Randall Pride (5 page)

Again she headed for the house, and this time he didn’t try to stop her. It had been a disaster, just as he’d foreseen.

E
LIZABETH STOMPED
back to the house, pausing only once on the way to her bedroom. She stuck her head into the den where the parents were watching a movie. “Mom?” she called softly.

Her mother came to the door. “Yes?”

“I need to talk to you. Can you come by my room before you go to bed?”

Megan studied her face. “I’ll come now,” she said, stepping into the hallway and closing the door behind her.

“I don’t want you to miss your movie,” Elizabeth protested.

Megan took her hand and headed for the stairs.

Once they were in Elizabeth’s bedroom, with the door closed, Megan asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Dad asked Toby to talk to me about Cleve.”

“He didn’t!” She stared at her daughter. “I guess he did. But darling, you know it’s because he loves you.”

“I know, Mom, but it’s a little embarrassing.”

“Better to be embarrassed than to ruin your life,” Megan said quietly.

“Oh, Mom, not you, too?”

Megan grinned. “Yeah, me, too. I haven’t said anything because I think you’ll figure it out soon, unless…well, unless you’ve gotten too involved with him? You’re not pregnant, are you?”

“Mom!” Elizabeth protested. “Absolutely not!”

“Thank goodness.”

“Look, I just need some time. Will you please trust me to do the right thing?”

“You mean you’re going to—”

“I’m going to do the right thing for me. I’m asking you to trust me.”

“Of course I trust you, darling. Did Toby’s talk help you decide—”

“No! Mr. Arrogance himself called the kettle black, but I couldn’t tell much difference between the two of them.”

“Oh. Then how did you—”

“Mom, I can’t discuss anything with you. I haven’t talked to Cleve yet. Don’t you think I should discuss everything with him first?”

“I guess so. But if I could just hint to your father, I could be sure of him staying out of your business.” Megan stared at Elizabeth, hope in her gaze.

“Mom! Oh, okay, tell Daddy everything will be settled this weekend. But nothing else. Promise?”

“Of course, dear. And I’m so pleased.” Megan
kissed her daughter good-night and slipped from the room.

Elizabeth felt she’d gone a ten-rounder with all her problems this evening. With a sigh, she prepared for bed, hoping tomorrow would be a better day.

M
EGAN RETURNED
to the den less unobtrusively than she’d left.

“What did she want?” Chad immediately asked. “Did he convince her?”

“She didn’t say that. She complained about you not trusting her,” Megan told him.

B.J. immediately turned off the television. “Did Toby make her mad?”

“She didn’t say that either, but that would be my guess,” Megan said, a grin on her face.

“Hell! Why would Toby make her mad?” Jake wanted to know. “He was only trying to help her.”

Anna shook her head slowly, a big smile on her face. “All these years living with you, B.J., and he still doesn’t understand women.” All four women laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Chad demanded. “My daughter is still engaged to that idiot.”

“Your daughter sent you a message,” Megan said. “Trust her and everything will be taken care of in a few days.”

“She’s going to elope?” Chad demanded, leaping to his feet, his fists clenched.

Toby expected some fallout the next morning from Chad over his discussion with Elizabeth. Instead, his uncle patted him on the shoulder and thanked him for trying. Then he asked everyone to keep an eye on his only daughter.

“An eye out for what?” Rich asked as he swung into the saddle.

Chad looked at his brothers, then shrugged. “I think she may be planning on eloping.”

Several of her cousins protested his suggestion.

Toby cleared his throat. “What makes you think that, Uncle Chad? I know I upset her, but—” He couldn’t go on. He wanted Elizabeth married so he could come home, but he didn’t want her unhappy. And she would be if she married that jerk.

“She wants me to trust her. Says everything will be settled this weekend!” Chad growled. “What else could she mean?”

“Maybe,” Russ said hopefully, “she intends to dump him.”

“If she were going to do that, why wait?” Chad asked. “She could pick up the phone and do it in five minutes. She’s waiting because he won’t be back here until the weekend, and it’s hard to elope without a groom.”

Toby couldn’t argue with Chad’s logic. He’d like to. He’d like to think Elizabeth wouldn’t do that, but her dad was right. In this age of communication, it wouldn’t take long to tell someone to get lost.

Jake, settled in his saddle, said, “B.J. says wait. And she’s usually right.”

“All the ladies say wait,” Pete added. “Even Janie, and she’s a rancher, even if she isn’t a man. You know they’re all smart. Give Lizzie a chance, Chad. She might surprise you.”

“I hope you, and they, are right,” Chad growled. Then he gathered the men working with him, and rode off.

Toby followed Pete and the twins. They were cutting steers out of a herd for the fall market. But his mind remained fixed on Elizabeth.

“Y
OU’VE SET UP
a bachelor auction?” Abby Gaylord screamed.

Elizabeth shushed her. She didn’t think anyone could hear, since the door was closed, but they were in school, after all. “Is that all right? I had to include the twins. Then the younger ones wanted to participate. You need to decide on an age limit. Someone suggested twenty-one for legal protection.”

“But some of your cousins are in college. We’d make more money if we set it at eighteen. And of course it’s okay. It will be an incredible success! Think of all the money we’ll raise.”

“Will someone agree to participate other than Randalls? We want something the entire community will like.”

“Every single lady in the county will like it, which means every single man will love it. We’ll have a huge turnout which will raise more money for the traditional booths like darts, cake walk, all kinds of things.” Abby sprang to her feet and hugged Elizabeth. “You’re a genius!”

Elizabeth hugged her friend, then shook her head. “No, I’m not, but I’m glad you’re pleased.”

Abby immediately drew out paper and began making lists. She was highly organized. “I’ll check with the principal for an okay, then start handing out jobs. This is going to be great. Everyone in the county will start strategizing about who they want to purchase.”

“Does that include you?” Elizabeth asked. Abby had certainly dated when she was in high school. And Elizabeth assumed she had in college. But since Elizabeth had returned, she hadn’t heard any gossip about Abby’s social life.

Abby grinned. “Why not? I haven’t found anyone to fulfill my dreams, like you.”

Cleve fulfill her dreams? If she’d ever considered her romantic dreams, maybe she would’ve known ear
lier he wasn’t the one. All of Cleve’s ideas seemed to be destined to fill his dreams, not hers.

Unfortunately, all her dreams were of Toby. And he wasn’t interested.

She smiled at her friend. “If you need any help, let me know. You deserve someone special.”

Abby shielded her gaze. “I might just do that, Elizabeth. Thanks.” Then she hurried from the room.

Elizabeth frowned. Did Abby have a specific person in mind? Was it Toby? She’d been so enthusiastic about him yesterday. Elizabeth’s heart sank. That wouldn’t be easy to do. But Toby had to marry someone. Why not Abby? At least she’d fit in well with the family.

With a shrug, Elizabeth returned to her classroom. She was anxious for the week to end. She wanted to get Cleve out of her life. She wanted to reassure her father. This morning he’d glared at her several times at breakfast. Her mother had assured her everything was all right, but she wasn’t satisfied.

Her students began entering the classroom. She put aside her problems to smile at them.

“Miss Randall!” Nancy Epperhart called, racing up to her desk.

“Yes, Nancy? What is it?”

“Guess what! My mommy’s going to have a baby!”

“How exciting! When?”

“She said it would be my Christmas present! So I told her I wanted a sister.” The little girl frowned.
“She said I was getting a brother. But I don’t want a stinky boy. That’s not fair since it’s
my
present. Will you help me write a letter to Santa? He can keep his old boy. I’ll take a dolly, instead.”

Her personal problems disappeared and she began working on Nancy’s.

W
HEN
F
RIDAY AFTERNOON
finally arrived, Elizabeth packed up the papers she needed to grade that weekend, ready to get her life on track. It had been a difficult time each evening as she faced her father’s disapproval.

She’d been his pet, his only daughter, and she’d basked in his approval. She was definitely spoiled.

As she headed for her car, the school secretary stopped her. “Bill Johnson wants you to call him, Elizabeth.”

“Oh, thanks, Millie. Um, I think I’ll just stop by his office before I go home.”

What could he want? She’d told him it would be this weekend before she talked to Russ about the accounting job. She hoped she hadn’t been mistaken about Russ’s interest. But they’d talked one evening, just the two of them, and she’d gotten the impression that Russ might like a job that didn’t include cattle.

She parked in front of Bill’s office and went in. “Bill? It’s Elizabeth. Did you call?”

He met her at the door of his office, an eager expression on his face. “Yeah. Have you talked to Russ?”

“No,” she said with a sigh. “First I have to talk to Cleve, you know. He’s not here yet.”

“So maybe tomorrow?”

She smiled. “Maybe. Do you need help that badly?”

“It wouldn’t hurt. And I’ve got some more plans I want to discuss with him.”

“I promise I’ll talk to Russ as soon as I can. I’ll have him call you. And I appreciate your patience.” She gave him a smile and backed out of his office.

On the drive to the ranch, she gave thanks that Russ worked on the ranch and didn’t go into town all that often. Otherwise, as eager as Bill was, Russ would’ve known by now.

And what if Russ had no interest? He’d always done well in accounting. He’d majored in it. But that didn’t mean he’d want to do it all the time. Uncle Pete never showed any interest. Uncle Brett handled most of the numbers.

Oh dear, she might have upset everyone. Then her father would really be irritated with her.

There was no sign of Cleve’s car when she reached the ranch. She’d hoped he’d be there early and she could send him on his way before dinner. But to brighten the day, she saw the SUV that Caroline drove. She’d come home to see Toby. Maybe Victoria and Jessica, Brett and Anna’s daughters, had come with her.

The three girls, all her female cousins, were sitting in the kitchen with their mothers and aunts and Red
and Mildred. Elizabeth was closest to Caroline, of course, because they were almost the same age, but all four of them did a lot together.

After hugs all around, Elizabeth sat beside Caroline and listened to their news.

Red added a little of his own. “Your friend called, said he’d be here about six-thirty, in time for dinner.”

Drat! She’d have to eat with him. It would be rude to have Cleve drive all this way and not feed him. “Oh, uh, thanks, Red. I hope that’s all right.”

“A’course. We’re not rude to guests.” Mildred elbowed him. “What? I said I’d feed him.”

Elizabeth smiled at Mildred. “It’s fine, Mildred.”

“So you’re still engaged?” Caroline asked.

Elizabeth stared at her. Had she heard something? “Um, yes.” But not much longer.

Much to her relief, Caroline didn’t say anything else. She’d never cared for Cleve, which showed she was smarter about men than Elizabeth.

“How’s Toby?” Caroline asked, her gaze still fixed on Elizabeth.

B.J. answered. “He’s fine. I think he’s really going to stay this time.”

“I’m glad. Some of those articles I read about him make me think I don’t know my brother anymore,” Caroline complained. “It’s time he gave me some nieces and nephews.”

“And me a grandbaby,” B.J. added softly.

“We’d all like to have some babies around here,”

Janie added. “Even Casey is getting too old for me to pretend he’s my baby.”

“Did Uncle Pete talk you into letting him move to the Pad?” Caroline asked, grinning.

Janie nodded, her expression not happy.

“Casey?” Victoria asked, her tone shocked. “He’s still too— He’s fourteen, isn’t he? I remember I thought I was an adult then. I guess he deserves to move out.”

Jessica protested. “When I moved to college three weeks ago, you protested, Mom, and I’m eighteen!”

“But you’re a girl,” Anna said, then looked guilty.

“Aha! I knew you and Dad favored boys.”

“We do no such thing,” Anna said, refusing to accept that accusation. “But—but we want you to be safe. Not all men are gentlemen, like the men in our family. Especially city boys.”

“Don’t worry, Mama Anna,” Caroline said, leaning over to pat Anna’s arm. “I’m keeping a good eye on them, and I’m giving them lessons on how to handle the bad ones.”

“Thank you, Caroline,” Anna said, while her children protested the need.

Because of all the noise of their conversation, Elizabeth didn’t know Cleve had arrived early until he appeared at the back door. She drew a deep breath and stood to let him in.

“I came to the front door, but no one answered,” he complained, frowning.

“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said. “We were talking and didn’t hear your car.”

He greeted the mothers and then said hello to Caroline and the two other girls. “I got here early,” he said, as if she’d been dying for his return. “Want to go for a ride before dinner?”

For once, he’d pleased Elizabeth. She’d love to send him on his way at once, before her father returned to the house.

“Yes, thank you. You’ll excuse us, Mother?”

“Of course, dear.” There was a message in her mother’s gaze that said she hoped Elizabeth would take care of everything.

She nodded and led her fiancé out of the house.

When they got in the car, she said, “Let’s not go anywhere. I have something I have to say, and I don’t want you driving while we talk.”

“Sounds serious,” Cleve said, but his voice held no concern. Either she didn’t mean anything to him, and she kind of hoped that was it, or he had no idea what was going on.

“Oh,” he said before she could speak, “by the way, I got a return call on a job in Denver. I’m supposed to interview with them on Monday. Aren’t you pleased?”

“Uh, yes. When did you send in your application?”

“In June. They hired someone else, but that person didn’t work out. Now they’re interested in me.”

“Didn’t you tell me in June that you wanted to get
a job in Rawhide so we could be together?” She knew he’d told her that. She’d been so impressed that he cared about her that much.

He shrugged his shoulders. “The firm in Denver turned me down.”

Disgusted, she shook her head. “I’m not going to Denver.”

“Of course you are. You go where your husband does. That’s the way it goes.”

“Which means I’m not going to marry you.”

He laughed. “Come on, babe, where are you going to find a better husband here? They’re all a bunch of hicks who’ll never go anywhere.”

She’d felt guilty, backing out of their engagement, but not now. “Any of these hicks,” she said softly, “are honest and trustworthy, kind and gentle.” Okay, she could remember a few who didn’t fit those qualities, but most of them did.

“But they won’t get anywhere in the world. I’m going to make a mark. And you’ll be with me.”

“No, I won’t.”

“Your father will disagree. He’ll expect you to go with me. That’s what women are supposed to do.”

“My father will celebrate if I dump you. I’m not going to marry you, Cleve. I realized it last Monday night. I tried to tell you on Tuesday morning, but you hurried back to Laramie. I waited until you came back to tell you in person, but I won’t change my mind. You’d be very unhappy with me. And I’d be very
unhappy with you. So, let’s call it quits in a civil manner.”

He stared her. “You’re serious? After me investing all this time and energy in you? We’ve been dating for almost six months!”

“I thought I—you were very nice.”

“Of course I was. You wouldn’t let me touch you! But I figured your family money would make it worthwhile!” he snapped.

“My family’s money has nothing to do with me.”

“Of course it does. We’ll receive good gifts. Maybe a loan if we need it, and when they die—”

She reached for the door handle. “Go away. I don’t ever want to see you again.”

His hand grabbed hers as she tried to open the door. “Don’t think you’re going to walk away, lady. You owe me. I didn’t even get sex out of you. I had to find ladies not so particular. I had to sneak around. I’m not letting you go without paying me something.”

It didn’t quite occur to Elizabeth what he was demanding as payment until he ripped her blouse half off her and grabbed one breast.

“What are you— Stop! No, don’t touch me!”

He ignored her and hauled her against him, his mouth covering hers. She wrenched away and screamed. He slapped her across the face. She began fighting in earnest, realizing he intended to rape her. And she continued to scream.

T
HEY’D QUIT
a little early because it was Friday night. Chad still suspected something was going to happen and he wanted to be there. And Jake was sure Caroline was coming in from school. And Brett figured his girls would come with Caroline. And if they were taking off early, so was everyone else.