by Etta Foster
It must just be a side effect of the stress. Once we get things figured out, our relationship will be back to how it was before. At least, that was what he hoped.
He felt wetness on his cheek and was surprised when he reached up to find that tears were leaking from his left eye. He rubbed them away with his sleeve, scoffing at himself. He would just have to try and get ahold of Virgil and let him know that he had changed his mind about selling his share of the ranch.
***
“You're backing out of our deal?” Virgil asked, his voice filled with disbelief. “What the hell for?”
“Now, Virgil, take it easy,” Jude said, sitting across from the portly man in the saloon. It had been surprisingly easy for Jude to find him once he arrived in town early that morning. It was almost like Virgil spent most of his time at the saloon. “I've just been thinking is all. It's easy to talk about selling while my father is still around and it’s just hypothetical, but I imagine I’ll feel quite different when he passes on. My family has worked really hard to keep the place going.”
“I thought that was why you wanted to sell your half - so it would be more manageable for your family and you would get the money to go live in Boston with your woman. Wasn't that what you wanted? You’re the one who set the conditions of the darn deal to begin with,” Virgil said, a dangerous glint now in his eyes. “I already made plans for that land. The paperwork has already been drawn up. We’re just waiting now.”
Something about the way Virgil said that last statement caused something cold to settle in the pit of Jude’s stomach. He swallowed gently, glancing at the time on his watch. “Look at the time, I really have to be going. I'm truly sorry, Virgil.” He walked out of the saloon without another word, not hearing what the large man muttered under his breath about how Jude wasn't sorry yet, but he would be soon.
Later that night, just before dinner, Claudia approached him. He'd been sitting on the verandah of the house, gazing out in the direction of the small cabin they had to themselves. It was just another reminder of what he could have had if he had just done things the right way.
He turned to look at her when he heard his name being spoken softly and he silently held out his arms to her so she would come sit on his lap. He was more than a little relieved when, after a moment, she did exactly that.
“Lovey, I don't like it when we fight,” she said softly, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. “I just want us to be happy, and I think going to Boston with a little bit of money we can use to set ourselves up is how we can do that.”
“I know, Claudia. You aren't wrong; I just think looking at how we make our living is all wrong. Would it really sit right with you knowing that we had sold off half of the fruits of Gavin's labors after these long five years? I know it wouldn't feel good to me,” Jude said, resting his head against his fist while his elbow rested on a side table.
She sighed gently as she looked at him, seemingly wrestling with herself about what she wanted to say. When nothing was forthcoming, Jude looked up at her and clasped her hand in his. “I promised you that I would find a way to fulfill that dream of ours. I intend to make good on that promise.” A tear slid down his face, prompting Claudia to gently cup his face.
“I know, and I'm trying to be patient, I really am,” she said softly, kissing his forehead. “I just get so anxious sometimes.”
He smiled at her, leaning to kiss her directly on her lips. “I promise you, Claudia. Once these six months are up, we will be leaving here, one way or another.”
Chapter 22
Coralee hummed merrily to herself as she stood next to the wash line, clothes of every sort hanging to dry next to her. She had been out there for the better part of two hours, sweat beading on her forehead as she worked to scrub every article of clothing clean. Viola had asked her to take care of the laundry, and Coralee had been more than happy to agree. Whatever kept people from asking her more questions, she figured.
Her mind had been dipping in and out of daydreams all day, the memory of the kiss she had shared with Gavin still fresh in her mind. She could still remember the scent of his cologne as he had pressed up against her, the softness of his lips contrasting with the scratchiness of his moustache.
It had only been a single instance, and yet the memory alone was enough to reignite the same feelings she'd had that night. She wished that he would kiss her like that more often.
Distracted as she was by her thoughts, Coralee didn't hear someone approaching her from behind. It was only when she reached down to grab another piece of clothing to scrub that she noticed someone's shadow being cast on the ground next to her. Craning her head just enough to look over her shoulder, she was rather surprised to find that she was face to face with Claudia.
“I asked Viola where you were, and she told me I'd find you out here doing laundry. Figured that I would offer you a hand,” Claudia said, kneeling in front of the washboard and starting to work. Coralee watched silently for a moment before shrugging slightly, grabbing some of the clothing that had already been washed and pinning it on the line.
“That's very kind of you,” Coralee replied, eyes narrowing when Claudia wasn't looking at her. This was the same woman who hadn't offered to help with any of the other chores in the time that she had been there. I can't resist thinking that her offer to help is just a cover for something. Coralee only wished she knew what the other woman was up to.
“How was your date in town with Gavin?” Claudia asked, her voice trying and failing to ask the question casually. Coralee could sense the weight in the question, and she wanted to prepare her answer carefully. There was no promise that Claudia wouldn't go to Gavin later and twist Coralee’s words around.
“It was one of the best nights of my life,” Coralee answered truthfully, the memory of the night immediately bringing a smile to her face. “I wouldn't trade it for the world.”
“That's good to hear. I wouldn't want to think that Gavin forgot how to show a woman a good time,” Claudia quipped, a small smirk on her face. “Of course, given how much experience he’s had with women, I’m sure he's had a fair bit of practice.”
Claudia's words felt like a slap in the face, and Coralee had to swallow back the first words that popped into her mind. She could tell that the other woman was just trying to rile her up, and she was ashamed to admit that it was working. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, don't be so naive. This town isn't exactly crawling with desirable bachelors, you know. Half of the men in this town have drinking problems, and the other half have no ambition. Just a bunch of country nobodies who are content to remain that way their whole lives. I can speak for the other girls around here when I say that isn't something most of us are interested in. That’s why I was so interested in Gavin. He was completely different than everyone else.” Claudia held out the shirt she had just finished scrubbing to Coralee, who grabbed it and shook it out before adding it to the clothesline.
“Different how?” Coralee asked cautiously, wondering if Claudia was trying to lead her into some sort of trap. While the woman across from her could prove to be a valuable reference for some of the things she wanted to know about Gavin, part of her couldn't shake the feeling that Claudia would sabotage her the first chance she got.
“He was confident and handsome, the kind of man that most would aspire to be. He had the work ethic of a god, and yet the manners of a gentleman. People assume that he isn't educated, but that simply isn't true. His father was one of the most successful cattle ranchers in the area, so money wouldn't be a concern either. As you can imagine, those kinds of qualities would be hard for anyone to pass up,” Claudia said matter-of-factly.
“Is that why you were trying to marry him? For his money?” Coralee's tone was icy as she spoke, the hardness in her voice surprising her. “That’s pretty shallow, even for you.”
“Don't mistake me as some common gold digger,” Claudia snarled, rising to her feet as her eyes shone with rage. “I fell in love wi
th Gavin because we shared many hobbies, and because he treated me well. You've only known him for less than a month, so don't pretend that you know so much.”
“I know that you single-handedly ruined his impression of women, and honestly, that is more than enough,” Coralee shot back, satisfaction coursing through her when she saw the look of outrage on Claudia's face. “You say all these things about how Gavin was so great, yet you decided you were going to elope with his brother instead. I find that to be a huge contradiction.”
“It takes two people to make a relationship work, and it takes two people to make it fail. I may have done Gavin wrong by ending up with his brother, but it was only because I found myself doubting our relationship. He's the kind of man who is always getting glances from other women, even if he pretends not to see it. How could I marry a man that I couldn't trust wouldn't look at other women behind my back?” Claudia asked, crossing her arms in front of her ample bosom.
“I trust Gavin,” Coralee said dismissively, hanging another piece of clothing up to dry, shaking the excess water from it. “I don't think that he would have brought me all the way here just to find himself another woman later. He doesn't strike me as that kind of man.”
“You don't have to take my word for it. Just keep it in mind. After all, we were engaged for two years. You don't think that’s something that I would throw away lightly, do you? Whatever your opinion of me, you should realize that I wouldn't have left Gavin unless he gave me a reason to lose faith in him. I hope that you two don't share that same fate,” Claudia said, tossing the shirt she had been washing at Coralee and moving on to a pair of pants.
“I'm sure that we won't,” Coralee said gruffly before falling silent. Claudia was just trying to poison Coralee's mind against Gavin. It didn't make much sense to her given that Claudia was married, but she'd seen this kind of stuff before from Lucas. Coralee knew when someone was trying to manipulate her, and that was exactly what Claudia was trying to do.
And yet, Coralee found that she couldn't completely dismiss what Claudia had said. There was a lot that rang true. The reasoning behind Gavin sending for her from Boston rather than finding a woman in his own town was still a mystery to her. It was honestly one of the few reasons she hesitated to marry Gavin. She was even considering approaching the topic the next time they were alone together.
“I only wish I had that kind of certainty five years ago. Then again, if I had, you wouldn't be here now. I suppose, at the end of the day, you should thank me,” Claudia said smugly. “After all, it’s only because of our failed relationship that you have a chance with him.”
“Oh yes, thank you so much,” Coralee snarled sarcastically, her eyes smoldering with rage. For every word that came out of Claudia's mouth, Coralee could feel her rage building. It was one thing for her to make fun of Coralee but trying to pin the blame for their relationship not working out was not something that Coralee was about to tolerate. “I'll be sure not to waste the chance that you have so graciously given me.”
“I can tell that I've overstayed my welcome, so I'll just get out of your hair,” Claudia said, dropping the shirt she had been washing back onto the washboard and dusting off her knees. “Goodbye,” she said in a singsong voice.
Coralee watched as Claudia skipped away, humming merrily to herself all the while. That was exactly why Coralee knew she would never get along with the woman. What sort of woman would cheat on her fiancé and then try to make it out to be his fault? If Claudia had been having doubts about Gavin's feelings, she could have just asked him directly. It would be best for her not to let anything Claudia said get to her.
That was easier said than done, though. Even as she was thinking it, she could feel small tendrils of doubt beginning to creep out from the back of her mind into her thoughts. She had noticed the way some of the women had looked at Gavin the night they'd been at the hotel, and she'd be lying if she said she hadn't been unnerved by it.
He didn't seem to be paying attention to anyone else while we were dancing. She couldn't be sure that he hadn't been sneaking looks at others. But his eyes had been on her all night, hadn't they?
He also didn't know the truth about her, and that alone could change his opinion of her instantly. Probably not in a good way, either. What would he do if he discovered that he was engaged to a penniless maid? Would he still look at her with the love in his eyes that she saw that night?
She didn't want to lose that. She didn't want to go back to the days when he came across as cool and distant, only speaking when she spoke to him. She certainly didn't want to risk being sent back to Boston, that would amount to a death sentence for her if Lucas managed to find her.
Claudia is wrong about Gavin.
Claudia couldn't make things work between herself and Gavin, but Coralee was not like her. She and Gavin were making good progress in their relationship, and she wasn't going to let his jealous former fiancée poison that.
Gazing up at the bright blue sky, she took a deep breath. A small gust of breeze caused her dress to whip around her ankles and pushed the puffy white clouds lazily across the sky. The image of Jessica's smiling face flashed through Coralee's mind, and her friend's words echoed in her head.
This is the life you deserve, Coralee. That was why Jessica had sent Coralee in her place, so she could have a chance at happiness. Gavin could prove to be a good match for her; their kiss the other night had confirmed that in her mind.
“Oh, Jessica, I wish you were here to give me advice,” Coralee whispered sadly, a single tear managing to fall down her face into the soapy wash water below her. “I feel so lost half the time, and just when I think I know what’s going on, something happens to make me doubt everything. What should I do?”
The loud whinnying of a horse coming from the stables broke her out of her musings. Wondering if one of the horses had been injured or poisoned again, she dropped the clothing she was holding and raced off in the direction of the sound. When she entered the stable, Gavin was already there.
Chapter 23
Turning toward Jessica, Gavin offered her a wide smile. He could see the look of reverence with which she gazed at the various horses in the stable.
Her letters said that she had a deep love of horses. She'd also mentioned that she enjoyed horseback riding, which is why she keeps asking about it.
His avoidance of the topic had been part of a test that he'd concocted for her. If she truly loved horses as much as she'd said, then she would keep asking about riding until he gave in.
Despite their intended marriage being one of convenience, Gavin had been a firm believer in sharing mutual interests with his partner. Nothing made a relationship worse than both partners being trapped with someone who couldn't take an interest in their hobbies. “You want to go for a ride?”
“Only for the last month,” she replied cheekily, offering him a small smile. “I only beg you to take me every time we talk.”
“I know, I'm sorry. Things have been kind of crazy. Now that I have to take it easy, I can't think of a better way to spend my free time than with you,” he said smoothly, watching as a bright red blush bloomed across her cheeks.
“Well, thank you for saying so,” she smiled shyly, her hand moving to gently intertwine her fingers with his. “I've been really excited for this day ever since I arrived.”
“Alright, let's pick out a horse for you and get saddled up. Did you want to run back to the house and change into some clothing more fit for riding? Or are you going to wear what you have on?” he asked, gazing down at the blouse and skirt she was currently wearing.
“I think I should be okay in this for today. Next time you can advise me on the proper attire,” she said, walking past each of the stalls and taking a moment to look at each horse as she went by. “Is there a horse here that you typically use for a new rider?”
“New rider? Didn't you say that you rode horses before?” Gavin asked, feeling understandably confused. “I thought you loved to ride horses.”
“I do, but it’s been a while since I've ridden. I fear that most of the knowledge that used to be second nature is now eluding me. It may be best to just start from the beginning as a sort of refresher,” she said quickly. “I’m terribly out of practice.”
“That's alright,” he interjected, noting the look of sadness that had crossed her face. “We'll take it from the top, no problem.” She didn't give the reaction he had expected when he'd first showed her the stables, either. He would have expected that she'd have gone around and petted all the horses, but she didn't even approach any of them. Although, in fairness, he had told her to go back to the house shortly after they got to the stables because of the poison incident.
He wasn't going to overthink it. They were on good terms now, and the last thing he wanted to do was jeopardize their new rapport. Petty arguments just weren't worth it.
