Daisy stood rooted to the floor in disbelief as Guy came to meet her, accompanied by two strange men. Without ever having seen him before, she knew the older man was her uncle. His resemblance to her father was striking. The handsome young man with him was just as clearly his son. Apparently good looks ran in at least one branch of the Singleton family.
"I was about to go out to the ranch to fetch you," Guy said, a wide smile plastered across his features. "Your uncle arrived just like you said they would."
Daisy's tongue cleaved to the roof of her mouth. She had never expected to hear from her family much less have them come all the way to New Mexico.
"I regret it took us so long to get here," her uncle said. "We didn't see the announcement. A friend told us of it."
"We had the greatest difficulty finding you," her cousin added.
"Walter cut himself off from his family," her uncle explained. "We hadn't heard from him in years. I'm sorry to say we didn't even know your mother had died."
"I didn't expect you to come," Daisy managed to say. She thought she must be acting like an idiot, but she was too stunned to act normally.
"Of course we came," her uncle said. "You didn't think we'd leave our only niece in a place like this, did you? Your fiancé tells me you have been living on a burned-out ranch for the last month. My dear, you can't do that."
Learning Guy had told her uncle they were still engaged restored Daisy's mental powers. "I broke my engagement weeks ago," she told her uncle. "Since the ranch is the only property I own, I had no other choice. I've been trying to make up for some of Daddy's neglect. I have a crew to help me. I've come to town to see about getting someone to build me a new house."
"You don't have to live on the ranch," Guy said. "They want to take you back to New York. You're rich. Your grandfather left you his money."
"Only a part of it," her uncle corrected. His gaze settled on Tyler. "Maybe we'd better retire to a parlor, away from the ears of strangers."
"This is Tyler Randolph," Daisy said. "He's been helping me with the ranch."
Her uncle's frown disappeared. "Young Mr. Cochrane here told me you rescued my niece from the men who tried to kill her. I can't express my appreciation enough. I will see that you're suitably rewarded."
Daisy flushed with embarrassment.
"Tyler doesn't want a reward."
"It's very correct of him not to press, but I'm sure he would appreciate the money."
"Miss Singleton is right," Tyler said. "Now I'll leave you to get acquainted with your niece." He walked over to the clerk. "Is my brother in?" he asked.
"He came in with the boys a short while ago."
Tyler came back to the waiting gathering. "Daisy is staying with my sister-in-law. We will expect her in an hour."
"I have already made provisions for my niece's lodgings."
"That was very thoughtful. You had no way of knowing it was unnecessary," Tyler said. His lips smiled but his eyes didn't.
"She is welcome to stay with us," Guy said. "It would be much more suitable than a hotel."
Daisy felt like she was at the center of a three ring circus. "I prefer to say with Laurel," she said. "All my things are here." She had had everything sent to the hotel when she broke her engagement. She hadn't wanted Guy to think she might change her mind.
"My dear, should you be staying with a stranger?" her uncle asked.
"If it comes to that," Daisy said, beginning to feel irritated by the pressures all around her, "you're the strangers. Laurel and I are friends."
"But only a recent friend," Guy interjected. "You've known Adora for years. She's been hoping you'd stay with her."
"Well, I'm not," Daisy said. "Now why don't you go tell Adora I'd love to see her this evening. My uncle and I have a lot to talk about."
She could see Guy didn't want to be excluded from the conversation and was casting about for a reason to remain.
"My mother will want you all to come to dinner."
"Another night," Daisy said. "After the ride in, I'm too tired."
Giving in the inevitable, Guy retreated.
"Now," Daisy said turning to her uncle, "what is this about my grandfather leaving me money?"
* * * * *
"He said he struck gold within an hour after you left," Hen told Tyler. "He found it exactly where you told him to dig."
Tyler was having a difficult time keeping his mind on what Hen was saying. It seemed odd his brother should think he was so interested in gold. He'd almost forgotten it. How could he think of something like that when Daisy was downstairs becoming reacquainted with her family and discovering she was an heiress? She would truly be free now. She could go back East and live in any kind of house she wanted.
He'd be miserable.
"I've already had it assayed. It's very rich. I suggest you sell it rather than try to operate it yourself. I think you can get more than enough to build your hotels."
"What?" Tyler asked, coming out of his fog.
"Haven't you been listening to anything I said? It's the biggest gold strike in the history of New Mexico."
"I told Willie I'd give him a quarter."
"He won't take it. He said he didn't do anything but dig out a few shovels' full. He accepted a finder’s fee and went off to look for a claim of his own."
"Who's at the claim?"
"It's already properly registered and guarded. In fact, I've got an offer for it already." He handed Tyler a piece of paper.
The number seemed to have too many zeros.
"I never thought you would do it," Hen said, "certainly not such a big one. Watch out. Madison will try to talk you into investing the money in railroads."
"Speaking of railroads, did Rio give you my message about Cochrane."
"Yes, but I couldn't find out much. Many people hate him, but they all have to use his bank. Nobody will say a word against him."
"I'm convinced he ordered Daisy's father killed. It must have something to do with the railroad. I just can't figure out what. Those rustlers said he was ready to wipe out Greene and Cordova to get their land. Why is he buying up miles of grazing land, and why is he willing to kill to get it?"
"The railroad will have to buy the right of way."
"He could make a whole lot more money buying land in town around the depot."
"I don't see why he wanted to kill Daisy. She was set to marry his son. He'd have had her land automatically."
"He didn't want her killed," Tyler said, suddenly remembering. "She wasn't supposed to be home. It was an accident."
"Then who's after her?"
"The killer because she recognized him. He tried again today."
"But she's not going to marry Guy."
"So she's still in danger, from both of them now."
"But you can't prove anything."
"I know, but I will."
"Good. Now about this claim."
"Have Madison sell it to the highest bidder. He'll get a better price than I can. I've got something else to do right now."
"Does it have anything to do with Daisy?" Laurel asked. She had listened to the conversation without comment while feeding Harrison.
"Everything."
"Good," she said, smiling. "It's about time you came to your senses."
* * * * *
"So you're a very rich young woman," Laurel said to Daisy. They were having coffee in Laurel's sitting room. Daisy was still a little dazed from her conversation with her uncle.
"It seems my grandfather was sure Daddy would waste his money, so he left it to me instead."
"What are you going to do?"
"My uncle wants me to go back to New York. My cousin and I are his only family."
"Do you want to go?"
"I don't know. I used to think I'd give anything if I could go back East. It was a safe dream because I never thought it could come true."
"Now it has, and you're scared."
Daisy nodded. "Have you ever been to New York?"
"No. Denver was too much for me. In fact, Albuquerque's more than enough. I'll be glad to get back to the ranch." She shifted the baby who was asleep in her arms. "Hen has finally decided we're both strong enough to make the trip. Next time I'm not going to tell him until after I have the baby."
"How are you . . . oh, you're joking."
"I'm not sure. It was easier having Adam in a canyon by myself than having Harrison with every doctor Hen could find standing over me. Heaven help Iris if she ever gets pregnant. The men in this family are terribly overprotective."
Daisy knew that. It was one of the reasons she wouldn't marry Tyler. Then why did she feel jealous of Laurel?
"I want to stay here and run my ranch," Daisy said, "but everybody seems to think I have to be married no matter where I go."
"What does Tyler say?"
"He wants me to marry him."
"Would your uncle approve?"
"Of course, now that he's found out how rich the Randolphs are."
"Oh."
"Yes, oh. It seems money can make everything right."
"But not for you?"
"Money has nothing to do with it. All my life I've wanted to be free. But every way I turn, there's a man telling me what to do. And that includes Tyler."
"Then if you don't want any of them, I suggest you tell them so and move out to your ranch as soon as possible." Laurel studied Daisy for a few moments. "There's more, isn't there?"
"I'm not sure Tyler will leave. I tried to order him off after we caught the rustlers, but he wouldn't go. He said he was leaving yesterday, but he camped in the hills."
"He'd go if he thought you meant it."
"I do. I don't want him trying to change for me. Just because I won't marry him doesn't mean I don't love him, stubborn, overbearing man that he is."
"I imagine he'll stay as long as you feel that way."
"He wouldn't if I went to New York."
"You'd do that to get away from him?"
"I'm not trying to get away from him. I just don't want him trying to become something he isn't because of me. It would destroy him."
Laurel put her son to bed in the other room. "He's like all the other Randolph men," she said as she closed the door to the bedroom. "He's going to do what he wants, and there's nothing you can do to change that. It's hard for them to admit it when they fall in love. But once they get used to the idea, they don't give up easily."
"Neither do I. If you want stubborn, just ask for a Singleton."
But this had nothing to do with being stubborn. Daisy wanted Tyler to be the one to leave because she couldn't.
Chapter Twenty-seven
"I told you never to come to the bank," Regis said, "not even after hours."
"I came to tell you--"
"I know what you came to tell me," Regis Cochrane said, his voice an angry hiss. "You missed again!"
"I couldn't get close. That Randolph fella is always with her."
"Maybe it's just as well. She's inherited a lot of money. I can use it."
"I can still get her."
"You stay away from her," Cochrane ordered. "And stay away from me. Start for Montana, and go there this time. I don't want you to come here again. If you do, I'll say you were the one who killed her father."
"I'll tell them you hired me."
"Nobody would believe you. You'd hang, and I'd be there watching. Now get out. If I see you again, I'll have the sheriff arrest you."
Frank left in a rage. He had his pride, and he didn't like being treated like a petty killer who could be brushed off like a bug. He didn't want to leave town just yet. If he waited around, maybe he could still find a way to kill that female and collect the rest of his money. Then he'd leave for Montana.
* * * * *
The next morning Daisy spied Tyler across the lobby before she was half way down the stairs. She felt a warm flush flood her cheeks. Her heart started to beat faster, and her breath seemed shallow. The same old reaction. He was twice as good looking as anybody else in the lobby. He looked so calm, so self-possessed she couldn't imagine why women weren't crowded around him.
Daisy took a deep breath to settle her agitation. She had made her decision. She didn't understand why she continued to question it every time she saw Tyler. Nothing had changed. She forced a look of what she hoped was calm on her face and continued down the stairs. Tyler saw her before she reached the bottom step.
He rose from his seat and came toward her. Apparently he'd been waiting for her. She dreaded this interview, but it had to come sooner or later.
"I thought you'd be gone by now," she said when he came up.
"I'll be staying in Albuquerque for a few days yet."
"You haven't given up on your hotels, have you?"
"No."
"You do intend to build them?"
"Yes."
"You won't if you don't find the gold."
"Things have changed. I--"
"I can't stand around talking," Daisy said, her agitation showing. "I'm one my way to see Adora. You can walk with me."
Tyler's eyes opened a little wider at her flash of temper, but he followed her outside. It was a brilliant day. Even though it was cold, the sky was clear, the sun strong. Daisy looked at the Sandia mountains in the distance and felt a lump in her throat. The days spent in the cabin had been the best days of her life. She even missed Zac at times, sharp-tongued rascal that he was. But most of all she missed the long, quiet days when she had nothing to do but wait for the snow to melt.
And fall in love.
Everything had seemed so simple then. All she had to do was get married and life would take care of itself. She hadn't owned a ranch capable of making her independent, had enough money to buy and sell Mrs. Esterhouse and her precious daughter, had a rich family begging her to go back to New York, or two men promising to do anything if she would only marry them. And for most of the time she had been unaware a determined killer was on her trail.
She had no way of knowing the things that worried her most -- her height, hair, and wound -- would be practically forgotten so quickly. She remembered her scorn for a life spent in the mountains in such a cabin. It seemed wonderfully attractive now.
She shook her thoughts to rid them of melancholy. There was no going back. Much more than a cabin in the mountains separated them now.
"I supposed Laurel told you my grandfather left me some money," she said to Tyler, "and that my uncle wants me to go back to New York with him."
Tyler nodded.
"I'm going," Daisy said.
That startled Tyler. "Do you intend to sell your ranch?"
"Probably. Maybe." She didn't want to lie to him. She just wanted him to go back to his mines. She would miss him terribly. The longer he waited, the harder it was going to be. "I don't know. It doesn't make sense to keep it."
"What will you do in New York?"
"I've never been anywhere except Santa Fe. I probably won't stop going places and seeing things for years. My cousin assures me I would love London and Paris."
"You can't do all this by yourself."
"My uncle says I can easily find a dependable paid companion."
"You're turning your back on love, a family."
"No. I'm actually gaining a family."
"I meant your own family, a husband and children. Is your freedom that important to you?"
"I told you it was."
"How can I make you understand that freedom is more than having to answer to no one but yourself?"
"You can't. I've seen how men treat women."
"You haven't seen how I would treat you."
"Yes, I have. You would try your best to let me be free. But when a decision had to be made, you would make it and expect me to go along with it."
"Someone has to have the final responsibility."
"I know, and I'm not willing to give that up." They were approaching the Cochrane house. Daisy felt miserable. She wanted to end the conversation. "I promised Adora I'd be her
e at half past. I must go."
"This is your final word?"
"It has been my final word for weeks. You just won't believe me."
"I kept hoping . . . I guess it doesn't matter what I kept hoping. I hope you enjoy New York. I didn't like it myself, but a lot of people do."
"Do you ever visit?"
"Sometimes."
"Look me up. We can--"
"No. I want to be your husband, your lover, your friend and companion. I can't be content to be a casual acquaintance who takes you to the opera or for a yacht ride in the sound."
Daisy held out her hand. "Then I guess it's good-bye."
"It'll never be good-bye between us." Tyler grabbed her and kissed her with ferocious energy. "You're going to marry me yet. You're going to find out you can be much more free in my arms than you can alone in New York."
* * * * *
Tyler had sounded a lot more confident than he felt. Walking back to the hotel he wondered what he could do to convince Daisy she was making the wrong decision.
"You won't do it by forcing yourself on her," Laurel told him a few minutes later. "I know you thought it would bring her to her senses, but it hasn't."
"Then what do you suggest I do?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"You used to do it very well," Hen pointed out. "Back home you could do it for hours on end."
"This is different," Tyler said.
"Then I suggest you come up with a different approach," Hen said. "Let her go to New York. Let her decide for herself if that's what she wants."
"She doesn't," Tyler said, "but she's convinced I won't be happy unless I'm wandering the hills dressed in buckskins and wearing a beard. She's also convinced I won't be happy unless I'm the only one giving orders."
"I never knew a Randolph who could take orders," Laurel pointed out. "Monty went all the way to Wyoming to get away from George."
"He also married Iris, and she gives him orders all the time. What's more, he follows half of them. I love Daisy. I want to marry her. I imagine we'll have some good scraps over what to do, but I'd rather do it her way than not at all. I've told her that, but she doesn't believe me."
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