by Janet Dailey
“Don’t listen to him, Joanna,” Tanya inserted. “Ridgerunners are born cat-wild. You’ll never tame one. But you might be able to housebreak him.”
Chuckling laughter followed her comment, then the conversation became generalized. When Joanna glanced around to locate Reece and Rachel, her attention was distracted by the view from the sundeck. The blue ridges of the hills seemed to go on forever while the afternoon sun glistened on the lake curling and stretching over the valley.
“Reece was right when he said the view from your house was fantastic,” she murmured to Linc.
“You like it, huh?”
“Who wouldn’t?” she countered.
“Your mother, maybe,” he suggested.
Agreement flickered reluctantly to darken her eyes. Joanna knew her mother wasn’t impressed by this view of the countryside. Earlier, she had indicated she had found all the rocks and trees boring.
On the far side of the patio, someone played a few experimental bars of music on a fiddle. Linc turned to look in the direction of the sound.
“Jessie must have arrived,” he guessed.
“Who is Jessie?” her mother inquired with an expression of supreme tolerance.
“Jessie Bates lives in a cabin down the road,” Joanna explained briefly. She remembered Reece telling her what a good musician Jessie was. “Is he going to play?” she asked Linc.
“With an audience of this size? You bet he will,” he smiled lazily. “Do you want to go over and listen?”
“Yes,” Joanna was quick to agree, then hesitated when she glanced at her mother. “Do you want to come?”
“Of course.” But the sweet smile of agreement was plainly forced.
With Linc leading the way, they threaded through the gathering crowd until they reached the corner of the sundeck where Jessie was tuning his fiddle. Some of the other guests at the party had brought their instruments as well. Two men had guitars; another had a banjo. There was also a bass and another fiddle.
Joanna was quick to notice, though, that Jessie had dressed for the special occasion. Gone were the baggy overalls. He was wearing a snow-white shirt with a pair of red suspenders holding up his loose pants. With his chin tucked tightly on the violin, he ran the bow over the strings, then stopped to glance over his shoulder at the other musicians.
“How’s that sound?” he asked.
The other man with a fiddle shook his head. “Mine has never sounded that good.” His fellow musicians laughed.
“What ya’ need is a set of rattlers to put inside it,” Jessie advised his fellow fiddler. “They give it that special tone.”
“Rattlers?” he repeated. “What kind of rattlers are you talking about?” The man eyed Jessie with more than a little skepticism. Joanna knew the feeling. Her leg had been pulled many times, too.
“Why, rattlers from a rattlesnake. What else?” Jessie replied with a straight face. “Next time you find a timber rattler out in the woods, stomp on him, an’ cut off his rattlers. When you git home, put ’em in your fiddle and it’ll sound just like mine.”
“Bet it won’t,” the bass man laughed.
“Are you fellers gonna jaw all day—or are we gonna play something?” Jessie paused to crane his neck, searching the crowd. “Where’s the bride and groom-to-be?” Someone pushed Rachel and Reece to the front of the circle. Rachel was blushing a little, but looking very happy. “We’re gonna play a song for you,” Jessie declared. “Orange blossoms got something to do with weddin’s, don’t they?” The man with the guitar nodded in answer. “Then, let’s play a little Orange Blossom Special,” Jessie suggested.
Jessie started the song out and the others joined in. Soon, the guests were clapping hands and tapping their feet in time with the music. It seemed to Joanna that the faster the tempo went, the wider the smiles became on everyone’s face.
When the song ended, the next selection was more sedate in comparison. Crowded together by the throng of guests, Joanna unconsciously leaned closer to Linc, not wanting to be accidentally separated from him.
“Happy?” His voice murmured the question almost into her ear.
“Mmhum.” It was an agreeing sound. She added softly, “I think I’m falling in love with the Ozarks.”
“Only with the Ozarks?” Linc challenged quietly.
Her head turned on the pillow of his shoulder so she could look at him. For a second, nothing else existed as their gazes locked. The burst of applause around them signaled the end of the song, and reminded them they weren’t alone. His mouth curved in a rueful smile. The bubble of elation didn’t go away when Joanna let her attention be drawn back to the small band.
The loud clang of a dinner bell interrupted the country concert before they began another tune. “Time to eat,” Linc stated.
Chapter Sixteen
By the time Joanna finished everything on her plate, she was so stuffed she could barely move. All the other guests seemed to be suffering similar conditions—except her mother who had barely taken more than a small spoonful of food from the long buffet table.
Joanna glanced around and noticed her mother sitting with another group, enduring a conversation with one of them. Her fingers gripped the edge of the empty plate balanced on her legs.
Jessie Bates leaned back in his folding chair that faced Joanna and Linc. He rubbed his protruding stomach with his hand. “You did yourself proud on that feast, Linc.”
“It was delicious, wasn’t it?” Joanna agreed, letting her attention be brought back to their small circle. “I’ve never been to a barbeque like this before—with a roasted pig and everything. In California, we turn on a transistor radio and charcoal steaks on a grill and call that a barbeque.”
“We do it up right in the country,” Jessie declared.
“I guess you do,” Joanna laughed, but it faded when she saw her mother approaching.
Elizabeth Morgan paused by their chairs to ask, “Have you seen Reece?”
“He’s sitting with Rachel by the deck railing.” Linc pointed in their direction.
“They make a nice looking couple, don’t they?” Jessie remarked.
“How long has he known her?” Elizabeth continued to study the pair seated by themselves.
“Five—six years,” Linc replied and her mother looked at him with surprise.
“I hadn’t realized that,” she admitted on a thoughtful note, and sent a sharp glance at Joanna. “Has be been seeing her all this time?”
“Not exactly,” she hedged. “It all happened just recently.”
“I think they are being too hasty to marry so soon,” Elizabeth stated, letting her opinion be known. “They hardly know each other. I think they should wait. As the old saying goes—marry in haste, repent at leisure.”
“Now, we look at it differently in the hills,” Jessie disagreed with her. “We think it’s a case of—the shorter the wooing, the longer the doing.”
“How quaint,” her mother murmured with a cloying smile. “If you will excuse me, I think I’ll go over and join them.”
As she moved gracefully away from their chairs, Jessie watched her with a considering look. “She reminds me of a hen I once had—always jealously guardin’ her nest.” There was a slight pause before he added, “Only trouble was—she never had no eggs in it.”
It was an accurate, yet sad, commentary of her mother’s position.
Reece had just left her to take their dirty plates back when Rachel noticed his sister-in-law approaching her. She mentally braced herself for the meeting. She had already made a few guesses about Elizabeth Morgan and had a fair idea of the woman’s motives.
“Hello, Mrs. Morgan,” she greeted her politely. “Are you enjoying the party?”
“Please call me Elizabeth,” she insisted. “After you and Reece are married, it will be terribly confusing if we call each other Mrs. Morgan.” As she sat on the redwood bench next to Rachel, she glanced in the direction Reece had taken. “I see Reece has abandoned you already.”
Rachel pretended to be unaware of the jibe. “He’s taking our plates back.”
“Men,” Elizabeth murmured in an expressive tone. “They can be so attentive before you’re married, then take you for granted afterward, can’t they?”
“Sometimes.” She didn’t disagree. Her gaze followed Reece as he paused to speak to an attractive young woman.
“You’ll get used to that eventually,” Elizabeth murmured. “The Morgan men have always been known for their roving eye.” She smiled at Rachel, as if they shared a common experience. “Of course, they are experts at sweeping women off their feet. I should know. I was married to one.”
“You were married to Reece’s brother, weren’t you?” Rachel pretended to recall the face, fully aware Elizabeth’s interest wasn’t directed at her late husband.
“His younger brother, yes,” she nodded. “He was a great deal like Reece—in looks and temperament.” She studied Rachel for a long second. “I must say that I admire you.”
“Oh?” She found that difficult to believe.
“Yes. There aren’t many women who would tackle a new husband and plunge into a new lifestyle all in one leap—without even testing the water,” Elizabeth explained her compliment—a backhanded one.
“I suppose not.” It was going to be a big adjustment.
“I do hope you’ll like living in California. It will take some getting used to, I’m sure,” Elizabeth remarked with feigned sympathy. “I don’t suppose you’ve had much experience dealing with a housekeeping staff. Reece has a beautiful home, very luxurious.” She was not too subtly pointing out their background differences. “Of course, he has to. His business requires him to do so much entertaining—formal parties—things like that.”
“Of course,” Rachel murmured.
“If you would ever need any help, I hope you’ll call on me.” She assumed an air of false modesty. “I’ve given thousands of dinner parties so—arranging all the fine details is practically second nature to me.”
“Thank you. It’s kind of you to offer.” She’d call the devil’s wife before she’d ask Elizabeth.
“We’re practically family,” Elizabeth reminded her. “Reece and I have always been very close.” But not as close as Elizabeth had wanted them to be, Rachel guessed. She was being studied with a critical eye. “And clothes. I’ll take you to some of my favorite shops where we can buy you a whole new wardrobe so you won’t be embarrassed when you’re with the other wives.”
The comment had struck a vulnerable nerve, making Rachel very self-conscious of the polka-dot dress she’d made herself. She glanced at it, silently comparing it with the elegant outfit Elizabeth was wearing.
“I hadn’t thought about that.” Probably none of her clothes were suitable for her new lifestyle in California.
“I doubt if Reece has given you a chance to think about anything,” Elizabeth declared. “I need to have a talk with him. Marriage is difficult under the best of circumstances. I’d hate to see the two of you start out on the wrong foot.”
“Yes.” It was just a reply, meaning nothing.
“I’m so glad we’ve had this chance to chat.” Elizabeth pressed her hand on top of Rachel’s in a falsely affectionate gesture. “I’d like to think that we’ll be friends.”
“Yes, it would be nice.” Even if she doubted it could ever happen.
“I’m monopolizing your time and I didn’t intend to do that.” She had cast a few doubts in Rachel’s mind. Her mission was accomplished. “You have a lot of friends here and I’m sure you want to spend some time with them. Since you and Reece are getting married so soon, it might be your last opportunity to do so before you’re uprooted.” She planted one last seed before departing with a self-satisfied gleam in her eye.
As Reece attempted to tactfully excuse himself from the company of a native Californian who had recently migrated to the Ozark hills, his glance strayed to the railing where he’d left Rachel. He stiffened when he saw Elizabeth sitting with her, his jaw hardening into a grim Line.
“Excuse me.” He abruptly took his leave of the man without waiting for a polite opening.
Elizabeth was already walking away as he crossed the deck to rejoin Rachel. She had turned away to view the panorama of the hills, but not before Reece had noticed the troubled look in her thoughtful expression. He had known the minute Elizabeth had arrived that she would try to make some kind of trouble. After all he’d gone through, he wasn’t going to lose Rachel now.
He came up beside her. “That’s a long face to be wearing at your engagement party,” he remarked with deliberate lightness.
Rachel turned to smile at him. “I was thinking.”
“About what?” Reece prompted.
“Us.”
“What about us?” He gently prodded the information from her.
“I was just wondering whether we are doing the right thing—getting married so quickly and all,” she admitted with a certain hesitation, aware he had no doubts.
“Elizabeth had something to do with your second thoughts, didn’t she?” Reece was certain of the source.
“Indirectly,” Rachel avoided putting all the blame on his sister-in-law. “Our lives have been so different, Reece. What do I know about dinner parties and entertaining important clients? Maybe I won’t fit in.”
“You will.”
She shook her head, disagreeing. “I’m not at all like Elizabeth.”
His smile was amused. “Thank God.”
“Please,” she protested his attempt to make light of the situation. “I’m trying to discuss this with you.”
“After you have already discussed it with Elizabeth,” he replied with vague impatience. “Why did you listen to her, Rachel? Don’t you realize she is jealous?”
“I’m not blind, Reece. I know she’s in love with you.” Rachel recognized the signs. “But that doesn’t mean the points she raised are not valid. They are. Maybe we shouldn’t rush into this.”
“There is only one valid reason that matters,” he insisted. “I love you, Rachel, and I want you for my wife. Anything else Elizabeth may have said means nothing. Yes, there will be many adjustments to make,” Reece conceded. “But we’ll make them together. Together, Rachel. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” Nothing seemed impossible with the strength of their love on their side.
Bending his head, Reece kissed her lightly, but warmly. “Wait here while I find Elizabeth,” he requested. “It’s time I had a little talk with her.”
“Don’t do that,” Rachel protested, not wanting to make trouble.
“I must,” Reece insisted. “She has to understand that I won’t allow her to come between us.” His hand caressed her cheek. “I know what I’m doing, Rachel. If I don’t end this now, she will keep trying. And I won’t take the risk that next time she might succeed.”
Rachel couldn’t argue against the wisdom of his decision. She guessed that he knew his sister-in-law much better than she did. When he walked away, she didn’t attempt to stop him.
It was several minutes before Reece finally located Elizabeth in the party crowd. She was with Linc and Joanna, looking faintly bored. When she saw him walking toward her, she brightened visibly. Reece wasn’t taken in by that artificial charm.
“I’d like a word with you, Elizabeth,” he stated, taking her arm to lead her away after nodding briefly to Linc. He ignored Joanna’s curious glance, not wanting to involve his niece in this dispute.
When they were off by themselves, Elizabeth viewed his hard expression with an innocent look. “Is something wrong?”
“I knew when you arrived this morning, you would try to make trouble,” he stated.
“Trouble?” She blinked. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You have been trying to convince Rachel that we should postpone the wedding,” Reece accused smoothly.
“Now, that is nonsense. I did nothing of the kind,” Elizabeth denied his charge. “We discussed living in California an
d I offered to help in any way I could to—”
Reece wasn’t interested in her version of the conversation. “It doesn’t matter what you discussed. Rachel and I are getting married next week—as planned,” he emphasized. “There is nothing you can say or do to change that.”
“I wouldn’t presume to try,” she replied with wounded dignity.
“You would presume a great deal if you thought you could succeed.”
“How can you say that when I was only trying to be helpful?” she protested.
“We don’t need your kind of help. Not now—and not later.”
“Well, if that’s the way you feel about it—” Elizabeth began with an exaggerated air of pride.
“I’ll tell you exactly the way I feel about it.” Reece cut through the niceties. “You weren’t invited here. Of course, that’s never stopped you. You barge in whether you’re welcome or not. If it wasn’t for Joanna, I would have told you to get lost a long time ago. But she is my brother’s daughter, so I have tolerated you. But no more.” He was hardened against the pallor that spread over her face. “Make whatever excuse you wish but take the next plane back to L.A. Is that clear?” he challenged.
Elizabeth held herself stiffly, proudly fighting back tears. “Very.”
“Good,” he stated. “I will tell Rachel you’re leaving. There will be no need for you to speak to her again.”
An exchange of goodbyes would have been hypocritical at this point. Without saying another word, Reece turned on his heel and walked away. Elizabeth stood rigidly, staring after him.
When Joanna noticed her mother slowly returning, her gaze sharpened. Although her mother was trying to appear calm and composed, Joanna observed the fine tension that put a strain in her expression and the pallor beneath her rouged complexion.
“Is something wrong, Mother?” she asked the instant she joined them.
“It’s this sun,” Elizabeth replied tightly. “It’s given me a terrible headache. Would you mind very much if we left the party? All this heat and noise is just making it worse.”
