Jade sat up straight, staring at him. “I don’t believe it!”
Colt began to pace restlessly around the room. “The lawyer said he has a copy of all the papers. She bought the ranch for Kit, putting it in her name. I think they had planned to go back and live there together. That’s probably where Kit is now.”
“Are you going to try to talk her into coming back?” Jade asked.
“No. But I’ll tell you what I am going to do.” His gray eyes were cold with angry determination. “The management of Dad’s trust fund for Kit and Travis is under my control. I’m having her share deposited in the bank in Valencia. She’s entitled to it. No matter how badly she’s hurt me, I still love her, and I want to know that she’s safe. But I’m giving her a time limit to get this foolishness out of her system and come home, where she belongs.”
An icy finger of dread suddenly ran down Jade’s spine. “And if she doesn’t?” she asked slowly.
“Then,” Colt said bitterly, “I have no daughter.” Jade fought back her tears. She could only pray that Kit would come to her senses.
Watching her intently, Colt then said, “How soon can you be ready to go around the world?”
Jade tried to decide if he was serious.
The gleam in his eyes and the smile on his lips convinced her that he was, and she threw her arms around him.
“Make the arrangements!” she cried. “I can be ready as soon as you want me to be!”
“There’s nothing to keep us here now,” Colt declared. “We’ll take a year, maybe two, and travel all over. Maybe we’ll find our paradise, a place to build a home, far away from here. Oh Jade, I love you so much!” He kissed her until she was breathless. Then, glowing with enthusiasm, Colt hurried out to start making arrangements.
Jade lay in bed for a few moments, basking in happiness. She felt peace and contentment for the first time since the horror of discovering that Bryan was alive. Then she dared to reach beneath the mattress to withdraw the report from the Pinkerton Agency. It was so ironic! Nearly twenty years ago Bryan had hired the detectives to find Colt. Now she had hired them to find him.
She read once more that Bryan Stevens owned two mansions, one in the city and one in the Catskills. His business was “shipping investments” and he was quite wealthy. He and his wife, Lita, had a daughter named Valerie, and they were presently living on Mr. Stevens’s private island near Bermuda. Other than that, there was not much information. The agency reported that Mr. Stevens was a very private person, leading an almost reclusive life.
Jade folded the papers and returned them to their hiding place, to be destroyed later. For the time being, everything seemed to be under control.
For that much, she was grateful.
He came to her in the still of the night, as quiet as a stalking panther. Only when she felt his warm body cover hers was she aware of his presence. She did not cry out in fear, instead she opened her mouth eagerly to receive his kiss.
He came most nights—sometimes early, sometimes very late. This time it was near dawn when he wrapped his arms about her. It had been almost a week since she’d seen him, and she delighted in his warm caress.
His hands moved over her body slowly, his fingertips gently teasing and touching her as if her body were a delicate piece of china. She thrilled beneath him, trembling with anticipation. In the moonlight she could see the smiling play on his full, sensuous lips as he gazed down at her, delighting in her pleasure. His dark hair tumbled onto his forehead, and she reached out lovingly to brush back the tendrils trailing one finger to the tiny scar she found so intriguing. His dark eyes were hooded, moist with longing. Only when he knew he had aroused her to a fever pitch did he take her, and she arched against him, moaning deep in her throat, succumbing once more to an ecstasy unlike anything she had ever dreamed possible.
Afterward she lay with her head on his shoulder, and asked him about his week in Madrid. He was tired, and spoke vaguely of business and boredom. Once more she teased him for not taking her with him, only to be reminded that she had a ranch to run. There was a familiar hint of bitterness in his voice, which she allowed to pass. Only once had they quarreled since returning to Valencia, and that had been over her insistence to run the ranch—and her life—her way. He had tried to send one of his foremen over to hire her some wranglers, and had offered to advance her prime stock. She had adamantly refused, and he had said angrily that with her attitude she would wind up a sun-wrinkled old maid. She had retorted that that was better than being subservient to a man. Later they’d laughed about their argument, and he never offered to help again, although his resentment was revealed sometimes in his voice.
Kit lay there watching the silver fingers of moonlight play about the room as the soft summer breeze rustled the leaves of the sycamore outside. She could tell by Kurt’s even breathing that he had fallen asleep. The last thing she remembered was turning to lay her head on his broad shoulder, slipping her arm across his strong chest…and feeling blissfully happy, if only for a little while.
Kit awoke to bright sunshine and the sound of bluebirds singing. It was a glorious day, and she was disappointed to find that Kurt had left, although usually he rode away before dawn to avoid gossip.
She dressed quickly and saddled Pegasus for her ride to Valencia. Arriving there, she went first to the general store for supplies, then walked down the street to the post office. Domingo, the clerk, grinned when he saw her. “It came, señorita. The package you have been waiting for.”
Kit snatched up the large box he held out to her, tears of happiness springing to her eyes. “I can’t believe it,” she breathed in wonder. “All the way from North Carolina.”
Domingo asked curiously, “What’s in it?”
“A grapevine!” Kit explained how she had written to the people leasing the Wright land, asking for a grafting of one of the scuppernong grape vines Kitty had planted long ago. “And this is it!” she exclaimed triumphantly. “I’m going to start my own vineyard, and one day I’ll produce the best wine in the region. You’ll see.”
“Ah, señorita.” Domingo shook his head doubtfully. “Do not be too excited. The plants, they are probably dead by now. It is a long way to ship them. You can see by the mark on the box that it took nearly two months to get here.”
“Well, we’ll see. I’m going home right now to set them out. It takes three years for a vine to produce, so I’d better get started!” As she turned to leave, she smacked right into Anaya Esteban.
Anaya drew back as if she’d been scalded. “Watch where you’re going, you piece of trash!” she hissed furiously.
Kit ground her teeth together, gripping the box tightly as she fought to hold her temper in check. She had managed thus far to avoid an encounter with the insufferable Esteban girl. Now she wanted only to leave, but Anaya stood in the doorway, blocking her way.
“Did you hear me?” Anaya screeched, waving her parasol menacingly. “Back away so I may pass. Do not come near me with your horse fleas and stench of manure. I have heard how you are living on that wretched little farm, and it is disgraceful! Even a puta does not dress like a man, live like a man! You are a disgrace to our community, and should be made to leave!”
Kit drew in her breath and let it out slowly. She closed her eyes momentarily before flashing a venomous glare of warning. “You’re in my way, Anaya.”
Anaya did not move. “I pay no heed to trash.” She jabbed the package Kit was holding with the tip of her parasol. “Back out of my way, and keep your distance.”
That did it. Kit swung the box and shoved Anaya to one side, taking her by surprise. Anaya stumbled and hit the floor, landing soundly on her bottom. Domingo burst into laughter, delighted to see the spoiled Anaya get what was coming to her.
Kit stepped over her and continued on her way.
Behind her, she could hear Anaya railing, “You will pay for this, puta! I will see that you are run out of this town. We do not want trash here! Puta trash!’’
&nbs
p; Kit was aware that people were stopping to listen, several coming out of stores to see what the commotion was about. She crossed the street and was putting the box into her saddlebag when Kurt walked out of the cantina at the same moment that Anaya charged hysterically out of the post office.
“She assaulted me!” Anaya screamed. “I want the sheriff to arrest her for assaulting me!”
Kurt looked from Kit to Anaya, bewildered. Anaya hurried to his side as though seeking his protection. Glaring hatefully at Kit, she continued her tirade. “She hit me and knocked me down. I’m going to be bruised, I know it! I may even have permanent injuries.” She rubbed her hip. “She must be arrested and punished!”
Kurt just stood there, looking baffled. Anaya finally stamped her foot in frustration. “Well, are you just going to stand there and do nothing?”
Kit looked at him warily. He winked at her, then, with exaggerated patience, said to Anaya, “I think we’d better have the doctor check you over first. You seem all right to me though!”
“I tell you she assaulted me,” Anaya cried, indignant. “I need the sheriff, not the doctor!”
Kurt sighed. “Do you mind telling me what happened?”
Kit shrugged. “She wouldn’t move, so I moved her.”
Kurt couldn’t help laughing, and that made Anaya even more furious.
“How dare you laugh?” she raged. “How dare you take her side!”
She raised her parasol as if to strike him. He caught it and wrestled it away from her, throwing it into a nearby watering trough. “Calm down, Anaya. Enough is enough!” he said sternly, beginning to lose his temper. Turning to Kit, he ordered, “Go on home. I’ll take care of her, and come out to talk to you later.”
Kit wanted to do just that. She was swinging up into the saddle when Anaya suddenly began to cry loudly.
“Mi amante! After our beautiful nights of love in Madrid this week, how can you treat me this way?” she sobbed brokenly. “I tell you that puta assaulted me, and you do not believe me…”
Kit felt suddenly paralyzed. Turning slowly, she saw that Anaya was clinging to Kurt, who was trying to disentangle himself from her clutching embrace.
Kurt’s eyes met Kit’s, and he looked away quickly, misery etched on his face. He knew she was not going to believe anything he said. At that moment, he wanted to strangle Anaya. Instead, he could only stand there as she hung on to him and screamed for the whole town to hear that he’d broken her heart.
He watched helplessly as Kit snapped the reins over Pegasus and began to gallop down the street.
She did not look back.
Chapter Thirty
Kit was watering the scuppernong graftings she had set out the day before, when she heard hoofbeats approaching. She did not have to guess who it was. She stayed right where she was, gently patting the soft dirt around each plant.
He reined in perhaps twenty feet away. From the corner of her eye Kit could see the strong golden legs of his fine palomino stallion. Even when she saw his boots planted firmly before her, she did not look up.
“Will you listen to what I have to say?”
Kit did not speak. She’d done a lot of thinking since returning home yesterday. Home! She savored the sound of that word, the taste of it. Her ranch. Her barn. Her land. All of it was hers. No one made decisions for her. She was truly in control of her life now, and, yes by God, she was in control of her heart as well. She had known all along what kind of man Kurt Tanner was, that he would never be satisfied with the love of just one woman. Well, that was his privilege and his right, just as it was hers to maintain her pride and dignity.
“Kit, I think you owe me that much.”
Her laugh was bitter. “I think you’ve been amply rewarded. A puta would have considered you repaid by the time the ship reached Cherbourg.”
He could not resist a barb of his own. “With a puta, maybe I would have been.”
At that, Kit leaped to her feet, her lavender eyes blazing. “So that’s all it was? You thought I was just paying you back for saving me from being arrested? Well, I can assure you it was the hardest debt that any woman could honor, because you’re a terrible lover, and I hate you!”
“You’re lying, and you know it!” Kurt flashed a lopsided grin. He pushed his hat back and his dark curls tumbled boyishly onto his forehead, belying the throbbing ache he felt at her very nearness. Growing impatient, he said, “Stop acting like a brat and hear me out.”
“Why did you come here today?” Kit asked angrily. “Did you try to come through the window last night and realize you were locked out?”
“No, but if I had, a closed window wouldn’t have stopped me. Now, dammit”—his dark brown eyes narrowed ominously—“you’re going to listen.”
“Go to hell!” Kit spat out. She turned to stalk away, but he caught her arm and spun her around roughly. “Anaya was just trying to make trouble. Can’t you see that?”
“She did a good job,” Kit shot back.
“Only if you let her,” Kurt replied.
“Was she in Madrid?” she asked bluntly.
“Yes, but—”
“That explains why you didn’t want me to go along!” Kit interrupted harshly.
His eyebrows shot up. “Dammit, Kit, you’re the one who was so determined that no one find out about us. I didn’t think you were serious about wanting to go to Madrid, because that would have definitely made tongues wag.”
“So you took someone who doesn’t mind being fodder for gossip.”
“Who said anyone went with me?”
“You admitted that she was there. It really makes no difference how she got there. Now, if you don’t mind, I have other things to do, Mr. Tanner. Nothing you can say will interest me, I’m sure.”
He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. “Maybe I’ve just gotten tired of sneaking around, Kit. Maybe I’d like to walk right up to your front door and call on you properly, court you, if you’ll permit me to sound so…conventional.” He smiled despite himself.
“You want to be proper?” she scoffed. “Do you honestly think I could ever take you seriously after you kept joking about us being newlyweds? The beginning of our relationship should have been a tender, special time, but you made me feel like a fool!”
Kit blinked back scalding tears, determined not to let him see her cry. “For the first time in my life I knew what it meant to feel loved and desired. Then you snatched all that away and brought me back to reality by making it nothing but a joke.”
Kurt shook his head, stunned at her revelation. “Kit, you silly little fool,” he whispered tenderly, “I only teased you about it because that’s the way I thought you wanted it. I didn’t want to scare you away. I knew you had your doubts, because I do have a reputation with women. Maybe some of the things you’ve heard about me are justified, but that doesn’t mean I’ve got to carry my mistakes on my back like a cross for the rest of my life.”
“It seems to me,” Kit said evenly, “that after your little tryst with Anaya in Madrid, there’s no doubt about your reputation being justified.”
Kurt had reached the end of his patience. He released his hold on her and stepped back. “I’m wasting my breath. Maybe you’re the one who never took our relationship seriously, Kit, and I’m the one who should feel like a fool.”
“Get off my land, Tanner,” Kit said, her gaze steely. “Next time I’ll blow you away.” She nodded to the rifle she’d propped against a nearby tree.
Kurt stood there a moment, stunned, looking into the lavender eyes that had once burned with desire for him, and were now filled with fiery hatred. Then he turned and walked away.
Kit watched him go. Her heart ached, but she knew it was for the best. She had her destiny, and he had his. It was just not meant for them to be together.
July melted into August. The days were long and hot, and Kit worked from dawn to dusk, loving every minute. Her money began to run low, but Doc Frazier had leased her a small herd that would bring a nice p
rofit in the future. She also began an egg business, selling to markets in the village. It would be slow going, but she’d been prepared for that. She had a peaceful contented existence, and asked for no more than that.
There were times, however, when memories crept over her without warning. She would be riding the range or cleaning the barn, and, suddenly, she’d remember Kurt’s arms around her, his kisses, the way they’d laughed and loved together. A great warmth would overtake her body, and she would fight against it with all her might. Finally, it would pass. She could get on with her life…though still haunted by a love that could never be.
One day, while repairing a section of fence, she saw a man approaching on horseback. Since she wasn’t expecting anyone, she dropped her tools and grabbed her rifle. Holding it at her side, she shaded her eyes against the glaring sun. As the man drew closer, she groaned, laying the rifle aside. She supposed it was inevitable that sooner or later Esteban Yubero would hear she was back and pay a visit.
“Señorita! What is this?” He stared, startled at her appearance. He swung off his horse and dropped to the ground, carrying a bouquet of roses that seemed foolish and out of place.
“This is nothing you should be doing! I heard you had bought this place”—he waved his arm—“but never did I think you were actually working the land.”
“It’s my land,” Kit said coldly. “Why shouldn’t I work it?”
He thrust the flowers at her. “Because you are too beautiful for such drudgery. You should be the mistress of a fine hacienda, with many servants, and do nothing all day but sip sangria and plan delicious dinner parties.”
“And wind up a fat, drunken cow,” she retorted. “I’m sorry, but that kind of life isn’t to my liking. Maybe you should court Delhy Esteban’s daughter, Anaya. She seems more suited to you.”
“All the valley knows she is in love with the rich Americano, Kurt Tanner. Don Esteban hangs his head in shame, and they say his wife refuses to go out in public, because Anaya makes no secret that she sometimes stays all night at his ranch.”
Love and Honor: The Coltrane Saga, Book 7 Page 22
