Hannah Howell (42 page)

“She is alive,” Antonie whispered.

“You would feel better if she wasn't?"

“I do not know. It is not vengeance that makes me think it would be better if she were not alive. I can hear Juan telling me that an enemy is always a danger as long as he is alive,” Antonie mused.

“Well, that's a little harsh, isn't it?"

“No,” said Maria quietly, “it is the way of it. A man like Juan Ramirez would know."

“He did not mean all enemies, Pattie,” Antonie explained. “Only ones like Raoul."

“And you think Marilyn is like Raoul?"

"Sí, chica.
There is something very bad inside Marilyn.” Antonie made a face to illustrate her disgust. “There has to be if she could lie with a pig like Raoul and like it."

“What?” Patricia and Maria exclaimed.

“Ah, I see that you were not told everything. Even Oro did not tell you, Patricia?"

“He still thinks I am a little girl even after...” Patricia reddened. “Never mind."

“Aha, you followed my advice."

Still blushing, Patricia urged Antonie into a chair. “Hush, now you just sit there. We're going to do your hair, and you are going to tell us what went on in that cabin."

“The preacher is getting drunk."

“Well, if he gets too bad, we'll dunk him in the horse trough to sober him up. Now, talk,” Patricia commanded.

Antonie dutifully told the women all the men had thought too shocking for them to know. She had to laugh sometimes, for Maria and Patricia were blushing so brilliantly. When she had finished, she noticed that Maria was not really surprised and suspected that the woman had had some inner judgments about Marilyn that were now justified. Patricia still looked shocked and just a little confused.

“How is it that I never saw that in her?” Patricia asked. “Surely you would see it."

“Perhaps later. I think she had a sickness that was growing worse. Her plans were not working out and being with Raoul was feeding her sickness.
Sí,
even her pretty Anglo manners would not have hidden it for much longer, I think.” She shifted restlessly in her chair. “Am I done? It grows late, eh? Royal may get tired of waiting,” she jested, partly serious.

“You're ready. We don't have a nice big mirror, but if you back away enough, you can see a lot in that little one."

Antonie just stared when she saw herself in the wall mirror. She found the change that clothes and hairstyle could effect somewhat spellbinding. There was little doubt in her mind that she looked as fine as any rich Anglo lady could. As she prepared herself to return to Royal, she wryly mused that he might not recognize her.

Royal fidgeted and kept an eye on the preacher. Antonie was right. The man was certainly enjoying the punch. If she did not return soon so that they could get on with the ceremony, Royal feared that there would be another delay while they tried to sober up the preacher enough to read the service.

He suddenly realized that Denton had neatly managed it so that they had some privacy, as much as one could get in a room full of people. Royal knew it would take him a while to fully believe that Denton was alive. Even now he had to keep touching him as if to reassure himself that his brother was no chimera. Royal suspected that he would do that for a long while. Miracles, he decided, were unsettling things.

“That Oro fellow seems nice enough,” Denton said quietly.

“Don't hedge, Denton,” Royal said gently and smiled a little. “He wasn't what we'd planned on for Patricia."

“Yet you let them get together."

“I had to. They were both hurting. I hadn't seen it, but they were trying to follow the rules, the rules that say a man like Oro shouldn't even touch a girl like Patricia because his mother was a half-breed and his father was a
bandido.
He's a man and he was being a hell of a lot more gallant than many would be. Patricia was, by her own admission, throwing herself at him."

“Been any trouble over it yet?"

“Nothing big. A few folks have stopped coming round to see her."

“And she doesn't mind?” Denton asked, surprised.

“Not really. She's looking at it from the viewpoint that they weren't worth having around anyway. Oro might not be easy to get to know and a little hard, but he's a good man and she knows it. She also knows it's his mixed blood they object to. It's funny, but that seems to make it easier for her."

“She can blame it on ignorance."

“Probably. Well, at least I don't have to worry that the man she's married can't protect her."

“Hell no. Don't have to worry about that with you either."

“What do you mean?” Royal asked, curious.

“That little lady you're marrying can protect herself and you, too, probably, if she has to.” Denton laughed and shook his head. “Thought I was being quiet, but she heard me and had that knife ready before I'd even guessed that she'd heard me."

“She had to learn to protect herself. It can't hurt."

“Don't get defensive. I'll admit that I wondered what the hell was going on, but I've been talking to folks and it's not her that troubles me."

“But something does."

“Yeh. Are you sure about this, Royal? I married for all the wrong reasons. True, Elizabeth wasn't carrying my child at the time, but my reasons were still wrong. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. It was day by slow day. Even though I didn't know who I was or where I could go, I thought of leaving a lot. I felt trapped. It's no good that way, Royal. Not for either of you. Elizabeth didn't get much joy out of her trick, only a little security."

“It's not just the baby, Denton."

“You love her?"

“Damned if I know. Maybe. I've been put to enough tests to know it's not just the baby and it's not just lust."

Antonie entered shyly at that moment and Royal caught his breath. She was beautiful. The soft cream-colored silk and lace she wore was a perfect foil for her unique loveliness. Her thick hair was pinned up in a soft style revealing her slim neck. A circlet of flowers was set upon her head, the small purplish flowers matching her wide, beautiful eyes. As she moved toward him, emotion swelled in him.

In just a few minutes she would be his in a way that no one could argue with. The law would be on his side if any man was foolish enough to try and steal her away. The ring he was about to put on her finger would be as much of a brand as the one Raoul threatened to put on her hip. It would be a sign even the illiterate could read.

For one brief instant, he wondered about the step he was taking. Her dress was cut in such a way that her pregnancy was barely noticeable. He wryly supposed that it was natural for a man to feel a tremor of hesitation before taking such a big step, but his bout of bachelor's nerves was extremely quick. There was no doubt in his mind about the rightness of what he was about to do. He could only wonder why it had taken him so long to get around to it.

“This is your last chance to run,
mi vida,"
Antonie said quietly as he took her hand in his. “Shall I saddle your horse?"

“Only if you saddle one for yourself as well, and you should not be out riding in your condition."

“Are you going to be a bossy husband?"

“Most likely, and let's get to that preacher before he's too drunk to make me one."

Twenty-seven

The gold seemed to catch every beam of light, and Antonie decided that gold was an exceptionally beautiful metal. She decided it was at its most beautiful when it was formed into a small band and placed on the third finger of her left hand by Royal Bancroft. The law now said he was hers. She could use the ring to prove it to anyone.

“I was beginning to wonder if he'd be smart enough,” Cole drawled as he approached her.

Antonie smiled at Cole as he sat down beside her on the settee. “Hah. At first you wanted me gone."

“Not exactly, but I will admit that I warned Royal not to really trust you. You had just nearly killed me, you recall."

"Sí.
Juan was dead. I knew that even as I went after him. I would have killed you. You held a gun on me, too."

“Yes, but I froze. I couldn't shoot you."

“I know. Know what I thought as I looked at you?"

“I think I'm going to regret asking, but what did you think?"

“Stupid
gringo."

He laughed and shook his head. “You hated us."

"Sí.
You had just killed my papa. The hate only lasted a little while."

“Are you sure?"

"Sí.
It was a fair fight. He lost. Juan always said I must be careful about hating. He said it was not to be given lightly. He said I must choose carefully whom I hate, because it is a thing that takes a lot out of you. Raoul I hated. He was a good man to hate."

“Well, there's a thought. I was a mite worried. Once I did start to change my mind about you, I wondered how you would feel about my part in that day's events."

“Juan was an outlaw and you were the law."

“Very cut and dried."

“That is how it must be. He would have killed you in the fight if he could have."

“Very true. Why are you scowling at that preacher?"

“I was just about to ask that myself,” Royal said as he sat on the arm of the settee at Antonie's side.

“He is not a very good man of God,” Antonie answered.

“Because he drinks?"

“No, Royal, because he does not approve of these marriages you ask him to perform, and he does not hide it."

“I was hoping you hadn't noticed that."

“How could I not notice? He looks as if he thinks the whole Bancroft family is going to hell in a purse."

“Handbasket,” Royal corrected with a grin.

“Same thing,” Antonie countered.

“Of course."

“It is nice that your brother came home, eh?” Antonie mused aloud as she looked at Denton.

“It's a damn miracle,” Cole agreed. “I'm still not sure I believe it."

“Ghosts do not have babies,” Antonie pointed out.

“Now there's something to ponder on, Toni. I wonder what Denton'll do now that he's home? He's got that babe to think of. Maybe he ought to find a wife,” Cole said carefully.

“Don't think he'll do that for a while, Cole. I think he's a little, well, bitter,” Royal said.

“He does not need a wife just to care for his baby,” Antonie said. “There is me, Patricia, Maria, and even Rosa. He brought that baby all the way from Pennsylvania, and the little boy looks fine. He may not even need our help."

“Very true. Think it's too early to start our wedding night?” Royal asked abruptly.

Blushing, Antonie gave her new husband an exasperated look, then winked at Cole who had nearly choked on his drink. “Much too early. I think we must stay with our guests for a few more hours at least. Three sounds right."

“Three hours, hmmm?"

"Sí.
Three hours."

“I think three minutes sounds better."

“How rude. What about your guests?"

“I officially hand them over to Cole's care."

She stared at him for a moment, then looked at Cole. “He is not joking, is he?"

“Nope. Don't think he is,” Cole replied.

“You've danced, been well kissed, eaten and drunk.” Royal looked at her. “Only one thing left."

“You have stopped being a gentleman."

“Right. A man can only behave himself for so long."

Quickly eluding his grasp when he reached for her, she stood up. “Five minutes. Maybe ten.
Sí,
ten."

“Why?"

“Ah, you will see. Ten minutes."

Hurriedly fetching Maria, Antonie slipped away as discreetly as possible. She needed some help getting out of all her finery. When she entered Royal's room, she had to smile. All her things were already neatly combined with his.

“He did not waste any time,” she said in amusement as Maria began to help her get undressed.

“No. The
patrón
had me start bringing your things in as soon as you were up. It was no trouble. You did not have very much,” Maria said carefully.

“It is not wise to have too many possessions when you move around a lot."

“Ah,
sí.
He did not see what was in that box."

“Thank you, Maria. I hope I won't look silly in it."

“Why would you look silly?"

Antonie patted her rounded stomach. “Pregnant and trying to look seductive?"

“You're not very big. It is the
patrón's
baby. He will not see it as bad or ugly."

Not so sure that he would not at least be amused, Antonie got out the box, opened it and slowly extracted a nightgown of sheer lavender silk. She had impulsively bought it when she had gone shopping with Patricia after the cattle drive, and was glad now. A woman should have something different and, perhaps, frivolous on her wedding night. Giggling along with Maria, she hurried to finish getting ready, for she suspected that Royal would wait ten minutes and no more, perhaps less.

“Down, boy,” Cole murmured laughingly. “Six minutes left."

“What the hell does she need to have ten minutes ahead of me for?"

“Considering the state you're in, probably to get ready to protect herself.” Cole laughed and shook his head when Royal glared at him. “Probably wants to make herself especially pretty. It's her wedding night, remember."

“I'm not likely to forget."

Clearly amused by Royal's impatience, Cole asked, “What do you want? A boy or a girl?"

“I'm not particular. Of course, if we have a girl, we don't need to have that argument about the name for a while."

“Haven't sorted that out yet, hmmm?"

“Nope. I was too busy concentrating on getting married."

“There's going to have to be a compromise, I reckon. She feels she owes Juan and wants to remember him in a way."

“Immortalize him?"

“In a way. Perhaps. The man had no children of his own. Not that he knew of anyway."

“Yes, I reckon it'll have to be a compromise. I'll have to think about it. Must be some nice neutral ground."

Royal was just about to go, although a laughing Cole told him there were still two minutes left to wait, when Maria slipped back into the room. Almost completely oblivious to the teasing that came his way, Royal left immediately. It was rather early in the evening to go to bed, but he felt that an especially long night with Antonie was just what he needed at the moment.