As he entered the parlor Noah was taken aback by how thin and gaunt the formerly robust Walter appeared.
“Pretty shocking, aren’t I?” Walt cracked thinly.
“I have to agree, yes.”
Lavinia looked sad.
“Docs say I have six months tops, so you and I need to talk.”
Lavinia interrupted him. “Is there a boardinghouse where we can stay? I didn’t see anything in town when we got off the train. We’ll be heading back tomorrow.”
“You’re more than welcome to be our guests here. We’ve plenty of room.”
“I’d like that,” Walt said with a smile. “Haven’t seen that beautiful mother of yours in a dog’s age.”
“She and my wife and sisters-in-law are in San Francisco but are due back later today.”
“Vini said your wife’s a foreigner?”
Noah could fully imagine how Lavinia must’ve described Pilar. “She’s Cuban, Walt. How about I have Bonnie bring some refreshments out to the patio and we can sit and talk there.”
They agreed and once they were settled, Walt said, “Beautiful place you have here.”
“Thank you. It’s all my mother’s doing.”
“I’ve yet to meet your mother,” Lavinia pointed out. “You never brought me here to meet her.”
“I’ll amend that when she returns.”
“Vini’s been spitting nails all week about your new wife. Told her years ago you weren’t going to marry her. A man’s not going to buy the cow when he can get the milk for free.” He laughed at that, which brought on a fit of coughing. He pulled out a handkerchief and dragged it across his lips.
Lavinia’s eyes burned fiercely.
Hoping to derail the embarrassing trajectory of the conversation, Noah asked, “So, Walt. What did you wish to discuss?”
“Want to sell you my shipyard if you’ll have it.”
That surprised him. “Why me?”
“Because you know ships and the sea, and you’ll do right by what I’ve built. She wants me to leave it to her but she’s a woman. No man’s going to want to do business with her, which means my yard will be broke and shuttered within a year.”
“I’ve worked in that shipyard since I was nine years old,” Lavinia protested in defense of herself. “I know the business like the back of my hand. I’ve kept the ledgers, approved drawings, planed wood.”
“Doesn’t matter, Vini. You’re not getting it. And neither is that foreigner you found. Man doesn’t know a sail from a porthole.”
“He’ll let me run things though.”
“I don’t care. Don’t like the looks of him.”
She sat back against her chair and blew out a disgusted breath.
Noah wondered who the man was. Noah would be the first to agree that Lavinia’s smarts and confidence made her more than capable of owning and running the shipyard, but unfortunately her father was correct. The times being what they were, closed-minded men would only see her gender. His mother had faced similar barriers while building the ranch, but as word spread about the quality and virility of the prize bulls she’d leveraged her last dollars to invest in, cattlemen eagerly brought their cows to Rancho Destino to be bred and didn’t care that the bulls were owned by a woman. Shipyards were a different matter. There were many quality establishments up and down the coast. If buyers or captains chose not to patronize Walt’s yard because of Lavinia’s hand on the tiller, they could take their business elsewhere and be assured of the same level of service.
For the next hour Noah and Walt talked about the shipyard’s workers, pending orders, and other aspects of the business, but as the afternoon waned, it was plain that Walt was tiring.
“How about I show you up to your room so you can rest?” Noah asked.
He sighed. “Hate that this sickness makes people coddle me like a child, but I’ll take the offer. We can finish this later. Just need to know whether you’re interested or not though.”
“I am. I’ll want to see your ledgers to make a final decision but I’m pretty confident we can work out a deal that benefits us both.”
“Good.” He struggled to his feet. Lavinia reached out to help, but he angrily pulled away and set his cane. “Quit your fussing.”
Her lips tightened.
Noah watched silently.
“Thanks for hearing me out,” Walt said to him. “Had circumstances been different, would’ve been proud to have you as a son-in-law.”
Noah offered no response and escorted them inside.
Bonnie prepared adjoining rooms for them in his mother’s wing. Once Lavinia got her father settled, she rejoined Noah on the patio and sat down heavily.
“He’s blessed to have you,” Noah said.
“Someone needs to tell him that.”
“None of us knows how we’ll respond when death stares us in the face.” For a moment memories of the island flitted across his mind. He forced them away.
She picked up her glass of lemonade. “True, I just wish he’d see clear to leave me the business.”
“It’s the times.”
“To hell with the times. I’ve given that shipyard my life’s blood and it isn’t fair. Nor is it fair that you’ve replaced me with an ill-dressed—”
“Don’t say it. I never broached marriage with you and we both know it, so for you to malign my wife in my own home is tasteless and uncalled for.”
Her chin rose. “My apology.”
And then, as he struggled to control his temper he heard the sweetest sound he had all day: “We’re back, Noah!”
Pilar’s smile as she strode towards him was all he needed to forget about Lavinia. “You look stunning,” he said. She was dressed in a fashionable well-cut ladies’ suit the color of dark sapphires and there was a saucy little hat of the same hue on her head.
Only then did she notice he had company and from the way her eyes cooled, she wasn’t pleased. To head her off at the pass, he said, “Pilar, you remember Lavinia Douglas?”
“Of course. How could I forget?” she replied with a false smile.
“She and her father are here about a business matter. He’s upstairs resting. They’ll be our guests until tomorrow.”
“Welcome to our home. I hope you and your father will enjoy your visit.”
“Thank you,” Lavinia responded tersely.
“Noah, you’ll not believe what I found. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
Whatever Lavinia was thinking she was wise enough to keep it to herself.
Pilar returned carrying something wrapped in brown paper. Due to the odd size it was impossible to guess what it might be. She set it on the table and her eyes shone excitedly as she tore the paper away. When the scabbard appeared, he laughed. “Oh my.”
“It’s so beautiful, and just the right weight.” She unsheathed the rapier, took a few swipes at the air, and her grin matched his.
Lavinia sneered. “Why on earth would you waste Noah’s good money on that?”
The point of the rapier was suddenly an eyelash away from the hollow of her throat and she froze, her eyes wide.
“Just in case I have to defend my family,” Pilar replied meaningfully. Drawing the blade down, she turned to Noah. “I’ll let you finish your business.”
She and the rapier made their exit. Noah wanted to cheer at the way she’d put Lavinia in her place.
When Pilar stalked into the house, Alanza took one look at her face and asked, “Whatever is the matter?”
“Nothing. Noah has company and she wanted to know why I’d waste his good money on this?” She raised the rapier. “So, I answered her.”
“She isn’t bleeding all over my beautiful patio, is she?”
“No ma’am.”
“Good. Bonnie told me Walt Douglas and his daughter Lavinia are here. I met him years ago. I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting her, although I know Noah kept company with her off and on over the years.”
Pilar found that news pleasing. If Noah had never
brought her to the ranch to meet his mother, he couldn’t’ve been that serious about her. Pilar told her about meeting Lavinia at the train station.
“Was she unpleasant to you?”
“Yes and she made a few snide comments about how badly dressed I was.”
“Well, truthfully, you were, but it was very rude of her to mention it aloud.”
Pilar chuckled. Walking over she gave Alanza a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for the shopping trip. I had fun.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Now, to change out of these clothes and go say hello to my horse.”
“Have fun.”
Pilar was standing by the fence watching Titan race around and the sight of him warmed her heart. She noted the saddle was gone and was pleased by that as well. Calling his name made his ears perk and he stopped running to watch her just as Logan and Eli rode up.
“Figured you’d be here,” Logan said. “Mariah said you ladies had a good time buying up everything that walked by.”
She laughed. “We did indeed. I see the saddle’s gone.”
Eli said, “We had to hobble his legs though. Pitched a fit.”
“Poor baby.”
“Some baby,” he cracked.
“What did you do with the saddle?”
“In the tack room.”
“Can it be placed in the corner of the corral instead, so he’ll get accustomed to seeing it?”
“I suppose,” Logan replied doubtfully and shared a look with Eli, whose expression mirrored his. “Where’d you learn this?”
“From my uncle.” And she told them about his employment by wealthy Cubans. “Sometimes he would sleep in the pen with the horses he was training. I knew you and Noah wouldn’t allow me to do that.”
“You’re right.”
Eli said, “Never ever heard of anybody sleeping with a horse to break him.”
“It’s not breaking, Mr. Braden. It’s training.”
“If you say so.”
Logan asked, “What’s next?”
“A few more days of sitting with him and once he knows I’m not a threat or plan to hurt him, I want to tie two long leads to his halter so that we can walk together and I can begin to voice-train him to stop and go.”
Logan studied her. “That works?”
“Yes, it does.”
“So what did your uncle do with horses that didn’t want to be broken—I’m sorry, trained—no matter how much patience he showed them?”
“Then he would do something he learned from a slave who once had a master in Texas. He’d take the horse out to deep water in the bay, mount it and make it swim and stay there until it got so tired that once it was back on firm ground, Tonio would be able to ride it.”
Logan stared.
“A horse can’t buck if its feet don’t touch the ground. According to the Texan, some of the people who live on the Gulf train horses that way.”
Eli looked astounded. “Never heard of anything like that.”
“I watched him do it more than once.”
Logan shook his head. “I’ll have to keep that one in mind. Well, we’ll leave you to your horse. Eli and I have chores to finish before dinner so I’ll see you then.”
Eli added, “My Naomi’s anxious to meet you. She and Mariah and Billie are good friends.”
“I look forward to meeting her, too.”
They turned their mounts and with a touch to their hats, rode away.
Chapter 22
The Douglases joined the family for dinner and as always it was a happy affair. The women told stories of their adventure—especially Pilar’s confrontation with the clerk over the purchase of her rapier, and the men talked about Tonio putting Drew through his paces. From where Pilar sat next to her husband, Walter Douglas seemed to be enjoying himself, though he looked very frail. He smiled kindly when the two of them were introduced, but his daughter Lavinia alternated between shooting daggers Pilar’s way and watching with what appeared to be envy as Pilar and Noah interacted and shared whispers.
They were finishing up dessert when Alanza announced, “Before we all go our separate ways for the evening, I’d like to thank Walt and Lavinia for joining us. Please feel free to visit us again.”
Walt nodded. Lavinia offered a tight smile.
“And, I have a gift to present to my newest nuera.”
Pilar gave Noah a quizzical look but he shrugged his shoulders in response.
From the pocket of her skirt, Alanza withdrew a long black velvet box and walked over and placed it on the table in front of Pilar. “Open it please.”
While everyone watched eagerly, she undid the lid and gasped at the sight of the beautiful ruby necklace inside. Her hand flew to her mouth and tears sprang to her eyes. She stared up at Alanza, who said softly, “Bienvenida a la familia.” Welcome to the family. Pilar stood and hugged her through her tears.
Noah appeared moved as well. “Thank you, Mama.”
“I gave diamonds to Mariah and emeralds to Billie and now rubies to you for your fiery spirit.” She placed a kiss on Pilar’s cheek and retired to her seat at the head of the table. At the other end, Max raised his glass to his wife and smiled.
Applause and cheers filled the dining room; even Walt Douglas clapped with enthusiasm. His daughter didn’t but Pilar didn’t care, she was too busy staring wondrously at the rubies strung like small flecks of fire on the intricately worked gold chain.
As dinner ended, Mariah and Billie each gave her happy hugs and marveled over her rubies. Noah walked over to give his mother a hug and a kiss on the cheek. They spent a few more minutes laughing and conversing until finally Billie and Drew and Mariah and Logan left to pick up their children from Lupe so they could head home. The still awed Pilar picked up her rubies and walked over to Noah sitting at the table with Walt. “I’m going to go up,” she informed him.
“I’ll join you as soon as Walt and I finish our business.”
“That’s fine. Nice meeting you, Mr. Douglas.”
“Same here.”
She gave her husband a quick kiss and walked to the staircase. Looking back she saw Lavinia watching her. Pilar ignored her and climbed the stairs.
Up in the room, the first thing she did was marvel over her gift. Never in her life had anyone given her anything so costly or beautiful. Removing it carefully from the box, she draped it around her neck and after managing to do up the clasp, she studied herself in the bedroom’s stand-up mirror. It was exquisite. She had no idea where she’d wear something so elegant but just being able to gaze at it was enough. Only a short time ago, she’d been a poor woman from the countryside whose main mission in life had been her country’s future, and although her hopes for it continued to burn bright in her heart, she was now wearing rubies. It was quite a change and she wasn’t sure how to reconcile the two or even if she should. On the one hand, she thanked the saints for the incredible family she’d married into but on the other hand, she thought of what the money spent on the necklace could buy back home: food, guns, books for the makeshift schools scattered across the island, medicine. She’d never dishonor Alanza by pawning the gems, but there had to be a way for a woman married to a man as wealthy as Noah to help back home, or better yet, maybe she could convince Logan and Eli to hire her to help with the horses so she could earn her own money and not have to rely solely on Noah’s funds. It was something she decided to talk to him about when she got the chance. Until then, she glanced around at the many bags holding all the new clothes and things she’d purchased in San Francisco and smiled.
When Noah entered the sitting room an intoxicating scent floated lightly on the air. He drew it in deep even as he wondered what it was and slowly closed the door behind him. “Pilar?”
“In here,” she called back.
He walked into the bedroom and saw a wealth of garments spread out on top of the bed. Skirts, shirtwaists, corsets that made him grin and when he finally turned his eyes to his wife her sensual attire stole his breath.
The indigo-colored nightgown was held up by two small frogs, one on each shoulder, then flowed in open panels down to the short-heeled black velvet mules on her feet. His rubies on her necklace glowed like beads of fire around her throat.
“Do you like?” she asked and twirled. The gown lifted and split, showcasing the gleaming sides of her hips, thighs, and legs, and he was instantly as hard as a beam.
He cleared his throat. “Very much.”
“How about this?” She picked up a black French corset with tiny emerald-colored buttons and held it against herself. Imagining himself freeing the buttons hardened him further. “Planning on spending the rest of your life in the bedroom, are you?”
She laughed and set the corset down. “I purchased something for you.”
“Better than the corset?”
“Maybe, maybe not. You can decide.” She handed him a large box. He recognized the name emblazoned on the front and what he felt for her in his heart multiplied a hundredfold. Opening it showed neatly nestled pots of oil paints and water colors. There were pencils and pieces of colored chalks and charcoal, and three brushes with heads of varying sizes.
“I hope this makes up for my selling your painting to the man on the dock—at least a bit.”
That in the excitement of shopping with his mother, she’d taken the time to bring him back something so personal . . . “It wasn’t necessary, but thank you, Pilar.”
“You’re welcome. Have you finished your business with Mr. Douglas?”
“For the moment. If all goes well, I’ll be buying his shipyard.”
“Oh my.”
“Mama will probably want to take her bullwhip to me because it means we’ll be moving to San Francisco. Would you mind?”
“No, of course not. A woman follows her husband, especially to a place that’s on the water. Throw in the fact that I really enjoyed being in the city and I’ll be ready to go whenever you give the word.”
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