seriously at the time."

Maleaha remembered the day she had ridden to the fort to see him, and had overheard Kane and his father discussing her. It still hurt to think about the things Kane had said about her that day. "I didn't think you wanted to see me any more than I wanted to see you," Maleaha said, wishing he would leave her alone. She didn't know how much more she could take before she broke down and cried in front of Kane. All she really wanted was for him to admit he was her true husband so she could tell him about the child she carried. She wanted to feel his arms about her. She needed him to tell her everything would be all right. She knew he didn't love her as she did him, but perhaps he would care about his child.

Maleaha stiffened, as Kane's hand drifted down to touch her face. She did not voice any objections, however, when he drew her into his arms. She closed her eyes, loving him with all her heart. If she had loved him before, it was nothing compared to how she felt about him now that she was carrying his child. Maleaha rested her head against his shoulder as he buried his face in her midnight-black hair. He raised her head and rested his cheek against hers.

"Say you want me, Maleaha. Say you have thought about me. Even if it isn't true, say it anyway," he said in a passionate voice.

"I have thought about you," she allowed herself to admit to him. She was afraid to say any more. His hand moved down her back and over her hips, and Maleaha was intoxicated by the feel of his hands and the sound of his voice. He made her want to reach inside herself and reveal too much of what she was feeling. Kane's lips moved over her upturned face, and Maleaha thought her heart would burst with the love she felt for him.

"Let's go someplace where we can be alone, Maleaha. I have a room at the hotel, we could go there."

"I don't think I—"

"You know you want to as much as I do," he interrupted her. "Your lips may deny it, but your body doesn't."

Maleaha stiffened, realizing what he wanted from her. He did not speak of love, he thought only of desire. There was no happiness in her heart, knowing he only wanted to make love to her. She thought any one of the women who had hung on to him tonight would have served him just as well.

"You are fickle. Have you no thought of the woman they say is waiting for you in Boston?" she said, pushing against him.

Kane released her. "Is that what this is all about? Have you heard the rumors started by my father?"

"I like that, Mr. Benedict. Answer a question with a question, that way you don't have to commit yourself. It's an old Indian custom.

He smiled. "Are you jealous?"

Yes, she wanted to scream. She was so jealous she could easily scratch out the woman's eyes he was going home to marry, had she been standing there at this moment. She wanted to tell Kane that he was her husband, that he had no right to marry any one else. She tried to hide her anger behind still another golden lie.

"What right would I have to be jealous of you? You are free to do as you please, as am I."

Kane grabbed her and held her so tightly she could scarcely breathe. "Like hell you are free. You are the most obstinate, opinionated woman I have ever come up against. One day I will either break you, or you will break me." His words were harsh, but his tone of voice was almost pleading.

"I must go in now, Clay will be wondering what has happened to me."

"To hell with Clay Madason," Kane said as his lips sought and found Maleaha's. All of Maleaha's objections went for naught as she became soft in his arms. His mouth moved across her face to nibble at the lobe of her delicate ear, and Maleaha could not suppress the feeling of delight that spread throughout her body.

"I want you, Maleaha, and I will have you one way or another," he murmured softly in her ear. "Name your terms and I will abide by them."

Maleaha tried to think straight, but she could think of little but the man who held her in his arms. "Have you forgotten, I already turned down your offer to make me your mistress," she whispered.

' 'Yet I still had you,'' he reminded her, as his hand slid over her breast, causing her to catch her breath.

Maleaha fought with her wayward heart. If she didn't find a way to save herself, Kane would destroy her. "I don't want this. Please let me go."

"You want it," he said capturing her head and looking down into her face. "I know your body has been awakened, and you want me as much as I want you."

"Any man would do as well as you," she told him, feeling as if the heart within her body was crying at her lie.

Kane's hand tightened on her chin, and he felt something akin to pain at her cruel words. He was glad now he had not rushed headlong into asking her to be his wife.

"If any man will do, why not me," he said, returning cruelty for cruelty. "You need a man to satisfy you, and we both know I can fulfill that role." He did not wait for her answer as his lips came down on hers brutally, bruising her mouth with his anger. There was no love in the kiss, only anger and an unleashed passion. Maleaha felt as if her head were swimming, and her heart was drumming so loudly she was sure Kane could hear it. It was as if her body would not obey the command her mind tried to send it. Her arms went around Kane's shoulders, and she could feel the rough bark of the tree against her back as Kane pinned her between him and the tree.

"Kane, please," she pleaded as he released her lips and blazed a fiery path down her delicate throat. Her hands moved up his neck to tangle in his dark hair. She could not suppress the tattletale moan that escaped her lips as his mouth teased the upper portion of her breasts, which were revealed by her low-cut gown.

"I want you, Maleaha. You are in my blood. I can't seem to think of anything but you. I think about you all day, and then at night my dreams are also of you," he said in a passionate voice.

"No, no," she moaned, moving her head from side to side, knowing that if he pushed her to the ground where they stood, she would willingly give herself to him.

"So this is where you disappeared to." Kane recognized his father's voice. Raising his head he quickly tried to shield Maleaha protectively with his body. He knew his father well enough to know he would try to belittle her.

"Well, Kane. I see you are up to your old habits. I had hoped by now you would have learned to have these little trysts in a not so public place," Eli said insultingly.

"I warn you, Eli, I will not stand idly by while you insult Maleaha," Kane shouted angrily.