Heart Of Texas (Historical Romance) (22 page)

The three Hamiltons watched Kate withdraw her
new glasses out of a decorative box jenny had
made for them.

"I do declare," Kate said, looking pleased. "As I
live and breathe, spectacles."

"Try them on," Jenny said, grinning. "Casey says
when you wear those, you can read all by yourself."

Casey hoped that would be the case. She knew
that people had different sight problems. "Go
ahead, Kate, try them."

The little woman slipped them on and blinked.
"Everything's fuzzy."

Sam picked up the book that was lying on the
end table. "Mr. Finnegan said they were just for
reading. See if you can see the words on the
page."

Kate took the book, and her head snapped
back. "Lord o' mercy! Those words just jumped
right off the page at me." She sat down and ran her hand over the page, then glanced up at the
three of them. "I can't thank you enough. You've
given me back my sight. I never thought I'd read
another word."

Jenny scooted onto the chair beside Kate.
"Read to me from your book."

Casey motioned for Sam to follow her outside.
When, they stood on Kate's porch, she said, "I
heard Mr. Slaughter paid us a visit yesterday afternoon."

"He rode up just like he owned the place, demanding to see Gabe."

"I think it's time I put a stop to this." She
stepped off the porch and walked toward the
house. "It's time I paid a visit to Mr. Slaughter."

Sam walked along beside her. "You don't mean
you're going to the Casa Mesa ranch?"

"That's exactly what I'm doing."

"I don't like the sound of that. And Gabe won't
like you going over there either."

She turned to stare at her brother. "It's time we
took matters into our own hands and stopped relying on Gabe."

Sam looked puzzled; he had never heard Casey
speak that way about Gabe since he had come to
work for them. "I'm going with you," he insisted.

She nodded. "This afternoon when everyone is
busy elsewhere, hook up the buckboard." When
they reached the house, her hand rested on the
screen door. "Don't tell anyone, not even Will
Fletcher, where we're going."

"Because you know they would try to stop you,
and you know they'd be right."

"Ask Kate if she'll watch jenny for us."

She went into the house, leaving Sam puzzled
by her strange behavior.

Casey had just slid an apple pie into the oven
when she heard a rap on the screen door. She
knew it was Gabe before she looked up and saw
him standing there.

"May I come in?"

The sound of his voice sent tremors through
her, and she remembered the sensations she had
felt when he'd made love to her the night before.
Fearing he could read her thoughts, she blushed.
She was determined to avoid those silver eyes that
were so intently focused on her. She glanced up
just high enough to concentrate on the top button of his green shirt. "Yes. Of course," she told
him.

When he moved toward her, she backed up
against a chair. "Jenny said you came by earlier."

Then she made the mistake of looking into his
eyes. She couldn't speak, because she was remembering how he had held her in his arms so passionately. She wanted badly to rekindle the fire
that had burned inside them both when they had
made love.

"I just wanted to see if you were all right." His
manner was terse, and there was no warmth in his eyes, no acknowledgment at all that they had
been so close. He wouldn't even meet her gaze.

She lifted her chin, crushed by disappointment.
"There is nothing wrong with me."

"I have to go away for a few days. I just wanted
to tell you that what happened between us last
night was a mistake-my mistake."

She wanted to cry; she wanted to beat against
his chest until he admitted last night had meant
something to him. "You don't have to worry,
Gabe." She gripped the back of a chair, and her
fingernails bit into the soft wood. "It won't happen again."

"Casey..." He took a step toward her. "It's not
like that. I meant it was a mistake for you, not for
me. What I did to you... I couldn't sleep last
night for thinking about us."

"If there is nothing else you need, Gabe, I have
housework to do."

He stood there, devastated because he had hurt
her. He never knew what to say to her because he
felt so much. His problem was expressing how
deeply he felt. And he was afraid if he let down
his defenses, he'd be swamped by his need for
her.

He reached out and took her hand, rubbing his
thumb across it. "I want to kiss you."

Casey's head went up, and her lips parted in
invitation. He dragged her into his arms, clasping
her close. Gabe's mouth hungrily covered hers,
and he felt her soften all over. He guided her against the wall and pressed his hard body against
her.

Even though she knew she should move away
from him, Casey whimpered and ground her body
against his. She could not deny her need for him.

He pulled back long enough to unbutton the
front of her gown, shoving her petticoat aside so
one of her breasts was exposed. His lips touched
the nipple reverently, and then he took it into his
mouth, swirling his tongue around it and feeling
it swell.

She bit her lower lip and threw her head back,
grabbing a handful of ebony hair to keep her
earthbound.

Gabe raised his head, his heated gaze locked
on her face. "I want you."

She nodded. "I know."

He shoved her gown up, his hand sliding up
her leg and then moving to her thigh, his finger
sliding into her warmth.

Casey couldn't breathe. Her head fell against
his shoulder, and she started sobbing.

With a concerned frown, he withdrew his hand
and straightened her gown. "Don't, sweetheart-
don't. I can't stand to see you cry. I didn't mean
for this to happen. I'm sorry."

"I want to be with you, but not like this."

"I know. It's just... when I'm near you, I have
to touch you."

She wiped her tears on the back of her hand.

"When you decide where you want me in your life,
I'll be waiting."

He stared at her for a long moment, as if he
were memorizing her every feature. "I have to go
now.

"Then go!"

"If this wasn't so important, I wouldn't leave
you. We'll talk when I get back."

He had opened the door and started to leave
when she said, "How long will you be gone?"

He stopped, turned, and stared at her as if he
had wanted her to say something more. "At least
two days, maybe three. But you needn't worry.
Omous and Flint will be watching out for you
while I'm gone."

"Have a safe journey."

"Casey, don't let your personal feelings for me
get in the way of your family's safety. Let the men
protect you."

She stared up at him. "Was there anything else
you wanted to say to me-any other mistakes you
made with me?"

He stepped back inside, allowing the door to
slam behind him. "I have so much to say to you,
it would take hours." He reached toward her, and
when she pulled away he let his - hand drop to his
side.

She pulled the chair away from the table and
sat down. "Last night I thought something special
happened between us. Was I wrong?"

He started to speak and then shook his head as if he were struggling for the right words. "Now is
not the time to talk about that. I need to leave as
soon as possible."

He knew the sheriff wouldn't do anything to
stop Cyrus, so he was going to ride to Fort Worth
and hope the state marshal would get involved.
Someone had to stop,his father before it was too
late. "We'll talk when I return, Casey."

She watched him walk away with an ache in her
heart. No matter what he said, last night had not
been a mistake. She pressed her knuckles against
her closed eyelids. She would not cry. She would
not. She had cried too much since she had met
Gabe.

What she was going to do was settle things with
Mr. Slaughter once and for all. She was weary of
living in fear of the man.

Casey stood on the front doorstep with Sam at her
side and an apple pie in her hands. "This is really
a grand house," Sam said. "It's much bigger than
I thought. If he's this wealthy, why would he want
the Spanish Spur?"

"I don't know," Casey admitted, wishing she
hadn't decided to face Mr. Slaughter. Her hands
were shaking, and she was afraid.

She nodded, and Sam knocked on the door.
Moments later a woman, most probably the
housekeeper, answered.

"My name is Cassandra Hamilton, and this is
my brother, Sam. We have come to see Mr.
Slaughter."

The woman nodded and opened the door
wider. "He is in his office. I will take you there."

Casey and Sam exchanged worried glances.
"Into the lion's den," Sam whispered.

The housekeeper announced them, and Casey
walked right over to Mr. Slaughter's desk before
he could even stand or acknowledge them. "This
is my brother, Sam, and we have come to see if
we can talk out our problem with you. I would
much rather get along with my neighbors than
battle with them."

"Would you now?" He nodded at Sam. "So this
is your little brother."

"He's my younger brother," she corrected him.

"What have you there under the dish towel?"
he asked, propping his elbows on the desk.

"It's an apple pie," she said, setting it on his
desk and standing back. "It was my mother's recipe. I think you'll like it."

"You brought me an apple pie?" he said in
amazement, momentarily surprised by her gesture. "I don't think anyone's ever done such a
thing for me before."

"I hoped you would see it as a peace offering
from us. We are neighbors, and we should get
along. But let me repeat so there will be no misunderstanding-I will not sell the Spanish Spur
to you or anyone else."

His brows furrowed, meeting across his nose.
"And let me repeat so there will be no misunderstanding-I intend to water my herd on the river, and I intend to own all the land between here
and the Brazos."

"Then I suppose we have nothing more to say
to each other."

He leaned forward, smiling at her. It was the
first time Casey had seen any softening in his expression. "I just bet my son can't keep his hands
off of you."

She stared at him in total bewilderment. "Your
son has come home? I thought he died in the
war.

A look of amazement passed over his features.
"He hasn't told you, has he?" He laughed in
amusement. "You don't know, do you?"

She shook her head in confusion. "What?"

"My son, Gabe. He didn't tell you that I'm his
father, did he?"

"That's imposs-" She looked into his silver
eyes, and the truth hit her so hard, she felt herself
reeling. "No," she admitted in a soft cry, feeling
as if someone had just torn her heart out. "He...
Gabe didn't tell me he was your son."

"That's not true," Sam said. "Gabe would never
take your side against us."

Cyrus ignored Sam as if he hadn't even spoken.
His target was the beautiful woman who was fighting against tears. He had her now. "Why do you
suppose my son hasn't told you he's a Slaughter?"

The tears spilled down her face. "We both know
why. You sent him to spy on us." She angrily
brushed her tears away. "Both of you thought he could make me trust him so you could get your
hands on the Spanish Spur. And you might be
glad to know your plan worked very well, because
I did trust him."

Sam stepped forward, his hand on Casey's arm.
"Don't believe him. Gabe would never hurt us."

Cyrus smiled. Gabe had unwittingly played into
his hands. Miss Hamilton would never listen to
anything his son told her from this day on. "I
can't believe Kate didn't tell you my son's name
is Gabriel Slaughter."

"I thought he was... that he..."

"Was a bastard and didn't have a last name,"
Cyrus finished for her. "No. I was married to
Gabe's mother. He is my true and legal son."

Casey wanted to run away as far and as fast as
she could, but she stood her ground although her
heart was broken. "You and your son were very
clever. I should have known something wasn't
right when he was so secretive. I knew there was
something in his past he didn't want to talk about.
I never imagined what it was."

A cunning look came into Cyrus's eyes. "You
know how it is with a young man. He sees a pretty
girl and wants to impress her." He was going to
milk this situation for all it was worth. "You would
never have let him anywhere near the place if you
had known his real identity."

Casey gripped Sam's hand. "We will just be going now. I see that you are not willing to listen to
reason."

Sam planted himself in front of Slaughter. "I
think it's real mean what you and Gabe did. Don't
think you can scare my family, because you can't.
Take this as our last word-we aren't selling to
you."

Slaughter laughed. "Run along home, boy, and
play with toys. Leave the deal-making to the
grown-ups."

Casey pulled her brother against her, insulted
that Sam should be treated with such disrespect.
"You will see just how grown-up he is if you come
on our place again. You are a very rude man, Mr.
Slaughter. We are sorry we took up so much of
your time."

His laughter followed them to the door, and he
called out to her, "I just think you ought to
know-I don't like apple pie."