What did Genevieve think the West was like? Because he was pretty sure there would be nothing she was accustomed to out here. Granted, he was wealthy and his ranch house would accommodate her just fine, but there would be things she’d have to get used to living in the West. Could she cope?
His thoughts were halted by a commotion at the end of the platform. A woman was throwing her arms around. Was she telling the stewards where to move her trunks? He cringed when she turned his direction and he recognized her from her picture.
Genevieve.
Swallowing down any preconceived notions he had, he squared his shoulders and took off to meet her.
He came up behind her and cleared his throat.
“What?” she said, whirling around until she must have recognized him because her expression softened. “I mean, hello.”
Her abrupt change in demeanor confused him for a brief moment when the sound of shuffling feet drew his attention. It was another woman, slightly taller than Genevieve, carrying an impossibly large carpetbag.
“Let me get that,” he offered, taking the bag from her.
The moment her light brown eyes connected with his he felt drawn to the her in a way he’d never be able to explain—even if he were held at gunpoint. It was a feeling of…rightness. It shocked him so much he dropped the bag she’d been in the process of handing him and it landed heavily on her foot.
He saw the moment it landed. Her eyes grew large and her cheeks flamed as she tried to hold in the cry that threatened to leap from her mouth.
“I am so sorry,” he said, yanking the heavy bag from its place on her toes. “Are you all right? Are you hurt badly?”
She was flushed and he thought he could see tears in her eyes but she shook her head furiously saying, “No, no I’m fine.”
“Goodness,” Genevieve said, letting out a derisive laugh. “Watch what you’re doing.”
Harvey bristled at Genevieve’s tone but focused on the young woman before him. “Really, are you all right?” he asked, stepping closer to the woman.
She steamed startled by his attention and stepped back, nearly tripping over the bag he’d moved. Her arm reached out but he was there before she could trip, catching her and righting her with a hand at her waist.
The flush on her face deepened and she quickly stepped away from him. Only then did he realize how close he’d been standing to her. He stepped back too and turned his attention back to Genevieve. She wasn’t even looking; her attention captured by one of the attendants moving one of her many trunks.
“Um, Miss Stanton?”
“Oh?” She turned around, her mouth in a perfect “O” shape. “I’m sorry, I'm just so concerned about my trunks and—goodness, girl, where are you?”
“Here, miss,” the woman said.
Only then did Harvey make the connection. The woman was Genevieve’s maid. He saw her in a new light, not just a passenger with a heavy bag but at the beck and call of her mistress. Somehow he’d missed it, but now he could see the differences in their dresses. The girl wore drab gray while Genevieve was in startling ice blue. The girl’s hair was done in a simple style while Genevieve’s was piled on top of her head with curls and twists that had to have taken hours to do.
But where they were different there was also a few similarities. They were both fine in features, thin of frame, and both very pretty.
He tore his gaze away from the young woman and looked at Genevieve. “Are you ready to go? I can have my men come and pick up the rest of these trunks. They won’t all fit in my buggy.”
He wanted to add he wasn’t sure if they’d all fit in the house but that wasn’t true. It was a large house and she would have plenty of room, but they did seem to be over the top.
“Yes. I'm quite tired. I’d like to freshen up before supper tonight, if at all possible.”
He cringed, wondering if he should have made plans for them. “Yes, of course. There’ll be plenty of time to relax at the ranch.”
“Ranch,” she repeated, looking down at her nails for a moment before meeting his gaze again. “Right. Well, let’s go see this quaint ranch.”
***
May felt horrified. Not only did she feel like one of her toes might be broken, she’d nearly fallen over a bag and been rescued by her mistress’s fiancé! Well, almost-fiancé because technically he hadn’t asked her to marry him yet. Genevieve liked to gloss over that part but May couldn’t fathom the fact that they had moved out here without a promise from Harvey Jenkins.
Now, as they climbed into his carriage she assessed the man. He was tall, much taller than Jeff—her only real gauge of masculine height—and much handsomer than any man she’d met before. She wouldn’t compare him to Jeff in that way because she didn’t see Jeff as more than a good friend, but Harvey had a relaxed, confident manner that drew her in.
His sandy blond hair stuck out from underneath his cowboy hat and his light blue eyes seemed to take in everything. He’d caught her before she’d even had a chance to realize she was falling, or at least it had felt that way. Not much got past this man.
Sitting in the second row seat she observed Genevieve interaction with Harvey. Her mistress was trying hard to flirt and her attempts were failing miserably. Harvey didn’t seem a man keen on flirtation or the subtitles of women. Instead he seemed like someone who appreciated straightforward conversation. It was probably what made him such a good businessman.
She flushed and turned her attention to the scenery. She shouldn’t know as much as she did about Harvey, but Genevieve had insisted that May write her responses back to him. She’d started with the first letter due to a headache Genevieve had and it had carried on from there. It would have been better had she taken dictation for the letters, but it felt like Genevieve had no interest in the process, only the end result. Marriage to a wealthy man where she could live in the style she’d become accustomed to.
They turned down a lane shaded with tall trees on either side but soon it opened up to reveal a large ranch house. It was much larger than May would have expected and yet matched the descriptions from Harvey’s letters perfectly.
“Oh,” she said, not realizing she’d exclaimed out loud until Harvey looked back at her, a half smile on his handsome face.
They pulled up in front of the house and he helped them both out, leading the way to the front door.
“I trust my things will be delivered soon?”
May cringed at Genevieve’s demanding nature but Harvey merely nodded saying, “I’ll see that they are here soon. My housekeeper Mrs. Chambers will show you to your rooms. I’m afraid I must go tend to matters of the ranch.”
Genevieve reached out and rested a hand on his arm. “I do hope that you’ll take time to get to know me.” She gave a girlish laugh.
“Of course,” he said. May could tell that his smile was forced but it was almost impossible to tell…almost.
When he was gone and they were within the confines of Genevieve’s room, she slumped down onto the dressing chair. “I can’t believe this place,” she said with a pout.
May was tasked with helping her undress but she knew from experience all Genevieve wanted to do was complain.
“I think it’s rather lovely, miss. Isn’t the area to your liking?”
“Liking?” Genevieve laughed. “It’s practically backward!”
“I wouldn’t say that—”
“You wouldn’t, would you?” She gave a shallow laugh. “You enjoy all of this outdoors life and the animals and…everything. I’d rather stay inside and enjoy myself that way. Will I find any type of society here?”
May wanted to say something that would be of comfort to the woman, but there wasn’t much she could admit to. It was the price Genevieve would pay for insisting on finding a husband out West, and a husband who was sufficiently wealthy enough for her expensive tastes.
The only question was what kind of life would Genevieve have here. Because she had accurately assessed the fact that this was the type of situation M
ay would excel in, but not one Genevieve would get used to easily—if at all.
Chapter 3
Harvey ran a hand through his hair as he walked back toward the house. It had been two weeks since Genevieve had arrived—two very long weeks—and Harvey was close to losing his patience with the woman. Granted, she did wonderfully at the small gatherings he had thrown for traveling businessmen and some of his business connections in town, but those times were limited to a few nights. The rest of the time she was just…difficult.
He cringed at his harsh assessment of the woman and yet he couldn't get past the fact that it was true. She didn't like being outdoors, she didn’t like horses, she didn’t like being confided indoors either, but she didn’t even like going into the garden. It was as if nothing truly satisfied her—except for doing nothing.
When he stepped onto to porch he made his way around to the kitchen door. He was ashamed to admit he was hiding from Genevieve, but he wasn’t in a mood to see her yet. Then again, it was so early she was probably sill in bed.
As he went to open the door it opened before him revealing May. “Oh my,” she said, flushing instantly and taking a step back.
Ever since their first meeting at the train station he hadn’t had a moment with May when Genevieve wasn’t around. May acted differently when her mistress was near—but that made perfect sense to Harvey. Genevieve had a controlling personality that came out in full force over her maid.
“I’m sorry,” he said, stepping back to allow her outside. “Were you headed somewhere?”
“Um, yes, I was—um, I…” she continued to blush and wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I was promised a riding lesson by one of the hands.”
Her shyness intrigued him. It was the polar opposite of Genevieve’s overly flirtatious nature—something Harvey couldn’t stand—and it was refreshing.
“You want to ride?”
“Oh yes,” she said, gaining confidence. “I’ve always dreamed of riding a horse.”
His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Then let me take you.”
“What?”
“I was going to ride down to the river later today anyway and now is as good a time as any.”
“Oh I couldn’t.” Her light brown eyes widened in surprise.
“It’s an easy ride,” he assured her. “I promise no harm will come to you.”
A faint smile came over her face and he found himself drawn to the look of happiness that was typically absent from her. It was alluring.
“Well, if you wouldn’t mind…” she trailed off.
“Not at all. Shall we?” He led the way toward the barn, his heart beating fast in his chest. This was potentially a bad idea, thinking of the fact that it should be Genevieve he was spending time with, but when she didn’t want to do anything he wanted to do, how was he supposed to spend time with her?
Besides, he could count this as work in a way since he needed to check on the land near the river. Yes, this would be considered work despite the fact that a pretty woman was accompanying him.
***
May sat atop a horse for the first time and it was the most incredible, amazing feeling. She felt tall and in control. Harvey had shown her how to saddle the horse, bridle it, and then how to direct the animal in the small paddock near the barn before they’d set off for the river.
He rode ahead of her now but he often checked back to make sure she was doing all right. His kindness and care warmed her from the inside out but it worried her as well. She had no place feeling as she did when he was around. It was combination of nerves, pleasure, and anxiety. The nerves and pleasure were due to his handsome features and confident mannerisms, but the anxiety was from the fact that she knew he would soon propose to Genevieve.
She knew it was coming—Genevieve wouldn’t stop talking about how she hoped he would ask—but something inside of May rebelled at the thought.
The path they were on opened up to an open area that ran down to meet the riverbank. It was beautiful, lush, and green. Like a paradise.
“I love it here,” she whispered, more to herself than Harvey but he caught her words.
“It’s one of my favorite places on the ranch. It’s like a paradise oasis.”
“I was just thinking that very thing.”
He grinned and slid down, coming over to help her as well. His hands on her waist sent heat to her face and she tried not to look up at him immediately. Her blushing would give him the wrong idea—or the right one.
He turned away though, as if needing the distance himself, and they led their horses to the river to drink.
“Tell me,” he asked, keeping his gaze toward the slowly moving river, “How did you start working for Genevieve. If you don’t mind me asking.”
She shrugged. “When my mother died, my father raised my sister and I in New York. He worked hard while I took care of my younger sister. We both got jobs at young ages but when our father died it was…harder. My sister got married several years ago but by then I’d started working for Genevieve and, well, I didn’t have an alternative.”
May’s stomach clenched. The fact that she was a maid never more present than this moment. What was she doing here?
“I'm sorry.” His gentle words drew her attention. “That would be hard…to not have any other option.”
She saw genuine sorrow on his face, but she felt foolish for having said anything. This man, with all of this wealth and large ranch couldn’t know what she’d faced. And there was no way he would care about her struggles, and yet she read understanding on his features. That made it almost worse.
“It is what it is,” she said dismissively, reaching up to stroke her horses neck.
He was silent and she risked a glance at him. His eyes searched her features, as if trying to understand her. She felt self-conscious under his scrutiny but then, as if he’d realized what he was doing, he took a step back.
“I suppose we should get back, Genevieve will worry.”
May wanted to laugh and say that Genevieve probably had no idea either of them was gone, but she wouldn’t malign her in front of her Harvey.
“I suppose we should.”
He held her gaze for a moment longer and she felt the warmth of it before he turned to help her back on her horse.
The moment was gone, but his gaze lingered in her mind. What did Harvey think about her?
Chapter 4
Harvey led their way back to the ranch intentionally trying to lighten the mood. He told her more about the ranch and even shared a few anecdotes he’d told Genevieve. May’s reaction was like night and day though—she laughed and acted as if she was genuinely enjoying herself. Such a stark contrast to how Genevieve tolerated his stories.
The barns came into view and he felt the weight weighing heavier in his chest at the thought of their ride ending. Then again, he had a visit from Max Dean to prepare for and he needed to make sure that everything was perfect for his visit if he were to close the deal between them. Landing a deal with the rodeo tycoon would be the perfect merger and he had a feeling Genevieve could be a type of lynchpin for the whole thing.
Once they’d handed off their horses to the hands at the barn they walked up to the house. Upon entering, this time through the front door, they found Genevieve in the sitting room surrounded by pillows with a book in her hand and a look of scrutiny on her face.
“What have you two been up to?” She asked as if they were keeping a secret from her.
“We went on a ride,” he said.
“I see.” Genevieve looked back down at her book, making a show of marking her place. “So happy you two could have a good time.”
He felt a stab of guilt. Should he feel bad for taking May? Then again, Genevieve wouldn’t have wanted to go. But did that mean he shouldn’t have gone at all?
“It was just a quick ride. You know how I’ve been wanting to go,” May said, sticking up for him in a gentle way.
“I’m sure.” Genevieve shot a glance at May then turned an ass
essing gaze back to Harvey. “I hope you enjoyed it.”
Panic threatened him. Did she think that there was something going on between he and May? The thought that Genevieve could leave him struck fear in him. Would she leave before Max came? Then he felt guilt for thinking about her only with respect to the deal he could potentially strike. Eli would berate him for his thoughts he was sure.
“I was hoping we could take a stroll tonight after dinner. Would you be up for that Genevieve?” He forced a smile. “Just you and I and the warm evening breeze,” he added.
As if she transformed before him, becoming a new person, her narrowed eyes winded and she took on a coy look. “I would love that, darling.” She batted her lashes.
He inclined his head. “Good. I must get back to my duties. Good day, ladies,” he said, leaving the room as quickly as possible.
The feeling of dread still weighed heavily on him. Genevieve was hard to please and even harder to understand. He’d wait until after Max’s visit then reassess his feelings for the woman. It was awful to think that, but at the moment he didn’t have the capacity for anything more than that. If only he could make it that long.
***
May felt the intensity of Genevieve’s stare. “Have a good ride, May?”
She swallowed, choosing her words carefully. “Yes Miss, it was lovely. You should try riding, you may enjoy it.”
“I think I’ll leave that to you,” Genevieve said. Her tone was ice.
“Is there anything I can get for you?”
When Genevieve didn’t answer May looked up to find her gaze resting pointedly on May.
“Tell me, May, just how it is that you ended up riding with my fiancé this morning? Did you invite yourself along? Make a point to be available? Beg him to take you?”
The venom in Genevieve’s words stung like a viper’s attack, though May didn’t overlook the fact that she’d also called Harvey her fiancé even though they both knew he hadn’t asked yet.
She hurried to reply. “No, miss, nothing like that.” May felt flustered and tried to keep her thoughts straight. “I was going to the barns to meet up with one of the hands who had offered to teach me. I ran into Har—um, Mr. Jenkins, and he offered to take me. He was going on a ride anyway.”
[2016] A Widow's Love Page 12
