The Enchanted Land (35 page)

“He deserves it. Look at the way he cares for Adam. I wouldn’t trust Adam with any of the other men. They’re likely to put him down somewhere and forget him. Not Dave.”

“Must I be plagued day and night with sermons on
this man’s virtues? I’m sure if we knew all there is to know about Mr. Blake, we’d know things of which he isn’t proud.”

“I’m sure there are. But no one’s perfect. Then you really have no specific objection to Dave moving to the house? The good really does seem to outweigh the bad.”

Seth returned. “Dave, I’ve just talked to Morgan about your moving into the house, and she would be happy to have you.”

They had already discussed it! Her opinion meant nothing. Gordon ignored the look she shot him.

“I thank you very much for the invitation, Mrs. Colter. I hope I prove to be of assistance to you and your son.”

Gordon forestalled her reply. “I’ve taken the liberty of having Carol prepare your room.” Gordon again ignored the look Morgan flashed at him. “Come upstairs and I’ll show it to you. It was Morgan’s father’s room.”

Morgan didn’t follow them. She was furious with Gordon for planning all this without her consent. It wouldn’t be easy to stay away from Seth when she saw him every morning at breakfast.

Her
father’s
room? Hadn’t Gordon said that? Morgan nearly toppled the dining chair in her hurry to get upstairs. Her father’s room was next to hers, and there was a connecting door between them!

They were in the room and Morgan stared at the door that led to her room. She tried to catch Gordon’s eye, but failed.

“If you’ll excuse me, Mrs. Colter, I’ll get my gear from the bunkhouse.”

She held her tongue until she heard the downstairs door close. “He can’t have this room! It’s right next to mine!”

“Morgan, have you seen the other bedrooms in this house? The housekeeper your father and mine had when this house was built decorated every bedroom for
women, except three—the one Adam has, my room, and this one. I can’t see Dave with a pink coverlet and chintz curtains.”

“We’ll redecorate, we’ll…”

“Don’t be silly, Morgan. The door locks from both sides.” He walked to the door and demonstrated that it was firmly locked. “It’s as if there were no door.”

“It’s not the same at all,” she murmured.

“Morgan, I know it was a shock, seeing Dave for the first time. But his resemblance to someone you dislike is not his fault. The way you treat him is not fair. He’s a very warm person when you get to know him… Well, it’s been a long day.” Gordon yawned ostentatiously. “I think I’ll go to bed. I’m sure Dave can find his own room.”

“Yes, I’m sure he can.”

Gordon did not fail to note the sarcastic tone in her voice.

Locked in her own room, she removed her gown and put it away carefully. She stepped into one of her favorite nightgowns and sat before the mirror to unpin and brush her hair. She stopped in midmotion when she heard Seth enter the room next door. She listened. Drawers opened and closed. The wardrobe door clicked. She heard his boots drop to the floor.

It’s as if he’s in this room, she thought. She looked toward the connecting door. There was silence, and then she saw the light under his door go out. She went to her own bed, blew out the lamp, and snuggled under the covers. She was feeling that peaceful relaxation just before sleep comes, when the words carried through the door to her. “Goodnight,
mi querida
.” Seth’s voice was a caress. The familiar endearment relaxed her even more and she fell asleep easily.

Seth stared at the room. He was glad to be out of the bunkhouse. Every time one of those men had made a
crack about Morgan, he had had a difficult time controlling himself. Now there was only one thin door separating her from him. He was calm for the first time in weeks. He hadn’t liked the idea of her being alone in this house, alone with Gordon. Even if there didn’t seem to be a romantic love between them, she was his. He meant to keep her that way.

He laughed at himself. Now, Colter, that’s what caused all your trouble before—your possessive jealousy. This time he wasn’t going to ruin things. After the long kiss this afternoon, he knew she still felt something for him. It wouldn’t be long before that little door would open. He drifted off to sleep, confident.

Adam was awake especially early the next morning. He tumbled out of his bed, opened his door, and sleepily made his way to his mother’s room, just as he always did. Seth heard the stumbling steps and hastily donned his pants and intercepted Adam before he could pound on Morgan’s door.

Adam opened his eyes in surprise when Seth swept him up in his arms. His father put his finger to his lips and Adam understood. The little boy snuggled against the strong chest and closed his eyes. When Seth deposited his son in the big bed, Adam immediately turned on his stomach and went back to sleep. Seth removed his pants and climbed back into bed, leaving the hall door open. Soon both father and son were asleep.

When Morgan woke, she had a feeling something was wrong. She opened her eyes, frowning. The sun was up and there was a long ray of sunlight seeping in under the curtains. It was later than usual. She was so used to her son’s waking her up and then climbing into her bed and going back to sleep that she had learned to sleep through the disturbance. She turned to Adam. He wasn’t there!

Disregarding her robe, she ran from her room. The
door to Adam’s room was open, but he wasn’t in the room. Gordon’s door was closed. She was alarmed. He couldn’t disappear, not her little Adam. Tears blurred her eyes. She looked down the stairs. He could have fallen down them in his long nightshirt. She must calm herself. Maybe Roselle or Martin had taken him to the kitchen. She listened, but there were no sounds downstairs. Her hand flew to her mouth. Then she saw the bedroom door next to her own standing slightly open.

She pushed the door open, brushing away the tears in relief as she saw the little curly head just above the covers. She offered a silent prayer of thanks. She’d been so silly. She should have known that Seth’s presence would upset everyone’s life. She shut her eyes in exhaustion.

Seth opened his eyes to see Morgan standing near him. He might move his hand and clasp her waist, but he lay still. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing deeply, her breasts thrusting forward under the thin gown. The gown fit her perfectly, hugging her body closely to the waist and then flaring out softly in a bell shape. It was a deep, rich blue with long, tight sleeves that curved out at the wrist. The neckline covered her collarbone and then plunged deeply, almost to the waist, edged by cream-colored lace. Her hair was rumpled and fell about her to the waist. Never had he seen her more desirable. He caught her hand in his and her eyes flew open.

“I—” she began.

“You don’t need an excuse to be here.” She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it easily, caressing the fingertips.

“I came to find my son. He usually comes to my room. When he didn’t, I was worried.”

Seth’s eyes were gentle. He pulled her hand to his mouth. He kissed the fingertips, raking the sensitive tips across his teeth. Her scalp tightened.

“Stop it!” His grasp on her hand was firm.

“I am limiting myself to only your fingertips. I like that blue thing, especially the lace.”

Her hand covered the lace which played hide-and-seek with the soft curve of her breasts. She looked straight at him, one eyebrow arched, challenging. “Theron bought me this gown. He bought me many beautiful things.”

“Theron,” Seth murmured. “Nice man. Not your type, though. Lovely house.” He was concentrating on his pleasant task. His teeth made little bites in the palm of her hand.

“Seth, will you stop that!”

“I don’t plan to. I may stay here all day and make love to your hand. You used to love it.”

“When did you meet Theron?” She had to think of something else or her whole body might start shivering.

“When I asked him where you were. You have the sweetest little veins in your wrist.” He nibbled at them.

“Seth! Theron told you where I was? Why would he do that?” She made one supreme effort and succeeded in jerking her hand from Seth’s grasp. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself.

Seth gave a disappointed sigh and sat up in the bed. The quilts fell away to his waist, exposing his massive chest. The movement caused Adam to stir. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.

“Morgan, sit down, please, and I’ll tell you about Theron.” He nodded toward Adam, quietly staring from one parent to the other.

She sat carefully on the edge of the bed.

“I told Theron what a fool I’d been. He agreed. But I told him how much I loved you and that I wanted a chance to win you back.”

“Oh, yes, you loved me—
after
you found out I was pure.”

Adam watched his mother. He didn’t like her tone of
voice and he began to frown, her agitation scaring him.

“That’s not really true, love.” Seth’s voice was calm. “I admitted to myself a long time before I met Jessy that I loved you.” He continued before she could protest, “I would have come to you then, begged you to let me live with you. But I didn’t think you’d want me, poor as I was, not after the way you were accustomed to living, with Theron. Did I mention that I am a rich man now?”

Her look was steely. “Twenty-five thousand dollars should make you quite comfortable.”

Seth was puzzled. “Twenty-five…? Oh, the money you offered me to marry you. I told you that never meant anything to me.”

“How am I to know what to believe? Now you tell me you always loved me, but I remember some other things you said to me, such as accusing me of selling my body. You didn’t seem to love me then. Tell me this: When am I to believe you, and when am I not?”

Seth didn’t lose his slow, even smile. “I deserve your abuse. I deserve everything you have to say about me. I was a fool. I was hurt and jealous and I struck out at you.

“I want to make it up to you, Morgan. I love you and I plan to stay near you until you love me again, even if it takes years.”

“You seem confident that everything will work just as you plan. What if I told you that I loved someone else and that I couldn’t love you?” She looked toward the bedroom door.

Seth’s smile broadened. “I’ve seen Gordon kiss you, and I’ve kissed you. If you love him and hate me, then I prefer your hatred. It has more fire.”

“You—!” She struck him on the chest with her fist, but it was the same as striking an adobe wall, for all the damage it did.

Seth enclosed her fist in one of his, then encircled the
other wrist with strong fingers. He pulled her to him, crushing her helpless arms between them. He entangled his hand in her hair, cradling the back of her head. He touched his lips to hers, sweetly, and then with a demanding eagerness. He forced her mouth open. Morgan responded fully, meeting his demands with more of her own.

Adam had never seen his mother kissed before, and he wasn’t sure her moans didn’t mean Seth was hurting her. He hit Seth’s shoulder with his fists. “Mama. Mama.”

Morgan heard her son and began to return to reality, forcing herself away from Seth.

Seth extended his now-empty arms to his son, to reassure him. “I don’t know whether he’s trying to protect you or me.”

“You?”

“A little fire goddess like his mother could easily destroy a mere mortal like me.”

She raised her hand to him again, but his teasing smile reminded her of what had just happened.

Angrily, she lifted Adam into her arms. “You’re going to have a long wait if you think I’ll ever fall in love with you. I’ve made all my mistakes already.”

She heard Seth’s laughter behind her.

At breakfast, Seth ignored Morgan. Although she had planned to ignore him also, she found it infuriating that he should act as if she weren’t even in the same room.

After Seth and Gordon left, Adam played in the courtyard with his wooden ranch set. Morgan needed to finish her ledgers and promised herself that she would not even think of Seth. But she looked up sharply each time someone passed the open study door.

At lunch, Adam proudly showed his mother his gingerbread monsters, explaining them in a mixture of gibberish and words. He went back outside for a while before his nap.

Morgan went upstairs to make sure the rooms had been cleaned properly. She hesitated at Seth’s room, but then entered. His things were always neat, more so than hers ever were. She opened a drawer. He had too few shirts, and some of them needed mending. Angrily, she slammed the drawer shut. What was she doing? He was not her responsibility any longer. Let him care for his own shirts!

She ran into Carol, an armload of clean linen nearly falling from her arms. “Is anything wrong, Mrs. Colter?”

“No!” She fairly shouted at the girl. Morgan regretted it immediately, but Carol had already scurried away.

“Now he’s making me yell at the servants,” she mumbled as she hurried to her own room. Hastily, she donned her riding habit.

In the kitchen, she asked Roselle if she’d put Adam to bed for his nap, and she went outside to ride her horse. She started for her favorite place by the river, but she knew Seth went there, and she didn’t want to see him. She remembered a pond that Gordon had shown her on the first day they’d toured the ranch together. It was an especially hot day and the sun was merciless. She loosened the high neck of the habit. The mare felt the heat, too.

The pond was a wider place in the river, forming a little pool, surrounded by tall cottonwoods. Gordon had said there would be cattails later in the fall. She dismounted, leading the mare to the trees. It would be good to splash her face with water.

She was startled by the sound of several horses beyond her, near the pond. Always cautious in the untamed New Mexico wilderness, she tied her horse and went to investigate before blundering into trouble. As she rounded a tree, she saw Seth leading several mustangs to water. As the dusty horses drank, Seth dismounted and
walked to the edge of the water, letting his own horse drink.

Could she go nowhere without seeing him? She stood very still, knowing that any movement would cause him to turn and see her.