Her mother turned around. “Oh, Mea Ann.” She hurried across the short distance to the portico and held out her arms. “I’m so happy to see you, my dear.”
Submitting to the hug, Mea Ann said, “It’s good to see you, too, Mother.”
Her father’s voice wasn’t as friendly as he glared at them. “Well, you look as if you’re in better shape than I expected to find you.”
Mea Ann stepped back and took Wilt’s hand. “Hello, Father.”
“Let go of that man’s hand immediately. I’ve come to take you two home, and I don’t want to spend time arguing about it. Where’s your sister?”
“Franklin, you promised.” Her mother’s voice was soft, but firm.
Mea Ann ignored him and continued to hold on to Wilt. “Mother, please come inside. I have a lot to tell you. Especially about Wilt and me.”
“I said—” her father started, but her mother interrupted.
“Thank you, dear. I’m very curious, so we shall come in.” She gave Wilt an uncertain smile and took her husband’s arm. “Come along, Franklin. I have a feeling Mea Ann has a surprise for us.”
“This is a waste of time. What difference does it make what she says? I’m just going to get my daughters and take them home, where we all belong.”
Mea Ann wanted to shout at him, but the gentle squeeze Wilt gave her hand, stopped her. She glanced up at him and he winked at her.
As they had decided earlier, she ushered her parents into their private parlor. She was happy to see that Chapa had placed a teapot and pretty china cups they hadn’t used before on the side table.
“This is an interesting house,” Clara said.
“I’ll take you on a tour later, Mother.”
“I’d like that.”
After they took seats, Mea Ann asked. “Would you like some tea?”
Franklin glared at her. “We don’t have time for tea. We came here to get you and Xenia, and I want to do that immediately. We need to head home tonight.”
Her mother ignored him and gave her daughter a knowing smile. “I’m waiting for an introduction to your young man.”
“I’m delighted to introduce to you to Wilt Eldridge, my husband.”
“Your what?” Franklin jumped up.
“You heard me, Father. He’s my husband.”
Wilt stood and nodded to them. “I’m happy to meet the people who raised such a wonderful young woman.”
“Happy, my foot.” Franklin began to pace.
Clara held her hand toward Wilt. “I had a feeling you were special to my Mea Ann, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Poindexter. I’d like to know Mea Ann’s family better.”
“Hold it,” Franklin’s voice roared. “I’ll not accept this rebellion from a daughter of mine. What about Jasper Newman? He’s been waiting for your acceptance of his proposal.”
“I’m afraid that Newman man is too late, Mr. Poindexter. Mea Ann did accept my proposal.”
“Then I’ll have it annulled.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Father. There is no way you can annul my marriage. I love Wilt, and we’re married…and there’s more I need to tell you.”
“Don’t be a fool. You can’t want to stay here with all the wonderful advantages you have in Virginia.”
“Franklin, sit down and calm yourself.” Clara took hold of his arm. “Let’s hear what Mea Ann has to say.”
“What more could there be?”
“Sit down and we’ll find out.”
With all the things on her mind she wanted to say, Mea Ann couldn’t help noticing this was the first time she’d ever heard her mother order her father around. More impressive was the fact that he was listening. She glanced at Wilt. “Honey, would you please go ask Chapa to bring Johnny in.”
“I’ll be right back.” He squeezed her hand and left.
“Now that he’s gone, tell me what he’s done to you, Mea Ann.”
“The only thing he’s done is make me the happiest woman on earth, Father.” Before he could say anything else, she said, “There is even a bigger surprise for you than finding me a married woman. I’m also a mother.”
Clare grabbed her mouth. “You can’t be.”
“So that bastard has children he’s saddling you with?”
“No, Father. Wilt had no children until he married me.”
Her mother frowned. “What are you saying, honey?”
“On the way to Deer Meadow, I found a baby. His father and mother had been murdered, and I rescued him and immediately fell in love. He’s such a precious baby. Wilt and I plan to adopt him.”
Franklin was fuming. “I’ve never heard anything so preposterous.”
“Mea Ann,” her mother drew her attention before she could answer her father. “How old is this child?”
“We estimate him to be around six to eight months. Wait until you see him, Mother. He’s wonderful.”
Her father stood again. “Forget the child. He’ll be easy to get rid of. There are plenty of orphanages. It’s this man who has managed to convince you to marry him that we have to free you from.”
Mea Ann shook her head. “You’re not listening to me, Father. I will never leave Wilt. We are married, we live as a married couple in this, our home, and we plan to adopt Johnny. I am going to spend the rest of my life with him. Now, you can either accept that and spend some time getting to know my baby, my husband, and his Aunt Chapa, or you can keep trying to get me to go back to Virginia. That I will never do. This is my home now.”
“You need to listen to her, Franklin. She means it.”
“But—”
“There is no but. Now, calm down and let me talk with my daughter.” She turned to Mea Ann. “Tell me about this husband of yours, dear. How did you meet, and when were you married? I want to know all about it.”
The door opened and Wilt re-entered. “Aunt Chapa said she’d bring Johnny in as soon as she changed him. He managed to spew his food all over his clothes.” Wilt moved to the settee and sat beside Mea Ann.
“That’s fine. Mother just asked how we met and I was about to tell her. Would you like to do it?”
He slid his arm around Mea Ann’s shoulder. “I’d be happy to.” He turned to Clara. “I was on the way home from a business trip and climbed aboard the stage. Mea Ann sat across from me. She was holding a baby, and I think I was the most disappointed man on earth, because I thought the baby meant she was married. When I learned she’d found the child, I was ecstatic and decided then and there that I was going to do all in my power to make her fall in love with me. I thank the Good Lord daily that she did.”
“So you forced my daughter to come out to this godforsaken place and hounded her until she agreed to marry you.”
Wilt bristled, but before he could retort, Mea Ann said, “Of course not. Nobody would rent us a room in town, and Wilt rescued us and brought us to his ranch. His aunt lives here with them and she has made sure Xenia and I were properly chaperoned. Wilt is the most honorable man I’ve ever met, and that includes all those fancy pants men you shoved at me in Richmond. Only a couple of days ago, he saved my life.”
Clara’s hand flew to her breast. “Oh, my. What happened?”
“Uncle Seymour sent a man to kidnap me, but Wilt and his cousin captured the man, and as far as I know, he’s in jail right now.”
“See, Mea Ann. This country is no place for a girl like you.”
“It’s the perfect place for me, Father. Do you think any of your silly men friends in Virginia would put themselves in danger for me? I know they wouldn’t. In fact, they’d probably turn tail and run. Wilt didn’t hesitate to put his life in danger for me.”
“I’m glad you were there, Wilt.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Now, tell me about your wedding. I so wish I could have been there.”
“Actually, we were married yesterday, Mother. I would have liked for you to be here, but I knew Father would never�
�”
“You damn right I wouldn’t.” He glared at his wife. “If we’d only come out here yesterday, then this wouldn’t be an issue.”
“And whose fault is it that we didn’t come last night?” Clara sounded as if she snapped at him.
He didn’t answer, but changed the subject. “Where the hell is Xenia? I’m surprised she hasn’t come in here and started arguing with me, too.”
“She went for a horseback ride and hasn’t returned.”
Franklin frowned. “Horseback ride? She doesn’t know how to ride a horse.”
“Maybe not, Father, but she rode off on one, anyway.”
****
Thirty minutes later, a temporary peace reigned and they moved to the communal parlor. Chapa was putting the mid-day meal on the table, Clara sat in one of the rocking chairs cuddling Johnny, Franklin sat in the other one staring into space, and Mea Ann and Wilt were on the sofa watching everyone and hoping the fragile truce would continue. At least, until Xenia and Ty returned from wherever they decided to disappear to.
Chapter 21
Xenia and Ty stopped their horses beside the creek on the south end of one of their seldom-used pastures. Ty helped her dismount, then took the reins and looped them over a low-hanging limb.
Xenia walked toward the creek. “Oh, Ty, this is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever seen.”
“I thought you might like it.”
“Could we have a picnic here sometime?”
“I don’t see why not. It’d bring back memories.” He walked up beside her.
“Oh?” She lifted an eyebrow.
He grinned. “When I was a kid, I’d come here with my mother and father on picnics occasionally. Wilt and I had a lot of good times in this spot, too.”
“Did you and he come on picnics?”
He chuckled. “Not hardly, but when we were kids, we’d often come here and play in the water, skip rocks, and even did a little fishing, at times. It was a good place to hide when we didn’t want to do our chores, too.”
“I can’t believe you tried to get out of your chores.”
“Of course I did. Doesn’t every kid?”
She shrugged. “I did, but Mea Ann was always afraid Father would yell at her. She’d even fuss at me when I would do something I wasn’t supposed to do.”
“Like what?”
“Once, I hid all the teapots in the house when mother had invited some guests and insisted on Mea Ann coming into the library when she was going to serve.”
“Oh, my. What a terrible child you were.”
She punched his arm. “I know it’s silly to you, but at the time, I had to endure a terrible punishment when I misbehaved.”
“What kind of punishment?”
“One of the worst I ever had to endure was when I turned thirteen. I had to sit in Father’s study and copy an entire book on works of Shakespeare while my friends were having a good time at the birthday party taking place in the garden. I could see them from the window.”
“I admit that must have been rough on a child.”
“Especially when it was her birthday party.”
He laughed out loud. “You’re kidding.”
She shook her head. “After that, I tried to be good before a birthday.”
He slid his arm around her shoulder. “Tried to be good?”
“Yes, tried. Sometimes, I succeeded.”
“Can’t say as I blame you for trying.”
“Oh, Ty. I don’t mean to do things to irritate people, but there are times I can’t help it. I guess I’m too impulsive.”
“I have to agree that you’re pretty impulsive. I know you’re the first woman who has ever come right out and proposed to me.”
She grinned. “But you accepted.”
“I was so shocked I don’t think I knew what was happening. It was kind of like riding a runaway horse. You know you should stop it, but you can’t.”
“You could have stopped it at the preacher’s house, but instead, you went through with it without saying a word of complaint.”
“There for a few minutes, I thought you were going to be the one to back out.”
She looked at him. “I honestly thought about it, Ty. I felt like I was pressuring you into something you didn’t want to do. But then we were saying the vows and you put this beautiful ring on my finger, and I never wanted anything more than to marry you.”
“So you married me because of the ring.” He had a twinkle in his eyes.
“I guess in a way, I did. I love the ring.” She held up her hand. “Where did you get such a beautiful piece of jewelry, anyway?”
“It was my grandmother’s. She gave it to me before she died. It was made by the chief of the tribe for his eldest daughter. She wanted me to have it, because I was the oldest grandson.”
Xenia felt her heart swell. “Oh, Ty. That’s wonderful…and you elected to give it to me.”
“It was supposed to be given to the woman I married.”
She looked at the beautiful turquoise stones set in silver. “Is this what you ran in the house to get before we left?”
“Yes.” He smiled at her. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I’ll always cherish it, and someday, it will go to our oldest child.” She looked at him again and tears formed in her eyes. “You’re such a special man. I’m glad you agreed to marry me today.”
He nodded. “Speaking of which, I think it’s time for us to get back to the ranch and face your father with the fact that neither of his daughters are going back to Virginia with him.”
Xenia remembered how special, but quick, their wedding kiss was and she had hoped he’d kiss her while they were at the beautiful area of the creek, but he didn’t. Instead, he untied their horses and helped her to mount. Without saying anything more, they turned and headed toward the ranch house.
****
As they rode forward, Ty couldn’t help feeling pleased about Xenia’s reaction to the ring. He knew one thing about her: she wasn’t good at hiding what she felt, whether or not it was good or bad. He knew her reaction hadn’t been pretend. She really liked it. If she didn’t, why did she say she planned to wear it and pass it on to their child one day? That was, if they ever had a child. He wasn’t sure what she’d meant by marrying him. At first, he thought it’d be a marriage in name only—long enough to send her father back east without her. But she hadn’t said this was what she intended. Now, she’d mentioned having a child. Pretty as she was and as open as she was, he couldn’t completely figure her out. Did her actions mean she intended to stay married to him and give him children? No. This was impossible. She was a white woman.
He then thought of the day he’d showed the ring to Verna McGill. He was proud of it, and thought she’d think it was as special as he did, but her reaction stunned him. She’d told him it looked cheap and like some wild Indian would have worn it. She made it clear she’d never have it on her finger so he might as well buy her a pretty gold one before they even thought of setting a wedding day. He’d been disappointed by her reaction, but had swallowed his pride and put it away. He never mentioned the ring to her again.
Was this the reason he ran in the house to get the ring before taking Xenia to the preacher? Did he want to test her to see if she was as shallow as Verna? No doubt, it was part of the reason he got it. Another was that deep down, he knew if she refused to wear the ring, he’d call the wedding off. But she only smiled as he put the ring on her finger. At the time, he couldn’t help wondering what she really thought. Now, he knew. Xenia thought the ring was as special as he did.
Damn. If this woman keeps doing things like this, I’m going to end up falling in love with her whether I want to or not. That is, if I’m not a little in love with her already.
Before he could erase these thoughts with the many reasons why he couldn’t love Xenia, the ranch house came into view and she reined her horse next to his.
Stopping beside her, Ty asked, “What’s wrong?”
&n
bsp; “I’m losing my nerve.”
He gave her a half smile. “Don’t do that. I’ll be with you.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, Xenia. I promise. Now, let’s get in there and face your parents. It won’t be as bad as you think.”
“Are you sure?”
His dark eyes look deep into her blue ones. “I am very sure.”
She nodded. “Thank you, Ty. I believe you.”
“You’re welcome.” He reached over and took her hand and squeezed it. “Remember. I’m your husband now, and I’ll support you.”
She returned the squeeze. “With your support, I know I can face him no matter how angry he gets.”
It surprised him as much as it did her when he leaned over and brushed her lips with his. Drawing back before he pulled her off the horse, crushed her against him, and kissed her the way he wanted to, he asked, “Ready?”
She smiled at him and nodded. “Yes, Ty. Thanks to you, I’m ready.”
****
Chapa turned when the kitchen door opened. “Well, it’s about time you two got back. It’s the middle of the afternoon and you missed dinner.”
Xenia smiled at her. “That’s alright, Chapa. The Russells insisted we eat with them.”
Chapa frowned. “The only Russells I know are the preacher and his wife.”
Ty grinned, too. “Those are the ones Xenia is talking about.”
“Why in the world did you go to their house?”
Xenia held out her left hand. “For this reason.”
Chapa’s frown slowly turned into a grin. “Does that mean you two got married?”
“Yes, Aunt Chapa. That’s exactly what it means.”
“Hallelujah.”
Xenia was surprised that Chapa was so enthusiastic. “I’m glad you’re pleased.”
Ty leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thanks. It’s great to have your support.”
“Why, son. I’ve known you and Xenia were meant for each other the first night you brought her into the house. I’m surprised it took you this long to realize it.”
Xenia glanced at Ty and he winked at her. She gave him a slight smile and turned back to Chapa. “I understand my parents are here.”
Xenia’s Renegade Page 25
