Enchanted Ecstasy (24 page)

Jonas grinned. "I'm afraid you are stuck with him for life. He stays wherever Maleaha is. He's not too bad once you get to know him."

"I don't think he likes me very well. Sometimes I think he tolerates me because of Maleaha."

"There's only one thing you can be sure of where that old Indian is concerned, and that is that he is devoted to Maleaha. He watches over her like a hawk. In the past years I took comfort in that. You should too."

"Come upstairs, Jonas. I have something to show you," Kane said, thinking Jonas could not know about his granddaughter or he would have demanded to see her.

When the two men entered the bedroom, Maleaha and Lamas were sitting on the floor with Cimeron. Jonas was silent as he knelt down and looked into the face of the child.

"What is this?" he asked, noting the child's resemblance to Kane.

"This is your granddaughter, Jonas," Kane told him.

Jonas tenderly lifted the tiny girl into his arms, and Maleaha and Kane exchanged glances as they saw tears sparkle in his green eyes.

"What's her name," he said gruffly.

"Cimeron," Maleaha told him.

Jonas bent his head and kissed the soft cheek. "My God, she is beautiful. Maleaha, your mother would have been so proud of this baby." He wiped his face with the back of his hand. "Thank you for naming her after your mother, honey," he said, holding Cimeron tightly against him. He smiled up at Kane. "You are right. This has been one hell of a day. I got me a son and a granddaughter all at once."

Maleaha bent down and placed a kiss on her father's face. "Come, you must be starved. Lamas will sit with Cimeron while we eat."

"Welcome home, Jonas Deveraux," Lamas said, taking the baby from him.

"How have you been, Lamas?"

"I am good, Jonas. Kane is going to build me a new house and buy me a rocking chair.''

Jonas winked at Kane. ' 'How will you like riding for a new brand, Lamas?"

"I like Kane Benedict. He is a good man. He will make Maleaha happy."

Jonas laughed as he walked out the door. "Does that answer your question, Kane?"

They ate dinner that night in the kitchen since the dining room had not yet been furnished. Maleaha wrinkled her nose in distaste at the highly spiced greasy food Rosita had prepared. She vowed the first thing she would change would be the menu. She smiled as she watched Kane hang on to every word her father spoke. It was clear that he was a great admirer of her father. The two men hardly spoke to her. They were too busy discussing cattle and ranching. There were many questions she wanted to ask her father about his trip, but she knew they would keep.

When Rosita served a dessert that Maleaha could not put a name to she wrinkled her nose. "Is this the diet you have been forced to eat, Kane?"

"Only three meals a day, and then only if I wanted to eat."

Jonas frowned. Why were Maleaha and Kane talking like two polite strangers, he wondered? For the remainder of the meal he watched them closely, and he knew something was wrong. He had never been one to interfere, but he could tell that they both loved each other. The signs were all there. Maleaha looked at Kane with eyes of love, and Kane looked as if he could devour Maleaha. He would just watch, he thought. Maybe he would find out what was wrong between them.

Maleaha excused herself and went upstairs to make a pallet in one of the rooms for her father and to check on Cimeron. When she left, Kane and Jonas went into Kane's study.

They talked more about Kane's plans, and then lapsed into silence. Finally Kane took a deep breath and looked at Jonas.

"I'm sure you have noticed that things aren't right between me and Maleaha, Jonas."

"It's obvious to me only because I know my daughter so well. You want to talk about it?"

Kane told Jonas about the night at the Jojoba village when Maleaha had come to him to save herself from Mangas. He explained to him about the marriage Mangas had performed, and then about him finding Maleaha and Cimeron a few days ago.

Jonas did not interrupt, but silently watched Kane as he spoke.

"It appears to me that neither one of you is happy about your marriage."

"Jonas, I love your daughter. I would give her anything within my power to make her happy. I will admit that I used Cimeron to force her to marry me, and I would do it again if it was the only way I could get her.''

Jonas leaned forward and knitted his brow. He knew Maleaha loved Kane, he had seen it in her eyes. Kane admitted he loved Maleaha. What then was the problem, he wondered?

"Well, the way I see it, you have a lovely daughter and that ain't a bad start. Give it some time, son. Sometimes a woman just needs time, especially when she has been through what Maleaha has."

"I'll give her all the time in the world. I will try to be patient."

Maleaha entered the room and sat on the arm of her father's chair. "I have made your bed. The next time you come you won't have to sleep on the floor."

"If the two of you don't have any objections I want to stay with you a few days. I want to give Kane a few pointers."

Maleaha hugged him tightly. "We would be delighted if you would stay."

"That's right, Jonas. I have so many questions to ask you it will take days just to ask them."

"I'll send for some of my top hands tomorrow, and they will get you rolling. As a wedding present I am giving you a thousand head of prime cattle."

Maleaha gasped. "Father, you are much too generous."

"Hell, it isn't generosity. All of Deveraux will one day belong to you. I'm just giving you a portion of it early, that way I can be alive to watch you enjoy it."

Kane stood up. "Call it whatever you please, Jonas. I could never accept such a large number of cattle from you."

Jonas arched his eyebrow. "Kane, have you forgotten about Diablo? I told you then I was a stubborn man. Do I have to remind you again?"

Kane laughed deeply. "No, don't remind me. You and your daughter are the two most stubborn people it has ever been my pleasure to run into."

Jonas squeezed Maleaha's hand. "I think we have just been handed a left-handed compliment."

Maleaha kissed her father's cheek and stood up. She folded her hands nervously in front of her as she faced Kane. "I will bid you both good night. I will be sleeping with Cimeron." The room became silent as both men watched her departure. Jonas noticed Kane's eyes and could not mistake the pain he felt.

"Well, it's been a long day for me, think I'll turn in. See you bright and early. We got a lot of work to do."

Maleaha lay beside Cimeron, thinking how awkward it had been when she had kissed her father goodnight and not Kane. She knew her father would know by now that things were not right between her and Kane. She tried to push Kane out of her mind but was not entirely successful. She could imagine him lying on his cot at that moment, and she wanted more than anything to be lying in his arms. She tried to think about all she had to do to the house. The first thing she must do was to go into town and find some suitable help. She needed a cook and a housekeeper. Rosita could help with the housework if Maleaha could convince her to stay

Kane had said money was no object, and she would take him at his word. Finally she fell asleep with all sorts of plans swirling around in her mind.

The next morning Kane awoke early. After he had bathed and shaved he went upstairs to check on Cimeron. Knocking lightly on the door, he opened it to find that Maleaha wasn't there, and Lamas was watching over Cimeron, who was still asleep.

Kane went back downstairs. To his surprise, when he passed the dining room he saw that the small table had been moved from the kitchen and Jonas was having breakfast.

"You must have an ironclad stomach if you are eating Rosita's breakfast, Jonas," he said, sitting down across from his father-in-law.

Jonas smiled. "I can assure you I ate a hearty breakfast and even asked for seconds."

Maleaha entered the room carrying Kane's breakfast on a tray. "You see, my daughter is an excellent cook."

Maleaha placed a plate of yellow fluffy scrambled eggs, ham, and homemade biscuits in front of Kane. His mouth watered as she poured a cup of coffee and handed it to him.

Maleaha poured herself a second cup of coffee and then refilled her father's cup.

"Now, this is what I would call a breakfast," Kane said, reaching for a biscuit and buttering it.

Maleaha beamed at his compliment. "I like to see a man well fed," she said, poising her coffee cup in her hand.

"If you feed like this all the time, I will have to let out my belt notches before too long."

"I said I like to see a man well fed, not fat. You had better eat hearty. Father has told me the two of you have a busy day ahead of you."

Kane took a sip of coffee to wash the egg down. "How do you intend to spend your day?"

"I thought I would have Lamas drive me into town. I need to hire some help. I thought I would also look for furniture and shop for fabrics. It would help if I knew your preference in colors and furniture, Kane."

"I like what you did with the house at Deveraux. As for colors, I will leave that up to you. Buy whatever you want and charge it to me."

Jonas stood up abruptly. "If the two of you are through decorating the house, there is a lot of work to do, and just so many hours in the day to do it in."

Maleaha watched as her father and Kane departed. She could tell that they liked each other, and that made her very happy. Her father did not give his friendship easily, and she was glad he liked Kane.

Maleaha spent a busy day shopping. She found material for drapes and bought rugs. Some of the furniture she found locally, but other pieces she had to order from St. Louis.

After a quick lunch at the hotel, Maleaha found two young Mexican girls to help with the housework, but could not find a suitable cook. When she went back to the general store to buy linens Mr. Garson, the owner, told her of a widow lady who was looking for work. After Maleaha interviewed the woman she hired her on the spot. Mrs. Higgens was in her early forties and had been a widow for over two years. She had lived at the boarding house and had made a living cleaning other people's houses. Maleaha was delighted with her, for she seemed sweet and loved children. She would be the ideal person to help her look after Cimeron.

Word spread quickly throughout Santa Fe that Maleaha was now Mrs. Benedict, and Maleaha was besieged with well wishes from her friends. Many of them were curious as to why she hadn't had a large wedding. When she told them she had been married secretly last summer and had a daughter, they were even more curious.

The sun was just going down when the wagon laden with all the things Maleaha had purchased pulled up to the house. Maleaha was tired from her shopping, but she was happy. She could now start decorating the house for Kane. She wanted everything to be perfect so he would be proud of her.

Kane. She would be making a home for the man she loved.

19

The days seemed to pass quickly. Maleaha saw Kane and her father only at mealtimes. While she was busy with the house, Kane and her father were busy on the range. Most of the days they didn't come home for lunch and Maleaha would send Lamas to take them something to eat.

There were now drapes at most of the windows and rugs on the floor. There were only a few good pieces of furniture in some of the rooms. Most of the furniture had been ordered and had not yet arrived. The dining room table and chairs had been delivered that morning, and Maleaha looked about the room with satisfaction. It was a lovely room, and Maleaha was anxious for Kane to see it now that it was completed.

Mrs. Higgens was turning out to be a real blessing. Not only was she good with Cimeron, but she was a very good cook, as well. Mrs. Higgens seemed to be happy at the ranch, and she had told Maleaha she felt as if she now had a home.

Maleaha tried to devote as much time to Cimeron as she could. Even with her busy schedule, she was determined not to neglect her daughter. She looked forward to the evenings when Kane would tell her all about his day, and he would listen with interest while she described her day to him. There were awkward moments when they would run out of things to say. Maleaha knew if it weren't for her father's presence it might have been unbearable at times.

All the bedrooms were now furnished, and Kane had moved upstairs to the master suite, while Maleaha continued to sleep in Cimeron's room. She wondered what it would be like when her father returned to Deveraux, for he had been a steadying influence on both her and Kane.

Maleaha placed a white linen table napkin beside each dinner plate and stood back to study the overall effect.

The rug was a deep red color, with matching drapes at the windows. The table and twelve chairs were of heavy dark pecan. The whitewashed walls gleamed brightly beneath the crystal chandelier. The blue and white wedgewood china that Jonas had brought Maleaha from England graced the table. The table was further enhanced by the crystal goblets and heavy silverware.

Maleaha moved the flower arrangement for at least the sixth time, trying to center it just right.

Hearing Kane's voice, Maleaha began to feel nervous. What if Kane didn't like the room? She knew that Kane and her father would bathe and dress before coming down to dinner, so she went into the kitchen to make sure everything was just right.

Mrs. Higgens was spooning plum pudding into small bowls. Maleaha saw the trout they were having for dinner was just about done. She tasted the lemon sauce to make sure it was seasoned just right.

"Everything looks delicious, Mrs. Higgens."

The older woman beamed. "The mister will be pleased as punch when he sees the new dining room, ma'am."

"Let us hope so," Maleaha said as she untied the apron that had served to protect the green satin gown she wore.

When Maleaha entered the sitting room where she would wait for Kane and her father, she surveyed the room. A bright yellow and gray Indian rug covered the floor. The two couches were a bright lemon yellow, and the three chairs were gray. Dark gray draperies hung at the big double window that looked out on the front of the house. Walking over to the mahogany table, Maleaha gently picked up the Jojoba vase her grandfather had given her. It was painted with black and gray, and it was one of Maleaha's most prized possessions. When her grandfather had given it to her he had told her that it was more than two hundred years old. Placing the vase back on the table, Maleaha turned around in a circle. What fun she had had decorating this house. The downstairs rooms were almost completed, and next week she would start on the upstairs.

Her keen hearing picked up Kane's footsteps on the stairs, and when he entered the room, she turned to face him.

Kane gave her a smile and nodded his dark head. "This room is lovely, Maleaha. I like what you are doing to this house. It is beginning to feel like a home;"

"Do you really think so, Kane? You wouldn't just say so to spare my feelings, would you?"

Kane sat down on the sofa and motioned for Maleaha to sit beside him. "I assure you I would never pay you a false compliment. If I didn't like the room, I would merely keep my mouth shut," he said, warming her with a smile.

"For fear of hurting my feelings, Kane?"

"Uh huh."

"Promise me that you will tell me if something is not to your taste. Have no fear of hurting me. I want you to like this house."

He picked up a strand of her hair and curled it about his finger. "This house is you, Maleaha. How could I not like it?"

Maleaha stared into his silver eyes, and her heart seem to stop beating. She became keenly aware of the passion that flamed to life between them. His hand tangled itself in her hair, and his eyes moved to her tempting lips.

"Oh, beautiful, Maleaha. I ache for you," he whispered, pulling her head toward him. Maleaha did not want to respond to her need, but a strong force existed between the two of them. If she gave in to that force, tonight she would sleep in his bed, and tomorrow she would be sorry. Her mind cried out to resist him. Once he had possessed her she would be even more vulnerable.

"I want to make love to you, Maleaha. Don't you think you have punished me long enough? You are my wife, and I want you."

His mouth dipped down to explore the sweet length of her lovely throat. A weakness washed over Maleaha. In an unconscious move, Maleaha's hands moved around Kane's shoulders. She felt a tide of pleasure ricochet through her body. This was what she had been created for, to love and be loved by this man, she thought. Kane pulled her soft body against his hard muscled one. He could not get close enough. Maleaha heard his deep raspy voice, and it came out in an animal growl.

"I could take you now, Maleaha. You have pushed me to my limit."

"No, Kane, please. I don't want this," she pleaded as she looked into his face, seeing the pulse beat that was hammering in his temple. His eyes suddenly became as cold as hard steel. She watched as he stood up abruptly and turned his back on her.

"Am I never to touch you, Maleaha?" he asked in an agonized voice.

Her hands were trembling so badly she could not control their movements, and her breath was coming out in short gasps. "You gave me your word, Kane. You laid down the guidelines to our marriage, and this was not part of it."

He turned and looked at her through lowered lashes and she caught her breath.

"Is it your wish to keep me dangling, Maleaha? Are you so heartless that you cannot see what you are doing to me?" His voice was no more than a painful whisper.

"I . . .1 don't want to be like that, Kane. Can't we just be friends?"

Kane looked at the ceiling and let out his breath slowly.

"No. I can never be just a friend to you, Maleaha. Friendship is not enough."

Maleaha stood up and ran a nervous hand down her gown. "I should go and check on Cimeron," she said, making an excuse to flee the room.

Kane crossed the room to her and caught her by the hand. Maleaha was surprised to see the smile on his face. How quickly he could change from playing the lover, she thought. It was not so easy for her. Inside she felt like she was all jumbled together.

"I looked in on Cimeron before I came down. She is sleeping peacefully."

"Kane, I . . ."

"Look, Maleaha," he interrupted. "Forget what just happened between us. In the future I will try to exercise more control. Does that put your mind at rest?"

No, she thought-. It did not put her mind to rest at all. He might be in control of his feelings, but she had never learned to master her own feelings. She loved him more than ever, and it would be hard to hide that love from him.

"All right," she said sitting down on the edge of the sofa and folding her hands demurely in her lap.

He sat down beside her, but took great care not to touch her. "Kane," she said, reaching for something to talk about, "have you hired all the men you will need for the roundup?"

He smiled, showing off his dimples and his flashing white teeth. "Yes, Maleaha." He reached out and covered her hand with his. He arched his eyebrow inquiringly when he felt her hand tremble. "I have everything a man could ever want . . . almost."

Jonas entered the room at that moment. His hair was wet and slicked down, indicating he had just come from his bath. He watched Kane and Maleaha move apart quickly. It was the first time he had seen them touching each other. He had already shown Kane enough to keep him busy for a long time. There was not much left that he could teach him. Kane had taken to ranching as naturally as if he had been born to it. Jonas thought it was time to leave the two of them alone.

He sat down on a chair and stretched his legs out in front of him. "I have decided to go home tomorrow morning. I have done all I can for you, Kane. You will be able to run this ranch as well as I could."

"I wish you wouldn't go just yet, Father. I like having you here," Maleaha said, suddenly panicked.

Jonas saw the apprehension in his daughter's face, and he knew it was past time for him to leave. Perhaps with him gone, Maleaha and Kane would work out their problems.

"I gotta get home, honey. I have been away from Deveraux for over a year now."

"We will miss you, Jonas," Kane told him. "I can never even begin to thank you for all you have done for me.

"Hell, Kane. You are my son now. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you."

"You have given me far too much, not the least of which is your help and advice. And how can I ever thank you for a horse like Diablo?"

Jonas's eyes twinkled. "I knew when I gave you that horse that I would be keeping him in the family."

Maleaha stared open-mouthed at her father, and she was further surprised when Kane's laughter filled the room. "You are the damnedest mind reader I ever met."

"It didn't take mind reading, son. It just took common sense and a good eye."

Words stuck in Kane's throat. He had never met a man like Jonas. He had been very forbearing, never losing patience with him if he didn't understand something, just firmly showing him the correct way of doing it. Jonas had showed Kane what to look for when buying cattle, and he had helped him hire only top hands to handle the cattle. Jonas now smiled at Kane as if he could read what he was thinking.

"Words are not necessary, son. I know how you feel."

Kane was glad that Mrs. Higgens chose that moment to announce that dinner was served, because he didn't know how to answer Jonas. Kane extended his arm to Maleaha, and she placed her hand on it. Maleaha had been so upset that her father was leaving that she had forgotten about the newly decorated dining room.

As they entered the room Kane looked about in surprise, then he smiled down at Maleaha. "You are a marvel, Maleaha. Is there no end to your talents?"

"Are you sure you like it, Kane?" she asked apprehensively.

He glanced at the red rug and drapes. He knew most women would never use such bright colors in decorating, but Maleaha's flair had made the bright colors appear elegant and charming. It was a room like no other he had ever seen. "I can assure you, Maleaha, I have never seen a more beautiful room. Somehow it speaks of you. It . . ."he searched for the words he wanted. "It feels like a home."

Maleaha smiled brightly, cheered by his praise. Kane pulled out her chair and she sat down. She had all but forgotten the confrontation they had had in the sitting room earlier.

At dinner they all laughed easily and the conversation seemed to flow. As always Jonas and Kane began to talk about ranching.

"You need to have a name for the ranch, son. Then you will need to have Jim Hanes, the blacksmith, make you a branding iron."

"I have thought about a name, but nothing seems to fit."

"You could always just call it Benedict Ranch," Jonas volunteered.

"Yes I suppose so, then the brand could be a B with a circle around it."

"No, you can't have the circle B for a brand. Dave Benson already uses that for his brand."

"How about something Spanish?" Maleaha spoke up.

"That is an excellent idea!" Kane said, smiling at his wife. "Have you any suggestions?"

Maleaha was thoughtful for a moment. "I suppose you could name it for the Pecos River that runs through it. Rio Pecos—but that is not quite right, is it?" She knitted her brow. "I know. You could call it El Paraiso."

"What does that mean in English?" Kane asked.

"The paradise," Maleaha said smiling and only half serious.

"Hum, El Paraiso," Kane said, testing the name out loud.

"Damn me if I don't think she has something there. You could have a branding iron made up in a B with two wings on either side of it. The flying B," Jonas injected.

Kane smiled at Maleaha. "All right, El Paraiso it shall be." His eyes became dark and he held her gaze. "It will be our paradise, Maleaha."

Maleaha caught the deep undertone in his voice and looked quickly at her father to see if he had caught it also. Jonas, however, seemed to be concentrating more on his plate of trout. When Maleaha glanced down at her own plate, Jonas looked at Kane and winked.