The Cowboy Who Strolled Into Town (24 page)

Roberta giggled "That he does"

"Your next two however are pose a little bit more of a challenge. You favorite color could most absolutely be rose-petal pink. It certainly would complement your complexion. I see how you would receive streams of compliments whenever you wear the shade. But, perhaps you did not wish to reveal a personal secret to me, and so you lied about your favorite color. Even if only the shade. You might adore pink, but a deeper magenta that matches your personality."

Roberta remained stone-faced. She did not want to give anything away. Roberta was competitive and it would give her a little thrill to be able to deceive this powerful man.

"Now as for being in love, any woman who is as beautiful as you would most undoubtedly have a string of suitors, I have no doubt that you have ever to experience a Friday night at home alone without having turned down three men willing to wine and dine you. But, to be loved is quite a different thing than being in love. As much as I want to believe that you have not had to go through life without ever being in love, I am going to go out on a limb and say the other truth is that you have never been in love. Am I right?"

"You are", Roberta said amazed. "My favorite color is gold."

"My turn" Jeremy said then he crossed his legs and tapped his forehead as he pondered what truths and lie to reveal. Roberta leaned forward in anticipation.

"Here we go Roberta. One- I never go sailing because I get dreadfully seasick. Two- I prefer the taste of molasses over the taste of caviar. Three- The one thing I have yet to accomplish and fear that I never will, is to be a father. Take your time"

Roberta took her time. She did not wish to pontificate aloud as she reasoned through the two truths and a lie. She was silent for several minutes. Jeremy sat patiently in the chair and did not pressure her to make a quick decision.

"You don't strike me as the kind of person who gets seasick." she said "I'll bet you that your stomach is as tough as nails.

"You got me!" Jeremy exclaimed, and as he did Roberta was briefly saddened. How distressing it was that she had never been in love and that Jeremy had not yet fulfilled his desire to become a father. How out of the ordinary that she felt the need to reveal the truth to this stranger that she had not admitted to anyone else. She had not even told Marianna that she had never been in love. Marianna seemed to fall in love with a new man every other week, and revealed to Roberta the deepest feelings of her heart, never noticing that Roberta seemed to avoid the subject of love altogether. She could barely even admit it to herself. She had been so successful in life. She had made her living, and an enviable one at that, by planning the ceremony that joined two people in love together for life. Every day she met with people who were so in love, that they were willing to spend the rest of their lives with another person. Roberta wondered for the first time if she had chosen her occupation in order to bask in the light of the love of others in order to fill the void in her heart.

"Is it too late to join in on the fun?" a feminine voice asked and Roberta went rigid in anticipation and fear.

"Of course darling" Jeremy replied." Roberta, it is my pleasure to introduce you to my love, Cynthia."

"We've met" Roberta answered. Jeremy didn't look surprised.

"But I left before revealing my true identity." Cynthia said. She was dressed in a black silk dressing gown. It made an interesting contrast. Her light skin covered in black and Roberta's darker complexion enclosed by white. Cynthia's robe hung loosely from her slender frame while Roberta's pajama set hugged her curvy flesh.

Jeremy refilled Roberta's glass and poured one for Cynthia. Roberta gratefully drank. She was beginning to feel light headed and enjoyed the sensation. Cynthia sat cross legged on the floor in front of Roberta. She insistently patted the floor next to her and beckoned for Jeremy and Roberta to join her.  They obeyed.

"First- I love Jeremy with all of my heart. Second- I would stay devoted to him if he lost all of his money" Roberta hoped that Cynthia had chosen to reveal her two truths first. It would not make sense if either of those were a lie. They seemed to go hand in hand. Roberta could not imagine that a man as handsome and strong as Jeremy could be left for something as common as money. Cynthia seemed to be able to take care of herself. Roberta would not be surprised if she were to discover that Cynthia was worth twice as much as Jeremy Leon. Roberta braced herself for the lie." Third- I think that you are the softest, most beautiful thing I have ever seen." and she caressed Roberta's cheek before planting a soft but loaded kiss on Roberta's lips.

Roberta's head was spinning, but she was sure that it was not from the amber liquid this time. She felt herself kissing Cynthia back, and enjoying the sensation. Cynthia pulled back and Jeremy leaned in and kissed her as well. Roberta felt the contrast of his masculine lips to Cynthia's more delicate ones. She enjoyed both. She was confused. She pulled back.

"Do not over think it darling." Cynthia said "You are so beautiful. So utterly irresistible that Jeremy and I must both have you." She lifted her nightgown over her head and leaned in for another kiss. Roberta could feel Jeremy's mouth on her breasts and then trail down to her stomach. His hands and Cynthia's hands were greedily searching her body. She felt the contrast of Cynthia's delicate slender hands, smooth and soft to Jeremy's larger, rough hands that greedily dug into her skin. She decided to give into the moment, and when she did she felt a rumbling begin to grow in the back of her throat. Cynthia leaned her head back and heard a noise emit from her lips that could only be described as a purr.

When it they were finished. Jeremy and Cynthia wordlessly led Roberta back to her room. They each kissed her once again and then Roberta laid down on the pale pink duvet and fell fast asleep.

When she awoke in the morning, Roberta felt odd. She had a churning in her stomach that she had never experienced before. Roberta did not think that it was guilt that she was feeling. What had happened last night between the three of them had felt so good, so right. Roberta had never felt so desired in her life. All of her past boyfriends had tried their best in bed, but had never quite satisfied her the way that Cynthia and Jeremy had last night. She decided that she was most likely hungry, and could do with a bit to eat so she got up and out of bed. Henderson had left her a breakfast tray with an omelet, fresh strawberries, and toast. The only thing that looked appetizing was the toast. Roberta ate it dry and washed it down with some lukewarm tea. What was wrong with her, she hoped that she wasn't getting the flu. That was the last thing that she needed. She had a wedding to plan.

Roberta took another long bath and got dressed. She opted for lose linen pants and a gauzy button-down shirt. She put a pair of golden dangling earrings on that always made her feel beautiful. Her mother had always taught her that the best way to start feeling better was to get dressed and go to work.

Roberta looked around for the leather binder that contained all of Jeremy's desires for the wedding. She could not remember where she had placed it last night. She could not even remember the last time that she had seen in. She searched the room for it but it was nowhere to be found. Roberta decided that she would have to ask Henderson if he had seen it. She hoped that perhaps he had taken it when he dropped off her breakfast tray. Maybe Jeremy had instructed him to make a few last minute changes. She felt guilty that she had been at the estate for almost 24 hours and did not yet even know the color scheme for the wedding.

Roberta went to open the door and stepped on something that made a crinkling noise beneath her foot. It was a letter. She stooped down and picked the letter up. Her name was on the front, written in elegant calligraphy. The stationary was weighty and expensive. It had seen sealed with an old-fashioned was seal. Roberta broke the seal open and read the letter.

              Roberta,

              You are the loveliest woman that I have ever met. I do not regret one moment                                                of what transpired between us last night and hope that you will feel the same. It                              is because I care for you so, and sense that you have an understanding heart, that                              I feel I need to confess the truth to you. I knew all along of Jeremy's plans for a                                            secret wedding. I love him and only wish to make him happy. That is why I cannot                            marry him. This is my great sadness, the misery of my life. Jeremy wants nothing                                                    more than to give life as a father. He wants to pass on his wealth and love to a son or                  daughter. He would be the most wonderful and caring father. I think that he has been               patiently waiting for this pivotal milestone for as long as he can remember. I cannot                             fulfill that wish.  That is my deepest secret.

              I am not able to carry his child. When I discovered this flaw in my body, I did everything                 that I could to correct it. I saw specialists, spiritual advisors and psychics. Nobody could                             help. That is when I found you. I searched for a woman who was the opposite of me. I               hoped that a woman who had a soft and beautiful body would be strong enough to               carry Jeremy's child.

              I have been watching you Roberta. I hope that does not scare you, but you deserve to                            know the truth.  I hired detectives to trail you. I employed hackers to infiltrate your               data. I read every email, every text. I had to be sure that you not only had a strong body,               but a kind heart as well. I knew that you were not in love with your boyfriend. A woman               can tell. 

              After I had thoroughly investigated you and made my decision, I sought Henderson's                             help. He loves Jeremy as much as I do. Together we planted the seed of a secret wedding               into Jeremy's mind.  We knew that it would be the only way for you to meet. He cares               for you; a woman can sense that as well. He might not yet know the depth of his               emotion, but I assure you that a spark was ignited last night. I am so glad that we could               join together, all three of us in one final act of love. I like to know that I was present at               the moment that Jeremy became a father. I believe that you are carrying his child               Roberta. Thank you for doing this for him. For fulfilling a desire that I could not. You will               never know the depths of my gratitude.

              I took the wedding folder when I left this note. I watched you sleep. You looked so               peaceful. I have also written Jeremy a letter, explaining the situation to him. I am leaving               Roberta. I am disappearing into the night and neither you nor Jeremy will ever find me.               So please do not try. Perhaps I will come back someday, if I can bear it. Just know that I               love you both as I love your unborn child.

              All my love,

              Cynthia

Roberta read the letter mechanically, and then she read it again this time allowing the emotions of every word sink in. She then folded it carefully and lovingly, then slipped in into her bag. Could what Cynthia was telling her be true? Was she carrying Jeremy's child? She could not help but hope that it was somehow true. Her hand gently touched her stomach as a smile crept over her face. She had not ever even thought about becoming a mother before. Perhaps this was because she had not yet met anybody who she wanted to make a father. She wanted to make Jeremy a father. Roberta laughed to herself. This was the craziest 24 hours she had ever experienced.

She again padded down the familiar route to the kitchen. She had butterflies in her stomach. What would she say if she met Jeremy there again? She had met and cared for Cynthia after only knowing her for a few short hours. Cynthia had been the love of Jeremy's life, the woman that he wanted to bestow a lavish surprise wedding on, in the hopes that she would agree to spend the rest of her life with him.

Jeremy was not in the kitchen, only the cook and kitchen staff. Busy as bees cleaning up the mess of the morning's breakfast while preparing for this afternoon's lunch. When they saw her they only paused briefly, calling her ma'am and nodding their heads with a smile after the ascertained that she needed nothing from them. She went to Henderson's office and knocked on the door. There was no answer. She attempted to turn the handle, but it was locked.

Roberta made her way back to the lounge. Back to the place that had been the set of the most poignant and beautiful moment of her life. She opened the door and discovered that she was not the alone in the desire to return. Jeremy was sitting in his leather chair. He was holding a crumpled up letter, written on the same expensive stationary that Roberta's had been. Tears were streaming down his face. He looked up at her with such pain in his eyes. Roberta knew that she would do anything if it meant that she could take that pain away. She walked over to him. He sunk down to the floor. She perched on the chair behind him and began to wordlessly stroke his hair. It was as softer than she imagined it would be. Every stroke seemed to increase her love and desire for this man. With every stroke, she had to admit to herself that she was finally falling more and more deeply in love with Jeremy. He looked up at her and finally spoke.

"Do you think it could be true?"