Return of the Fox

by Pamela Gibson

  What business could he have there?

  She wished now she had not been so cool during their trip back to the rancho. He’d mentioned a plan, but she’d been so consumed with jealousy she hadn’t bothered to ask him more. Perhaps when he returned he’d tell her.

  Her housekeeper stood in the doorway.

  “You have visitors, señora.”

  Not Drake Logan, not when Gabriel is away!

  “It is Señora Grainger and her great-aunt. They arrived in a fine carriage.”

  Relief swept through her. “Show them into the sala and bring refreshments.”

  “Si, señora.”

  She’d been expecting Gabriel’s family to pay a visit. She closed the strongbox and straightened her clothing. Sorina still thought the marriage was real. For now she must continue the subterfuge. Hopefully, Sorina had not told Tía Consuelo about her supposed pregnancy.

  The women sat on the long sofa and chatted amiably. Sorina looked beautiful in a blue muslin gown in the latest fashion, her hair in her usual braids crisscrossed on top of her head.

  “There you are.” Sorina stood and rushed over, her arms outstretched.

  Isabella hugged her back. “You’re still here. I thought you’d be away on your journey by now.”

  “Lance is touring our modest ranch with Grandfather today and tomorrow. I thought it would be a good time to bring Tía Consuelo here. She’s been pestering me ever since I told the family about your marriage.”

  “We are thrilled, my dear.” Tía Consuelo patted the seat next to her. “Come sit down. I’m curious about why you were not married properly in a church.”

  Isabella swallowed and slanted a glance at Sorina. Sorina raised her eyebrows and shook her head, indicating she had not repeated the reason she’d been given.

  Tía Consuelo sighed. “What was that scapegrace nephew of mine thinking? I am so cross. He should not have forced you into a hasty marriage. My brother would have been honored to provide a lavish wedding for you.”

  What could she say? She couldn’t reveal the danger. She placed her hand on the elderly woman’s arm and repeated her lie. “Your nephew was quite eager to wed and didn’t want to wait for the banns. Perhaps he thought I might change my mind.”

  That was close to the truth.

  “Well. I cannot hide the fact the news was shocking, and there will be a scandal.” She pulled out a handkerchief she had tucked in her sleeve and dabbed at her eyes. “Sorina assured us it was perfectly legal. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t have Señor John Forster marry you in San Juan Capistrano. He was elected alcalde two months ago. I’m sure he would have performed the deed.”

  Isabella’s mind whirled with responses, settling on one that might be believable. “Actually, he is very devout, is he not? We were not sure he would want to perform a civil ceremony. He would have advised us to wait and marry in the church.”

  “I believe his wife is the one who is devout. He became a Catholic in order to marry her. But you may be right.”

  She twisted the piece of crocheted lace in her hand.

  Catalina arrived with a tray of sweets, followed by the housekeeper with the tea and cups. Isabella handed out tea, passed the tiny cakes, and changed the subject.

  “How is your school progressing, Sorina? Will it be in session while you are in Monterey?”

  “I have twenty children, mostly girls, who are apt pupils. The subject matter is very basic, but while I am away, I am going to search for more books. The older children are learning to read very quickly, and I need more than the books I brought with me from England.”

  “Please let me know if I can help. My parents did not think it necessary for a female to receive formal education, but I disagree.”

  “I’d appreciate the help. Times have indeed changed.” Sorina sipped her tea and put down her cup. “Reading and writing is going to be essential for survival among the Americans. I want the children who live on my ranch to be able to read documents, sign their names, and to think for themselves. I am also teaching them English.”

  “A waste of time.” Tía Consuelo sniffed. “They should learn useful things like sewing and cooking.”

  “I am not neglecting that kind of training, Tia. I want them to have more choices when they grow up.”

  “Where is Gabriel?” His aunt scanned the room as if he were hiding behind a cabinet.

  “He had business in the village.”

  “Then he shall have to wait to hear my wonderful news. I came here to tell you both, but you can inform him when he returns.” Tía Consuelo smiled and took Isabella’s hand in her warm one. “Now that you are settled, we hope you will be remarried. This time in the church at the mission. It is your home parish, and Father Ordaz still performs marriages there, even though Señor Forster now makes the mission his home.”

  Now what do I say? The marriage is temporary, and we will not need to be married in the church?

  She squeezed Tía Consuelo’s hand and nodded. “What a lovely idea. I shall be sure to let Gabriel know as soon as he arrives.”

  “Wonderful.” Sorina clapped her hands and rose, nodding at her great-aunt. “We must be off, Tia. There will be many preparations to make.” She turned to Isabella. “As soon as you inform Gabriel, let us know. You will want to choose a date in the near future. Lance and I will return from our trip as soon as we can. I do not want to miss this event.”

  Breathless, Isabella stayed seated as they took their leave. What was she going to say to Gabriel? This was his family. Hopefully he would know what to tell them because she did not.

  ~ ~ ~

  Gabriel took his purchases straight to the stable and unloaded them in an empty stall. He’d been able to get shiny rocks with gold flecks from a display in Manuel Garcia’s general store, along with a large pan used for pozole.

  Of course I’ll be using it for something else.

  After removing his saddle and feeding his horse, he left the stable and went into the back door of the house. He smelled of horse and sweat and was not fit to be in the presence of his fastidious wife.

  He reached his room, finished his ablutions, and changed his clothes. Taking a small box out of his pocket, he loped down the stairs and found his wife sedately drinking tea in the sala.

  “There you are, my love. I thought I’d find you in the study, pouring over account books.”

  “I was interrupted by visitors. By the way, you just missed them.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Who was it?”

  “Your niece and your aunt. They had news.”

  He wandered over to the nearly empty tray and popped two small cakes into his mouth. “What was it?”

  “Your father and aunt want us to remarry in the church at Mission San Juan Capistrano. In fact, they’ll begin making arrangements as soon as next week.”

  He choked and searched the room for a water jug, spying only the brandy decanter. He poured himself a glass and brought it over to the sofa, sitting next to her. “When do they want this happy event to occur?”

  “As soon as the banns are read.” She put down her cup and took the glass from his hand, taking a hefty swallow. “What are we going to do, Gabriel?”

  Her distress alarmed him. She seemed determined to dissolve the marriage once the danger was past. He’d hoped to woo her into keeping him around long enough to make her fall in love with him again.

  But her safety came first. The plan he and Mitchell had concocted would go forward.

  “I’ll speak to my father—privately—in a day or two. He didn’t come with them?”

  “No, he was showing Lance Sorina’s ranch boundaries.”

  “Then make that the end of the week. When my sister married, he carved out over ten thousand acres from Rancho de Los Lagos. It will
take more than two days to see it all.”

  She averted her eyes. “Thank you. It would ease my mind.”

  It would not ease his, not until he knew Isabella was no longer at risk.

  “What did you do in town?” She cocked her head.

  “I’m glad you asked, querida.” He reached in his vest pocket and pulled out a small box. It contained a vial of perfume. “Rosewater, right? I know you favor that scent.”

  She opened the bottle and sniffed. “Lovely. Thank you, Gabriel. I know that isn’t the only reason you went into town.”

  She was going to make him lie.

  “I visited a few watering holes to see if there was any talk of gold. There wasn’t.” He’d also ridden over to Juan Avila’s ranch to leave instructions with Mitchell that formulated their strategy. Isabella didn’t need to hear that part. He finished the brandy and turned to face her on the sofa. “Tell me what kept a frown on your face yesterday. If looks were daggers, I’d be in my grave.” He reached out and touched the silky skin of her jaw.

  She sighed but didn’t shrug away. A good sign.

  “You reeked of scent, Gabriel, and it wasn’t rosewater. I couldn’t believe you hastened to another woman’s bed on your wedding night.”

  “Ahh, I see.”

  She lowered her head and grasped her hands tightly in her lap. “Who is she, Gabriel? Is it that Montero woman?”

  “Her given name is Lolita.” Isabella’s hands were now almost white in her lap. “She is Slade’s woman.”

  “What?” She seemed started. He hoped his grin was wide enough to dispel the jealousy he’d witnessed. Perhaps she cared about him after all.

  “Lita is an unusual woman. She flaunts her charms and unabashedly tries to seduce anyone she thinks might be useful to her. I knew her years ago, but she does not interest me now, my love.”

  “Why did you seek her out?”

  “Sometimes the users can be used. I needed a piece of information to get back to Slade. Lita was my best shot.”

  Isabella leaned back against the cushions and nodded. Her relaxed posture was a relief.

  “This information, it has to do with your plan?”

  “Yes, but not all the details are worked out yet. When they are, you and I will have a thorough discussion.”

  She smiled, pecked him quickly on the cheek, and rose, extending her hand. “Come with me to the study. I’ve made some discoveries about the rancho’s finances.”

  “Lead the way.”

  God, how he loved this woman. Would he ever be able to earn her trust again?

  The plan was in place, but he couldn’t share it. Her life was in danger, and he’d stop at nothing until the peril was gone.

  Chapter 27

  Thick morning clouds covered the sky. Isabella stood amid a field of golden mustard, a steaming cup of chocolate in her hand. Last night, she and Gabriel spent a productive evening discussing the ranch. At bedtime, they’d gone to their separate bedchambers. Gabriel had seemed tense. Worry lines had marred his forehead.

  She’d risen early and taken a short walk, knowing she shouldn’t be out alone, but driven by an instinct as old as time. Something was amiss. She felt it in her gut.

  The hills in the distance seemed peaceful today. Cattle grazed on one of the hillsides, and a soft breeze ruffled her hair. Beyond were the tall, pine-covered mountains and the headwaters of the river. Somewhere out there Logan and his friends believed gold hid in the earth.

  Men were so foolish.

  She made her way back to the compound and tried to think rationally about her future. She passed through the vegetable garden with its crop of squash ready to be harvested and headed toward the stables. Activity was generally brisk around the corrals in the morning. The calves born in the spring were now old enough for branding. Several vaqueros practiced roping in anticipation of the rodeo that would take place to mark the herd. Without fences, only brands identified ownership of cattle. An elected juez de plano, or judge of the plains, oversaw the rodeos required by law to mark the herds.

  She stopped and studied the ruins of the storehouse. Perhaps with settlers coming to California, the market for hides and tallow would rise. She would discuss it with Gabriel.

  If he still plans to be here.

  She twisted the gold wedding band on her finger as she entered the barn. A dozen saddle horses, and two used solely to pull the carriage, poked their heads over the stall doors to eye her curiously. One of the mares, who should soon foal, lay in the corner of her stall.

  This ranch was hers, with its thirty-room house and scattered buildings where she employed skilled workers who made shoes, harnesses, hats, clothing, candles, saddles, and other items used on the ranch. If she sold this place, who would employ her wool combers, tanners, cheesemakers, carpenters, and a myriad of others who called Rancho de Los Arboles home? Certainly not the Americans who had no appreciation for the self-sufficiency of the vast ranchos of Alta California.

  The people who lived and worked on this beautiful piece of land represented a culture she hoped would survive. Gabriel had compared it to the defunct feudal societies of Europe and cautioned her that change was inevitable.

  Now to find Gabriel and discover why her stomach seemed to be tied in knots today.

  Where was everyone?

  Juan was not about, nor was Pablo. He’d gone back to Rancho de Los Lagos yesterday with Sorina and her great-aunt. The barn area was totally devoid of activity, and Gabriel’s horse was not in its stall. Perhaps it was in the corral. Could he be riding?

  She returned to the house to find steaming dishes of eggs, chorizo, and sweet breads placed on the sideboard of the dining room. Only one place was set. Had Gabriel eaten already?

  She dashed up the stairs and knocked softly on his door. Turning the knob, she entered. His bed was rumpled, but he was not in it. Walking through the room, she opened the door of the veranda to see if he was there.

  Where could he have gone this morning?

  The clothes he wore yesterday lay over the back of a chair. She opened the armoire and found two clean shirts. A towel was thrown on the bottom. Men were so untidy.

  A filmy red cloth slipped onto the floor as she picked up the towel. She stared at it for a second before bending to pick it up. It was a woman’s garment, a nightgown of sorts. As sheer and soft as fine silk.

  It was not hers.

  She dropped it as if it was a snake. Whose was it? A keepsake from his former lover? She fought the urge to pick it up to see if it smelled like violets. Pain and a new emotion swamped her. Anger.

  Had he lied to her yesterday about his visit to Lolita? If not, had he visited another woman?

  Gabriel was still as wild as he’d always been. He had not changed.

  She stomped out of the room and swept past the two maids who had come up to empty chamber pots. Where is he?

  Bursting into the cocina, she startled the cooks who were plucking chickens for the evening meal.

  “Have any of you seen Señor Vega this morning?”

  A young scullery maid came forward, her eyes downcast. “He came through the cocina when I was preparing the morning fires, señora. He drank coffee and ate a bit of pan dulce and went out.”

  Fueled by the need to give him a sharp setdown, Isabella made her way back to her room, changed into a riding habit, and headed back to the stables. She would find someone to tell her where he’d gone. Surely someone was about who would know.

  The sun was higher now, and the clouds thin. This time when she entered the stables, she found Juan fixing a harness.

  “Have you seen Señor Vega this morning?” She knew her voice was overloud, but she couldn’t help it. She wanted to kick something, throw something, beat on something—a chest. Gabriel’s chest.

&n
bsp; Her majordomo held a frayed leather bridle, apparently unaware of her turmoil. “He took out his horse early, señora. I believe he said he was heading for the falls.”

  “Was anyone with him?”

  “No, señora. He rode alone, but he said he was expecting Señor Mitchell. If he came to the house instead of the falls, I was to send him straightaway.”

  He went back to his work.

  Up in the hills? Mitchell? What was going on?

  “Please saddle my horse. It’s such a fine morning, I believe I’ll ride as well.”

  “Do you wish me to send Manuelito with you? Señor Vega said you should not ride alone, and it is a trip that will take several hours.”

  “It’s not necessary. I’ll meet my husband at the waterfall and ride back with him.”

  “Very well.”

  She hurried into the tack room and found the wooden box where an odd assortment of weapons were kept. There wasn’t time to open the safe and retrieve Tomas’s prized pistols. They would be too heavy for her anyway. But she needed something. She didn’t want to be a helpless target again.

  She studied the weapons and chose one she thought she could handle, but the minute she touched the cold metal, a vision of blood flashed before her. She swayed, shook it off, and breathed slowly and deeply until she was back to normal. She picked up the gun and held it in her hand to get used to the feel of it, then checked it as her father had taught her, to be sure it was loaded, before sticking it in her waistband. She’d known how to load and fire a weapon since the age of twelve, always practicing with objects. She’d hated the guns, but Papa had been adamant. They lived in dangerous times. Young girls needed to know how to protect themselves.

  She closed the box and headed outside. When she emerged, the horse was ready.

  Riding calmed her and allowed her to think. It was at least a two-hour ride up to the head of the stream, and she wouldn’t be foolish and ride out in the open. She would keep to the trees and try to figure out why Mitchell was expected. What was Gabriel doing up there? Surely he wasn’t going through with the plan to make himself some kind of target.